Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus Review

Samsung continues to unload with both barrels on the tablet market, releasing one product after another. Consumers can choose from 7-inch, 8.9-inch, and 10.1-inch sizes; WiFi-only or carrier-specific versions, including models for Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile, and Sprint; and a couple of different storage options too. (Who knows, by the time you read this, there could be even more.)

Today, we’re looking specifically at the Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus (WiFi, 16GB). There is no shortage of competition in the 7-inch tablet space, including offerings from (if you want to get alphabetical about it) Acer, Amazon, Archos, Barnes & Noble, Dell, HTC, RIM, Toshiba, Velocity Micro, and so on, and each has its own pros and cons. However, side-by-side comparisons of the many 7-inch tablets are somewhat difficult, as each has its own slightly different raison d’etre; it’s sort of a “to each his own” kind of situation.
To summarize the Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus’ purpose in a crowded field is easy enough, though: It’s specialty is giving you all the perks of a WiFi-connected device (email, Web browsing, social networking, etc.) along with some impressive home media functionality--more on that in a bit--and also offering ample offline entertainment when you’re out and about and away from a WiFi connection, such as gaming and e-reading.

The specs are solid enough--it runs a tasty 1.2GHz dual-core Samsung Exynos processor and has 1GB of RAM, and you can augment the onboard 16GB of storage with up to 32GB of microSD storage--but it’s the extras, which we’ll delve into shortly, that really make the Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus an excellent entry in the 7-inch tablet market. Let's fire up a quick video demo for you first...

Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus Specifications & Features

Display:	Sensors:
7" Display WSVGA PLS (1024 x 600)	Gyroscope
4-way rotation	Accelerometer
	Ambient light sensor
CPU: 1.2GHz dual-core Samsung Exynos processor	Digital Compass
Memory: 1GB	Proximity
Storage: 16GB + microSD (up to 32GB)	Infrared blaster
Wireless Data Network:	Multi-Task Support: Yes, + Split View
WLAN 802.11 a/b/g/n (as configured)	Flash Support: Yes
Camera:	Software:
Front-Facing: 2.0 MP	Android 3.2 (Honeycomb) OS
Rear-Facing: 3.0 MP Auto Focus with Flash, HD 720p	Peel Smart Remote
	Social Hub
Audio:	Music Hub
Stereo speakers, built-in microphone	Reader Hub
	Samsung Apps
Interfaces:	Android Browser
30-pin dock connector port	Polaris Office
3.5mm stereo headset jack
	Battery:
	Dimensions: 7.63 x 4.82 x .39 in. (WxHxD)  Weight: 12.7oz

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One perhaps obvious thing you may be wondering is what exactly differentiates this from the Samsung Galaxy Tab (7-inch), which costs $50 less. The Plus runs Android 3.2 Honeycomb as opposed to the original's 2.2 Froyo. Further, the Plus is a smidge lighter and thinner, and it has different (and ostensibly better) onboard software. The kicker is that the Plus runs on a dual-core Samsung Exynos 4210 processor (1.2GHz) while the original has a single-core Exynos 3110 (1GHz) chip. If you think those differences are worth fifty extra bucks, probably nobody would argue with you.