Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 vs Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1v
Samsung will launch the Galaxy Tab 10.1 on 4 August, but how does the slimmed-down revamp compare to the original tablet of the same name?
Confused about the two tablets named Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1? Ditto. With the iPad fighters tipped to arrive in shops on 4 August, we knew it was time to sort out these wily tablet twins before they trick us into taking each others' GCSEs.
Galaxy Tab 10.1, meet Galaxy Tab 10.1v
Back in March, Samsung slimmed down its Galaxy Tab 10.1 tablet in response to the launch of the iPad 2. But it didn't do us any favours by giving its revamped, thinner tablet the same name as its predecessor -- the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1. Colour us confused as it renamed the original, fatter tablet as the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1v.
The V stands for Vodafone, because Big Red was planning to carry the tablet exclusively. But Vodafone has chucked the chubster in the belief that, following the launch of the wafer-thin iPad 2, no one would want it.
Instead, Vodafone is touting the new Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 as "coming soon" on its website.
However, that doesn't mean that the 10.1v is dead in the water. Samsung have made plenty of them, and we spotted several being used by staff at last weekend's British Grand Prix. Even though Vodafone has ditched the 10.1v, it could show up as a cheaper option from other networks or from online shops like Expansys.
What's the difference?
Unsurprisingly, the Galaxy Tab 10.1 and the Galaxy Tab 10.1v are identical in many ways. Both have equally powerful 1GHz dual-core processors and Android 3.0 Honeycomb operating systems on board. Both have 10.1-inch, 1280x800 pixel screens. But there are differences.
Despite its thicker case, there are advantages to the Galaxy Tab 10.1v. It's got a better camera and claims a longer-lasting battery, for example. Here's a breakdown of the differences. On this table, green shows the superior spec, and it's clear that a lot has been sacrificed to put the Galaxy Tab 10.1 in the same ballpark as the 8.8mm-thick iPad 2.
| Galaxy Tab 10.1 | Galaxy Tab 10.1v | |
| Dimensions | 256.7x175.3mm | 246.2x170.4mm |
| Thickness | 8.6mm | 10.99mm |
| Weight | 565g | 589g |
| Rear camera | 3 megapixels with LED flash | 8 megapixels with LED Flash |
| Video recording | 720p HD | 1020p HD |
| Battery | 7000mAh claims 9 hours of video | 6860mAh battery claims 10 hours of video |
Which one should I get?
Now that it's been axed by Vodafone, the Galaxy Tab 10.1v is likely to be rarer than a unicorn zebra. It's obvious that Samsung thinks that thinness is better than things like camera resolution and other specs, and the hordes of us shelling out for the comparitively low-specced iPad 2 seem to agree. Both Tabs promise plenty of speed and power, and that's the important thing. Unless you've got the arm muscles of Jeff Capes, we agree with Samsung that slimmer is better. Get the Tab 10.1.