Critics' report: Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1

After the success of Samsung Galaxy Note phablet, the South Korean company has revealed its iPad rival, the Galaxy Note 10.1 tablet. Read on to know what tech reviewers across the world are saying.

Tim-Baxter-president-of-Samsung-Electronics-America-unveils-the-Samsung-Galaxy-Note-10-1-at-an-event-in-New-York-August-15-2012-PHOTO-REUTERS

After the success of Samsung Galaxy Note phablet, the South Korean company has revealed its iPad rival, the Galaxy Note 10.1 tablet. Powered by Google's latest generation Android software, the new tablet comes with something which the Apple iPad doesn't offer - a stylus or S-pen. But will this handy feature, killer apps and slim look enough to make it an iPad killer? Read on to know what tech reviewers across the world are saying about Samsung's latest launch:

WALL STREET JOURNAL
The Galaxy Note 10.1 is designed around two key features the iPad lacks—a stylus and several apps that allow you to use it for note-taking and sketching, and the ability to view two apps at once in a split-screen view. It works smoothly and quickly, and the stylus and split-screen features perform as promised. However, I found its battery life to be much lower than the iPad's, and some of Samsung's software to be overly complicated.

ENGADGET

Starting at $499, Samsung's base Note 10.1 model seems a reasonable enough buy when you factor in the addition of the S-Pen, PS Touch, Exynos 4 processor and 16GB of storage.

Ultimately, no matter how deftly executed and streamlined the S-Pen experience may be, this tab still feels like a niche device, especially since the suite of compatible applications is still pretty small. This is the sort of purchase early adopters and creative professionals are likely to make based on their familiarity with Android and the additional flexibility afforded by that stylus.

TECH CRUNCH
I'd wager very few people would consider buying a niche device like the Galaxy Note 10.1 solely because its got a nifty processor, or because it's slim and light. In the end, the deciding factor is going to be the S-Pen. If you're a fan of the gimmick (or just a general Android fan), then the Galaxy Note 10.1 is definitely worth your consideration.

Samsung unveils new tablet to challenge Apple's iPad

If we consider strictly Android tablets, there are any number of tweaks that would make the Galaxy Note 10.1 the device to own — a higher resolution screen, more S-Pen-compatible apps, and sturdier construction all come to mind. If Samsung took any two of those issues and addressed them, the Note 10.1 would be a must-buy. As it stands though, the Galaxy Note is a very good Android tablet that just barely missed crossing the threshold into greatness.

PC MAGAZINE
Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 is the only 10-inch Android tablet with clear consumer advantages over the iPad $629.00 at Apple Store. It's sure to become a cult classic for its three killer apps: split-screen note-taking, pressure-sensitive drawing, and a universal living-room remote control. Those features elevate it above other Android models to make it an Editors' Choice for large-screen tablets.

Samsung starts sales of Galaxy Note 10.1 in US, UK

WIRED

While the Galaxy Note 10.1 wears a different name that its Galaxy Tab predecessors, it's still essentially the same tablet, offering largely the same experience, as the Galaxy Tab 10.1 and Galaxy Tab 2 10.1.

For some, the S Pen and its apps may be reason enough to buy a Note 10.1. However, taken solely as a tablet, the Note 10.1 isn't compelling enough to recommend over its more powerful rivals such as the Asus Transformer Pad Infinity and Apple's third-generation iPad, or even the smaller and cheaper Nexus 7.

CNET
The Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 is Samsung's best 10-inch tablet yet. It's propelled by a powerful chip and the S Pen stylus marks it out from the competition (so long as you have a use for it). While the underwhelming screen resolution and lack of Android Jelly Bean software are disappointing, if you're willing to shell out, it's still a sound Android tablet.

Stylus, split-screen stand new Samsung tablet apart

MASHABLE

The Galaxy Note 10.1 isn't really an iPad alternative; it's more of a tablet specialist — the tablet you go to when you need something very specific, which in this case is drawing, note-taking and multitasking.

Just like you wouldn't go to a general practicioner for surgery, you don't get an Apple product if you want to use a stylus. You get the Galaxy Note 10.1. For anyone who ever wanted the digital equivalent of a legal pad, there's nothing better.