Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 7.0 vs iPad mini

After months of rabid speculation from the public, Apple finally announced its miniature iPad at an event in San Jose on 23 October. The 7.9in device will join the existing 9.7in iPad 2 and a new fourth generation iPad with Retina display to make up Apple’s complete line of tablet offerings.

The iPad mini joins an already crowded field, with 7in tablets from Google and Samsung faring solidly in the market. But will Apple be able to carry over its tablet success to its smaller iPad? We compare the iPad mini with Apple rival Samsung’s 7in Galaxy Tab 2 7.0 to find out.

Size and weight

The Galaxy Tab 2 7.0 measures up at 193.7 x 122.4 x 10.5mm, making it slightly smaller, albeit thicker, than the iPad mini, which has dimensions of 200 x 134.7 x 7.2mm. The Samsung tablet, with a weight of 341g, is a tad heavier than the iPad mini’s 308g.

Display

With its 7in Super PLS LCD screen offering up a resolution of 1,024 x 600 pixels, the Galaxy Tab 2 7.0 doesn’t have a particularly groundbreaking display, but it certainly is decent enough. The iPad mini, meanwhile, has a slightly sharper IPS LCD with a resolution of 1,024 x 768 pixels – the same one seen on the iPad 2. Whilst it has a smaller display (7in compared to 7.9in), Samsung's device has a higher pixel density (169ppi compared to 162ppi).

Storage and memory

The Galaxy Tab 2 7.0 ships in 8GB and 16GB versions, whereas the iPad mini has three capacity variations – 16, 32, and 64GB. But Samsung’s slate is upgradeable via a microSD card slot, whereas the iPad mini has no external memory capabilities - a feature that could prove to be a deal breaker for some prospective shoppers given that a 64GB microSD card can be had for around £40.

Processor

A TI OMAP 4430 is under the hood of the Galaxy Tab 2 7.0. That dual-core system-on-chip is clocked at 1GHz, meaning it’s likely not that different from the iPad mini’s dual-core A5 SoC, performance-wise, especially as both use a similar PowerVR GPU.

Software

The two devices’ various operating systems are likely to be the most significance difference between them. While Samsung’s slate runs on Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich – with no word yet on when it will be eligible for a Jelly Bean upgrade – the iPad mini runs on the latest Apple mobile operation system, iOS 6. While some consumers will likely be swayed by the freedom offered by the Android platform, others will be drawn to the plethora of quality apps that exist in the iOS ecosystem.

Camera

Users of Samsung’s Galaxy Tab 2 7.0 can expect decent photos with the device’s 3-megapixel rear camera. And its front-facing VGA camera should just about do the trick for basic video-conferencing and grainy self-portraits. The iPad mini, on the other hand, bests Samsung’s tablet slightly with a 5-megapixel rear camera and a 1.2-megapixel front-facing one.  On the video front, both tablets shoot 720p video at 30 frames per second.

Battery

While Samsung makes no claims about the Galaxy Tab 2 7.0’s battery life, our review found it to be in around than six hours, quite disappointing. Apple, on the other hand, claims its iPad mini has a battery life of 10 hours. That’s a significant difference in the iPad mini’s favour, though the true-to-life number will, of course, vary depending on usage.

Connectivity

The Galaxy Tab 2 7.0 comes in either Wi-Fi-only or Wi-Fi + 3G versions (though lucky users in the US and elsewhere can grab a 4G LTE version). It also has a USB 2.0 port, and 802.11/g/b/n connectivity. Similarly, the iPad mini will ship in both Wi-Fi-only and Wi-Fi + cellular models; however, its data connectivity bests that of the Galaxy Tab, as it is 4G LTE-enabled. However, while it lacks a USB port, its Wi-Fi connectivity is 802.11a/g/b/n-capable.

Price

Samsung’s slate starts at £199 for an 8GB, Wi-Fi-only version and ranges up to £349.99 for a 16GB, Wi-Fi + 3G version. And the iPad mini, although the cheapest iPad today, starts a little bit higher, from £269 for a 16GB Wi-Fi only version. It ranges up to £529 for the higher-end 64GB version with Wi-Fi + 4G.

Specification Table

	Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 7.0	iPad mini
Display
Screen size	7in	7.9in
Resolution	1,024 x 600 pixels	1,024 x 768 pixels
Pixel density	170 PPI	163 PPI
Type	Super PLS LCD	IPS LCD
Processor and battery
Family	TI OMAP 4430	Apple A5
Cores	Dual-core	Dual-core
Clock speed	1GHz	TBC
Battery life	5hrs48min	Up to 10 hours
Storage and memory
Internal storage	8/16GB	16/32/64GB
Card slot	microSD (up to 32GB)	No
RAM	TBC	TBC
Ports
USB	USB 2.0	No
HDMI	No	No
Camera
Megapixels	3MP	5MP
Video	720p@30fps	720p
Front-facing camera	VGA	1.2MP
Wireless
Network	3G (Option)/4G LTE (US, Canada)	4G LTE (Option)
Wi-Fi	802.11 b/g/n	802.11a/b/g/n
Bluetooth	3.0	4.0
Dimensions
Size	193.7 x 122.4 x 10.5mm	200 x 134.7 x 7.2mm
Weight	341g	308g
Operating System	Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich	iOS 6
Price	From £199 – 8GB, Wi-Fi only	From £269 – 16GB, Wi-Fi only
UK Availability	Available now	Pre-order from 26 October