Samsung released Galaxy Note 3's cousin just recently. The Galaxy Note 10.1 2014 is a full-sized tablet that promises productivity in style. Most people may find the Note 10.1 to be similar with Note 3 but it has its excellent features that can distinguish it from the line. With Google's second generation Nexus 10 just around the corner, which slate should holiday shoppers go for? A rundown of their specs and capabilities should help make the choice.

Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 2014 Edition

The Galaxy Note 10.1 follows the design inspiration of the Note 3. Some sources consider the Note 10.1 as an upgrade of the Note 3. This means the device sports a similar faux-metal plastic trim all over the edges. It also features a faux-leather finish.

The design tells a lot about what Samsung wants to achieve. It seems the company wants to target the high end market. However, some people may not like the stitching design surrounding the back panel. Nonetheless, this does not change the fact that the tablet offers a feeling of strength and durability. The design of the Note 10.1 is a great improvement from the bland design of last year's Note.

Another leap from last year's generation is the screen. The device now features a 2560-x-1600 LCD display with 300 pixels per inch. The screen and display are as good as they can get so far. The previous generation only came with a 1280-x-800 display. This also places the Note 10.1 as one of the best tablets out there in terms of display and resolution.

Another selling point of the device is the S Pen. People can now write and draw without having to touch the slate. It is also useful when multitasking. The S Pen can open several applications or windows and allows the person to switch between these components conveniently. The S Pen has five different tips. People can choose a tip depending on how they write.

Other key features include:

  • Quad-core 1.5 GHz Cortex-A15 & quad-core 1.3 GHz Cortex-A7, Mali-T628MP6 GPU; Exynos 5420 chipset
  • 3GB of RAM
  • Android OS v4.3 Jelly Bean with TouchWiz UX UI
  • S Pen input and great software backend
  • One of a kind split-screen multitasking and pop-up mini apps
  • Quad-band GPRS/EDGE/HSPA and hexa-band LTE connectivity cat.4
  • Voice calls (on 3G and LTE models only)
  • 16/32/64 GB of built-in memory
  • 8 MP autofocus camera, 3264x2448 pixels, geotagging
  • 1080p video recording @60fps (LTE model) / 1080p video recording @30fps (Wi-Fi and 3G models)
  • 2MP front-facing camera; 1080p videos
  • Side-mounted stereo speakers
  • Wi-Fi 802.11 ac/a/b/g/n Wi-Fi Direct, dual-band, Wi-Fi hotspot
  • Stereo Bluetooth v4.0
  • HDMI TV-out (adapter required), USB host (adapter required)
  • microSD card slot
  • Standard 3.5 mm audio jack
  • Infrared port
  • GPS with A-GPS support; GLONASS, digital compass
  • 1080p XviD/MKV video support with subtitles

The Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 2014 Edition comes with Android 4.3 Jelly Bean OS. The device has been upgraded offering additional premium features like the TouchWiz UI. Samsung has optimized the interface impressively. It works well with the larger screen plus it also functions just right with a split screen. Samsung also polished the widgets supporting both landscape and portrait mode. Samsung removed the shortcuts on the bottom of the screen.

People can choose from two versions of the Galaxy Note 10.1 2014 Edition: Samsung Exynos 5 Octa-running Wi-Fi and 3G editions or a Snapdragon 800 supporting LTE. The Samsung Exynos 5420 chipset offers four 1.5GHz Cortex-A15 cores and a four 1.3GHz Cortex-A7 cores. However, the device cannot use the processors simultaneously. Instead, the device runs on the power-saving Cortex-A7 for easy to run tasks then it switches to Cortex-A15 for more demanding programs.

The Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 2014 provides just the right functionality and design for a slate.

Google Nexus 10 2

Google has been gaining success in their foray into the tablet industry. Having just released the second generation Nexus 7, the company is now gearing up for the Google Nexus 10 2. Since Google already released the Android 4.4 KitKat, it is highly likely that their Google Nexus 10 will run with the latest OS. As the name implies, the device will also reportedly sport a 10-inch screen offering 2560 x 1600 pixel resolution. The device also features an 8MP primary camera and 2.1MP front camera. Accoridng to reports, the slate will also come with a bigger internal storage. Google Nexus 10 2 will also run with quad core Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 processor.

Because the device will run on Android 4.4 KitKat it should also have better Google Now assistant plus NFC payments and better speech recognition. Android 4.4 KitKat now allows people to talk to their smart devices just by saying the phrase : Ok Google. Overview of reported specs include:

OS: Android 4.4 KitKat

Screen: Super PLS 10.1 in (2560 x 1600, 299ppi), Corning Gorilla Glass 3

Processor: 2.3 GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 or nVidia Tegra 4

GPU: Adreno 330 (if CPU is Qualcomm)

Storage: Up to 32 GB (no microSD)

RAM: 2 GB or 3 GB

Cameras: 8Mp rear, 2.1 Mp front

Connectivity: dual-band Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0, dual-side NFC, microUSB

Battery: Li-po 9500mAh non-removable

The market will have to wait until Google starts shipping to make a final verdict.