Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 7.0 compared with other low-cost tablets

Samsung is making sure its tablets run the gamut, from large to small and from expensive to low-cost. Its latest entry, the Galaxy Tab 2 7.0, is an update to its original 7-inch tablet. It's also the most inexpensive Galaxy Tab yet, at $250 with 8GB of storage. Here's how it stacks up against low-cost rivals.

Among smaller tablets, the Galaxy Tab 2 is shaping up to be a solid competitor to the Amazon Kindle Fire ($200, 8GB) and Barnes & Noble Nook Tablet ($250, 16GB). And after trying it out, the Tab 2 looks to me like a better, lower-cost alternative to Samsung's own Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus ($350, 16GB).

The Galaxy Tab 2 7.0, the first Samsung tablet to run on Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich) was quick and easy to set up; it took me just a few minutes to register and get it up and running.

The display looked bright, the speakers sounded better than those on the Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus, and the interface Samsung places over Android emphasizes its media-player features.

Here's a quick rundown of how the new Galaxy Tab 2 presents its media content compared to similar devices:

Movies. The Galaxy Tab 2 uses a new version of Samsung's TouchWiz interface, which features several panels, including a redesigned Media Hub and a music player. I like how movies in the Media Hub are arranged: For example, you can choose from flicks about post-apocalyptic Earth or movies culled from the Tribeca Film Festival.

Samsung's plan is pay-as-you go, while the Kindle Fire offers Amazon Prime, an $80-per-year subscription service that offers free movies to subscribers along with options to pay for films individually. The Barnes & Noble Nook tablet doesn't compile videos in any type of hub; instead, it offers apps like Netflix and Hulu Plus for obtaining such content.

Music. The Tab 2 also has a music hub, organized by top albums, new releases, featured albums, and top tracks (you can also turn to the music store at Google Play). The Kindle Fire includes a music hub organized similarly; the Nook Tablet simply offers apps like Pandora for obtaining music. You can't purchase music from Google Play on either of those devices.

Books, newspapers, and magazines. The reader hub on the new Samsung tablet provides reading material from different services. Newspapers come from PressDisplay, books from Kobo, and magazines from Zinio. For their tablets, Amazon and Barnes & Noble each have their own stores for books, magazines, and newspapers.

Bottom line. If you prefer a pay-as-you-go service instead of Amazon's Prime subscription model, the Samsung Galaxy 2 7.0 is looking like a viable alternative. We'll have full Ratings of the Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 7.0 along with other new tablets soon.

—Donna L. Tapellini