Samsung ATIV Tab – Review

Samsung ATIV Tab, a Windows RT based tablet, is this to be an Apple or Google competitor? My personal opinion, no. Purely because I believe that a full blown version of Windows needs to be on a desktop machine, not a tablet. Anyway…

Good Points

• Well Built
• Excellent screen
• Long Battery
• Good sound quality

Bad Points

• Expensive
• Quite heavy

The hardware

Boasting the familiar Qualcomm Snapdragon S4, accompanied by 2GB RAM, 32GB internal storage, 5-Megapixel camera and a HD display. Samsung have chosen to stick with their plastic housing instead of going metal like a few other manufacturers but its still built extremely well. Holding a 10.1″ screen capable of 1366×768 the content on the screen is clear, it’s even better with Microsoft’s cleartype.

The OS and UI

Windows, the OS seems to be missing something but I’m unsure what. You can tell your using Windows and you get that Windows Experience however, the Windows 8 theme is a new experience and one I’m not too keen on. The Start screen is smooth to scroll and the transition to the desktop or applications are smooth. What else can I say, it’s Windows.

Connectivity and Audio

The number of connectivity options on the ATIV Tab are more than adequate.

On the top right you have;

Micro SD, supports up to 64GB
Micro-HDMI, connecting your tablet to a HDTV
USB, only one but do you need more?

On the top left;

Headphone port
Power Button
Volume Rocker button
Microphone

On the bottom of the device you only have the dock connector and power port, nothing gets caught or pressed accidentally.

Last but not least, the audio. On either side of the screen there are stereo speakers, volume is ample and sound quality is very good.

Overall the device is well built, delivers a pretty good experience. Is it worth the £549 price tag? No, sorry, I don’t think it is.

Full spec

Device type: Tablet
OS: Windows (RT)
Dimensions: 10.46 x 6.62 x 0.35 inches (265.8 x 168.1 x 8.9 mm)
Weight: 20.11 oz (570 g) the average is 18.3 oz (524 g)

DISPLAY
Physical size: 10.1 inches
Resolution: 1366 x 768 pixels
Pixel density: 155 ppi
Technology: LCD
Touchscreen: Capacitive, Multi-touch
Features: Light sensor

BATTERY
Capacity: 8200 mAh

HARDWARE
System chip: Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Plus APQ8060A
Processor: Dual core, 1500 MHz, Krait
Graphics processor: Adreno 225
System memory: 2048 MB RAM
Built-in storage: 32 GB
Storage expansion: microSD, microSDHC, microSDXC up to 64 GB

CAMERA
Camera: 5 megapixels
Flash: LED
Features: Auto focus, Geo tagging
Camcorder: 1280×720 (720p HD)
Features: Video calling
Front-facing camera: 1.9 megapixels

MULTIMEDIA
Music player:
Filter by:
Album, Artist, Playlists
Features: Album art cover, Background playback
Speakers: Stereo speakers

INTERNET BROWSING
Browser: Yes
Built-in online services support: Facebook, Twitter

TECHNOLOGY
Positioning: S-GPS, Glonass
Navigation: Yes

CONNECTIVITY
Bluetooth: 4.0
Wi-Fi: 802.11 a, b, g, n
USB: USB 2.0
Connector: Full-size USB
Features: USB Host
HDMI: Micro HDMI (Type D)
Other: NFC, Computer sync, OTA sync

If you need a Windows Tablet and fancy a well built product like the ATIV Tab, Expansys have them in stock and ready to go Online.