Samsung's Galaxy Note 10.1 is the best tablet they've shipped to date, but be prepared to shell out for it.(Photo: Reviewed.com)


Story Highlights



  • Samsung's Galaxy Note 10.1 has the best color performance we've ever seen on a tablet screen

  • The pressure-sensitive stylus stores inside the tablet body, making it harder to lose

  • A faux-leather back feels comfortable on your fingers and looks great



After hit-and-miss success with its tablets over the past few years, Samsung seems to have finally brought home the bacon, just in time to close out 2013. With the Galaxy Note 10.1 (MSRP $549), Samsung shows the world its best tablet to date, with enough power inside and out to compete with its toughest competitors.


The most impressive quality and biggest selling point of the Galaxy Note 10.1 is its screen. It has the best color performance we've ever seen from a tablet — be it iOS, Android, or Windows. The contrast could definitely be better, and that brings down the overall viewing experience a peg, but even with that shortcoming this screen is a treat for the eyes. The S-Pen stylus is pressure-sensitive and slots conveniently into a holster in the device, so you aren't likely to lose it. It works especially well with creative apps like Adobe's Photoshop Touch.


Inside the Galaxy Note 10.1 you'll find the whole host of hardware features enthusiasts love about the Samsung tablet family. A microSD card slot allows you to expand your storage and an IR blaster lets you control your home theater system from your tablet. You should also be able to get some serious mileage out of this laptop, as the new Bluetooth 4.0 and 802.11ac Wi-Fi card won't be obsolete for quite some time to come.


You can only say so much about the design cues of flat plastic rectangles, but at least Samsung managed one unusual flourish: The back of the 10.1 is covered with an attractive faux-leather that not only feels great on your fingers, but lends an unusually stylish look—quite similar to the rear of the new Galaxy Note III. Amid all that fake leather you'll also find an 8-megapixel camera.


BEST OF YEAR: 2013's top tablets


RELATED: Two thirds of mobile apps are 'zombies'


Charging is accomplished through a microUSB port on the bottom of the unit, which also allows drag-and-drop file sharing when it's connected to your home PC. Battery life is above average no matter how bright you crank the screen, and the processor can handle every job you're likely to throw at it (within reason). Whether you love Android or not, all these factors point to a very respectable tablet.


The Galaxy Note 10.1's biggest flaw is undoubtedly its price. It's a lot more expensive than competitors — $50 more expensive than the iPad Air, even though you don't get the durability of Apple's aluminum build. We also dislike Samsung's Android skin, TouchWiz. It feels as clunky and confusing as ever, with inconsistent gesture controls between apps and weird widget placement (admittedly, a problem you can solve by hunting down a third-party launcher). TouchWiz is something you'll see across other Samsung tablets and phones, though, not just the Galaxy Note 10.1. If you're used to it on your Galaxy S4, it probably won't bug you here.


All in all, what you'll get with the Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 is a pretty screen, an effective stylus that you aren't likely to lose, and plenty of power under the hood. Just be prepared to shell out for it.


For more product reviews and news, visit Reviewed.com, a division of USA TODAY, and follow @ReviewedDotCom on Twitter.