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Get chummy with Samsung's 2014 Galaxy Note 10.1 (pictures)

This 10-inch tablet ups the ante with high-end specs and a stylus that makes free-form expression nice and natural.

Jessica Dolcourt
Jessica Dolcourt is a passionate content strategist and veteran leader of CNET coverage. As Senior Director of Commerce & Content Operations, she leads a number of teams, including Commerce, How-To and Performance Optimization. Her CNET career began in 2006, testing desktop and mobile software for Download.com and CNET, including the first iPhone and Android apps and operating systems. She continued to review, report on and write a wide range of commentary and analysis on all things phones, with an emphasis on iPhone and Samsung. Jessica was one of the first people in the world to test, review and report on foldable phones and 5G wireless speeds. Jessica began leading CNET's How-To section for tips and FAQs in 2019, guiding coverage of topics ranging from personal finance to phones and home. She holds an MA with Distinction from the University of Warwick (UK).
Jessica Dolcourt
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1 of 17 Josh Miller/CNET

Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 improves its writing craft

The updated Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 packages upscale tablet specs with a suite of apps aimed at putting the S Pen stylus to work.
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2 of 17 Josh Miller/CNET

Holster it

The S Pen gets a bit of a design refresh, but remains about the same, with a button on the side and a holster built into the slate.
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3 of 17 Josh Miller/CNET

New tricks

Sliding the S Pen out of its cubby pulls up a cluster of shortcuts for both new and familiar tasks.
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4 of 17 Josh Miller/CNET

Closer look

The S Pen sports a plastic tip, clicking button, and comfortable in-hand grip.
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5 of 17 Josh Miller/CNET

Classic colors

You'll be able to get the Note 10.1 in either black or white.
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6 of 17 Josh Miller/CNET

No place like Home

The Home button is responsive enough that you can press it with the S Pen. The same goes for the capacitive menu and back buttons on either side.
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7 of 17 Josh Miller/CNET

Business casual

How does Samsung define its new generation of Notes, including the Note 3 smartphone? With a finish that mimics leather and stitching.
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8 of 17 Josh Miller/CNET

Rear view

The move to matte deters fingerprint smudges, but the patterned plastic is more slippery than it looks and can't quite achieve the verisimilitude of the real deal.
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9 of 17 Josh Miller/CNET

Speaker system

You won't see the Note tablet's speaker grille on its face, but you will find a stereo comb integrated into the spines.
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10 of 17 Josh Miller/CNET

MicroSD storage

The Note 10.1 (2014) comes in 16GB or 32GB varieties, but you'll be able to easily store all sorts of media on the external memory card -- up to 64GB, in fact.
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11 of 17 Josh Miller/CNET

New interface

S Note's new interface is elegant and clean.
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12 of 17 Josh Miller/CNET

Creative control

Using the S Note app, the stylus still serves your creative whims. Lined templates lend themselves to to-do lists and meeting notes.
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13 of 17 Josh Miller/CNET

More than one way to sketch

Charts and clip art complement your own artistry, and extra tools turn writing and wobbly scribbles into text, formulas, and geometric shapes.
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14 of 17 Josh Miller/CNET

State of the screen

Samsung updated the Note's screen to give it a bright, crisp resolution with a high pixel count.
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15 of 17 Josh Miller/CNET

Multimedia handling

HD content, like this YouTube clip, played back beautifully.
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16 of 17 Josh Miller/CNET

Camera action

The 8-megapixel camera took nice photos, but there is something inherently awkward about photographing people and objects with a 10-inch device.
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17 of 17 Josh Miller/CNET

Portability is king

For a 10-inch tablet, the Note 10.1 is surprisingly totable. The bezel is large enough to hold onto, without taking up excess space.

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