The Galaxy Tab Active is a ruggedised tablet for fieldworkers who need a device that can survive harsh working conditions.
This is not the first time Samsung has made a ruggedised product. In the past, the South Korean giant has made hardy versions of the Galaxy S smartphones, namely the S4 Active and S5 Active.
The Tab Active meets the IP67 standard for dust- and water-resistance. It can be submerged underwater for up to 30 minutes at a depth of 1m.
It also comes with a cover that protects the tablet from shock. With the cover on, the tablet is able to withstand drops from a height of 1.2m. However, the case makes the Tab chunkier but it has another use — it has a slot for storing the C Pen stylus that comes with the device.
We dropped the Tab Active several times from a height of 1m and it survived without a dent. We also dunked it in water and the tablet continued working without a problem.
Back to the stylus — the C Pen is not as sensitive as the Note 4’s S Pen stylus but it’s still handy, especially if you have to use safety gloves while operating the tablet.
The body of the Tab Active is mostly plastic and the textured back can be removed to reveal the Micro SD card slot and 4,450mAh battery.
The Tab Active is one of the few tablets to have a built-in Pogo charging connector running along the left side. The connector provides an alternate way for companies to charge multiple tablets at one go instead of using the standard Micro USB port.
The 8in screen has a 1,280 x 800-pixel resolution and although it’s not as stunning as Samsung’s Super Amoled displays found on its high-end phones and tablets, it’s still very bright and clear. In fact, it’s bright enough to be used outdoors.
Under the hood
The tablet, which is powered by a 1.2GHz quad-core processor and has 1.5GB RAM, runs on Android 4.4.4 KitKat with Samsung’s TouchWiz user interface. Samsung has not announced if and when it will release an update for Lollipop.
Stay safe: You can use Knox to secure the Tab Active.
The device has a number of features that will appeal to businesses. It has all the standard TouchWiz features such as Multi Window which allows two apps to run side by side. It also comes with Hancom Office productivity suite but the Knox security software will only be pre-installed for businesses which purchase the tablet.
Consumers can visit the Galaxy App Store to install Knox, which keeps business and personal information separate, for free.
Although it’s essentially a work tablet, that doesn’t mean you can’t have a bit of fun with it. We installed a few games like Asphalt: Overdrive and Temple Run 2 to see how it handled graphics and both played smoothly.
The Tab Active features 4G LTE connectivity, as fieldworkers will not always be within reach of a WiFi hotspot. It also has GPS should you need to use it for navigation.
It only comes with 16GB of storage which isn’t much but you can invest in a Micro SD memory card (up to 64GB) should you run out of space.
As this is a business tablet, there is only a 3.1-megapixel rear camera and, as you can already guess, it’s not really great for taking photos.
As the resolution is very low, the image quality is average at best when we tried shooting outdoors under bright sunlight. Video recording didn’t fare much better — although it has a 720p mode, the videos had too much noise to be usable.
The same goes for the front-facing 1.2-megapixel camera.
Moving on, the Tab Active has a rather large battery that can power the tablet for an entire day. We used it mainly for browsing the Web, listening to music, editing documents on Hancom Office and taking a picture or two.
Also, the battery is removable which is great, as most devices today come with a fixed one.
Conclusion
As a tablet designed for work, the Tab Active doesn’t disappoint. This is a tablet that you can take on a tumble with you, as it can withstand dust, water and shock. Plus, the 8in screen is bright enough to be visible under strong sunlight.
It also has 4G LTE connectivity which is great as you don’t have to rely on just WiFi hotspots to surf.
We didn’t have any issues with performance and TouchWiz boasts a number of features that are handy for multitasking. Also, there is a stylus which is great for sketching.
The Tab Active’s weakest feature is the camera which is let down by a low-resolution sensor but you may not need it if you are using the device for mostly work.
At RM1,599, the Tab Active is ideal for those who want a tough tablet without having to bust their budget.
Pros: Tough and rugged design; good performance; impressive battery life.
Cons: Sub-par camera.
- Source: The Star Online
- Source: The Star Online
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