Android Tablets: Samsung Galaxy Tab and Toshiba SmartPad

Alongside the Dell Streak (full review on its way later today), two new Android-powered tablets from Samsung and Toshiba should be available soon.  Pictures and videos of both have been doing the rounds in the past few days.

The Galaxy Tab is Samsung's new touchscreen attempt to rival the iPad.  Chinese site ifanr has managed to get up close and personal to the Korean giant's new toy.  Running Android 2.2 (FroYo), the Tab has a 7'' capacitative touchscreen with a 1024 x 600 pixel AMOLED display.  The form factor is similar to the iPad's, and is complemented by the four touch-sensitive buttons along the bottom found on many Android devices.  The main connector, which you can use to sync it with USB, could well be based on the 30-pin PDMI standard used on the Dell Streak.  As for the external design, Samsung very clearly hasn't been inspired by the iPod connector.



On the inside, the Galaxy Tab has a 1.2 GHz ARM processor and the same VideoLogic PowerVR SGX 540 graphics chip found in the Galaxy S, as well as 3G and 802.11b/g/n WiFi.  Two photo/video cameras are available: one at the front (which will allow iPhone 4-style video calls) and another 3.2 Megapixel one at the back, which should be useful for augmented reality apps.  A video player should be able to handle all sort of formats, including HD, but the most interesting rumour is the potential for a HDMI port in the final version.  The well-rounded Galaxy Tab will also have GPS, an e-book reader and, most importantly, a browse that supports Flash.  It's clear that Samsung is putting a lot of effort into beating the iPad—even if that means looking just like it.



We've heard a little less about Toshiba, but the Italian site Notebookitalia has found two photos.  All we know is that the Smart Pad will have a 9'' or 10'' screen powered by an Nvidia Tegra2 chip.  The photos make it clear that Toshiba has added plenty of connectivity, with a full-size USB port, a mini USB, HDMI, a headphone jack and an SD card slot.  As with the Galaxy Tab, there's a row of four touch-sensitive buttons around the frame, as well as a webcam.  There's no news on which version of Android is included, and there are even rumors that it will be available with Windows Phone 7. 



More information—including launch dates and pricing information—will be unveiled at the IFA in Berlin next week.


> Buyer's Guides: Our Pick of The Best Products