Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 (8.0)

The latest tablet in Samsung’s Galaxy Tab series comes in an unfamiliar size.

Looking for an Android tablet can be quite a daunting task, as the market for tablets running on Google’s operating system is so crowded that you will be spoilt for choice.

Samsung is the biggest hardware manufacturer for Android smartphones, and it has a healthy tablet lineup. The Galaxy Tab series, Samsung’s main product line in the Android tablet market, has reached third ­generation. This time Samsung has added in an 8in ­version of the Galaxy Tab 3 to its current mix of 7in and 10.1in devices.

We take a look at the Galaxy Tab 3 8.0 and see if the additional 1in sets it apart from the rest of the 7in tablets in the market.

Sizing it up

Samsung has made an excellent choice in including an 8in version, as 7in tablets are a little too small for comfort, while those at 10.1in are cumbersome to carry around. The Tab 3’s 8in size is the best of both worlds: Big enough yet still portable.

The Tab 3 sports a very thin bezel, unlike the first 8in tablet released by Samsung, the Galaxy Note 8.0. This makes the overall device a little easier to hold with one hand, although there is a slight setback — the narrow edges surrounding the screen makes it harder to hold the device without accidentally touching the screen.

As with other Samsung devices, the Tab 3 has a plastic build. The design is also unmistakably Samsung, with the same structure as what you would expect from any of its other devices.

A notable change from previous Galaxy tablets is that the Tab 3 comes with a physical home button accompanied by the Menu and Back capacitive buttons, just like the Galaxy smartphones. Whether the physical home button is a good thing or not is pretty subjective — we were a little annoyed because we kept accidentally pressing the Back capacitive button.

Another notable change is that the Tab 3 uses the more commonly found micro USB port. This is great news as almost every other smartphone uses the micro USB port so your wallet can heave a sigh of relief as all your cables and chargers should be compatible with this device.

The Tab 3 uses a TFT screen — while not as vibrant as the Super Amoled screens used in the high-end Galaxy smartphones, the screen has its advantages as the colours are not overly saturated.

The 5-megapixel camera is one of the best we’ve tested on a tablet but it doesn’t have an LED flash.

Feature-packed

The Tab 3 ships with Android 4.2.2 Jellybean. This puts it on par with Samsung’s flagship smartphone, the Galaxy S4.

Specs-wise, the Tab 3 is not much of a powerhouse with only dual cores. The user experience is fluid most of the time but do expect the occasional lag. Worry not as the lag is not to the extent where it will frustrate the user.

Multi windows, now a staple feature in Galaxy devices, is also present in the Tab 3. The feature allows two apps to be opened simultaneously on the screen. The list of compatible apps is also slowly growing and it is now pretty respectable, compared to when it was first introduced.

One thing that we would like to highlight is the Group Play feature which has been improved. This new version allows one Android to become the main device that blasts out its portable WiFi hotspot for other devices to connect to.

Once connected, the devices can either share music, images, documents, or even play multiplayer games. It is extra impressive when sharing music, as the different devices can be assigned to be either the left or right speakers for an entertaining surround sound experience.

This tablet works as a full-fledged phone and even has a earpiece for you to put up to your ear to talk like on a normal phone.

The Tab 3 that we reviewed is the LTE-enabled version, making it one of the few Samsung devices released here thus far to offer LTE connectivity. There is also a cheaper WiFi-only version available.

Final note

Samsung has been flooding the market with way more products compared to their competitors and ultimately it gives consumers a broad range of options to choose from.

We feel that at 8in, this version of the Tab 3 is an interesting option for those who find the size of 7in tablets a little too cramped, while not willing to sacrifice mobility with a 10.1in device.

In addition to that, the size is also more optimised for reading as it is shaped very similarly to the size of a regular notebook.

In terms of usability, the device is still fluid despite only having dual cores. This can be attributed to the stability that comes with Android Jellybean 4.2.2.

All in all, it is a device meant for those who felt that 7in devices were too small while not wanting to be burdened by a huge 10.1in tablet.

Pros: 8in is a good size for a tablet; light; not too wide, making it easy to hold with one hand; runs on Android 4.2.2 Jellybean.

Cons: Bezels too thin to hold the device comfortably without accidentally touching the screen; no NFC.

GALAXY TAB 3 (8.0)
(Samsung)
Android tablet
NETWORK: GSM 850/900/1800/ 1900, HSDPA 850/900/1900/ 2100, LTE 800/850/900/1800/2100/2600
OPERATING SYSTEM: Android 4.2.2 (Jelly Bean)
PROCESSOR: 1.5GHz Exynos 4212 dual-core
DISPLAY: 8.0in TFT display (1,280 x 800-pixels)
CAMERA: 5-megapixels with autofocus; 1.3-megapixels (front facing)
CONNECTIVITY: Bluetooth 4.0, Wireless 802.11 abgn, dual-band, DLNA, WiFi Direct, WiFi hotspot, microUSB 2.0
MEMORY: 16GB internal memory, 1.5GB RAM
EXPANSION SLOT: MicroSD (up to 64GB)
FEATURES: GPS, stereo speakers, multiscreen, Group Play
DIMENSIONS (W x D x H): 209.8 x 123.8 x 7.4mm
WEIGHT: 314g
WEBSITE: www.samsung.com.my
PRICE: RM1,499
RATING: 3.5 stars
Review unit courtesy of Samsung Malaysia Electronics (SME) Sdn Bhd, 1-800-88-9999

- Donovan Quek, The Star

SONY Xperia Z Ultra

Xperia Z Ultra: Bigger is better

GARGANTUAN: The Xperia Z Ultra is huge, sporting an enormous 6.4in screen.

Sony’s 6.4in phablet gives users an Ultra multimedia experience.

DO YOU find your smartphone screen too small? Don’t like the hassle of carrying around a tablet? 

Sounds like what you need is a phablet: a hybrid of phone and tablet. It’s larger than a phone, yet smaller than a tablet. 

In terms of phablets, it doesn’t get much bigger than Sony’s first foray into this growing market segment: the Sony Xperia Z Ultra. 

Beautiful Giant 

The Z Ultra is huge, sporting an enormous 6.4in screen. The good thing about the gargantuan screen is that it is not too wide, just exceptionally long. That makes it still very manageable when using with just one hand. 

Sony devices have always been known to look good, and the Z Ultra is no exception — it has a beautiful unibody design that is not only solid, but very classy looking as well. 

SUPER SLIM: The Z Ultra is marketed as the world’s thinnest full high definition (HD) smartphone.

Being made of glass, the device feels premium but it is also a fingerprint magnet. Users should also be careful not to drop the device as it will be costly to repair. 

The Z Ultra is marketed to be the world’s thinnest full high definition (HD) smartphone available in the market, and it does indeed feel extremely thin. 

The size of the screen is not the only selling point — the Triluminos full HD display used by the Z Ultra is very impressive, making it one of the better looking screens we’ve seen. It is excellent for viewing pictures and videos, which isn’t surprising as it is backed by Sony’s X-reality engine. 

Talking point 

As a phone, users are definitely going to feel awkward having a device of such proportion being placed against their face during phone calls. Sony seems to acknowledge this fact as they introduced a new Bluetooth headset together with the Z Ultra when the phablet was first announced. Sony had even packed in an SBH50 Stereo Bluetooth headset together with our review unit.  

AWESOME: The Triluminos full HD display used by the Z Ultra is very impressive, making it one of the better looking screens we’ve seen.

In terms of pocketability, the Z Ultra could fit in this reviewer’s slacks and pants, but it sure wasn’t comfortable as the device is too long. The bulge it made was also too obvious for comfort. 

As with the other, newer Xperia devices released in recent times, the Z Ultra is dust-proof and water-resistant. It is IP 55/58 compliant, meaning that provided all ports and covers are firmly closed, the device is protected against low pressure jets of water from all directions in compliance with IP 55; and/or can be kept under 1.5m of freshwater for up to half an hour in compliance with IP 58. 

For the device to attain the waterproof status, flaps are required to cover the ports, i.e. the micro USB port. However, the flaps are subject to wear and tear and thus might not last very long — users should be wary of this before subjecting the device to water. 

Despite the certification, it is safer to take the feature as a form of protection for your device against accidental spills rather than for purposely dunking the device into water. 

DON'T DUNK IT: The Z Ultra may be water-resistant, but it's safer to take the feature as a form of protection against accidental spills rather than an excuse to go crazy with the dunking.

Another adverse side effect from having a waterproof device is that the volume of the loudspeaker is in fact not very loud. The speakers are coated to prevent water from seeping in. A software update has helped to mitigate the problem, but don’t expect brilliant sound quality from this device’s speakers. 

The Z Ultra comes with an 8-megapixel camera. We were disappointed with the picture quality, as it was very grainy especially under low light conditions. Another drawback is that the device is not equipped with an LED flash, so photo taking in total darkness is out of the question. That would also mean that you can’t double the device as a torch light. 

Underneath your clothes 

This phablet has Android 4.2.2. Jelly Bean on board. As with other devices running on Jelly Bean, the user experience is buttery smooth. This is also because the device is equipped with the best of specs, coming with 2.2 GHz Qualcomm MSM8974 quad-cores under the hood. 

Games with better graphics such as Temple Run looked amazing on the Z Ultra’s huge screen. 

The Z Ultra has 16GB of memory built in, and this can be expanded with a microSD card of up to 64GB. 

WRITE PATH: One of the main features that Sony had highlighted about the Z Ultra is the ability to use any pen or pencil as a stylus for the device.

One of the main features that Sony had highlighted about the Z Ultra is the ability to use any pen or pencil as a stylus for the device. We find this to be more of a gimmick as it is very hard to get it working properly in practice. 

To top it off, there is no palm rejection, thus writing won’t work if your palm touches the screen. It is very tough to hold the device comfortably with one hand while trying to write with the other without either hand touching the screen for an extended period of time. 

Conclusion 

The Z Ultra is a device that really pushes the limits of screen sizes, even for a phablet. At 6.4in, it is the biggest device we’ve seen that isn’t labelled as a tablet. 

If you can look beyond its enormous size, it is a very capable and powerful device from Sony. 

With such a large and beautiful full HD screen, it is an excellent media device but only if you have a pair of earphones as the speakers are below par. 

It is also handy that the device is waterproof, so you don’t have to worry too much when you use it around wet areas. 

This is one of the few devices in the market that can give the other ‘Note’able phablet a run for its money. 

Pros: Large, beautiful screen; waterproof; smooth UI. 

Cons: Too huge to place in the pocket comfortably; speakers not loud enough; no LED flash; handwriting more of a gimmick. 

Xperia Z Ultra (C6833)
(Sony)
Platform: Android 4.2.2 (Jelly Bean)
Processor: 2.2GHz Qualcomm MSM8974 Snapdragon 800 quad-core processor
Network: GSM 850/900/1800/1900, HSDPA 850/900/1700/2100, LTE 800/850/900/1700/1800/1900/2100/2600
Camera: 8-megapixel, 2-megapixel (front)
Display: 6.4in (1,920 x 1,080-pixels) Triluminous touchscreen
Memory: 16GB Internal memory, microSD slot (up to 64GB), 2GB RAM
Connectivity: Bluetooth 4.0, USB 2.0, WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, NFC
Features: 1080p full HD video recording and playback; dust-proof and water-resistant (IP55/IP58); shatter proof and scratch-resistant glass; X-Reality engine
Battery: 3,050mAh lithium-on
Size: 179.4 x 92.2 x 6.5mm
Weight: 212g
Price: RM2,299 (non LTE version)
Rating: 4
Review unit courtesy of Sony Mobile Malaysia, 1-800-88-7666

- Donovan Quek, The Star

Review: Samsung Galaxy Note 2

Android to be reckoned with

Samsung's follow up to its popular Galaxy Note is bigger, badder and better.

By DONOVAN QUEK

When Samsung first announced the Galaxy Note last year, it received mixed responses. With a screen that was 5.5in big, it was far bigger than a conventional smartphone and too small to be considered a tablet.

Fast forward one year, and the Note is a commercial success, having sold over 10 million units worldwide and garnering a huge fan-base as one of the most popular "phablets" (phone/tablet hybrid) to ever hit the market.

Samsung wasted no time in coming up with a successor, and here we have the Galaxy Note 2 - an even faster, stronger, and bigger device than its predecessor.

Oversized phone or undersized tablet?

The 5.5in Super AMOLED screen is impressive with excellent colour and good viewing angles.

For a device with a screen that is bigger than the oversized Note, the Note 2 surprisingly fits better in the hand. This is because it is taller than the Note but the width is smaller, thus making it easier for the hand to grasp.

At 183g, it is considerably light for a phone of such gigantic proportions. However, it is still heavier than an average phone and some might feel tired after prolonged use of the Note 2.

For a device that is priced above RM2,000, the plastic build quality of the Note 2 is a turn off. However, looking beyond the materials used, the device feels solid.

It comes with a 1.6GHz Cortex A9 quad-core processor along with a whopping 2GB RAM. With that much horsepower, along with the latest version of Android 4.1 Jellybean, the user interface is buttery smooth.

With Jellybean, Google aimed to eliminate lag and the results can be seen with the Note 2. Connectivity options include WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.0, and micro USB. NFC (near field ­communication) is also available, which allows huge amounts of data to be transferred just by touching the Note 2 with other NFC enabled devices.

The 16GB of internal memory that the Note 2 comes with is enough for an average user but for those who prefer more space, there is a microSD slot that can handle up to 64GB more of memory.

If there is one area where the Note 2 truly impresses, it will be in the battery department. Sporting a 3,100mAh battery, it is second only to Motorola's Razr Maxx's 3,300mAh.

Unlike most smartphones in the market today which require charging every now and then, it can last over a day of moderate usage while being connected to 3G at all times.

This is a huge improvement over the other star that Samsung released earlier this year, the S3.

For those who are worried that the Note 2 is too big to be used for messaging with one hand, there is the one-handed operation mode.

This moves the keyboard to the side of the phone, depending on whether you're left or right handed. One thing that we weren't pleased about was that it is hard to reach the two soft keys beside the home button when using the Note 2 with one hand.

rear view.

Multimedia powerhouse

The Note 2 boasts an 8-megapixel rear camera that takes shots with almost zero shutter lag. Pictures taken are decent enough as they appear crisp and clear on the screen.

The video camera records high definition videos up to 1080p. It also has the ability to capture pictures at almost full resolution while recording videos. This feature works as advertised, and doesn't affect the quality of the video as video playback quality was excellent.

One thing that benefits greatly from the large screen is the gallery, as there is enough space on the left of the screen for a list of the albums to be displayed. This makes it easy to skip from album to album and also makes it convenient when moving files from one place to another.

NICE: The Note 2 has a video camera that records high definition videos up to 1080p and the ability to capture pictures at almost full resolution while recording videos.

The Note 2 comes with video pop up play feature, which allows ­videos to be minimised and moved around the screen so that the users can multitask.

Similarly, there is also the Internet pop up, which is a mini Internet browser that works the same way as a video pop up. Very handy in ­situations such as when you are browsing Facebook and want to explore a link.

Improved S Pen

ONE of the main features of the Note is its stylus. Dubbed the S Pen, it is no ordinary stylus - a function button on the stylus allows it to conjure up a list of cool tricks.

Being the third device in the Note series after the original Note and the Note 10.1 tablet, it has an S Pen with a new design.

It is longer and shaped more like a pen compared to the original, thus making it more ergonomic to hold. Thanks to popular graphics tablet maker Wacom's digitiser technology and the S Pen's 1,024 pressure points, the more pressure you apply when using the stylus, the thicker the lines will appear.

The S Note app is also a signature of the Note series. There are a number of new additions such as shape match and formula match.

With shape match, any shapes that are drawn out will be corrected to be as geometrically perfect as possible while with formula match, users can write out any mathematical equations and the system will use the Wolfram Alpha search engine to give the answers.

There is also a pop up S Note, which is a much condensed version of the app. This can be very useful at any point in time when notes need to be taken, especially during a telephone conversation and a message needs to be written down.

USEFUL: The S pen has a function button on the stylus that allows it to conjure up a list of cool tricks.

Another innovative use of the S Pen is gestures, whereby swiping up with the sytlus and the function button pressed brings up a quick command page. From here, you just have to write out predetermined gestures like @ followed by the name of someone in your contacts list and you will be directed to composing an e-mail to the person.

Aside from the long list of ­predetermined gestures, you can also create your own gestures and assign it to any settings or apps of your choice, thus opening up a huge window of possibilities.

A neat trick that has been added is Air View - if you hover the S Pen a few millimeters away from the screen, a pointer will appear, just like a mouse cursor.

This opens up an array of functions, such as hovering above albums and videos to catch previews of them. There are websites which require the mouse cursor to be moved over certain objects for menus to pop out, and this can be done on the Note 2's browser. It also works well as a guide for better precision when writing or drawing.

Samsung has also introduced the S Pen Keeper feature which will notify users when the S Pen is detached and moved away from the Note 2. This is an innovative move to help prevent ­misplacing the pen but it didn't work all the time during our tests.

One of the more useful things about the Note 2 is the Multi Window feature. Users have the ability to open up to two different apps at the same time and have them both sharing the screen. It works smoothly without any lag, with the only downside being that only a handful of apps are ­supported by this feature.

Commonly used apps like the Internet browser, Facebook, Youtube and Maps apps work with this ­feature.

There was an instance when I was with a kid who really wanted to watch some Sesame Street ­videos on YouTube while I wanted to browse the Internet, and Multi Window helped to make it a ­win-win situation by allowing both to be done at the same time.

Smart Rotation is another ­innovative addition. The reviewer tends to use the phone while lying down and the auto rotation always gets in the way, rotating even when it isn't intended to.

The only solution before this was to disable the auto rotation but now with Smart Rotation, the front camera acts as a sensor to detect the orientation of the user's eyes, and rotates accordingly. This does work, but requires sufficient ­lighting for the camera to detect the eyes.

EASY ON THE EYE: Web browsing was less strenuous for Quek thanks to the large 5.5in screen.

Similarly, the eye detection is also used so that the screen doesn't dim while the user is looking at it through a feature called Smart Stay.

Final note

With a predecessor that managed to defy early criticism and gain worldwide popularity, the Note 2 was announced to much fanfare. Does it live up to the high expectations? We have to answer that with a resounding yes.

With 2GB RAM coupled with quad-cores and Android Jellybean, the Note 2 is one of the smoothest devices in the mobile market now.

It is unfair to ­penalise the Note 2 for being big. One of the main reasons most users get attracted to the Note 2 is because of the big screen. Penalising the Note 2 for being large is akin to someone buying a Hummer and complaining that it is too big.

Having said that, the market for phablets isn't as matured as that for conventional smartphones, and some will not be willing to carry such a big device. But for those who don't mind a device that is not only big in performance but also in size, then the Note 2 is definitely one of the better choices in the market at the moment.

Pros: Multi Window; impressive battery life; improved S Pen and S Note; OS runs smooth thanks to fast processor and lots of memory.

Cons: May be too big for most people's liking; a little plasticky.

Galaxy Note 2 (GT-N7100)
(Samsung)
Android 4.1 (Jellybean)
Processor: 1.6GHz Cortex A9 quad-core processor
Network: GSM 850/900/1800/1900, HSDPA 850/900/1900/2100
Camera: 8-megapixel with LED flash (back), 1.9-megapixel (front)
Display: 5.5in (1,280 x 720-pixels) Super AMOLED touchscreen
Memory: 16GB Internal memory, microSD slot (up to 64GB), 2GB RAM
Connectivity: Bluetooth 4.0, USB 2.0, WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n, NFC
Features: Multiscreen, Smart Stay, Smart Rotation, S-Voice, Air view, 1080p full HD video recording and playback, stylus (S Pen)
Battery: 3,100mAh lithium-on
Size: 151.1 x 80.5 x 9.4mm
Weight: 183g
Price: RM2,299
Rating: 4.5 stars
Review unit courtesy of Samsung Malaysia Electronics, 1-800-88-9999

QUICK SPECS

Editor's Rating
Users' Rating
Manufacturer	Samsung
Class	smartphone
Dimensions (WxDxH)	151.1 x 80.5 x 9.4mm
Weight	183g
Price	RM2,299
Network	GSM 850/900/1800/1900, HSDPA 850/900/1900/2100
Operating System	Android 4.1 (Jellybean)
Display	5.5in (1,280 x 720-pixels) Super AMOLED touchscreen
Camera	8-megapixel with LED flash (back), 1.9-megapixel (front)
Connectivity	Bluetooth 4.0, USB 2.0, WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n, NFC
Memory	16GB Internal memory, microSD slot (up to 64GB), 2GB RAM
Contact	Review unit courtesy of Samsung Malaysia Electronics, 1-800-88-9999

- Donovan Quek (The Star)