Samsung ATIV Tab Pro Reviews

Does the ATIV Tab deliver a better experience in Windows RT than its competition? Not really. The same limitations we ran into on the Surface apply here as well. Samsung's device does wield faster hardware, but IE10 still stutters if you ask too much of it. Moreover, in a multi-monitor configuration (something we're partial to), simply moving your mouse around causes skipping if you're watching video on YouTube. Of course, given confirmation that Samsung isn't releasing the ATIV Tab in North America just yet, it'd seem the company came to the same conclusion as us, just a little sooner. Nothing prevents Samsung from revisiting our market later in 2013 though, particularly if its concerns about Windows RT are addressed. Should that happen, we'd advise Samsung to mind its pricing. At least in the U.K., 32 GB Tabs are selling for £525, or just a little less than a 64 GB Surface. In a head-to-head against Microsoft's Surface, we'd be looking for the ATIV Tab at a discount, and even then only if Samsung were to make a sturdy docking station available as an option.

The Samsung ATIV Tab is the company's first tablet running the ARM-optimised Windows RT operating system. The plastic case is very good. The latest wireless technologies, the performance of the Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Plus SoC, and the positioning of the speakers are all convincing advantages. The Samsung 10.1-inch display surprised us with its values, but the resolution of 1366x768 pixels seems somewhat antique. Unfortunately there are no UMTS module and other memory options. Speaking of memory: after the initial installation, only 14.1 GB out of the advertised 32 GB were available. In this case, every 16 GB Android or iOS device has just as much free memory. Other weaknesses include the lack of apps in the Windows Store and the austere camera application, which offers basic functions only after the installation of an additional tool. We were pleased with the low heat generation and long battery life. Thanks to the efficient hardware and large battery, the tablet reached more than 12 hours in our realistic test. Overall, it is a good tablet with convincing advantages, but also disappointing weaknesses. In our view, the recommended price of 750 Euros is excessive. Google's Nexus 10 with the latest Android version and 32 GB memory is more than 300 Euros cheaper. Even similar Windows RT tablets are cheaper. For these reasons, we cannot give it an unconditional recommendation.

We have to admit that we quite enjoyed spending some time with the Samsung ATIV Tab. Using a tablet that is neither an iPad nor an Android device feels refreshing in its own way, reminding us that there is always more than one way to skin a cat. Sure, getting comfortable with the device requires time and patience, especially since it runs an operating system that users aren't truly familiar with yet, but based on our experience, we can reassure you that the learning curve evens out relatively fast. However, the lack of applications available for Windows RT is a disadvantage that will likely be a deal breaker for some early adopters. In fact, that is a problem that all tablets running Windows RT will be facing for quite some time, including Microsoft's very own Surface tablet. Of course, that will be rectified over time as more and more developers port their software to the new platform but how fast of a process that is going to be remains unclear. Another important factor you have to consider is pricing. In our opinion, the ATIV Tab is close, but not as good as the Surface – it offers identical performance and features, but in a cheaper plastic shell. That is why unless Samsung's Windows RT tablet is more affordable than Microsoft's offering, we don't really see it as a worthy pick. But as a whole, we welcome the arrival of the Samsung ATIV Tab and Windows RT as the tablet market is in need of alternatives to Android and the iPad. The device is not likely to disappoint, as long as you are willing to give it a chance. Of course, it will be a pretty wise idea checking out the Microsoft Surface as well before dropping any cash on the table.