Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 in Honeycomb-covered hands-on photos

The Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 is a lightweight -- a surprisingly light tablet that combines a larger screen than the iPad with a body that's smaller, thanks to its thinner bezel.

We got an early glimpse of the Tab 10.1, but taking it for a more protracted test drive was an even bigger treat. The best thing about the Tab 10.1 is the way it combines a huge screen with a surprisingly light case. Samsung has managed the same feat with the brand-new Samsung Galaxy S 2 -- we think the company must have a secret supply of unusually light alien technology.

The Tab 10.1 has saved some weight by forgoing the HDMI port and microSD memory card slot we spotted on the Motorola Xoom. But this big-screen beauty still has plenty going for it.

Most of the Tab 10.1's oomph is provided by its Android operating system, which is the latest, tablet-friendly 3.0 Honeycomb version of Google's mobile software. It's packed with fresh features to show off the huge screen, including animated widgets and a 3D-inspired user interface. And, like the Xoom, the Tab 10.1 has a 1GHz dual-core processor to make Honeycomb run as smoothly as honey off a spoon.

In person, the Tab 10.1 feels solid and well-made, despite its light weight. The textured back also feels easy to hold on to, which is a handy feature when you're strolling around with such an expensive piece of kit. 

We can't wait to get the Tab 10.1 in for a full review, because based on our early hands-on, it's a Crave-worthy mix of Android smarts and lightweight solid design. Click the gallery above and tab through our hands-on pictures to see the Tab 10.1 in all its glory.