Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 vs iPad 3: Top 5 Features Compared

May 16, 2012 02:04 PM EDT

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It's been quite some time now that the third generation iPad, dubbed new iPad (or iPad 3, as some prefer to call it), is out and the latest Apple tablet is enjoying strong sales. However, rival Samsung is breathing down the neck of the tech giant, thanks to its slew of Galaxy line of tablets and the most recent 10-inch tablet from the Korean stable - Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 - could give iPad 3 a run for its money. So let's check them out and see whether Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 has what it takes to beat the iPad 3.

Display

The new iPad introduced the Retina display, with a 2048x1536 resolution on a 9.7-inch screen, while the Galaxy Tab 2 has a 1280x800 resolution on the 10.1-inch display. The iPad has 246 ppi, while the Galaxy Tab 2 has almost half - 149 ppi. The iPad is the winner here.

Design

Measuring 9.50x7.32x0.37 inches, the new iPad is one of the thinnest tablets available. The Wi-Fi only model weighs 1.44 lb, while the Wi-Fi + Cellular model - as it's now known - weighs 1.46 lb. The Galaxy Tab 2 measure 10.1x6.9x0.38 inches, an almost identical thickness. It weighs 1.3 pounds.

On the front, the Galaxy Tab 2 has a 0.3-megapixel VGA and a 3-megapixel camera on the back. The new iPad has the same resolution on the front, with support for the video chat, called Facetime, while the rear camera is 5 megapixels with support for 1080p video at 30 frames per second. Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 is a tad lighter than the new iPad but the Apple tablet is the clear winner when it comes to design and camera specs.

Software

The tablets run the latest versions of Apple and Android's operating systems - iOS 5 and Android 4.0 respectively. The Galaxy Tab 2 also runs Samsung's custom skin, TouchWiz. Ice Cream Sandwich is Google's attempt to bring Android devices closer together; Honeycomb, the the version of Android built for tablets, never released on Android smartphones.

iOS 5 is expected to be succeeded by iOS 6, which could debut as early as WWDC on June 5. Few details have leaked ahead of the announcement, apart from Apple launching a Google Maps competitor, but some users are calling for Apple to refresh the UI of the OS that launched in 2007.

It's a draw here because it all depends on whether you love iOS or prefer the more-customizable Android OS.

Internals

The processor in the Tab 2 is clocked at 1GHz and is dual-core, and the new iPad runs the 1GHz latest version of the A5 chip - the A5X.

The Tab 2 also comes in 16 and 32GB capacities, and supports expandable storage via microSD. The new iPad is available in 16, 32 and 64GB capacities with no support for expandable storage. Both tablets include a 1GB of memory; benchmark reveal the iPad's memory.

The Tab 2 includes a 7000 mAh battery, while the new iPad includes 11,560 mAh battery. The latter's is probably due to the power-hungry Retina display.

No difference in terms of CPU but the new iPad packs a quad-core GPU.

Connectivity

The new iPad includes a Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0, supports EDGE and 3G across 850, 900, 1800 and 1900 MHz spectrum bands. LTE is also supported across the 700 and 2100 MHz bands. The Wi-Fi + 4G model include LTE across 800 MHz bands. The Tab 2 offers 3G support, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth 3.0.

If you're a fan of 4G LTE and want blazing fast speeds, the new iPad's a clear winner here.

(reported by Jonathan Charles, edited by Dave Clark)