Apple iPad mini vs Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 7.0, Which is better?

With the much awaited and anticipated entry of Apple’s iPad mini, the tablet market has indeed heated up. This new iPad from the stable of iDevice giant features a 7.9-inch display. Going by the size of the display the iPad mini is sure to rival the existing 7-inch tablets in the market. A comparison of the new entrant with the Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 7.0 is inevitable. Here we are discussing the features of the two tablet stars to make your life easier as you go on to choose one for your daily use.

Apple iPad Mini Vs Samsung Galaxy Tab 2

Display

The Apple iPad mini has a tad better screen resolution than its competitor from the Samsung stable. However, the Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 7.0 has better pixel density. While the iPad mini sports a 7.9-inch LED-backlit multi-touch display with IPS technology, its screen resolution is 768 x 1024 pixels with 163 ppi. The Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 7.0 has a PLS LCD display that uses a TouchWiz UX user interface (UI). Its display resolution is 600 x 1024 pixels with 170 ppi.

Dimensions

The iPad mini has a measurement of 200 x 134.7 x 7.2 mm in thickness. It is lighter in weight compared to the Galaxy tablet, and it is sleeker too. The Galaxy tablet measures 193.7 x 1224.4 x 10.5 mm in thickness. It weighs 345 grams (approx.).

Operating system

While the iPad mini runs on Apple’s latest mobile operating system, iOS6 that has over 200 features, the Galaxy Tab first had Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich) OS version, and now there is, though not fully documented, an option of updating to Jelly Bean.

Processor

The iPad mini runs on Apple’s A5 chip, which has a dual processor. It reportedly has a 1GB RAM. The Galaxy Tab, on the other hand, is powered by Texas Instrument’s OMAP 4430 chip, which also has a dual processor and runs with a clock speed of 1GHz. It has 1GB of RAM too.

Camera

The iPad mini has a rear camera that is of a better resolution than that of the Samsung Galaxy Tab. While the Galaxy Tab has a 3 megapixel rear camera that can capture video in 720p at 30 frames per second (fps), the iPad mini has a five megapixel rear camera. The iSight camera on iPad mini can capture HD video in 1080p. It also has a Face Time camera of 1.2 mega pixels. Samsung Galaxy Tab on the other hand has a VGA-quality front camera for video calling.

Connectivity

The iPad has Bluetooth v4.0 and supports dual-band 802.11 n Wi-Fi support for speed up to 150 Mbps. The Wi-Fi coupled with 3G/4G variant of iPad mini has built-in support for superfast wireless standards, including LTE and DCHSDPA allowing users mega advantage. The Galaxy Tab on the other hand offers Wi-Fi 802.11 a/g/g/n, DLNA, Wi-Fi direct, dual band and has Bluetooth v3.0. The tablet supports data speed HSDPA up to 21Mbps and HSUPA up to 5.76 Mbps.

Storage

While the iPad comes with three storage options of 16GB, 32GB and 64GB, the Galaxy Tab is available with 8GB, 16GB and 32GB storage options. However, the Galaxy Tablet supports microSD card for additional storage space. The iPad does not have this feature.

Battery

The Galaxy Tab is a clear winner on this aspect. It has a huge 4000mAh battery that reportedly delivers enormous standby hours. The iPad mini on the other hand runs on a built-in 16.3 watt-hour battery that delivers up to 10 hours of battery life while performing certain tasks like web browsing on Wi-Fi or listening to music.

Verdict

I think going by the features, you are by this time ready with your decision. While the Samsung Galaxy Tab may have a better battery life, the iPad definitely has a better connectivity quotient. Moreover, it is much sleeker with better display. The Galaxy Tab however, will get a brownie for better pixel density. Both are smart devices with certain inherent strength that go with the individual brand. Both are good buys. On final count the call will be yours.