With so many high-end tablets on the market, all with similar specs, it’s difficult to know which is the right one for you. When purchasing a tablet, consumers are first faced with choosing their operating system. Android is easily the most popular alternative to iOS, which still presents us with many options. Samsung is the main contender for tablet supremacy competing with the iPad, their two most prominent tablets being: the Galaxy Note 10.1 inch, which is the tablet equivalent to their popular Galaxy Note smartphone; and the Galaxy Tab 2, the predecessor for one of the most popular tablet alternatives to the iPad. Let’s see how they compare side by side, and what their strong and weak points may be.

Differences: The Note boasts an impressive Quad-Core 1.4 GHz processor (which is rare in the tablet market), which is complimented by 2GB of RAM; the Tab 2 has a modest Dual-core 1 GHz processor with 1GB of RAM. The Note comes in 16, 32 and 64GB, expandable up to an additional 64GB via MicroSD; the Tab 2 is also expandable, only up to 32GB, and is only available in 16 and 32GB models. When it comes to the cameras, the Note trumps the Tab 2 again with a 5MP rear-facing camera, and a 1.9MP front-facing camera, while the Tab 2 has a 3MP and a strictly VGA camera. The Note also offers an infrared port, and a stylus pen with various accompanying apps including the Adobe Photoshop Touch app, the Tab 2 does not. As for gaming, the Note has a Mali-400MP GPU, while the Tab 2 has a PowerVR SGX540.

Similarities: The Note and the Tab 2 both have identical PLS TFT displays, measuring 10.1 inches and having the same pixel density and resolution. The Note is accompanied by a stylus pen, which might win over some consumers. They are also weigh the same amount, both have 3G, and both run on the latest from Android: version 4.1 Jelly Bean. Neither offer a radio, but both have GPS, Java and Adobe Flash support, Bluetooth, a Li-Po 7000 mAh battery, and even TV-Out support.

Conclusion: Although the Galaxy Note 10.1 clearly has some advantages over the competition, the Tab 2 is a solid tablet that has a lot to offer, at a smaller price tag. Depending on the demand of the consumer, some may find the Tab 2 to have plenty of power, storage and features, while others may want double the speed and storage, and don’t mind paying the price. Regardless, both tablets cover the most important features, with their crisp and vibrant displays and ideal connectivity support, making them both worth-while alternatives to the iPad.

Article by Chloe Parker, editor for www.mobilephones.org.uk, where she writes about the latest smartphone and tablet news and rumors.