I also found in subjective usage that the iPad 2's browser felt nearly as snappy as the Galaxy Tab 10.1's browser, despite the 22 percent speed advantage indicated by the Peacekeeper benchmarks. I suspect that narrower perceived difference is due to the iPad 2's faster page downloads, which on many sites compensate for the Galaxy Tab 10.1's faster page rendering.

Otherwise, the main differences between the iPad 2 and Galaxy Tab 10.1 browsers are cosmetic. Both browsers have persistent buttons or fields for Back, Forward, Bookmarks, Refresh, and navigating tabbed panes. The Galaxy Tab 10.1's browser shows a row of tabs at the top for each open browser window, whereas the iPad 2 displays a button showing how many windows are open -- tapping it opens a screen that previews all open windows. The Galaxy Tab automatically opens a (cached) Google search page when you bring up a new tab. The iPad 2 opens a blank window instead.

Both browsers can share pages via email, but the operation is faster on the iPad 2, which also lets you print the page to a wireless printer, either or to a local wireless printer connected via one of the available for the iPad. But the iPad 2's separate Search and URL boxes are less convenient than the Galaxy Tab 10.1's unified URL and Search box; you have to be sure to tap the right box on the iPad. The Galaxy Tab also has a separate search control, if you prefer.

Unlike Android smartphones, the Galaxy Tab 10.1's touch keyboard offers a .com button -- like the iPad and iPhone -- when entering URLs, which is a significant timesaver. Both devices pop up a list of alternative domains, such as .edu and .org, when you tap and hold that .com button.

Both browsers let you select text and graphics on Web pages, but only the iPad 2 lets you copy graphics. The Galaxy Tab 10.1 can save graphics to the tablet's local storage. The iPad 2 can save images to its Photos app.