Review and testing of new Samsung tablets for 2015

Samsung is one of the two leading brands in portable electronics, and this article aims to demonstrate the strengths and weaknesses of Samsung's tablets using several models as an example...

Every year it becomes clearer that the time of desktop computers is running out. In 2015, more and more people manage devices of varying degrees of mobility without much discomfort - laptops, smartphones, and of course tablets that successfully combine the advantages of both. Especially distinguished in this area is the Korean company Samsung, which confidently claims to be the leader in the world of mobile electronics and tablets in particular. Its products are not always the cheapest, but they are always the highest quality, powerful and functional. In this review, we invite you to evaluate the state of the company's product line for 2015 and decide which of its outstanding gadgets will suit you!

Review and Galaxy testing Tab 4 7.0 SM-T235

One of the most economical Samsung models, which, in my opinion, is also one of the most attractive.
A relatively small screen of 7 inches allows you to call the gadget a “tablet phone”. Of course, some people find it inconvenient to use devices of this size as a phone, this is where the legs of the joke “hello, I’m calling from a shovel” grow, but look impartially: you combine the power and high resolution of a tablet with the ability to carry a gadget in your pocket and use all its functionality valid at any time. And if you are so annoying to bring 7 inches of plastic to your ear - you can use external headsets, you will look stylish and businesslike.

Appearance Galaxy Tab 4 7.0 SM-T235

Despite a lengthy battle with Apple over the "unique" rectangular shape and minimalism, Samsung didn't start making ruffled round gadgets. Galaxy Tab 4 7.0 SM-T235, as you can see, it has an elegant light design and pleasant curves, it just asks to be held in your hands.

Galaxy Tab 4 7.0 SM-T235 inside

Samsung refueled their tablet phone as it should, it’s even surprising that at the same time it is so inexpensive. A complete set of communication tools - from Wi-fi to LTE (4g), GPS with Glonass, traditionally good screen and 16 gigabytes of memory on board.

System
Support
CPU frequency
Number of Cores
RAM
Built-in memory
Memory card support	microSDHC, up to 64 GB
Screen
Wireless connection
WiFi support
Bluetooth support	Yes, Bluetooth 4.0
mobile connection
Camera
rear camera	yes, 3 million pixels.
Rear camera features	autofocus
Front-camera	yes, 1.3 million pixels.
Functionality
	accelerometer

Comparative technical review Galaxy Tab 4 7.0 SM-T235

Of course, this tablet does not set records, but for the money that they ask for it, it's a very good offer. The processor is not the hottest, but it is energy efficient, which means the batteries will last a long time.

The rest of the functionality is great. The resolution of 1280 by 800 is similar to many modern laptops - games and videos will look decent. The full range of wireless and cellular communications from Bluetooth to LTE expands the possibilities incredibly, allowing you to always be online and use any peripheral devices.

A GPS / Glonass receiver is certainly not something that can surprise a person today, but the fact that it is here is undoubtedly a huge plus. If you are not a master orienteering- You will need this item.

Review and testing

This tablet is very similar to the previous model. The same characteristics with a few exceptions, the same advantages and disadvantages. The gadget also belongs to “tablet phones” and can successfully replace two devices at once, saving money in your wallet and space in your pocket. I think you can say that if you are going to use Samsung Galaxy Tab 4 7.0 SM-T231 away from big cities - it will be practically indistinguishable from its older brother.

Appearance Samsung Galaxy Tab 4 7.0 SM-T231

In principle, the design of almost all Samsungs is similar and sustained in a single vein. In the case of the Galaxy Tab 4 7.0 SM-T231, you also get exactly what you are waiting for - an elegant minimalistic brick with rounded corners. More precisely, not even a brick, but a tile, given the small thickness of the case. Yes, in terms of weight and size, this gadget looks like a big chocolate bar.

Samsung Galaxy Tab 4 7.0 SM-T231 inside

As already mentioned, the last two gadgets look like twin brothers, but the Samsung Galaxy Tab 4 7.0 SM-T231 was born later and still turned out to be younger than the first.

This is expressed primarily in the fact that it does not support LTE. This may be sensitive, but if you do not live in Moscow, St. Petersburg or Yekaterinburg, but somewhere in the Far East, you will hardly notice the difference. No, the Far Eastern villages are beautiful in their own way, but alas, you should not expect an early deployment of 4g networks in them, which are not always available even in million-plus cities.

Specifications overview Samsung Galaxy Tab 4 7.0 SM-T231

System
operating system
Support
CPU frequency
Number of Cores
RAM
Built-in memory
Memory card support	microSDHC, up to 32 GB
Screen
Touch screen	capacitive, multi-touch
Number of pixels per inch (PPI)
Wireless connection
WiFi support	yes, Wi-Fi 802.11n, WiFi Direct
Bluetooth support	Yes, Bluetooth 4.0
mobile connection	3G, EDGE, HSCSD, HSDPA, HSUPA, HSPA+, GPRS, GSM900, GSM1800, GSM1900
Camera
rear camera	yes, 3 million pixels.
Rear camera features	autofocus
Front-camera	yes, 1.3 million pixels.
Functionality
Automatic screen orientation
	accelerometer
Format support
	AAC, WMA, OGG, FLAC, MP3
	MPEG-4, WMV, H.264, H.263
Dimensions and weight
Dimensions (LxWxD)

Comparative technical review Samsung Galaxy Tab 4 7.0 SM-T231

I think it is wise to focus on the differences between this model and the previous one. It also has good functionality and low (even less) price for a good branded device. However, it has more modest possibilities in the field of memory expansion - only cards up to 32 gigabytes are suitable, while the older model has up to 64. The lack of LTE support was already mentioned above.
In general - a good opportunity to save money and get the same quality for less money, if you are sure that you will not need a large amount of memory and 4g connection.

Review and testing

This gadget is for those who nevertheless decided to shift from the “tablet phone” format towards full-fledged tablets. In general, the diagonal of the screen is only one inch larger, but this inch, oddly enough, changes a lot. Yes, the image has become larger, but the gadget is already quite inconvenient to hold with one hand, and you can’t even carry it in your pocket.

Appearance Samsung Galaxy Tab 4 8.0 SM-T335

Samsung Galaxy Tab 4 8.0 SM-T335, lightweight, pleasant to the touch and look, available in two basic colors. Nothing unexpected, but you will get all the goodies from Samsung.

Samsung Galaxy Tab 4 8.0 SM-T335 inside

The inside of the Samsung Galaxy Tab 4 8.0 SM-T335 is quite on the level. Sufficient quantity random access memory and an efficient processor allows you to easily implement the functionality of the latest version of androyd.

Specifications review Samsung Galaxy Tab 4 8.0 SM-T335

System
operating system
Support
CPU frequency
Number of Cores
RAM
Built-in memory
Memory card support	microSDHC, up to 64 GB
Screen
Screen type	glossy
Touch screen	capacitive, multi-touch
Number of pixels per inch (PPI)
Wireless connection
WiFi support	yes, Wi-Fi 802.11n, WiFi Direct
Bluetooth support	Yes, Bluetooth 4.0
mobile connection	3G, EDGE, HSCSD, HSDPA, HSUPA, HSPA+, GPRS, GSM900, GSM1800, GSM1900, LTE
Camera
rear camera	yes, 3 million pixels.
Rear camera features	autofocus
Front-camera	yes, 1.3 million pixels.
Functionality
Automatic screen orientation
	accelerometer
Nutrition
Battery capacity
Dimensions and weight
Dimensions (LxWxD)

Comparative technical review Samsung Galaxy Tab 4 8.0 SM-T335

This gadget is, in fact, an enlarged copy of the Galaxy Tab 4 8.0 SM-T335. Same specs, same performance. However, an extra inch has a surprisingly significant impact on the usability of the device. This is no longer a phone, but a natural tablet. You can't hide it in your pocket, and you can't use it with one hand.

Positives - larger screen and more powerful battery, but, nevertheless, I see more inconvenience in this extra inch. It is better to take a powerful top-end tablet, or a relatively compact tablet phone, but not their hybrid.

Review and testing Galaxy Tab Pro 8.4 SM-T321

And now we have a really powerful toy, Tablet with a capital letter. Unlike the previous device, he does not make unsuccessful attempts to sit on two chairs, rather the opposite - the emphasis is on the main advantage of full-sized gadgets over compact ones - power. More memory, more speed, more screen resolution (I am writing these lines sitting at a monitor that is not half as good as the screen of this tablet). But enjoy Galaxy Tab Pro 8.4 SM-T321 all day away from the outlet will not work, you must understand what you are buying.

Appearance Galaxy Tab Pro 8.4 SM T321

Samsung keeps the tradition, this tablet, like most of its devices, is designed in a single neutral-minimalist style, the only difference is in size.

On the back cover there is an imitation of a seam on the skin, but in fact it is clean and sterile plastic.

Galaxy Tab Pro 8.4 SM T321 inside

Compared to other models, the Galaxy Tab Pro 8.4 SM T321 is a significant leap forward. The performance is on top, the camera is better, the screen is delightful. It's just sad for the battery.

Overview of specifications Galaxy Tab Pro 8.4 SM T321

System
operating system
Support
CPU frequency
Number of Cores
RAM
Built-in memory
Memory card support	microSDXC, up to 64 GB
Screen
Touch screen	capacitive, multi-touch
Number of pixels per inch (PPI)
scratch resistant glass
Wireless connection
WiFi support
Bluetooth support	yes, Bluetooth 4.0, A2DP
SIM card type
mobile connection	3G, GSM900, GSM1800, GSM1900
infrared port
Camera
rear camera	yes, 8 million pixels.
Rear camera features
Front-camera	yes, 2 million pixels.
Functionality
Automatic screen orientation
	accelerometer, gyroscope, compass, proximity sensor, ambient light sensor
Nutrition
Working hours
Talk Time
Battery capacity
Dimensions and weight
Dimensions (LxWxD)

Comparative technical review Galaxy Tab Pro 8.4 SM T321

If we compare the Galaxy Tab Pro 8.4 SM T321 with the three previous models, it becomes clear that this gadget belongs to a completely different class. The processor of this model has a clock frequency of more than twice, the camera - twice as many megapixels, half a gigabyte more RAM. A screen with a resolution of 2560x1600 is generally insane (in a good way). It’s not a fact that you will immediately find something to look at it in order to appreciate all its millions of points - all the same, the resolution is greater than Full HD.

However, there are downsides too. Since the Galaxy Tab Pro 8.4 SM T321 is no longer supposed to be used as a phone, the manufacturer decided that LTE support is redundant in it. As we believe - in vain, but a fact is a fact.

And of course, the battery problem - in a little over 300 gram case there is not enough space to provide decent food for the whole day. The manufacturer claims autonomy of 10 hours, but you can safely divide this time in half if you plan to use the device and not keep it in sleep mode.

Review and testing of Galaxy Note PRO 12.2 P9000

In this device, the last hints of telephone roots were finally erased. Galaxy Note PRO 12.2 P9000 this is not a pocket gadget, this is a mobile computer station that designers and managers have probably been waiting for for centuries.

With this tablet, you will be just right to demonstrate your work, show diagrams, quickly edit documents and more. Although, of course, you need to do this within walking distance from the outlet.

Appearance Galaxy Note PRO 12.2 P9000

There are no significant differences in design from other Samsung Galaxy Note PRO 12.2 P9000. Is that a stylus appeared, which is useful if you do not like to poke your fingers at the screen.

Galaxy Note PRO 12.2 P9000 inside

The internals of the Galaxy Note PRO 12.2 P9000 will please you, it has the largest amount of RAM and internal memory of all candidates. And it works much longer than its closest competitor.

Overview of specifications Galaxy Note PRO 12.2 P9000

System
operating system
Support
CPU frequency
Number of Cores
RAM
Built-in memory
Memory card support	microSDXC, up to 64 GB
Screen
	12.2", 2560x1600
wide screen
Screen type
Touch screen	capacitive, multi-touch
Number of pixels per inch (PPI)
Wireless connection
WiFi support	yes, Wi-Fi 802.11ac, WiFi Direct
Bluetooth support	yes, Bluetooth 4.0, A2DP
Camera
rear camera	yes, 8 million pixels.
Rear camera features	flash, autofocus
Front-camera	yes, 2 million pixels.
Functionality
Automatic screen orientation
	accelerometer, gyroscope, compass, light sensor
Connection
Connecting to a computer via USB
Connecting external devices via USB	optional
MHL support
Audio/headphone output	yes, 3.5 mm
Nutrition
Working hours
Working time (video)
Battery capacity
Dimensions and weight
Dimensions (LxWxD)

Galaxy Note PRO 12.2 P9000 Comparative Technical Review

This is, without a doubt, the most powerful device of the presented - but it is not surprising, the size and weight are at least twice that of competitors! However, we are sure that 750 grams is still not too heavy. Another thing is that the manufacturer was able to build in these 750 grams, namely: cool 8 nuclear processor, 3 gigabytes of RAM and 64 permanent memory, a powerful battery and an excellent screen!
The gadget is equipped with a Wi-fi module for communication with the outside world, but the ability to use cellular networks they didn't give him. However, this is offset by the fact that you can connect to it peripherals- mobile modem or the same "Iota".

Finding the best new Samsung tablet for 2015

Max. memory card size (GB)
Screen size (")
Screen resolution
Number of pixels per inch
scratch resistant glass
Cell phone operation
GPRS support
3G support
LTE support
The number of megapixels of the front camera
Rear camera megapixels
Gyroscope
Proximity sensor
Light sensor
infrared port
Battery capacity (mAh)

Result

Those who read the review carefully, probably already understood what was happening.

The Samsung Galaxy Note PRO 12.2 P9000 64Gb looks like the most successful tablet, during its development priorities were clearly defined and mobility was successfully sacrificed for functionality and power. Samsung Galaxy Tab Pro 8.4 SM-T321 can be used as a slightly more budget version of Note PRO - here the manufacturer also clearly decided what he wants from the product.

Samsung Galaxy Tab 4 7.0 SM-T235 16Gb confidently declares its intention to take a place in your pocket as a tablet - combining very good power and support for many types of communication including LTE, it becomes a real opportunity to kill two birds with one stone. Next to it is its almost complete twin Samsung Galaxy Tab 4 7.0 SM-T231 16Gb, ideal for those who know that LTE will not shine for them in the coming years.

And finally, Samsung Galaxy Tab 4 8.0 SM-T335 16Gb - for our taste, this device too carelessly crossed a certain “dimensional” border between tablets and phones, trying to maintain the functionality of both, and in the end did not win anything. However, it is still quite a functional gadget that can find its buyer.

Contents of delivery:

• Tablet
• Charger with USB cable
• Instruction
• Wired stereo headset (only in 3G version)

Positioning

This device replaced the Galaxy Note 10.1, which appeared on the market in 2012 and has established itself as a device not for everyone - the high cost, the incomprehensibility of the advantages of the pen and working with it. All in all, sales in 2012 turned out to be rather modest, which, however, exceeded the forecasts of both retail chains and the company itself.

Continuing to develop the Note direction, Samsung relies primarily on phablets, in particular, Note 2/3 - they are extremely popular on the market, but the main thing is that they showed why and how you can use the stylus. It is impossible to call tablets of the Note family companions to such devices - but the fact that an audience familiar with phones and satisfied with their functionality will consciously choose such tablets is absolutely certain.

When we talk about Samsung technology, we must understand that its cost is obviously higher than that of second-tier competitors - the price gap can be up to 20-30 percent, as a rule, this is a fee not only for the brand, but also for additional features. The price with the reference tablet iPad is about the same. This gives rise to an interesting conflict - those who seek to save money often choose tablets from small companies, those who are almost unknown in the market, the rest rush between iPad and Samsung. Perhaps this choice is not even determined by the manufacturer of the device, but by the worldview - you choose iOS or Android, which is closer and more understandable to you. For example, for me, Apple tablets are more convenient than those on Android, although the iPad has many drawbacks, lack of flexibility built into the system. In 2013, Google put a lot of effort into making Android work better on tablets, and those efforts paid off. Although Android models sometimes suffer from slowdowns, are filled with incomprehensible software from manufacturers, but in terms of the combination of characteristics, they overtake the iPad for a long time, and software manufacturers release games and applications for both platforms at the same time or almost simultaneously.

The positioning of the Galaxy Note 10.1 2014 Edition is twofold - on the one hand, this is the company's main tablet with a diagonal of 10 inches, that is, a kind of workhorse for everyone, with maximum performance and a fairly long life cycle. That is why the device, which began to be sold back in November 2013, had a prefix 2014 Edition. Secondly, this is a purebred continuation of the Note line, which provides new opportunities for artists, students and creative people. But if in 2012 the main features of the stylus were implemented around drawing, then in subsequent versions of Note they are expanded with business functions, such as the rapid creation of tables, graphs and illustrations. In my opinion, this tablet should stop the attention of everyone who not only consumes information, reads from the tablet screen, but actively takes notes, chats with other people and shares information. In terms of the variety of ways to enter information, its cataloging, and storage, this model has no competitors. The difference from other Android tablets is in a unique feature - the stylus, which allows you to work with many applications created for it and do it very comfortably.

Design, dimensions, controls

Samsung sticks to a simple color rule of white and black for mainstream models, this tablet is no exception, it's available in two color options.

In terms of materials, this is a complete replica of the Note 3, which we have seen in the past - back cover The tablet got embossed under the skin, but it's plastic. The front surface is glossy, the display is covered with unbreakable glass, on which there are almost no scratches.

The size of the tablet is 243.1x171.4x7.9 mm, weight is 547 grams (version with 3G, regular Wi-Fi weighs 535 grams). In terms of ergonomics, this is a typical solution of the company - thin, with one mechanical key in the middle of the wide side, which makes it uncomfortable to work with one hand. In my opinion, one of the main competitive advantages of the iPad is the metal body, for example, the iPad Air weighs about the same, is just as thin, but feels like a more expensive product. There is no such feeling when using Samsung tablets, they are workhorses. It is curious that if in phones the use of exactly the same plastic is not perceived as a drawback, then for a tablet it is rather a minus. It is unlikely that it will wipe itself off over time, break from falls, or something similar will happen, but metal remains metal, and it is perceived in a completely different way. Given that the case in this model is non-separable, there was no reason to use plastic. Weight, dimensions - everything is approximately the same, hence the incomprehensibility of Samsung's obsession with plastic, in this parameter the company clearly loses to the iPad.

Compared with previous generations Note family, 2014 Edition definitely wins in terms of design and workmanship - no gloss.

On the right side there is a slot for a pen, the stylus itself has become unified and completely coincides with that in Note 3. It can be inserted into the slot without looking, either way. Of the shortcomings in the implementation of the stylus holder specifically in the Galaxy Note 10.1 2014 Edition, one can note a certain looseness in some instances, it is worth checking this point before buying. The main returns with mechanical problems are related to the pen and its holder. On the other hand, the number of such returns against the background of sales is rather inconspicuous.

On the top edge you can see the infrared port, it serves to control various household appliances, such as a TV. You can find the corresponding utility in the menu. The on / off key is shifted to the left on this side, there is also a paired volume control key. On the left side is a 3.5 mm headset jack. Finally, on the bottom end is a regular microUSB connector. Above the screen you can see the front camera for video calls (2 megapixels), the main camera is 8 megapixels and also has an LED flash.

In the 3G model, the SIM card slot is located on the right side, and there is also a slot for memory cards. On the two sides you can see the speakers, taken away by a metal mesh.

Display

The screen diagonal is 10.1 inches, the resolution is 2560x1600 pixels, which provides 299 ppi. Screen type Super Clear LCD, with support for Wacom's digitizer, which allows you to draw on it very accurately and accurately. The colors are bright, the backlight adjustment in automatic mode is comfortable, almost never misses, even in conditions of variable lighting in the premises. The screen does not fade in the sun, the information remains readable.

The aspect ratio of the screen is 16:9, which will seem interesting to many to watch the video, but here who loves how. I don't see any problem in watching videos on iPad (4:3). In my opinion, the screen quality in this tablet is one of the best and gives clear Samsung benefits. However, this is not surprising - it is in terms of the quality of the screens that the company has always outperformed its competitors. And if in the past the backlog from the iPad with the Retina screen was noticeable, now it is gone - these screens can be safely compared with each other.

USB, Bluetooth, communication capabilities

Bluetooth. Bluetooth version 4.0 (LE). When transferring files to other devices that support this technology, Wi-Fi 802.11 n is used, and the theoretical transfer speed is about 24 Mbps. Checking the transfer of 1 GB of the file showed top speed about 12 Mbps within three meters between devices.

The model supports various profiles, in particular Headset, Handsfree, Serial Port, Dial Up Networking, File Transfer, Object Push, Basic Printing, SIM Access, A2DP. Working with headsets does not raise any questions, everything is ordinary.

USB connection. In Android 4, for some reason, they abandoned the USB Mass Storage mode, leaving only MTP (there is also a PTP mode).

USB version- 3, data transfer rate - about 45 Mb / s.

When connected to a PC, simultaneous operation of USB and Bluetooth is unacceptable, the device requires Bluetooth to be turned off regardless of the current state (whether there is a connection and transmission, or not), this is extremely inconvenient. When connected via USB, the device is charged.

The microUSB connector also supports the MHL standard, which means that using a special cable (available from electronics stores) you can connect your phone to a TV (to the HDMI output). In fact, the standard describes the ability to connect via microUSB to HDMI. This solution looks more preferable than a separate miniHDMI-connector on the case.

For GSM networks, EDGE class 12 is provided.

WiFi. 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac is supported, the wizard is similar to that for Bluetooth. You can remember the selected networks, automatically connect to them. It is possible to set up a connection to the router with one touch, for this you need to press a key on the router, and also activate a similar button in the device's menu (WPA SecureEasySetup). Of the additional options, it is worth noting the setup wizard, it appears when the signal is weak or disappears. You can also set up Wi-Fi operation Scheduled.

HT40 mode of operation is also supported for 802.11n, which doubles the throughput Wi-Fi (requires support from another device).

WiFi Direct. A protocol that aims to replace Bluetooth or compete with its third version (it also uses Wi-Fi version n to transfer large files). On the menu WiFi settings select the Wi-Fi Direct section, the phone starts looking for devices around. Choose desired device, activate the connection on it, and voila. Now in file manager You can view files on another device and also transfer them. Another option is to simply find the devices connected to your router and transfer the necessary files to them, this can be done from the gallery or other sections of the phone. The main thing is that the device supports Wi-Fi Direct.

NFC. The device has NFC technology, it can be used with various additional applications.

S Beam. A technology that allows you to transfer a file of several gigabytes to another phone in a few minutes. In fact, we see in S Beam a combination of two technologies - NFC and Wi-Fi Direct. The first technology is used to bring and authorize phones, but the second is already used to transfer the files themselves. Creatively redesigned way Wi-Fi usage Direct is much easier than using a connection on two machines, selecting files, and so on.

IR port. Required to use the phone as a remote control for various household appliances. Automatically configured for almost any model of equipment.

Memory, RAM, platform and performance

The model is available in several versions - the amount of memory can be equal to 16 or 32 GB, the amount of RAM is always 3 GB. After downloading, the amount of free RAM exceeds 1.2 GB, but it quickly decreases to 300-400 MB and stays around this mark. This does not have any effect on performance, it is almost impossible to see the brakes.

Memory cards are supported up to 64 GB, however, as well as their "hot" replacement.

The tablet sold in Russia is based on the Samsung Exynos Octa 5420, an octa-core processor with 4 Cortex A15 cores running at up to 1.9 GHz and four Cortex A7 cores running at up to 1.3 GHz.

From an interface point of view, everything works quite quickly, although sometimes you can see stuttering in standard programs that quickly disappear and appear in a chaotic way - this is the contribution that Samsung's proprietary shell brings. In synthetic tests, the tablet shows good results.

Camera

Conventional 8-megapixel camera, no autofocus, unlike latest generation Tab Pro/ Note Pro, which first used an autofocus camera, although the resolution was not changed. Examples of several pictures. In my opinion, the camera in the tablet is something that you rarely use - an extra feature.

Battery

The tablet has a 8220 mAh battery, according to the manufacturer, it can play video up to 10 hours, music - up to 117 hours, surf the Internet (3G or Wi-Fi, it doesn't matter) - up to 9 hours. In practice, these results can be safely considered ideal, since the operating time is about half less - for example, watching a video in FullHD (avi, hardware acceleration, 70 percent backlight) gives about 6 hours of work. Even changing the backlight to the minimum does not give a runtime of 10 hours. When navigating the web with a backlight of 50 percent, we can say that the operating time is about 4-5 hours. On average, with not very active use, the tablet will work quietly for 5-6 days. With very active use - 1 full day.

The time to fully charge the battery is just over 5 hours (2A charger included). You can safely leave the tablet overnight, this is more a minus than a plus - but all modern tablets differ in this, including the iPad, which does not win much in this parameter. On the other hand, the iPad's battery life remains the benchmark for the tablet market - it's actually an honest 10 hours of video, even if all formats are not supported out of the box. Two years ago, the gap in terms of work time was almost twofold, today it has decreased to 1.5 times, but it still differs markedly. This parameter should be considered if you need a tablet with the longest battery life, and electrical network not available most of the time.

Working with the stylus - features of the Note line

All devices of the Note family are maximally unified - the same stylus, the quality of text recognition, pen pressure on the screen, software features. Only the screen size differs, and 10.1 inches of the tablet is the most convenient option for drawing, creating graphs and the like. In the video about this tablet, I touched a bit on multitasking as well as S-Pen features, but it's worth repeating their description of their Note 3 review for those unfamiliar with such products.

IN S Action all notes are recognized, they can be linked to actions, so you enter an entry to call such and such, the phone recognizes it and adds it to the calendar or gives you the opportunity to call at the right time from phone book. The function is not too popular and amazing, perhaps the most useless of all.

scrapbook- an application that allows you to save text, pictures, and so on from the screen, you circle the desired piece of the page and then select a category. Everything is saved in one place, including the video. A nice feature that might be interesting as an analogue, albeit weaker, of Evernote. The advantage is that this feature is built into the phone.

S Finder- universal search by phone and its memory, searches for data in all applications without exception (you can, however, set up places where you should not look for anything).

Pen Window- draw a square on the screen, and a window of the size that you drew appears, it contains application icons. In fact, this is a pop-up window that you may need when you are working somewhere and want to, for example, calculate something in a calculator. It hangs over the main window and can be closed at any time. Comfortable.

Application S note updated, it has synchronization with Evernote (!), Enough user-friendly interface to work with notes, you can see several pages, which is extremely convenient compared to current version. I highly recommend watching a video about this application to share my enthusiasm - one of the most interesting programs on the phone.

IN Multi Window now you can open the same application in two parts of the window, for example, you can talk in IM messenger with two different friends at the same time. But the best feature is that you can copy a message from one part of the window to another.

Multimedia features

In terms of music and video playback, this tablet compares favorably with both the iPad and most Android brethren. Most codecs are supported out of the box, no dancing with a tambourine and installation additional software. The following codecs are supported for video: AVI, MP4, M4V, 3GP, MKV, WMV, ASF, FLV, WEBM: MP4, H.263, H.264, VC-1, VP8, WMV7/8, Sorenson Spark, MP43.

Audio - MP3, M4A, 3GA, AAC, OGG, OGA, WAV, WMA, AMR, AWB, FLAC, MIDI, XMF, MXMF, IMY, RTTTL, RTX, OTA Codecs: : MP3, AAC, AAC+, eAAC+, M4A , 3GA, OGG, WMA, WAV, FLAC, AMR-WB, AMR-NB, MIDI, SP-MIDI, XMF, i-Melody.

The sound quality is excellent - the model has no complaints, the music sounds very good in headphones. When watching a video, the stereo speakers have a sufficient volume margin, although they are not always enough.

Software Features - Android 4.3 and TouchWiz

The tablet initially runs Android 4.3, and will soon be upgraded to 4.4.2. The TouchWiz shell is somewhat different from the latest generation of devices, it will also undergo changes. There is no point in describing the standard functionality, this is the good old Android, which is known to everyone.

Below are screenshots of the main functions of the tablet. Separately, I will mention that along with the tablet you get a subscription to Businessweek for 1 year, several weeks of a subscription to the New York Times. Also 50 GB space on Dropbox, they will be valid for 2 years.

Impression

The 3G version can be used as a phone with any wired and wireless headset, in fact, this is an ordinary smartphone, albeit in large sizes. This is another unique feature that distinguishes this device from the iPad, making it more interesting in terms of usage scenarios (SMS, voice calls, whatsapp, etc.).

In my opinion, the Galaxy Note 10.1 2014 Edition has a lot of possibilities, it is a combine from which everyone will choose what they need. It can be both a working tool and a tablet for games - it all depends on what you need. In the segment of Android devices, there are no direct alternatives to this device, other manufacturers do not work with a stylus (in any case, such a quality and with such a set of additional programs), there is no possibility of multitasking (pop-up applications, as well as division into two or even three windows) .

To some extent, this tablet is competed with Note Pro models, which are just starting to appear on the market, but in Russia, models with a diagonal of 10.1 inches will not be officially presented. Another point is that the cost of such models due to a larger set of programs, in particular, Hancom Office (a full replacement for MS Office), is higher. Do I need to overpay for the same or almost the same hardware and additional software? The question remains open. For those who don't need a pen, the Galaxy Tab Pro is worth a look, it's the same but without the stylus.

Given the unification software in Samsung tablets, I think that it is necessary to write a separate material in which all standard functions will be considered in detail - they are the same for all devices. Such material will appear in the near future.

It remains to look at the cost of this solution - the 3G / 32GB version costs about 29,990 rubles, the younger 3G / 16GB - 26 thousand rubles. These prices are quite comparable to those for the iPad Air with 3G, which leaves the buyer with a difficult choice. In my opinion, this is the choice not only of the brand, but of the platform that is closer and more understandable to you, more convenient in everyday life. Both of them have their pluses.

As a short afterword, I want to say that I treated Note 10.1 2014 Edition with a certain prejudice, especially as an iPad user. I could not fall in love with this device after a few months of use, there is no emotional component in it that would attract. But as a tool, it is a very powerful machine that has quietly taken its place in my life. She would have a little charisma, and it would have turned out to be a bestseller - but for now it's just good tool. Therefore, there is an iPad and here is a tablet that is used on a daily basis for work. There is no ideal in life, but it's a pity.

Related links

In January 2014, Samsung Corporation introduced the following new items - Samsung 2014 tablets in the amount of as many as 5 pieces. As you can see, the company did not waste time in vain, presenting its users with both budget and rather expensive options.
Samsung's new 2014 models are no worse than their predecessors. Let's try to briefly tell you about them.
So, meet:

Samsung Galaxy Note Pro 12.2

The powerful tablet computer Samsung Galaxy Note Pro12.2, thanks to its creators, has become the owner of a huge screen of 12.20 inches and a resolution of 1600x2560 pixels. As for the filling, it did not let us down either - the most powerful 2300 MHz processor is enclosed in an ultra-thin shell. In this tablet we will find a processor. system Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 into 4 cores, Krait 400 and Adreno 330 video system.
Tablet Samsung novelty 2014 is running the latest operating system Android 4.4 KitKat. At the same time, the creators of the tablet left him the already beloved design, not forgetting to change his graphical interface.

This large screen tablet (the largest to date) was the pinnacle of Samsung's creation. It is he who is now called the future favorite of lovers of large tablets with powerful processor. It is also called the pinnacle of the newest model line. samsung galaxy Note Pro.
The Samsung tablet, new in 2014, has become one of the few that has a powerful rear camera with flash - only a few eminent manufacturers equip their best models with them.

In addition, the novelty will appeal to those users who need tablets with a stylus for drawing. big screen in this case, it will only be an advantage. The screen of the tablet has a special glass coating that is resistant to scratches.
New Samsung - tablets of the Samsung Galaxy Note Pro line during testing showed one of the best performance among this type of gadget.

It is assumed that this new Samsung tablet in 2014 will cost around 40 thousand rubles.

Samsung Galaxy Tab Pro 12.2

Another tablet with a large screen of 12.20 inches. In general, it represents the same as the Galaxy Note Pro, but has a number of features. It does not have an s-pen, and there is no slot for it, although you can still use this device if you wish. In addition, the Galaxy Tab Pro 12.2 is somewhat lighter than its older counterpart. Otherwise, it is not inferior in terms of power, performance, or functionality. It can be called almost a twin.

Samsung Galaxy Tab Pro 10.1

This Samsung tablet new in 2014 has a chic resolution, although its screen size is slightly smaller - 10.10 inches. A very thin body hides the most powerful hardware running the latest Android 4.4 KitKat OS. The 2300 MHz processor, Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 in 4 cores, Krait 400, Adreno 330 video processor - this is its stuffing, which will ensure reliable and stable operation.
Unlike the Galaxy Tab Pro12.2, it not only has smaller size screen - the developers decided to endow it with a smaller amount of RAM (2 GB versus 3 GB for the 12.2 model). It also has less permanent memory (32 GB versus 64 GB). In addition, this Samsung tablet new 2014 has a smaller battery capacity. Otherwise, it remains a very reliable, powerful and stable tablet - one of the best at the moment.

Samsung Galaxy Tab Pro 8.4

The relatively small screen of this tablet at 8.4 inches has a very high screen resolution - 1600x2560 pixels.
Tablet Galaxy Tab Pro 8.4 is available in two versions. One of them supports LTE technology, while the second one is equipped only with a 3G module. This time, Samsung has changed its rule to supply tablets with 3G Exynos processor. Therefore, New Samsung - Tab Pro 8.4 tablets will work on a different one.

Hardware specifications: 2300 MHz, Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 in 4 cores, Krait 400, Adreno 330 video processor. Internal memory 2 GB and permanent 32 GB. Like previous versions of tablets, the Pro 8.4 comes with Android 4.4 KitKat. The tablet has a built-in powerful camera with a flash.
As you can see, these new Samsung tablets are also worthy contenders for the love of many users.

Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 Lite 7.0

Samsung's most compact tablet - new for January 2014. Samsung positions it as a budget option. Its screen is in the very common category of 7-inch displays. The screen resolution is 600 x 1024 pixels.

The Samsung tablet new Galaxy Tab 3 Lite 7.0 has the following filling characteristics: 1200 MHz, 2 Cortex-A9 cores, Marvell PXA986, Vivante GC1000.
Manufacturers decided to allocate 1GB to it internal memory and 8 GB - permanent. In addition, they forgot (?) to give it a front camera. But there is a GLONASS module. You can connect to the Internet using the HSDPA 21.1 Mbps protocols, as well as the HSUPA 5.76 Mbps protocols, EDGE, or via a Wi-Fi module.

Available in two color options: black and white.

As we see. Samsung tried to release new models for different consumers. See and choose!

Every time, sitting down to describe Samsung Android tablets, journalists are torn to pieces by their unwillingness to describe the standard features of Android or TouchWiz for the hundredth time, or refer to tablet reviews that were written a little earlier. The site has a good tradition of reviewing standard features for each platform, and we have a similar review of standard features for both Android and TouchWiz. Unfortunately, in 2014, many functions from Samsung received updates, new utilities appeared that were not included in those materials. We had to focus on the unique features of the products, losing sight of what is important to many. There was no system material that would show the difference between the products, and also focused specifically on the version of Android for tablets - de facto, this is exactly the same Android and the same version, but with a number of serious differences in the UI and ergonomics. The purpose of this material is to describe all the standard features, additional features, and at the same time distribute the families of Samsung tablets so that you can easily navigate them and understand the differences. This material will be the main and additional to the reviews of most Samsung tablets, at least until the second quarter of 2015, when we will see the next serious android update and all the features described below.

Samsung tablet families – Galaxy Tab, Galaxy Tab Pro, Galaxy Note, Galaxy Note Pro

Despite the fact that all Samsung tablets are based on the same software, their additional features vary greatly and depend primarily on which product line the device belongs to. Initially, all tablets were part of the Galaxy Tab family - you can consider them basic models. Then came the Note tablets, which added a stylus and an additional screen digitizer, which allows you to draw on it with very high detail. The next family is the Pro line tablets, they differ additional programs and can be built on the basis of both the Tab and Note lines - Tab Pro and, accordingly, Note Pro. For ease of understanding, I propose this family diagram.

It turns out that with the same screen diagonal, the price step from the simplest Tab to Tab Pro is 1.5-3 thousand rubles, while maintaining other characteristics - memory, the presence or absence of 3G. In the Note family, the price step increases even more, since we have two upgrades from the main Tab.

The text will not highlight standard features for all tablets, but where a feature or program becomes unique, it is indicated in the family aspect. For example, talking about Hancom Office, I will note that this program is preinstalled only on Pro family tablets. Or, speaking of S Note, I will point out that this utility works on tablets of the Note family. In my opinion, the division of tablets into families is not very difficult, and you can easily figure out what exactly you need and how much these features are worth it to overpay for them.

In order not to miss anything, the review of functions and programs was made on the basis of the Galaxy Note Pro 12.2 with a 3G module, that is, this is the most functional tablet in the line. All described functions are typical for Android 4.4 and higher, if your tablet is built on Android 4.3, then some of the functions, UI settings may differ slightly. The good news is that such a tablet will receive an update to 4.4 and all the features described will appear.

Magazine UI - Pro line

The most significant difference of the Pro line is the Magazine UI interface, which is installed on the main screen of tablets and to some extent repeats the tiles of Windows 8. Tiles can be changed in size, places, but you are limited only by the set that Samsung provided - about two dozen applications , as well as widgets.

Some may like this approach, some may not - but additional screens can be formed to your liking and placed on them with ordinary Android widgets, links to programs. It turns out a kind of mixture, from which everyone can choose what is closer to him. There is no special meaning in the Magazine UI, this interface was clearly created to compete with Windows 8 devices that Samsung abandoned. The similarity to the interface is also given by the fact that the sidebar in the Magazine UI leaves the same way as in Windows 8, only it serves to call applications in multi-window mode.

The value of the Magazine UI is close to zero, it's a marketing gimmick that any user can refuse. But if you like tiles, then this option is for you.

TouchWiz interface - home screen, widgets

The main screen displays shortcuts to applications, widgets, you can add new screens and switch between them by scrolling.

In the main menu, you can see application icons or folders with them, create your own folders, sort applications.

There are also widgets that can be installed on main screen. There are no special differences from the “bare” Android, the principle of operation is exactly the same.

Starting with Android 4.4, the Menu key is being abandoned, it is replaced by the button of the last running applications, a line with them appears at the bottom of the screen. You can close the application by sliding it up with your finger.

All settings for applications or screens are made from the menu, you access it using the soft key.

Pulling the screen from top to bottom, you will see a curtain with information about recent actions, as well as with quick shortcuts for changing certain tablet settings.

Keyboard, text input, voice dialing

Let me remind you that in Android, the user can install any keyboard, set of languages, and therefore the capabilities of the built-in keyboards do not play a big role, everything is configured here. Nevertheless, Samsung creates quite good and convenient solutions - you can choose a full-screen keyboard, a small QWERTY keyboard that moves around the screen and takes up little space (relevant on tablets with large diagonals), as well as a two-part keyboard that is located on two sides screen.

Handwriting is supported on all tablets, it can be done with a stylus, or you can write with your finger. Recognition is in all languages ​​installed in the system (usually English and a second language).

It is possible to activate the continuous input mode, with which you can enter words without lifting your finger from the keyboard, moving between letters. It's pretty convenient. T9 tips work well in most cases, there is auto-correction of words, its own dictionary for new words.

Copying and pasting works between all applications, everything is implemented as standard, as in pure Android.

By number of standard input methods android text is the leader in the tablet market, Samsung offers even more sophisticated systems out of the box, but many do not see them, as they are content with standard settings.

Multitasking - MultiView mode and application launch

For the first time, multitasking, other than the standard switching between applications in Android, appeared on phones of the Note family, it was the simultaneous work in two applications that were placed on two sides of the screen and divided it equally. This mode appeared in all tablets of the company in 2014, regardless of which line they belong to. Now the window can even be divided into three parts, each will run its own application. For example, you can start a video player, watch a page on the Internet and at the same time read something in third party application. The size of these windows can be changed at your discretion, you can move some of them to the side and remove them from the screen (at the same time running applications will work, for example, when watching a YouTube video, such viewing will not stop, you will hear the sound and will be able to work with music). I talk about this mode in detail in the Galaxy Note Pro 12.2 video review.

Improved work in several windows and the fact that in the settings you can specify their automatic opening. For example, in the Twitter application, you click on a link, immediately the screen is divided into two parts, and in a normal browser you read this link, then you can hide this part of the window and return to twitter.

Between simultaneously open applications, you can copy information - you can select text and transfer it to another window. You can also copy photos to a new letter. In a word, working in several windows gives new opportunities and gains in time - you get used to these conveniences instantly.

The Note line also has shortcuts to applications, each of which can be hidden as a small icon. This is very convenient, as it allows you to keep functions such as a calculator, calendar, notes and others always at hand. A kind of multitasking, but it is available only in the Note family.

None of the tablets from other Android manufacturers have anything like the listed functions yet, these are unique features of the Samsung line.

Office applications - Pro line and regular tablets

The main difference of the Pro line is that for the first time the office suite of the South Korean company Hancom is used here, which was known under the commercial name ThinkFree, but differed greatly in functionality. The package on Pro tablets actually includes an MS Office-level desktop application that has full compatibility With doc files, docx and others, for different versions MS office.

There are three applications in the package - Hword, Hcell, Hpresentation. From the names it is clear what each of the applications is responsible for. For the first time on Android, there is an auto-save feature that works great when the app is active and on the screen. When switching between applications, this function may not always work, so it is worth setting autosave for a minimum period of time - especially since this does not affect performance.

It makes no sense to describe each program from the package, I will focus on key features. There is built-in support for fonts other than the system ones in Android - that is, when you send or receive a file by mail, you are guaranteed to read it, since the main fonts are installed in the system along with the office suite. You also have the option to install additional fonts.

In addition to supporting all office formats, you can save your files to PDF, no additional conversions or actions are required, everything happens in one click. The package is designed to work with touch screen, all control is carried out by fingers, and it is very convenient. After checking the performance of the program on different tables, office files, I can say that it is the maximum and is inferior, perhaps only to the original MS Office. This Hancom suite is the first real alternative to the traditional Microsoft tablet software suite. And a very strong alternative, as it offers the same features that will satisfy the vast majority of users. It is possible that some specific functions may not work, but these are already such niche things that it is not worth looking for them specifically. In South Korea, a similar package from Hancom on a PC is used in many institutions, and there are no serious complaints about it.

To understand the quality of the software, I suggest you look at the screenshots of individual applications, I think they will speak for themselves.

HPpresentation:

In the line of conventional tablets, PolarisOffice is installed by default, this free program to view MS Office files, the full-featured editing version must be purchased separately. Considering that a license for Hancom Office separately will cost significantly more than the price difference between the regular and Pro versions of tablets, it is possible that those who work in such applications should look at older tablets, it is more profitable.

Note family - unique features and programs

Just like in phones of the Note family, tablets have a stylus and also a number of additional features. Formally, the functionality of these applications on phones and tablets is no different. I talked about what Air Command can do, and in great detail, in the Note 3 review, you can watch the corresponding video.

IN S Action now all notes are recognized, they can be linked to actions, so, you enter an entry to call such and such, the phone recognizes it and adds it to the calendar or makes it possible to call from the phone book at the right time. The function is not too popular and amazing, perhaps the most useless of all.

scrapbook- an application that allows you to save text, pictures, and so on from the screen, you circle the desired piece of the page and then select a category. Everything is saved in one place, including the video. A nice feature that might be interesting as an analogue, albeit weaker, of Evernote. The advantage is that this feature is built into the tablet. When you recognize a section of a page with text, even if it's a picture, you also get text file, which you can copy anywhere.

S Finder- universal search by phone and its memory, searches for data in all applications without exception (you can, however, set up places where you should not look for anything).

Pen Window- draw a square on the screen, and a window of the size that you drew appears, it contains application icons. In fact, this is a pop-up window that you may need when you are working somewhere and want to, for example, calculate something in a calculator. It hangs over the main window and can be closed at any time. Comfortable.

Application S note updated, it has synchronization with Evernote (!), a fairly convenient interface for working with notes, you can see several pages, which is extremely convenient compared to the current version.

Of the additional features associated with the S-Pen, it should be noted the ability to lock the screen of the tablet with a signature, and you can also configure the launch of certain applications using a stroke of the pen. In my opinion, this is not very convenient, but perhaps someone will think otherwise.

I emphasize that the capabilities of the S-Pen in terms of accuracy of entering information, drawing are superior to any tablet on the market only because Wacom digitizers are used in the entire Note family - that is, this is a software and hardware technology.

Multimedia features - music and video

Regardless of the family to which the tablet belongs, all of its multimedia features match up. Most codecs are supported out of the box, no dancing with a tambourine and installing additional software. The following codecs are supported for video: AVI, MP4, M4V, 3GP, MKV, WMV, ASF, FLV, WEBM: MP4, H.263, H.264, VC-1, VP8, WMV7/8, Sorenson Spark, MP43.

Audio - MP3, M4A, 3GA, AAC, OGG, OGA, WAV, WMA, AMR, AWB, FLAC, MIDI, XMF, MXMF, IMY, RTTTL, RTX, OTA Codecs: : MP3, AAC, AAC+, eAAC+, M4A , 3GA, OGG, WMA, WAV, FLAC, AMR-WB, AMR-NB, MIDI, SP-MIDI, XMF, i-Melody.

Samsung's stock Music app supports a range of additional features- for example, a musical square, allows you to divide music by mood, speed, and so on. The program interface is quite simple, there is integration with music services from Samsung, advanced settings you can find equalizers. You can also adjust the playback speed - from 0.5x to 2x.

The Videos app is a catalog of all the videos on the device, as well as in the cloud, such as Samsung's video store. Fast rewind, video geometry change, FullHD playback and hardware acceleration are supported. Opportunities standard application quite suitable for most users.

File Manager

Proprietary utility, which allows you not only to view folders and files on the device, but is able to show folders in cloud storage, as well as ftp sites if you connect them. Sorting, searching, as well as specifying the file extension - the program's capabilities are maximum.

Smart Remote (for models with IR port)

All models of 2014 are equipped with an infrared port to control household appliances, it is configured in a few touches, and then you can use the tablet as a remote control.

Mail client

Supports POP3 / IMAP / SMTP mailboxes, up to several accounts, a consolidated folder with important messages, a view in which the screen can be divided into several columns. View HTML in the body of the email. Sorting and searching.

The email client has some very advanced features, including creating your own filters or maintaining the ones set up on your work machine. In terms of quality, it outperforms all third-party solutions, more difficult than branded mail client by Google for Gmail.

S Planner

The Samsung calendar has several interesting views, looks and functionality overrides the standard Google calendar. Enough handy application, which can be synchronized with any cloud calendar, including those from Google.

Contacts

Plain Notebook from Android, with a number of additions - a line of letters in two languages, that is, the search can be carried out both in Russian and in English. Synchronization of contacts with both Google and any other services, including those from Samsung.

Messages

The ability to send and receive regular SMS, all settings are standard. De facto, Samsung tablets with a 3G / 4G module can be used as phones - all you need is a wired or wireless headset.

S Voice

Voice assistant, which accepts commands and allows you to quickly write a note or write a message. The number of commands is large enough, recognition works well. An analogue of Siri, but without imagination - it copes with its tasks perfectly, especially if you do not wait for a meaningful conversation in response, but enter information according to a template. A rarely used feature by most.

Settings

It makes no sense to describe each of the possible settings, in the screenshots you will see everything that is possible, they speak for themselves.

In the dry residue - conclusion

My attempt to embrace the immensity threatened to develop into detailed analysis every little thing in tablet software that the vast majority of people do not need. Left overboard are programs such as ChatOn, Dropbox, RemoteControl and others - they are either well known to you or not of great practical interest. There is no point in wasting your time on these minor details - the differences between tablets of different families are described above and the standard functions are briefly listed.

From a software point of view, Samsung tablets have gone a long way from pure versions of Android - they have a number of unique features, in particular, multitasking in several windows, the ability to copy information between them. The Note line has maximum opportunities for working with a stylus - you can draw, write by hand, and also call additional applications, which is also a kind of multitasking. Competing solutions on Android simply do not have anything like this, however, as in the iPad, such opportunities do not exist.

From the point of view of functionality, the models of the Note family give the maximum possible, but here you need to understand how often you will need a stylus, it has a number of nice features. For example, I like that when I cut out a picture with text, I instantly get the same text, it is recognized. For copying text from flyers or graphics, this is the only tool on the market. For everyday life, you can choose ordinary devices from the Tab line, there is nothing superfluous and complicated in them.

I hope that this text helped you understand the differences in software in different families of tablets from Samsung, and below I will provide links to reviews of tablets in 2014, which will gradually appear on the site.

Related links

The twenty-first century is the time computer technology. Over the past five years, the world has seen many innovations that previously did not come to mind. With regards to this year, we can say that the popularity of tablet computers has clearly increased in the first half of the year. This is explained by the fact that such a compact gadget can easily be placed in a backpack or handbag, and it also has technical characteristics on par with leading smartphones, and in some ways even surpasses them. Every third person runs to the store for a tablet, but before the buying process itself, of course, they ask themselves the question: what device is the best in terms of price and quality? Today's publication will help you make a choice or, at least, push you in the right direction. Your attention Top 10 best tablets over the past eight months.

TOP 10 best tablets of 2014

All devices are arranged in a chaotic manner, since it is rather difficult to determine the best due to different costs and characteristics. As they say, each product has its own buyer, therefore the rating was compiled based on sales statistics.

Tenth place. If a few years ago, many technology lovers considered 7-inch tablets to be unrealistically huge, today this is quite a standard figure. Much more demand has found devices with eight-inch displays, which include Yoga 8. The screen is made using "IPS" technology, and its resolution is 1280 by 800 pixels. The picture does not lose brightness and saturation at any viewing angle. The device is running an operating room Android systems 4.2.2. The ARM Cortex-A7 processor is responsible for processing graphic data and other information, which has four cores operating at a clock frequency of 1.2 GHz. On board the device is a 5-megapixel rear camera and 1.5-megapixel front. All of these advantages are neatly hidden under an aluminum case with a metal frame. Quite interesting is the fact that Yoga 8 is the only tablet from the rating that can function without additional charging for eighteen hours.

Ninth place. On this step of the rating is the French tablet computer 80 Titanium. The first, and perhaps the main, of its advantages is its low price. The cost of the device ranges from 170 USD. From the technical stuffing it is worth highlighting dual core processor ARM Cortex A9 running at 1.6 GHz. As for the display, it is made using "IPS screen" technology, its diagonal is eight inches, and the resolution is 1024 by 768 pixels. Controls the execution of Android OS version 4.1 tasks. Archos has two cameras, which is not typical for most of its budget counterparts. The user is provided with eight gigabytes of internal memory. There is a microSD slot for expansion. Input and output of information is carried out through USB connectors, Micro USB 2.0, and mini HDMI. The relative disadvantages include a short operating time from a single charge - about five hours. Owners of the Archos 80 Titanium can feel special as they receive a special Archos Media Center firmware that opens up rich multimedia possibilities.

Eighth place. Kindle Fire HD is the cheap and angry choice. The cost of this technological miracle is about 99 US dollars. The American manufacturer has finally released an updated version of the popular tablet in 2012. Of the advantages of the device, a good picture should be highlighted, which is provided by a seven-inch LCD display with a resolution of 1024 by 600 pixels. It is worth mentioning the long operation from a single charge - up to nine hours. Kindle Fire is running Android 4.0.3 and is upgradable. The owner of the device will have at its disposal eight gigabytes of memory. Disadvantages, in general, you should not scold too much, because this is a budget device. The lack of a camera for such modest money is far from the biggest problem.

Seventh place. Lenovo Idea Tab The A1000L costs even less than the previous tablet in the ranking. Device cost: $90. From the most massive manufacturer of laptops, Lenovo switched to the mobile segment. This year, the company regularly occupies high positions in various ratings. The main advantage of the IdeaTab A1000L is also the battery life. Other characteristics also look good: Android 4.1 Jelly Bean operating system, Mediatek 8317 dual-core processor chip, operating at a frequency of 1.2 GHz, eight gigabytes of internal memory and 500 megabytes of RAM. A few words about the display: a seven-inch screen made using "IPS" technology, its resolution is 1024 by 600 pixels.

Sixth place. On this step is the brainchild of the Korean manufacturer Galaxy Tab 3. The tablet computer is one of the elite devices in its segment. The first thing that attracts attention is the eight-inch display with a resolution of 1280 by 800 pixels. The screen itself is divided into two halves. The tablet is equipped with a proprietary Exynos dual-core processor with a clock speed of 1.5 GHz. For data storage, 16 gigabytes of internal and 1.5 gigabytes of RAM are provided, which makes it easy to play demanding applications and perform multiple tasks at the same time. The Galaxy Tab 3 is based on the Android 4.2.2 operating system. The rear camera, which is not bad by the standards of tablets, deserves a couple of words, which is equipped with a 5-megapixel matrix. The front video camera for communication has 1.3 megapixels. The battery holds a charge for eleven hours. The case is very thin, and the device itself, despite its size, fits comfortably in the hands. Its additional features include an electronic wand that allows you to write in capital letters.

Fifth place. The next on the list is MeMo Pad 8, a device that attracts attention with its appearance and solid features. Incredible lightness and ease of use is ensured by a thin body, the width of which is 127 millimeters. The tablet is equipped with a quad-core processor with a frequency of 1.6 GHz. All processes are controlled by the Android 4.2 operating system. The MeMo Pad 8 has a 5-megapixel main camera and a 2-megapixel front camera. You can view photos and play games on a chic display made using HD IPS technology. The user has access to sixteen gigabytes of internal memory. Additional features include Asus SonicMaster and Audio Wizard audio playback technologies.

Fourth place. In the case when the cost of the tablet is $ 100, few will take seriously its weaknesses. True, in the case of Streak 7, there will be practically no dissatisfaction, since we are talking about cool budget device. Pretty good seven-inch screen displays with a resolution of 800 by 400 pixels displays a normal picture. Pleases dual-core processor Nvidia Tegra T20 with a clock frequency of one gigahertz. Pumped up version operating system, Dell has Android 2.2 installed - minimum requirement most recent applications. The owner of the device was given as much as sixteen gigabytes of internal memory. The developers even built a modest camera with a 1.3 megapixel matrix. The Dell Streak 7 has become one of the best-selling tablets overseas due to its pricing and features.

Third place. Toshiba Excite 7c AT7-B8 is a bright representative of budget tablets. The manufacturer of high-quality TVs switched to computer equipment, the result was an inexpensive, but productive device. A key indicator is a good seven-inch screen with a resolution of 1024 by 600 pixels. Data processing takes on a dual-core ARM Cortex-A9 chip, whose frequency is one gigahertz. For a price of $99, Excite is equipped with a modest camera - only a 0.3-megapixel, exactly the same sensors were on phones a decade ago. Compensates this shortcoming long operating time without recharging - almost twelve hours. Built-in memory - 8 GB, operational - 1 GB. The version of the Android operating system is 4.2.2 Jelly Bean, which is quite relevant for today.

Second place. The G Pad 8.3 is definitely one of the top tablet PCs. And the price of the device is not so high. Specifications are on top. So, the first thing worth noting is the chic display with a diagonal of 8.3 inches. The screen has a resolution of 1920 by 1200 pixels, which guarantees a high-quality and detailed picture. The device is equipped with Android 4.2.2 OS. With demanding applications, there will be no problem, since the tablet is equipped with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 600 quad-core processor, which operates at a frequency of 1.7 GHz. Thanks to the large amount of RAM - as much as two gigabytes - the device can easily cope with several tasks at the same time. The internal memory is 16 gigabytes. The creators equipped their creation with a five-megapixel main and a 1.3-megapixel front cameras. With regards to additional modules and multimedia elements, the LG G Pad 8.3 has a standard set.

First place. Despite the fact that the vast majority of positions are occupied by android devices, the rating will not be complete without a tablet from the world-famous American manufacturer Apple. iPad mini Retina sold out in wide circulation and thoroughly pleased fans apple products. The device operates under iOS 6, which has become famous for its simplicity and versatility. The 7.9-inch display has a truly gorgeous resolution of 2048 by 1536 pixels. The rear camera takes clear pictures thanks to a five-megapixel matrix. Apple iPad mini Retina is distributed in four versions 16/32/64/128 gigabytes, with regards to the amount of internal memory, it is the same everywhere - one gigabyte. With games and demanding applications, there will be no problem, since the device has a 64-bit Apple A7 processor, which has two cores running at a clock speed of 1400 megahertz.

So the ranking of the best and best-selling tablet devices of the first half of 2014 has come to an end. But it would be unfair not to mention the most productive and technically advanced tablet computers of our time.

Top 3 Most Advanced Tablets 2014

Apple iPad Air

Today it is the best device from the Apple segment. The main advantage of the tablet - iOS 7 0 latest version already legendary operating system. Even a person who has not held Apple products in their hands can easily understand the intuitive interface. All the necessary modules are present on board: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS, 3G, all types of networks and much more. Depending on the needs of the user, iPad Air is distributed in four versions of 16/32/64/128 gigabytes. The Apple A7 chip is responsible for data processing. The battery life is about twelve hours. The weight of the tablet is not so small - as much as 478 grams. Lovers of good software will find many useful and unique applications that open wide opportunities.

Xperia Z2 Tablet

Tablets from Sony are not widely known, but the Xperia Z2 Tablet is a real masterpiece. The first thing that attracts many users is a large display diagonal, namely as much as ten inches. Screen resolution - 1920x1200 pixels. The picture is clear and looks good at any viewing angle, which can not be said about smartphones from Sony. The amount of RAM (three gigabytes) will allow you to run the most demanding applications and programs. Built-in memory depends on the selected version of the tablet - either 16 or 32 gigabytes. There is a microSDXC slot for expansion. Battery has large capacity(6000 miles-amps), which allows you to work with the device for more than twelve hours. The main camera has an 8.1-megapixel matrix. The best part is the processor. The most powerful quad-core Snapdragon 801 with a clock frequency of 2300 megahertz. In general, there is where to roam.

Samsung Galaxy Tab Pro 8.4

Powerful, stylish, modern tablet that attracts attention with its originality and prestige. The first thing worth mentioning is the gorgeous display with a diagonal of 8.4 inches and a resolution of 2560x1600. The second is a productive processor, namely the quad-core Snapdragon 800 (2300 megahertz). Built-in memory - 16 gigabytes, operational - 2 gigabytes. You can expand the data storage with a microSDXC drive. A capacious battery - 4800 miles-amperes - allows you to operate the device for twelve hours. Fans of photography will appreciate the eight-megapixel camera. By the way, it is worth mentioning the standard set of communications for elite flagships.

Conclusion

As you already understood, dear reader, this year has brought a rich harvest of tablet computers. But apart from specifications it is necessary to take into account the cost of the device and how much it fell to the heart.