As we all know, Samsung's range of mobile devices includes dozens of models. This includes, for example, both smartphones and tablets developed in the Galaxy class.
The device referred to in this article is also included in this category, as its name indicates. We're talking about the Samsung Galaxy Tab 2, a seven-inch tablet released back in 2012 that was once one of the strongest devices in the lineup. The article will provide a description of the device, a description of some of its modules, as well as customer reviews.
General information
Today the device, of course, is obsolete - you can judge this at least by the technical description of the device. If at the time of release the tablet could be called a fairly strong player on the market (due to high-quality assembly and fairly advanced equipment), now even in the budget price class there are sometimes more productive versions. Nevertheless, this is the peculiarity of the device - at the time of its release it was in demand and had up-to-date technical parameters. In addition to them, we can note the ergonomic, stylishdesign and high-quality materials from which the body of the model is assembled. And all this - for 15 thousand rubles in the version without a 3G module and for 20 thousand - with one.
However, let's start talking about everything in more detail so that you can understand why this device is so good.
Package
The device is presented from the moment of purchase in the most classic set. This includes the tablet itself and the charger, which consists of two parts - a USB cable and an adapter for connecting it to the mains. There is no film on the tablet screen, but it is on the adapter. The package bundle is poor compared to Chinese devices, but quite familiar for such well-known companies as Samsung.
Design
Outwardly, perhaps, the Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 is not much different from some modern devices. This is a gray plastic, painted “under the metal”, smoothed edges, no right angles. For Samsung, this design once formed the basis for further models - just when the company abandoned the “verified” (at that time) copying of Apple devices. Thus, we can say that this is one of the earliest design decisions from the Korean holding. However, due to its prevalence, this appearance is definitely not unique.
Due to the smooth edges, holding the tablet is quite comfortable. Judging by the placement of the logo on the front bottom of the device, the manufacturer expects to work in a vertical variation, classic for 7-inch tablets.
All navigation is located on the right side of the case -these are the volume control buttons and the key to unlock the screen of the Samsung Galaxy Tab 2.
The opposite, left side of the device has holes for a memory card, which allows you to significantly expand the capacity of the device, as well as for a SIM card (in case we are talking about a tablet version with support for 3G networks). These sockets are hidden under a special latch, which makes them convenient to work with and provides some protection to the functional openings from dust and moisture.
On the bottom of the device you can see a socket for charging the tablet (which also serves as a connector for connecting to a PC), as well as speakers under a special mesh. They are located in such a way that when working in a horizontal position, the dynamics of the tablet will not be covered.
Screen
On the Samsung Galaxy Tab 2, manufacturers have installed a display that functions on a PLS-matrix. At its core, this is a competitor to IPS screens, which Samsung brought to the market. She applies her development on different models, and all are characterized by special, soft colors that are somewhat more difficult to distinguish in sunlight. Therefore, be prepared for the fact that working with the tablet in bright weather will be somewhat problematic - only the maximum brightness will save.
The resolution here is the level of 2012 - it reaches only 1024 by 600 pixels, so you should not count on a high image density (it will be at the level of 170 pixels per inch). But the display works with the multi-touch function, which recognizes up to 10 touches.
Also, if you look at Samsung Galaxy Tab 2's specifications, you can see the presence of a light sensor. As tests show, it does not work quite accurately, so it is more comfortable (reviews confirm this) to switch the tablet to manual mode for determining the screen brightness and set it yourself.
Battery
As we all know, the problem of autonomy is relevant for many mobile devices, especially those with small screens and dimensions in general. As for the Samsung Galaxy Tab 2, user reviews speak of it as a fairly autonomous device with a strong enduring battery. At least the technical description talks about a battery capacity of 4000 mAh. Due to the optimized power consumption, the device is able to hold out in the most intensive use mode (playing HD-video with the maximum volume level in the headphones) up to 5 hours. Of course, with a more moderate charge consumption, the Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 will be able to please the user with a longer work.
We note right away that you can’t replace the battery yourself here - the back cover of the tablet is closed, and holes on the left side of the case are used to work with a SIM card and microSD.
Processor
From the point of view of performance, there can be no complaints about the device - the tablet, according to the assurances of the owners, works perfectly even under load. This is facilitated by the TI OMAP 4430 processor declared in the specifications of the Samsung Galaxy Tab 2, which has a clock frequency of 1 GHz, operating ontwo cores. The device works with 1 GB of RAM, which, in principle, is enough to perform standard tasks. Although, of course, there are reviews in which people expressed their desire that the manufacturer increase this figure to at least 2 GB.
According to tests, the web browser of the Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 (which we reviewed) is faster than other tablets with a screen of 7 inches in 2012. The developers achieved this just due to the more productive stuffing.
Camera
We all understand that using a tablet computer to take pictures and videos is not very convenient. Nevertheless, manufacturers continue to equip their devices with cameras. The same applies to the Galaxy Tab 2.
According to the specifications, the tablet has a 3-megapixel main camera that allows you to take pictures at a resolution of 2048 by 1536 pixels. In addition, the video creation function (720p format) is supported. In addition to it, there is also a front camera for creating “selfies”; traditionally it has a lower resolution (only 0.3 megapixels).
According to customer reviews, the pictures on the device are quite acceptable (on the main camera), while working with the front camera can only be discussed in the context of conversations on Skype and other instant messengers.
Operating system
Of course, traditionally the device from the Korean company Samsung runs on Android version 4.0.3. This firmware has been on the device sinceits entry into the market. As for the updates, they probably reached modification 4.2.2, after which the company refused to adapt the following parts of the operating system. Therefore, you will not see version 5.1 here.
Included with this version of the system is a graphical shell called TouchWiz, which is known for its special design and logic of work. It could also be seen on other devices from Samsung, in particular, on the Samsung Galaxy S3.
Multimedia
With support for multimedia files on the tablet, things are going well. It's all about, first of all, the pre-installed software from Samsung, which allows you to recognize most of the currently available formats. Problems such as “video does not turn on on the Samsung Galaxy Tab 2” (or audio) are extremely rare. You can fight this by simply installing additional players (for example, MX Player will be the ideal solution for this). This applies in particular to the MKV format. However, if you do not take it into account, then you can work with standard applications - they have all the functionality necessary for this.
Communication
In terms of communication support capabilities, the tablet we describe is not much different from most gadgets on the market. If you go into the settings presented on the Samsung Galaxy Tab 2, you will notice that there is Bluetooth support for sending and receiving files, there is WiFi for working with wireless fixed networks, as well asa GSM module is installed, which allows you to call and send messages, as if from a phone. In addition, the buyer can choose a configuration that will include a module for 3G - then the device will gain even greater mobility, being able to work in networks.
Reviews
Recommendations about the device we easily managed to find. It should be noted right away that most of the reviews are positive. Buyers characterize the device as an affordable and comfortable enough to use tablet, ideal for basic tasks.
Among the negatives, one could notice several - in particular, describing that several users did not charge their Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 tablet. Owners of problem devices tried to understand why this was happening and what could be the reason for this. As the answers left by the experts show, the problem was a technical breakdown. If someone's Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 is not charging, the only way to fix it is either by replacing the adapter that connects the device to the network, or by installing a new power socket.
A similar problem can be when the tablet does not turn on (does not respond to the power button). There can be several reasons - either the device is completely discharged (connecting to the network will let you know if this is the case), or the display unlock button has failed (again, connect the device to power). There may also be a more serious hardware problem, for which you need to contactservice center.
There were other estimates - someone mentioned the fact that the tablet gets very hot during operation. There were also opinions about the insufficiently bright (or large) screen. Of course, if the Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 does not charge, this is a more serious drawback than the fact that it heats up during operation. However, similar problems can be found on other models.
Conclusions
What conclusions can be drawn from our review? Firstly, Samsung knows how to make high-quality tablets - and this is proved by the “protagonist” of our review, released back in 2012. This means that modern devices are made at a more advanced level, which is good news. Secondly, budget devices can be bought without fear if you expect to perform basic actions like watching movies, surfing, reading mail, books, and the like. For such tasks, the device described by us will be just perfect. Thirdly, budget gadgets can also please you with their performance. Again, the reviews of the seven-inch Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 are proof of this.
