Performance
From the first glance, it’s clear that Samsung has come a long way since the release of the first Galaxy Tab, not only shrinking the overall thickness of its 7 inch tablet, but also making it feel more substantial. The metal back really makes the Galaxy Tab 7.7 feel like more of a tool you can use than its predecessor, and we’re glad Samsung has moved on from the days when glossy plastic was used in its tablets.
The feel is one thing we really have to acknowledge here, as Samsung has done a stand-out job. Weighing only 340 grams, the Galaxy Tab 7.7 is one of the lightest and most comfortable tablets we’ve felt yet. It neither weighs down your hand nor feels unnatural.
While the tablet is new, Samsung has equipped the tablet with a slightly modified version of Google Android Honeycomb 3.2, able in this instance to take screenshots from one of the soft buttons on screen.
One of the more impressive details of the Galaxy Tab 7.7 is the battery. There’s no other way of saying this: it’s excellent. We managed over three days of standby time for occasional use, and then after a recharge managed 8 to 10 hours straight.
In general, if you plan on only using your tablet from time to time, you’ll find you won’t need to charge the Tab too often.
The other excellent detail is the screen, a bright and clear screen that’s right up there with the best of them. While the resolution of this baby isn’t quite up there with the Retina grade screens found on the iPhone, it’s still a beautiful display for the size.
Over on the negative side, there is a little lag in flicking between the homescreens, using the cameras, unlocking the touchscreen, and we even noticed it in a few games, but overall, it’s manageable.
We’re still not huge fans of Samsung’s proprietary iPod-dock-like port, but at least the company hasn’t changed the design. It would be great if the Galaxy Tab would take advantage of the same microUSB port seen on the Galaxy smartphones, as that would certainly save us from bringing two types of adaptors on trips.
An update to the operating system would be nice too, with last year’s Android Honeycomb arriving on this model. Now that Google’s latest version – Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich – is gracing platforms across the world, the OS update is really a thing of need in this device.
Conclusion
If the 10 inch form factor is too much and you prefer the idea of a smaller tablet, the Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.7 could be the perfect match. With an excellent screen, solid build, and outstanding battery life, it’s a great tablet for anyone after a small screen tablet experience.
