Tablet
Samsung's Galaxy Note 8.0 made me realize
how far the Android tablet has come within just a few short months. Gone are
the days when the thought of reviewing an Android tablet made me want to bang
my head on the desk - the Galaxy Note 8.0 is genuinely a good alternative to an
iPad mini, or even to a full-sized iPad.
The Galaxy Note 8.0 really does look
similar to the Galaxy Note II - they're definitely in the same family of
devices. It's rectangular, with rounded edges, and there's a big square-ish
'home' button at the bottom of the device. Both have the same plastic back, and
a microSD slot for extra storage.
Samsung's
Galaxy Note 8.0 made me realize how far the Android tablet has come within just
a few short months.
The specifications of the devices are also
very similar both have the same 1.6GHz quad-core CPU, the same GPU, 2GB RAM,
and a stylus. There are very few major differences between the two, however -
the Galaxy Note 8.0 is bigger, obviously, and has a 5-megapixel camera to the
It's 8 megapixels. It also runs a slightly updated version of Android; 4.2.2 as
opposed to 4.2.1.
The Galaxy Note 8.0 is pretty solidly
constructed, especially when compared with many recent Samsung devices. Sure,
the plastic on the back is a little more flexible than I'd like, but otherwise
the build quality is very high. Breaking a small piece like a button or the
microSD slot seems like it would be a difficult task.
The 8.0 is very snappy, responding quickly
to my taps and touches. I was able to switch between apps and navigate around
the operating system quickly and easily. It handled every app I threw at it,
too - from simple office apps to intensive games like Monsters Ate
My Condo and Civ Revolution.
The
8.0's best feature, however, is not its processor but its bright screen
The 8.0's best feature, however, is not its
processor but its bright screen - it's not the highest resolution screen I've
ever seen, at 800 X 1280 pixels, but it's still very nice. The colors are
accurate, and text is easily readable. Comic books and Kindle books alike look
fantastic on its screen, and the device is a good size for holding in one hand
while reading. It's slightly larger than an iPad mini, but you can still hold
it either with your whole hand or, since it's lightweight enough, by the corner
of the device.
The Galaxy Note 8.0 comes with a host of
Samsung's software features more than the Note II has - including the company's
eye-detecting technology, Smart Stay. It also features Air View, so when you
hover over an icon with your stylus a dialog box will pop up with further
information.
The
5MP camera is about average for a tablet, which typically have lower resolution
cameras than smartphones.
The 5MP camera is about average for a
tablet, which typically have lower resolution cameras than smartphones.
Pictures came out a bit dim under fluorescent lighting - things that should
have been bright were a bit dark but in natural lighting, photos were crisp. As
per usual, photos taken in low light were grainy, and disappointingly the Note
8.0 does not feature a flash of any kind.
The Galaxy Note 8.0 is a good all-rounder
if you prefer something smaller than a 10-inch tablet, and is pretty reasonably
priced at $599. If you need a tablet and prefer Android to iOS, the 8.0 is the
best, most robust Samsung tablet we've seen yet.
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At a glance
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11.6GHz quad-core processor
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Bright, colorful 8-inch screen
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5MP camera
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High build quality
Samsung galaxy note 8
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RRP incl GST: $599
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Contact: samsung.co.nz
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Rating: 4/5
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This tablet is a great all-rounder for Android
fans.
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