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Wi-Fi Only Samsung Galaxy Tab Gives Up More Than Just 3G

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Buyers of the Wi-Fi only version of the Samsung Galaxy Tab are reporting on Amazon and other venues that 3G isn’t the only thing you give up with this tablet. It appears processing power and Bluetooth connectivity have also been downgraded.

Though both the 3G and Wi-Fi only versions of the Galaxy Tab pack a “1GHz A8 Cortex processor”, according to wickerstick on the xda-developers forum, the 3G version uses a PowerVR SGX 540 GPU, while Wi-Fi only was downgraded to the 530. In addition, a user on Amazon reports that Bluetooth is limited to 2.1, not 3.0, which may have foiled one Circuit City user’s attempt to pair it with a keyboard and mouse. This limitation is listed in the specs on Amazon, but not on CC.

No word yet on the reasons for the changes, but the simplest answer is cost-cutting. Unlike the 3G version, there is no carrier subsidy on the Wi-Fi version so it makes sense that Samsung would seek to cut some costs by using older, cheaper components. Some are calling the Wi-Fi only Tab a no-buy because of this. I agree to an extent, but only because these limitations weren’t clearly listed. If you know what to expect, the Wi-Fi only Tab is a fine enough purchase, but if you expect identical performance to the original minus mobile Internet, you won’t get it.

Hat tip to Mike Cane’s xBlog and Carrypad

5 Comments

5 Comments

  1. Alain Chappaz

    05/03/2011 at 7:22 pm

    This would be a no-buy for me. Glad I didn’t wait for this model, but can’t held but wonder what this means about Samsung’s future product releases. No sense pre-ordering or jumping on new products if you always have to be paranoid about hidden pitfalls…. Poor show, Sammie !

  2. Ceska

    06/27/2011 at 2:33 am

    Very useful deviceI wanted to wait for Galaxy Tab 8.9, but just decided to get this since I preferred 7 inch screen for more portability reason. This device is just half the size of iPad. I use this device for watching movies I downloaded which are divx, xvid, mkv codec movies. So far, I haven’t had any problem playing any types of movie files I have. It even plays .mkv file over 3GB. One thing to clarify on the other review is that connecting to PC USB port actually charges (but slowly) somehow status says it’s not being charged. Same thing happen when I connect to an external battery, it slowly charges, but status says it’s not being charged. 

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