Vodafone version of Galaxy Tab 10.1 lacks a key feature

Samsung has just announced a new addition to its Galaxy tablet range, the Galaxy Tab 10.1v (note the addition of the letter 'v'). Available exclusively through the Vodafone network from mid-April, the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1v is being billed as a ‘limited edition’ model.

Unlike the previously announced Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1, the 10.1v does not come with a MicroSD slot – one of key features that sets it apart from the Apple iPad 2. Instead, users will need to make do with the 16GB of onboard memory.

According to a Samsung press release, Adobe Flash Player 10.2 and Divx/Xvid support are also absent from this model, despite their apparent inclusion on the Galaxy Tab 10.1. (Presumably, this will be addressed in a future firmware update.)

Galaxy Tab 10.1 feature overhaul

Counfusingly, some features that were previously announced for the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 will now appear exclusively on the Tab 10.1v.

Chief among these is the 8.0-megapixel camera: the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 will now ship with an inferior 3-megapixel variant. Consequently, the 10.1's maximum video recording resolution has dropped from 1080p to 720p. (The Galaxy Tab 10.1v will still boast Full HD recording.)

Pictured: the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1

The Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1v is also smaller than it stablemate: 246x170x11mm vs 257x173x9mm. Otherwise, both models provide the same core specifications, including a 10.1in WXGA display, a 1GHz Dual Core CPU, 1GB of RAM and Android's 3.0 Honeycomb operating system.

In conlusion, it seems that Samsung is offering consumers a choice between expandable memory or decent photographic capabilities: for some reason, you're not allowed to have both.

How to buy

The Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1v will be available to purchase from mid-April for $729 outright. Alternatively, it can be bundled as part of a Vodafone plan ($259 upfront payment, plus $39 per month over 12 months, which includes 1.5GB data per month).

Samsung has yet to announce pricing or a release date for the Galaxy Tab 10.1 model.