Apple iPad 2 vs Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1

Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 (left) vs Apple iPad 2 (right)

Earlier this month, Apple waved it's newest iPad, the iPad 2. So how does the successor to the phenomenally successful iPad compare against the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1?

As expected, the iPad 2 is a gentle evolution of the original iPad, sporting a faster processor, front and rear cameras, an HDMI port, 720p video capture and a lighter, thinner design. It also now comes in a choice of black or white.

While the iPad 2 is certainly an improvement over its predecessor, the majority of new features are already being mirrored by rival tablets. A contender for Apple's tablet throne is the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1, which boasts a stunningly thinner at just 8.6mm compared to Apple's 8.8mm body including both USB and memory card ports.


If you are unfamiliar with these tablets, here's an overview of each:

Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1
Samsung will unleash a new challenger to the Apple iPad 2 – the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1. Equipped with a 10.1in WXGA touch screen, a 1GHz Dual-Core application processor and an 8-megapixel AF camera, the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 comes with all the trimmings you’d expect from a high-end tablet.
 Galaxy uses Google's Android 3.0 Honeycomb OS; an operating system built specifically for tablet devices and smartphones. 
Some of the key features new to Android 3.0 include tabbed browsing, a Windows-esque taskbar, improved multi-tasking and up to five customisable home screens. Honeycomb should help to make the Galaxy Tab 10.1's interface more intuitive and user-friendly. It all starts with a competitive price of $499-matching the iPad 2.

Apple iPad 2 
Apple made the iPad 2 thinner, lighter, and more powerful than the first-generation tablet. The iPad 2 also has front- and rear-facing cameras, which enable FaceTime video chat, and at least one high-profile launch app iPad 2 exclusive in iMovie.
It comes in with a choice of 16GB, 32GB or 64GB capacity and prices range from $499 to $829.
 
 Overall
Judged on specs alone, the Apple iPad 2 doesn't do much more than keep pace with its tablet rivals. So there you have it. The Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 is shaping up to be a worthy alternative to the Apple iPad. The 8-megapixel camera, SD memory card slot and Honeycomb OS may even give it a decided edge. In the end, the decision will be heavily influenced by price and battery life. If the Galaxy Tab 10.1 can match Apple in these areas, we’ll have a clear victor.