Mobile Technology

Samsung Galaxy Note Pro vs. Galaxy Tab Pro 12.2, 10.1 and 8.4

Samsung Galaxy Note Pro vs. Galaxy Tab Pro 12.2, 10.1 and 8.4
Gizmag compares the features and specs of the Samsung Galaxy Note Pro, Galaxy Tab Pro 12.2, Galaxy Tab Pro 10.1, and Galaxy Tab Pro 8.4
Gizmag compares the features and specs of the Samsung Galaxy Note Pro, Galaxy Tab Pro 12.2, Galaxy Tab Pro 10.1, and Galaxy Tab Pro 8.4
View 15 Images
It's pleather all around for Samsung's new set of slates
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It's pleather all around for Samsung's new set of slates
All four tablets have 8-megapixel rear cameras
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All four tablets have 8-megapixel rear cameras
You can choose between black and white for each of the four Galaxy Pro tablets
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You can choose between black and white for each of the four Galaxy Pro tablets
Processor options should be pretty much the same, though Samsung didn't specifically mention the octa-core Exynos version for the Tab Pro 8.4
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Processor options should be pretty much the same, though Samsung didn't specifically mention the octa-core Exynos version for the Tab Pro 8.4
The two 12.2-in tablets are monsters
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The two 12.2-in tablets are monsters
The two 12.2-in tablets are closer in size to a MacBook than to an iPad
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The two 12.2-in tablets are closer in size to a MacBook than to an iPad
Gizmag compares the features and specs of the Samsung Galaxy Note Pro, Galaxy Tab Pro 12.2, Galaxy Tab Pro 10.1, and Galaxy Tab Pro 8.4
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Gizmag compares the features and specs of the Samsung Galaxy Note Pro, Galaxy Tab Pro 12.2, Galaxy Tab Pro 10.1, and Galaxy Tab Pro 8.4
$650-750 is a lot to pay for a tablet, so it will be interesting to see if customers respond to the huge Galaxy Note Pro and Tab Pro 12.2
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$650-750 is a lot to pay for a tablet, so it will be interesting to see if customers respond to the huge Galaxy Note Pro and Tab Pro 12.2
The large tablets have a bit more RAM than the more standard-sized ones
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The large tablets have a bit more RAM than the more standard-sized ones
The tablets' software has KitKat at its core, though you might not recognize Android with all the TouchWiz on top
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The tablets' software has KitKat at its core, though you might not recognize Android with all the TouchWiz on top
The 12.2-in slates also come in bigger storage tiers
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The 12.2-in slates also come in bigger storage tiers
Only the Note Pro lets you use a stylus
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Only the Note Pro lets you use a stylus
Is the Note Pro's extra weight simply a matter of Samsung weighing the S Pen along with the tablet?
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Is the Note Pro's extra weight simply a matter of Samsung weighing the S Pen along with the tablet?
Standard Wi-Fi or Wi-Fi with cellular options all around
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Standard Wi-Fi or Wi-Fi with cellular options all around
All four tablets hold quite a bit of juice
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All four tablets hold quite a bit of juice
View gallery - 15 images

Samsung is about to unleash a whole mess of high-end tablets on us. With four Galaxy Pro tablets – the Galaxy Note Pro, Galaxy Tab Pro 12.2, Galaxy Tab Pro 10.1, and Galaxy Tab Pro 8.4 – to choose from, we thought we'd line them up and take a look at their features and specs.

Size

The two 12.2-in tablets are monsters
The two 12.2-in tablets are monsters

The two 12.2-in tablets, the Galaxy Note Pro and Galaxy Tab 12.2, are enormous. Just consider that the Tab Pro 10.1 is roughly the same size as the iPad Air, and it looks pretty small next to the two 12-inchers. The Tab Pro 8.4, a bit larger than the iPad mini, is absolutely dwarfed by them.

For the rest of this comparison we're going to prop up the Galaxy Tab Pro 8.4 in portrait mode. Apparently that's how Samsung sees you using it, as it's the only one in this bunch with its navigation buttons positioned below the screen for portrait use.

Weight

Is the Note Pro's extra weight simply a matter of Samsung weighing the S Pen along with the tablet?
Is the Note Pro's extra weight simply a matter of Samsung weighing the S Pen along with the tablet?

All of the tablets feel very light relative to their respective sizes. The most interesting item to note here is that the Galaxy Note Pro is a little heavier than the Tab Pro 12.2, despite the two slates being almost physically identical. Maybe Samsung included the Note Pro's S Pen (stylus) with its official weight?

Build

It's pleather all around for Samsung's new set of slates
It's pleather all around for Samsung's new set of slates

It's pleather all around, as Samsung's new favorite material adorns all of the new Galaxy Pro tablets.

Colors

You can choose between black and white for each of the four Galaxy Pro tablets
You can choose between black and white for each of the four Galaxy Pro tablets

All of the slates are available in both black and white color options.

Display

The two 12.2-in tablets are closer in size to a MacBook than to an iPad
The two 12.2-in tablets are closer in size to a MacBook than to an iPad

The two 12-inchers give you much more screen real estate than the other two, but is all that screen necessary? For the majority of customers, we imagine the 10.1-in screen will be more than enough space. It will be interesting to see if many shoppers respond to these humongo-tablets.

If you prefer mini-tablets, then the Tab Pro 8.4 has one big advantage. With the same 2,560 x 1,600 resolution squeezed onto a smaller display, it's the sharpest of the bunch with a terrific 359 pixels per inch.

Stylus

Only the Note Pro lets you use a stylus
Only the Note Pro lets you use a stylus

This is the big differentiator between the Note Pro and the Tab Pro 12.2. You get Samsung's famous S Pen (familiar from other Galaxy Note phablets and tablets) and all of the stylus-based software tweaks that go along with it.

Software

The tablets' software has KitKat at its core, though you might not recognize Android with all the TouchWiz on top
The tablets' software has KitKat at its core, though you might not recognize Android with all the TouchWiz on top

All four tablets run Android 4.4 KitKat with a thick layer of Samsung TouchWiz slapped on top. This time that includes the new Magazine UX, which puts Windows 8-like live tiles on your home screen.

The Note Pro and Tab Pro 12.2 also feature a pretty generous selection of bundled premium services, including Dropbox, Bitcasa, NY Times, Evernote, Bloomberg Businessweek+, Blurb, and Cisco WebEx Meetings. Samsung says that these services are worth around US$700.

Storage

The 12.2-in slates also come in bigger storage tiers
The 12.2-in slates also come in bigger storage tiers

The big boys also have higher storage tiers than the two smaller (relatively speaking) tablets. All four support microSD cards, a Samsung standard – even as most of the mobile world has moved past microSDs.

Wireless

Standard Wi-Fi or Wi-Fi with cellular options all around
Standard Wi-Fi or Wi-Fi with cellular options all around

As you'd expect, we have both Wi-Fi only and Wi-Fi with LTE models for all four tablets.

Cameras

All four tablets have 8-megapixel rear cameras
All four tablets have 8-megapixel rear cameras

It looks like we have the same cameras in all four tablets as well. The 8-megapixel resolutions on their rear cameras are higher than most competing tablets.

Battery

All four tablets hold quite a bit of juice
All four tablets hold quite a bit of juice

We'll have to wait before jumping to any conclusions about actual battery life, but all four tablets hold quite a bit of juice.

Processor

Processor options should be pretty much the same, though Samsung didn't specifically mention the octa-core Exynos version for the Tab Pro 8.4
Processor options should be pretty much the same, though Samsung didn't specifically mention the octa-core Exynos version for the Tab Pro 8.4

At least three of the four tablets are sold with different processors, depending on the wireless configuration you pick. For the Tab Pro 8.4, Samsung only lists the Snapdragon 800, but adds the footnote "the selection of [application processors] will be different by markets."

RAM

The large tablets have a bit more RAM than the more standard-sized ones
The large tablets have a bit more RAM than the more standard-sized ones

The twin towers give you an extra 1 GB of RAM over their two little brothers.

Starting prices

$650-750 is a lot to pay for a tablet, so it will be interesting to see if customers respond to the huge Galaxy Note Pro and Tab Pro 12.2
$650-750 is a lot to pay for a tablet, so it will be interesting to see if customers respond to the huge Galaxy Note Pro and Tab Pro 12.2

Is a stylus worth an extra $100? Of course the cheap piece of plastic known as the S Pen isn't, but perhaps you'll decide that the software-based perks of using a stylus are.

The Tab Pro 10.1 matches its biggest rival, the iPad Air, at $500. And go figure, the Tab Pro 8.4 matches its biggest rival, the iPad mini with Retina Display, at $400.

For more on Samsung's new tablets, you can check out our hands-ons with the Note Pro and Tab Pros from CES.

View gallery - 15 images
6 comments
6 comments
DonGateley
There is also a Tab 10.1 2014 edition that does have a stylus.
Much as I like these devices, I won't buy one because my aesthetic sense is so utterly revolted by the horrible retro chrome flat edges and the even more horrible finish of them that looks as if it will start flaking real soon (probably won't but that's how it looks.) Snug after market bumpers to hide that, please!
Fahrenheit 451
@DonGateley,
Are you serious? I handled and reviewed one this morning and there is nothing wrong with its aesthetic—nothing at all. The tablet remains secure in one's hand(s) owed to the backing; the edges look to have an additional clear protective film around the bezel. Buttons, cameras, and speakers are where they should be too.
I would have liked more PPI, but who wouldn't? The stylus is huge plus for me. SD card slot is a winner. My wife and I are holding out for the LTE version. This marks the end of our iPad ownership; we've both had iPads since the very beginning, but lack of swipe input and enterprise level abilities—for what we do—spells the end of our iPad era.
Angela Choi
@dongately youre thinking of the note 10.1 2014 edition, which was actually released like 6 months ago. the note series is called the note because you have a stylus to write notes on your device like a pen and paper replacement. i have the first generation note 10.1 tablet and honestly nothing can replace it (except maybe the new notepro) because no other tablet has this pen and paper mimicing feature. i have a lot of my hand written school notes and annotations and whatnot in here and you cant make anything like that with other android tablets or the ipad tablet. this is what stands out for me. and to the author, the so called cheap piece of plastic known as the s pen goes on retail for $30 and up. you cant just make your own s-pen with a few bucks, the wacom technology inside the pen is worth more than that. i do understand it feels flimsy to the hand though, i recommend a 3rd party wacom stylus pen, or the windows surface pro pen (which also comes with an eraser!)
Aldwin Chan
When I think of plastic "toys" I think of the Amazon Kindle Fire HDX. When I think of "pretty" I think of the iPad Air. When I think of practicality and productivity, I think of Samsung.
Johan Andersson
Dear DonGateley. Who, that cares about technical gadgets, really care about the design? Pure power and an open operating system are the only language that I understand.
Beefy
You can use a stylus on the Samsung Galaxy Tab Pro 8.4