Review: Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 (7.0)

It’s getting harder and harder for me to review tablets. The reason is that, despite all of the cool new features the manufacturers keep adding to them, everyone I talk to mainly wants to use the basic functions.

I’m talking about checking email, updating Twitter and Facebook and surfing the web. And of course, downloading apps and playing games which no one says is the reason they bought their tablet but it’s what they end up spending most of their time doing.

Smaller and more affordable

So along comes the Android-based Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 (7.0). The 7.0 refers to the 7″ screen size. That’s the first thing you’ll notice that sets this tablet apart from the iPad—it’s smaller. And Amazon has already proved with its Kindle Fire that there is a market for smaller tablets. Apple will prove it soon as well when they release the upcoming (do we still call it rumored?) iPad Mini.

With all of this being said, I like the Samsung Galaxy Tab 2. It’s a very comfortable size and has a great price point. Last I checked you could pick up a Wi-Fi version on Amazon for just under $250.

The model I tested had 4G LTE built in from Verizon Wireless so it might cost a few dollars more up-front and on your monthly bill but it’s worth it in the trade-off you get with being able to use the full features of your tablet everywhere you go.

Back to the features

Let’s go back to the features for a minute. Besides being able to do all of the staples I mentioned earlier, the Galaxy Tab 2 now comes packed with a bunch of “hubs”. There’s a hub for storing all of your video content (Video Hub), a hub for storing all of your audio content (Music Hub) and a hub for storing all of your books (Readers Hub). These are all convenient but I wouldn’t call them a defining reason to get this tablet.

There’s also S Suggest which recommends apps you might like and AllShare Play which allows you to “meld digital content” from multiple devices (assuming they are made by Samsung). Again, cool features but not must-haves.

View the full list of features on the Galaxy Tab 2.

My point is this. I wouldn’t buy the Galaxy Tab 2 because it has S Suggest. I would buy it because it’s a low-cost, smaller-sized alternative to the iPad or other 10″ sized tablets like the iPad. And for most people, it serves up everything they want out of a tablet.