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Samsung Galaxy Tab 8.9 Unfortunately, the Galaxy Tab 8.9 shares the same downside as the Galaxy Tab 10.1: There is only one port on the whole tablet. It’s a proprietary port on the bottom, and it looks just like the Apple iPad and iPod port. If you want to connect up a computer via USB, or a TV via HDMI, you’ll need to buy an adapter. We definitely wish that Samsung had used Micro USB for its charging solution, but the lack of a port is not a deal breaker for us. If it is for you, you should also know that the battery is not removable and there is no microSD card slot.

The size and weight of the Galaxy Tab 8.9 are half of what makes it a better tablet to use than some of the competition, but Samsung’s modifications to Android 3.1 (Honeycomb), collectively called TouchWiz, account for most of the other half. Many tablets use Google’s default design, which looks a lot like an interface from Tron: Legacy. It’s cold and lacks personality.

Highs Samsung Galaxy Tab 8.9 

Weighs less than a pound

Comfortable 8.9-inch screen

Thinner than the iPad 2 at 8.6mm

TouchWiz UI improves look of Android

Great battery life

Lows Samsung Galaxy Tab 8.9 

No microSD, micro USB, or HDMI ports

Proprietary charge port

Samsung’s custom apps aren’t fantastic

Plastic (but solid) construction

Weak rear camera