Will The Galaxy Tab S Finally Beat The iPad?

Samsung is the smartphone and tablet provider that seemingly has a model to suit just about everyone. There is not a segment of the market that they do not have a device for and this can get quite confusing compared to the simplicity (or limitation depending on your point of view) of the Apple range of devices.

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S is a new release with two models: 8.4-inch and 10.5-inch display. The first is clearly going after the iPad mini and the latter taking aim at the iPad.

Super AMOLED Display

The major difference with this tablet model is that Samsung have finally offered a tablet using their premium Super AMOLED display technology that already features in their top of the line smartphones like the Galaxy Note 3 and the Galaxy S5.

The Super AMOLED display is their most vibrant with bright colors, dark blacks and dazzling whites. The overall impression of any AMOLED display is high on contrast, but low on photo realism compare to the panels made for the larger iPad.

The display uses the WQXGA standard that supports a 2560 x 1600 resolution which exceeds the “Full HD” of 1080p by a good margin. The color balance is much improved with 100,000:1 contrast ratio which delivers a rich display that doesn't look washed out.

It is down to personal taste as to which type of display is preferred, but for Android fans who've been waiting for cost of manufacturer to reduce sufficiently to get a tablet-size Super AMOLED panel, the wait is finally over.

Specifications

The tablets will come with either the Exynos 5420 OctaCore 1.9GHz & 1.3Ghz cores or Snapdragon 801 chipset (changed relative to the region sold), 3GB RAM, 8MP rear camera with LED flash and 2.1MP front camera.

Wi-Fi is supported up to the new ac standard. Bluetooth 4.0 ensures faster Bluetooth connections. The microSDXC card slot now supports 128GB storage capacity.

There will be both Wi-Fi only and 4G LTE versions available.

Design

The design is more curved than one is used to with the Samsung tablets, in keeping with previous 10-inch Nexus model. The black or white color models are offset by the metal rim which adds a touch of class. The 6.6mm thickness feels very minimal indeed and the bezel size on the 8.4-inch model is tiny, but larger on the Galaxy S 10.5.

Depending on the model, the weight is either 294g or 495g neither of which feels heavy to hold.

The faux-leather back is still the staple with a plasticky feel which strikes some buyers as feeling cheap. Love it or hate it, this seems to be the only way Samsung likes it. The backing this time is dimpled as it was with the Galaxy S5, so it has a more classy feel to it. There are also two added circular impressions which are designed to help attach accessories.

See this video for a better look at the appearance of the Samsung Tab S:

Interface

The TouchWiz interface here feels familiar, with the addition of the Magazine UI that will be familiar to users of the Galaxy S5. No stuttering or stalling between swipes; the fast processor and copious amounts of memory ensure that.

There is a fingerprint scanner which is similar to the one on the flagship Galaxy S5. The scanner was a bit hit and miss on the S5, but it seemed a little better on these models.

Special Features

One interesting addition that may be welcomed by some users is the SideSync which can bring up a display of a Galaxy S5 on the Galaxy Tab S screen, interact with it as if you're touching the S5, and even make a call. A handy little feature and it works well.

Pricing

The prices in the US market are set at $299 for the 8.4-inch version and $499 for the 10.5-inch version. Quite comparable to the current prices for the two iPads which is clearly what Samsung was going for.

Conclusion

For Samsung users, the Galaxy Tab S is an interesting possibility with fabulous screen technology and the useful SideSync feature. Probably not enough to warrant upgrading from a tablet that's only a year old, but someone who already owns an older tablet would certainly appreciate the improvements.

The question remains, is the display good enough to convince Apple buyers to switch to the Droid? Apple no longer holds the crown for the highest resolution display and the range of new features on Android often beats out what is available with iOS. It is getting tougher than ever to make the argument that the iPad is the default tablet of choice.

The Galaxy Tab S are set to be released on the US market on July 4 with international markets to follow.