Samsung has unveiled its new tablet PC Galaxy as a major rival to Apple’s iPad.  But how will it hold up against the might of Apple’s iPad?  So far, Samsung Galaxy Tab tablet PC powered by Android is one of the most serious competitors for iPad.  In this tablet PC review, we will compare the specs of both these devices to see the value they offer for the price.

Size and Weight
The iPad’s 9.7-inch display is significantly larger than the Galaxy Tab’s 7-inch display.  Galaxy Tab weighs just around 380g, whereas a fully loaded Wi-Fi and 3 G Ready iPad weighs almost double around 730 gms.  So, the Galaxy Tab is a lot lighter and is generally more portable and suited to single-handed usage than the iPad.  This means the device can be stored more easily and is better for use whilst on the move, such as on the metro or bus.

Screen
Samsung opted for a WVGA TFT-LCD screen instead of Super AMOLED screen technology, that makes the iPad screen superior compared to that of Galaxy Tab.

Storage and Price
Both iPad and Samsung Tab will support maximum of 64 GB of storage space.  In the case of iPad as the storage space goes up, so do the prices.  However, in the case of Samsung Galaxy Tab, as it supports microSD, upgrade to 64 GB is expected to be far cheaper.  However, there is no firm announcement about the price of Galaxy Tab from Samsung yet.

Imaging
When it comes to Imaging, the current versions of iPad does not have a camera, whereas the Galaxy Tab has both a 1.3-megapixel front-facing camera for video calling and a 3-megapixel Auto-Focus and LED Flash camera located at back.  Galaxy Tab is a clear winner here.

Processor and GPU
The iPad has Apple’s very own custom-built A4 (Cortex A8 at 1GHz) processor and PowerVR SGX535 at its core – the very same one found in the iPhone 4.  The Galaxy Tab features a Hummingbird (Cortex A8 1GHz) processor, which is pretty much the same as the iPad.

OS and Hardware
At present, the iPad is stuck on iOS 3.2. One issue with iOS 3.2 is its lack of ability to do multitasking, and also has no support for Flash 10.1.  The Samsung Galaxy Tab on the other hand features Android 2.2 and this means multitasking and Flash 10.1 support, so working is much easier.  So till the iPad would get it’s new OS, Galaxy Tab has much better specs for OS and hardware.

User Interface
In terms of UIs, it is hard to find a more intuitive, easy-to-use and revolutionary one than Apple’s.  Samsung’s enhanced TouchWiz UI, is also smooth and is extremely intuitive; Apple knows how to make a pretty damn seamless UI.

Applications
The Apple Apps Store is getting bigger and better every day.  There are around 25,000 dedicated iPad applications available and this number is constantly growing.  In terms of apps we don’t think the Galaxy Tab can complete with the iPad and this is something that is only going to be further accentuated by the release of iOS4.2.

Overall, the Samsung Galaxy Tab just gets the edge over the iPad, as the Galaxy Tab has a camera, a phone, can multitask, will display 1080p HD video and will also let you do video calling as well, which are all things the iPad cannot do, and this, among other things.

Technorati Tags: iPad, tablet PC review, Samsung Galaxy