Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 (2014 Edition)

The Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 (Est. $450) boasts powerful performance and productivity-focused features such as the touch-sensitive S Pen stylus and an efficient multitasking mode. There's even an IR remote to control home-theater electronics, along with a host of other extras. But if you don't need those bells and whistles, other tablets deliver just as much performance and nicer screens for a similar price. Performance Fast on the inside, fuzzy on the outside. Reviewers say the quad-core Exynos processor powering the Galaxy Note 10.1 screams through tasks and responds in a snap, although there's a hint of lag when you have two apps open simultaneously. The S Pen works well most of the time, but isn't 100 percent accurate. Battery life is epic, and audio rings out loud and clear. The screen's brightness outshines the competition, but experts say the 1280-by-800-pixel resolution is a disappointment in a premium Android tablet. That's the same resolution found in the 7-inch Amazon Kindle Fire HD and Google Nexus 7 (Est. $230 and up) , and less than that of the highly regarded Google Nexus 10 (Est. $350 and up) . Features Stacked with extras. The entire Galaxy Note 10.1 experience revolves around the touch-sensitive S Pen stylus; the tablet ships with several drawing and handwriting apps designed to take full advantage of the input device. Unfortunately, few Android apps aside from those support stylus functionality, although Samsung's helpful S Suggest app identifies stylus-friendly apps in the Google Play Store to which the Galaxy Note 10.1 has full access. The device includes an IR blaster paired with the Peel Remote Control app, along with Samsung's AllShare Play app that lets you stream pictures and movies to DLNA-compatible TVs on the same Wi-Fi network. Additional apps make sharing with other Samsung mobile devices seamless. Galaxy Note 10.1 owners also get a free two-year, 50 GB Dropbox cloud storage subscription, which augments the 16 GB of onboard storage that's comparatively paltry for a premium tablet. The tablet's two cameras work well, but aren't anything special. The base Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 sports only Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, but 4G LTE-equipped versions are now available for AT&T and Verizon networks. Ease of use Little to complain about. This 10-inch tablet is a bit heavier than its competitors, but we see no complaints about the Galaxy Note 10.1 being too bulky. As noted, the quad-core processor proves highly responsive, although some lag occurs when two apps are open simultaneously in multitasking mode. Reflections make it difficult to see the screen if you move too far to one side, although reviewers say this shouldn't be a problem in everyday use. strength : S Pen stylus and handwriting/drawing apps IR remote functionality Side-by-side app multitasking Great performance .weakness : Relatively low-resolution display Few stylus-friendly apps available . Buy now...!!!