Quick Answer
- We are not fans of imaging hardware generally seen on a tablet but we would rather have a front facing camera on a tablet for basic video calling.
- You get a physical home button at the front, volume rocker and power key on the right and MicroSD card slot on the left.
- The display resolution is nothing to boast about and with a pixel density of 170 ppi, it’s a pretty soft display.
At Samsung Forum 2014, Samsung also launched and showcased Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 Neo, a 7 inch tablet priced at Rs. 16, 490. The tablet bears budget dual core specification and lies dangerously close to Nexus 7 2013 arena. We examined the device at Samsung Forum in Bali, Indonesia today and here are our views.
Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 Neo Quick Specs
- Display Size: 7 inch,TFT LCD, 600 X 1024, 170 ppi
- Processor: 1.2 GHz Dual Core Marvell chipset with Vivante GC1000 GPU
- Software Version: Android 4.2 (Jelly Bean) with TouchWiz UI on top
- Camera: 2 MP camera
- Secondary Camera: No
- Internal Storage: 8 GB
- External Storage: up to 64 GB using MicroSD support
- Battery: 3600 mAh battery
- Connectivity: Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.0 with A2DP, aGPS, GLONASS
- Sensors: Accelerometer, gyro, proximity
Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 Neo Hands On Video
Coming Soon
Design and Build
The body is all plastic, however the back cover does have a textured pattern which differentiates it from glossy plastic back. The body design is quite conventional. You get a physical home button at the front, volume rocker and power key on the right and MicroSD card slot on the left. The front is covered in glass. The body design is pretty much similar to Samsung Galaxy Tab 3.0. Body thickness and weight are also similar. With a weight of 310 grams, the tablet felt good to hold in hand.
The Display is 7 inches in size and features a 1024 x600 pixel resolution. The display resolution is nothing to boast about and with a pixel density of 170 ppi, it’s a pretty soft display. The competition in the 7 inch tablet segment is tough and the display resolution is quite obsolete at this price range.
Camera and Internal Storage
The camera has been further trimmed down to 2 MP units and it won’t be wise to expect much from it. We are not fans of imaging hardware generally seen on a tablet but we would rather have a front facing camera on a tablet for basic video calling. Front camera is not the only thing missing. There is no LED flash either.
The internal storage is 8 GB and can be extended to 64 GB using Micro SD support. The storage will suffice for most people.
Chipset, Battery and OS
The chipset is a humble 1.2 GHz dual core cortex A9 based Marvell processor backed by 1 GB RAM and Vivante GC1000 GPU. The chipset is again not suited to the price range. Tablets like Nexus 7 first generation offer much better hardware at a much lower price point.
The software is Android 4.2 jelly bean with touch wiz UI on top and includes some handy features like Multi windows. The battery capacity is also pretty decent at 3600 mAh.
Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 Neo Photo Gallery
Conclusion
The phone is definitely over priced according to the features that it offers. With the absence of 3G connectivity or a SIM card slot, it further loses its appeal in markets like India. Various other tablets like Nexus 7 2012, Xolo Tegra Note, Asus Fonepad 7, Dell Venue 7 etc will offer you better hardware at this price point. For now, it doesn’t looks like a value for money tablet.
