After months of rumors and speculation Samsung today launched galaxy Tab 3 7.0 inch with a price tag of Rs. 17,745. Its predecessor Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 7.0 is priced around 15,000 in Indian market. Let’s compare these two devices to determine whether you will get your money’s worth with the extra 3k you will have to pump up for the upgraded version.
Display and Processor
Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 comes with a 7 inch PLS LCD touch screen with a standard color depth of 16 m colors and a resolution of 1024 x 600 pixels, this screen size gives you a pixel density of 170 pixels per inches (iPad Mini has 163 ppi). This is quite standard pixel density considering what other manufactures offer. PLS is Samsungs version of IPS display which Samsung claims comes with a wider viewing angle.
Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 7.0 comes with the same 7 inch 1024 x 600 WSVGA display with 170 pixels per inches. So as we can see display of both devices is same and is a good quality display.
Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 drives its power from a dual core processor clocked at a frequency of 1 GHz; this feature has been upgraded with the Samsung galaxy Tab 3 which is powered by a 1.2 GHz dual core processor. Many budget tabs like Micromax Funbook Infinity have been offering similar processor at a much lower price. So many people won’t find this update has vastly significant. TAB 2 has Android ICS O.S. which is upgradeable to jelly bean , however Tab 3 7.0 comes with Android jelly bean O.S.
Camera and Memory
Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 comes with a 3 MP Primary camera which can record 2048 x 1536 pixels videos. It also has a front facing VGA camera. Camera features of Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 are also same. Samsung has upgraded the secondary camera to 1.3 MP where as primary camera specifications remain same.
Galaxy Tab 2 has a RAM capacity of 1 GB and has three different variants with internal storage 8GB, 16GB and 32 GB. Galaxy Tab 3 7.0 comes with a 1 GB RAM and 8GB storage which is expandable to 32 GB using a microSD card. Well we expected Samsung to improve RAM capacity with this new device, but with price difference of 3000 INR would have been more if they had upgraded the RAM.
Battery and Features
Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 comes with a 4000 mAh lithium ion battery which provides you with a talk time of up to 40 hrs on 2G and 20 hrs on 3G. Other features include GPRS, EDGE, Wi-Fi, Wi-Fi Direct, dual band, Wi-Fi hotspot, Bluetooth and USB port. These features are again similar for both these devices.
Key Specifications
| Model | Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 7.0 P3100 | Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 211 (7.0) |
| Display | 7 inches 1024 x600 | 7 inches 1024 x600 |
| Processor | 1 GHz dual core | 1.2 GHz dual core |
| RAM / ROM | 1GB / 8GB | 1GB / 8GB |
| Camera | primary camera of 3 MP and secondary VGA camera | primary camera of 3 MP and secondary 1.3 MP camera |
| O.S. | Android ICS | Android jelly bean |
| Battery | 4000 mAh | 4000 mAh |
| Price | 14,999 INR | 17,745 INR |
Conclusion
Clearly Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 7.0 does not come with any new eye catching feature. Most of the hardware specifications are same in both these devices and only visible update is the increase in clock frequency from 1 GHz to 1.2 GHz (which is available even in many Budget tablets) and improved front camera of 1.3 MP. Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 8 GB IS Available for Rs. 14, 999 and Galaxy Tab 3 7.0 has been launched at 17, 745 INR.
