Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 (311): Not the brightest of the lot........

Just like Galaxy phones, Samsung's Galaxy tablets are among the most popular Android devices. Samsung was one of the first companies to come out with an Android tablet. Yes, we are talking about the original Galaxy Tab that hit the market in 2010. Since then not only the Galaxy tablets have evolved but other players, including Google, have also entered the market.

Nexus 7, iPad Mini and Kindle Fire have changed the market in many ways.
With Galaxy Tab 3 series - particularly Tab 3 (311) that we are reviewing today - Samsung hopes to draw the attention of consumers back to its tablets.

An oversized Galaxy S4 Samsung is nowadays focusing on a unified design language. Once it finalizes the design of its flagship Android device - usually the Galaxy S phone - it tries to use the same design for all its following Galaxy products. This is the reason why most of the Galaxy products that Samsung launched last year followed the design pattern set by Galaxy S3. This year, almost all Galaxy phones and tablets that Samsung is launching follow the design of Galaxy S4.

It is also a safe play because ergonomically and aesthetically Galaxy S4 has a good design.

Just like other Galaxy devices, Tab 3 uses a shell made of glossy plastic. To add some style to the device, Samsung has used plastic that has a very fine pattern under its glossy coating. There is an aluminum frame around the tablet that adds to its sturdiness as well as gives it a premium feel.

The front of the devices has three buttons. The menu and back buttons are touch sensitive and light when you use them. Unlike most other Galaxy devices, back cover on Galaxy Tab 3 can't be removed. The SIM card and microSD cards fit into two slots provided on the left side of the tablet. The stereo speakers, which are very loud, are on the bottom of the device.

Galaxy Tab 3 has a design that is neat and functional. The rounded edges and a slim profile make holding and using the device effortless.

Tab 3 -- with 311 in its name -- is different from Tab 3 that has 211 in its name. Unlike the 211 that has a 7-inch screen, the 311 uses an 8-inch screen. The quality of screen is also better. We found the screen on Tab 3 (311) to be very good. It shows rich and deep colours. And though it lacks a FullHD resolution, we found that 1280x800 pixels make the screen sharp enough to display crisp and clear text while web browsing. The viewing angles are fantastic, which means the colours don't change or shift when you tilt or move your head while using the device.

During outdoor use, Tab 3 screen offers enough brightness to negate the effect of sunlight. Unfortunately, the auto brightness settings are too conservative and you will have to set brightness manually to make the screen more legible if you are using it under sunlight. Tab 3 is powered by a dual-core Exynos processor and 1.5GB RAM. It has multiple Mali 400 chips for graphics related processing. The internal storage is 16GB but users can add a microSD card to expand it. There are two cameras - a 5MP primary camera and a 1.3MP front camera.

Mostly fast, sometimes slow
The device runs on Android 4.2. But Samsung has customized the OS with TouchWiz user interface.

Tab 3 is capable device and we had a good experience with it. It plays FullHD videos, even in more exotic formats like MKV, with ease. Web browsing on the device is good and websites look sharp due to its high-resolution screen. GPS locks within seconds and apps like Google Navigation work very well. The S Remote app, through which a user can control a television, works without glitches.

Then, there are Touchwiz related customizations. Settings panel has been redesigned and made more suitable for a tablet. Apps like S Planner (calendar), Gallery, Memo have been tweaked for the big screen. But the best feature in the tablet, and the one not available in other tablets, is dual-screen mode. Most of the popular apps can be run side-by-side for easy multitasking. While not everyone will require or appreciate this feature, if you are someone who likes to research on the web while replying to an email, you will love the dual-window mode.

Touchwiz has its disadvantages as well. The user interface doesn't feel as snappy or fast as the one on the Nexus 7, a tablet that features an untouched version of Android. There is visible lag while switching between apps. The lag is also visible during gaming. The tablet handles casual games like Rayman Jungle Run with ease. But in games like Dead Trigger, which have higher quality visuals, it is easy to notice low frames even though games are playable.


The 5MP primary camera shoots poor pictures in most circumstances. The biggest problem with shots taken by Tab 3 is the quality of colours. The photos, even those shot in good light, lack contrast and deep colours. In macro or close up shots the performance is slightly better and you can get images that are good enough to be shared on Facebook or Twitter. In low light the performance is poor and you will get images that are full of noise.

The 1.3MP front camera fares better and produces a clear feed during video chats.
Battery life of Tab 3 is above average. When used with a 3G connection for emails, web browsing, gaming and watching some videos it lasts around 14 hours. Needless to say, if you are travelling with Tab 3 you will not have to look for a charger for at least 24 hours if you are a bit careful with your use.

Not a value for money
Galaxy Tab 3 (311) comes at a price of Rs 25,725. And while it is a decent and functional tablet, it is not a good value for money at this price.

The device competes primarily with three tablets - Nexus 7, iPad Mini and Kindle Fire HD 8.9. All three are priced around Rs 22,500, almost Rs 3,000 less than the price of Tab 3.

The basic iPad Mini is a fantastic tablet but doesn't support 3G. Kindle Fire HD 8.9, meanwhile, is geared for tasks like ebook reading or watching movies. It is a kind of specialized product which excels at the tasks it is supposed to do well.

If you are looking to get a tablet with a budget of Rs 25,000, we recommend Nexus 7. Compared to Tab 3, it offers better performance, a slightly better screen, more internal storage (32 GB vs 16GB but no microSD card slot) and promise of faster Android updates. The only thing it lacks is a primary camera and ability to make calls on cellular network. If these two are very important for you, Galaxy Tab 3 is a decent, albeit overpriced, option. It is an allrounder and mostly works well. Just don't expect to be dazzled by it.

Pros: Very good screen, dual-window mode, good build quality, thin and lightweight, good battery life

Cons: Poor camera, visible lag during multitasking and gaming, TouchWiz user interface is not as good looking as stock Android, high price

Specs * 8-inch capacitive touchscreen (1280 x800 pixels resolution)

*1.5GHz Exynos dual-core processor

*Mali 400MP graphics chip
*1.5GB RAM
*16GB internal storage with support for up to 64GB MicroSD card
*5-megapixel camera, 720P video recording
*1.3MP front-facing camera
*3G, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS, IR sensor
*4450 mAh battery
*Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean
*314gms