Samsung Galaxy Tab 3: Move On, Nothing to See

The Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 7.0 is a 7" mini tablet that attempts to compete with the iPad Mini and the Google Nexus 7, but at 60% of the price. Thinking that it might be good option for a family member who needed only email, web and a camera, I picked one up at Costco for $179.  The short story is that it falls short on almost every relevant front; the camera shoots poor quality photos, the screen resolution is poor compared to other tablets, the battery only last seven hours, and the user interface leaves much to be desired. With Apple, Amazon and everyone else seeming focused on screens, I find it odd that the Galaxy screen design hasn't been updated since their last design three years ago.

There's always a warning sign when dealing with disasters like this, and in this case it was reading Samsung's sales pitch where they start off by talking about how it had the "best hand grip" of any product (see sales pitch). 

You can see a video review of this device below and there are also several blogs comparing it to the iPad Mini, Kindle HDX, Galaxy Tab 3 and the Google Nexus 7 (mini tablet reviews).

I'm a big fan of many Samsung devices and this tablet is a huge disappointment. Even at below $200 there's no way I can recommend buying one when there are so many better options out there. Only those who rate "hand grips" over all other features would want this device. Re-stating the obvious, save your money and stay away.