As the first device to come out of the Samsung and Barnes & Noble partnership, the Galaxy Tab 4 Nook promises to offer the best of both worlds: a great tablet and an industry-leading eReader. But that doesn’t mean this 7-inch tablet doesn’t face some serious competition from the Amazon Kindle Fire HDX 7-inch.
1.2-GHz quad-core Marvell PXA 1088
2.2-GHz quad-core Snapdragon 800
8GB (expandable to 32GB via microSD)
microSD card slot, microUSB charging port
Amazon’s 7-inch slate costs $229, while Samsung’s costs just $179 (after a $20 rebate). The measurements of the two are comparable, with the 9.74 ounce Tab 4 Nook coming in a hair smaller at 7.36 x 4.25 x 0.35 inches vs. the 10.7-ounce Fire HDX’s 7.3 x 5 x 0.35 inches. But once you look at their features, Amazon provides more processing power, a higher-resolution screen, more processing power and more onboard storage. However, Barnes & Noble uniquely offers on-site tech support, multi-tasking goodness and a 3-MP rear-facing camera.
MORE: Amazon Kindle Fire HDX vs. Google Nexus 7: Which Tablet Is Better?
The Fire HDX is powered by a 2.2-GHz quad-core Snapdragon 800 CPU. We’ve not yet tested the new Tab 4 Nook, but we’re skeptical about how the 1.2-GHz quad-core Marvell PXA 1088 will stack up. For RAM, the Fire HDX offers 2GB, while the Nook has just 1.3GB.
Both slates offer dedicated profiles and robust parental controls for a family-friendly experience. Both also offer their own content portals for books, TV shows, movies, apps and games. But Nook does pack in the Google Play store as well, which offers a wider selection of content. We also like that the Tab 4 Nook comes preloaded with the Chrome browser, rather than Amazon’s proprietary Silk browser.
Barnes & Noble noticeably pulled back on its operating system overlay, leaving a traditional Android 4.4 experience that some will appreciate. Still, Amazon’s extras such as the Mayday button for on-screen tech support and X-Ray for additional info on books and music are pretty handy.
We’re looking forward to testing Barnes & Noble’s claims of 10 hours of endurance for its 400mAh battery. On our Laptop Mag Battery Test, we recorded 11 hours of battery life from the Fire HDX 7-inch. We also plan to update this comparison as soon as more test results are available.
A lover of lists and deadlines, Anna Attkisson covers apps, social networking and accessories. She's proud to say she loves each and every one of her phablet, three tablets, three laptops and desktop. She joined the Laptop Mag staff in 2007, after working at Time Inc. Content Solutions where she created custom publications for companies from American Express to National Parks Foundation.From Laptopmagazine. Product reviews and advice for best reference
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