# Samsung Galaxy Tablet 7' or 10.1'?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/samsung-galaxy-tablet-7-or-10-1/662589
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion
**Created:** [July 3, 2013, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/samsung-galaxy-tablet-7-or-10-1/662589 "2013-07-03T22:00:45Z")
**Posts on this page:** 13
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@pauly1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pauly1)
#### Post date: [July 3, 2013, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/samsung-galaxy-tablet-7-or-10-1/662589/1 "2013-07-03T22:00:45Z")
Is the 7’ too small? Or should one get the 10.1? I know if you are using it at home only, would the 10.1’ be better? I did see some reviews saying that it would feel weird holding the 10’ one for a very long.
Pros/cons? It seems like a 7’ tablet is kinda small dont you think? Its bigger than a phone or itouch by a bit but not really big enough.
But if you take it outside everyday, obviously 7’ would fit easier in a bag.
Thoughts?
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### Author:  [@grama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/grama)
#### Post date: [July 3, 2013, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/samsung-galaxy-tablet-7-or-10-1/662589/2 "2013-07-03T22:26:55Z")
I have a nexus 7’ and have tried bigger tablets, (my brother has an iPad), I must say I enjoy the 7’ form factor much more, easier to hold, easier to carry and big enough to perform its duty. If you like apple products you could try the iPad mini too, the screen is the same height as mine, but wider.
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### Author:  [@mack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mack)
#### Post date: [July 4, 2013, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/samsung-galaxy-tablet-7-or-10-1/662589/3 "2013-07-04T00:01:57Z")
A 7" is a much different experience than a phone or iPod touch. I love the portability. It’s easier to thumb-type than a larger tablet. Large tablets are nicer for viewing pictures and cruising around maps. I think the 7" makes a nicer reader. It’s lighter and the there’s really no advantage to a bigger screen for that purpose.
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### Author:  [@jabiru](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jabiru)
#### Post date: [July 4, 2013, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/samsung-galaxy-tablet-7-or-10-1/662589/4 "2013-07-04T01:07:07Z")
Not the same brand of course but I have an iPad and an iPad mini. The mini gets ten times the use the regular iPad does (if not more) because I have it with me all the time.
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### Author:  [@JustinC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JustinC)
#### Post date: [July 4, 2013, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/samsung-galaxy-tablet-7-or-10-1/662589/5 "2013-07-04T02:04:42Z")
I looked at the Nook HD, Kindle Fire HD, Nexus 7/10, and Samsung 7/10.1 and Sony tabs.
What I focussed on were;
I travel a lot - subway, train, bus, plane, taxi - so wanted something portable I could use to relieve boredom.
I want to be able to enjoy lots of different media files (books, magazines, music, movies) from as many different sources and that I didn’t have to download from one particular website.
I want to download apps and games (before my tablet I had an Android phone).
I want a good battery life for long journeys.
A strong brand name and reputation to uphold is important.
When I’m on a train I see people with a 10" screen and they look awkward to me. I can hold a 7" in one hand easily (that doesn’t read quite right) and it’s like holding a paperback bent back on itself, only thinner.
With a Kindle Fire (correct me if I’m wrong) if you’re not in the same country you purchased it, this can give you problems with downloading media. Also the Kindle Fire only plays Amazon stuff. They are fine if you don’t go overseas a lot and don’t have an established, non-Amazon library.
Barnes and Noble’s Nook doesn’t seem to be all that popular now, I think because of the app situation where it only focussed on giving out a sample of a book for free, rather than anything on Google’s Play store. Also no bluetooth or camera.
The Samsungs looked really nice, but dated in their technology and I thought they needed a thorough hardware update. I also looked at a Sony tabs and was almost swayed by them as they are very recent, advanced and (I think) waterproof but the price was a little too much for a first-time tab owner.
The Nexus 7 was getting rave reviews, is not expensive, can play just about any format, has a good (not great) screen and below average external speakers. It’s very easy to hold on long journeys and holds it charge well too (but takes too long to charge up so be prepared to leave it on charge overnight when it’s very low on power). I have the 34Gb version and change media weekly from my 100s of Gb library at home, and this is not a big deal.
It could be more powerful, sometimes things hang if a website is loading and I’m doing something else too. I’m not sure people overcoming this by rooting it and adding all sorts of technical software to speed it up are helping its lifespan, so I’m okay to put up with a bit of lag now and again.
As to your OP, a 7" tablet in the hand when out or lying on the sofa is really comfortable.
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### Author:  [@Blackberry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blackberry)
#### Post date: [July 4, 2013, 6:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/samsung-galaxy-tablet-7-or-10-1/662589/6 "2013-07-04T06:31:35Z")
What do you want to use it for? I have a Nexus 7 and I think the size is good. But I mostly just use it for games and books. If I was going to be doing web browsing, that would be different, but I don’t think I’d like to do much of that even on a 10" tablet. So much easier on my 17" laptop.
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### Author:  [@nion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nion)
#### Post date: [July 5, 2013, 4:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/samsung-galaxy-tablet-7-or-10-1/662589/7 "2013-07-05T04:13:14Z")
Ironically I ordered a 7" Kindle HD tonight because I’m tired of pulling out my 18" laptop to websurf all the time and felt my wife’s 10.1" tablet still felt too bulky. 😃 Too funny.
I used my phone for Web surfing at night, but it’s too _small_. I guess 7" is the Goldilocks sweet spot for me. lol
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### Author:  [@squeegee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squeegee)
#### Post date: [July 5, 2013, 5:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/samsung-galaxy-tablet-7-or-10-1/662589/8 "2013-07-05T05:06:04Z")
I usually use a 7’ tablet when I’m on my 50" yacht. But perhaps that’s just me.
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### Author:  [@3trew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/3trew)
#### Post date: [July 5, 2013, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/samsung-galaxy-tablet-7-or-10-1/662589/9 "2013-07-05T16:14:13Z")
I have a 7" tab, and the only thing I think the 10" would be better for is comic books. The 7 works for those, but it’s not ideal. Everything else is great.
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### Author:  [@iamthewalrus\_3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iamthewalrus_3)
#### Post date: [July 5, 2013, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/samsung-galaxy-tablet-7-or-10-1/662589/10 "2013-07-05T16:23:59Z")
I’ll echo most other people and say that I found 7" to be better than 10" for tablet size. Although I haven’t used that particular model, I prefer the 7" iPad and Nexus to the 10" ones.
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### Author:  [@scr4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scr4)
#### Post date: [July 5, 2013, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/samsung-galaxy-tablet-7-or-10-1/662589/11 "2013-07-05T16:46:38Z")
> [@JustinC](#):
>
> When I’m on a train I see people with a 10" screen and they look awkward to me.
I agree. Even the lightest 10" tablets are a bit awkward to use while standing, and holding it in one hand.
> [@](#):
>
> With a Kindle Fire (correct me if I’m wrong) if you’re not in the same country you purchased it, this can give you problems with downloading media. Also the Kindle Fire only plays Amazon stuff. They are fine if you don’t go overseas a lot and don’t have an established, non-Amazon library.
But other Android tablets don’t play Amazon videos at all. And video selection on Google Play is more limited than Amazon.
As for access from overseas, I believe it’s the content owner who decides. You’ll have similar issues when trying to download American TV shows while abroad, regardless of which retailer you’re trying to buy from (Amazon, Google Play, iTunes, etc). Books seem to be less restricted; I know I can purchase e-books on my Kindle (not Fire) while overseas.
> [@](#):
>
> As to your OP, a 7" tablet in the hand when out or lying on the sofa is really comfortable.
So is a 10" tablet.
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### Author:  [@scr4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scr4)
#### Post date: [July 5, 2013, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/samsung-galaxy-tablet-7-or-10-1/662589/12 "2013-07-05T16:48:19Z")
By the way, there is [some indication](http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-19736_7-57591821-251/waiting-on-the-next-nexus-7/) that a new version of the Nexus-7 is coming out this month.
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### Author:  [@pauly1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pauly1)
#### Post date: [July 11, 2013, 6:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/samsung-galaxy-tablet-7-or-10-1/662589/13 "2013-07-11T06:01:29Z")
Does anyone who have this can recommend me which case cover to purchase?
[http://www.amazon.com/Poetic-Slimbook-Leather-Samsung-Galaxy/dp/B007YUISN0/ref=sr\_1\_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1373522361&sr=8-3&keywords=samsung+galaxy+tab+case+7.0](http://www.amazon.com/Poetic-Slimbook-Leather-Samsung-Galaxy/dp/B007YUISN0/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1373522361&sr=8-3&keywords=samsung+galaxy+tab+case+7.0)
[http://www.amazon.com/Poetic-Slimbook-Leather-Samsung-Galaxy/dp/B007YUISN0/ref=sr\_1\_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1373522361&sr=8-3&keywords=samsung+galaxy+tab+case+7.0](http://www.amazon.com/Poetic-Slimbook-Leather-Samsung-Galaxy/dp/B007YUISN0/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1373522361&sr=8-3&keywords=samsung+galaxy+tab+case+7.0)
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