Reviews

Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 review: Best and worst features

The 10.1in Android tablet comes with a stylus, true-multitasking, a quad-core processor and the option of voice calling.

21 Aug 2012

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Worst

5. Jelly Bean update in the air

It remains unclear when Android Jelly Bean 4.1 will arrive on the Galaxy Note 10.1, but Samsung is suggesting it will be available later this year. It's not ideal to splash out 400 plus on a device which doesn't have the latest software.

The absence of Jelly Bean means features such as Google Now are missing. However, features such as the Chrome browser can be downloaded as can Adobe Flash.

4. Cheap look

Samsung uses a high-grade plastic coating on its devices as opposed to metallic chassis. The results are mixed when it comes to aesthetics.

Much like the Galaxy S3 smartphone, the design of the Note 10.1 will split opinion. Our review unit came with a white bezel encased in a silver frame, which looks like a glued on border. In the IT Pro office this was met with universal disapproval, as we found this made the device look cheap.

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The positioning of the logo and placement of the buttons along the edge of the device suggest has configured the device to be primarily used in landscape mode.

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3. Voice calling is unnecessary

Although the 3G model does allow phone calls, this will ramp up the cost of the device to 479, and we don't foresee anyone using the device as a replacement for a smartphone.

Doing so would not only be tedious as you'd have to lug the device around in a bag all the time, but it would also drain the battery faster and you wouldn't be able to get all-day usage out of it.