Review of the Samsung Galaxy Tab S3 tablet, the new flagship of the Korean corporation. Samsung Galaxy Tab S2, the best Android tablet – TechnObor Review

It would seem that relatively little time has passed since the release of the Galaxy Tab Pro line, but Samsung has already announced a new Tab S line, designed to become the flagship among all the company’s tablets.

Friends, the large and small models of this line are similar in many ways, so some of the text will be borrowed from the Tab S 8.4 review so as not to describe the same things in the second round.

Equipment

• Tablet
• Charger
• PC connection cable (also part of charger)
• Wired headset

Samsung tablets traditionally come to us for testing without a complete package, so I can’t demonstrate it in photographs.

Appearance, materials, control elements, assembly

For many years now, Samsung has not paid enough attention to the design of its devices; they all look pretty boring and very similar to each other. On the other hand, if you have a Samsung tablet in front of you, you will most likely immediately recognize it by rounded edges and a physical button below the screen.

The bezel of the tablet is made of golden plastic, this is the first time the company has used such a solution; before, the bezel was always silver.

Rear end The body is made of perforated plastic, stylized as leather. In terms of tactile sensations, this plastic is more similar to the material used in the Galaxy S5, and not to the plastic from the Galaxy Note 3. You can also find two “buttons” there; they are needed for branded accessories.

On the front side there is a 10.5-inch display, above it there are light and proximity sensors, a front camera, as well as a speaker mesh (in the tablet version with 3G).

Below the display you can see a physical Home button with a built-in fingerprint scanner, as well as touch-sensitive Recent Apps and Back buttons. It is important to add here that physical button protrudes slightly above the rest of the tablet's surface, so erroneous presses are possible in a backpack. In principle, this can be solved by installing fingerprint unlocking, but it was worth noting this problem.

At the top end there is a power button, a volume rocker and an infrared port.

On the right you can see a plug for a microSDHC memory card, a microUSB connector and a mesh for one of the stereo speakers.

And on the left there is a 3.5 mm headphone jack, as well as the second of the stereo speakers.

The tablet has excellent stereo speakers that produce clear, loud sound, and their location is optimal: when holding the tablet, you do not cover them with your hands.

I have no complaints about the assembly of the device, all the parts fit tightly together, the buttons do not “dangle”.

Dimensions

The size and weight of the Galaxy Tab S 10.5 is one of its key advantages. With a diagonal of 10.5 inches, this tablet weighs only 465 grams and is only 6.7 mm thick. It is noticeable that Samsung is desperately chasing tablets from Apple and trying to beat them in size. Using the Tab S 10.5 as an example, it is clear that the company is doing this very well. Although the difference in dimensions here is not as impressive as between iPad Mini Retina and Galaxy Tab S 8.4.

Thanks to its light weight, the tablet is comfortable to hold even with one hand for a long time, and this is certainly one of its significant advantages.

Screen

Perhaps the main change in the Galaxy Tab S line. Samsung was finally able to make a SuperAMOLED matrix with a large diagonal and high resolution. Screen diagonal is 10.5 inches, matrix type is SuperAMOLED HD, resolution is 2560x1600 pixels, the screen is covered with protective glass, there is an oleophobic coating. Interestingly, Samsung is gradually increasing the screen diagonal without compromising the overall size of the devices, this is largely due to the decreasing thickness of the side frames (and this is the advantage of the Tab S line).

Let me remind you that the main advantages of SuperAMOLED matrices are low power consumption (especially when displaying black) and bright, rich colors. For lovers of calm colors, the tablet has the opportunity fine tuning display. However, I note that even after such adjustments, such a screen will be inferior to IPS matrices in terms of natural color rendering.

In First Look, some readers noted that Tab S 10.5 does not have Pentile, citing a reputable source. Well, I checked this information, there is indeed no Pentile in the Galaxy Tab S 10.5, it uses the S-Stripe RGB pixel arrangement, the same as in the Galaxy Note II. However, this does not change the fact that small fonts look loose on this tablet; their clarity is inferior to IPS matrices.

Actually, the display of small fonts is the only drawback of this display. The rest is before us high quality screen with ultra-high resolution, excellent behavior in the sun, bright and rich colors and the ability to fine-tune the color gamut.

operating system

The tablet works under Android control 4.4.2 with proprietary TouchWiz shell latest generation. We have a separate article by Eldar Murtazin devoted to all aspects of this shell; those who wish to familiarize themselves with it can follow the link below.

Below I will provide several screenshots of the shell.

As for updating the tablet to Android L, then at the moment There is no reliable information on this matter.

Performance

There will be two modifications of the tablet on sale, differing in chipsets: the first will use Samsung's own Exynos Octa 5420 platform as a chipset (let me remind you that a similar chipset was used in Samsung Galaxy Note 3 N9000) with big.LITTLE technology (two quad-core processors are used, one on Cortex A7 architecture with a frequency of 1.3 GHz, the other on Cortex A15 with a frequency of 1.9 GHz), Mali-T628 (with support for OpenGL 3.0) is responsible for graphics ).

The second modification will be built on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 chipset with a quad-core processor operating at 2.3 GHz.

RAM capacity – 3(!) GB in both versions, capacity internal storage depends on the version (16/32/GB), there is a slot for a memory card, cards up to 128 GB are supported.

Performance information can traditionally be divided into two parts: heavy gaming and everyday use. The tablet copes with any games with a bang, but in terms of normal use there are a number of complaints about it. First of all, this is the slowdown that has already become a Samsung signature when flipping through desktops. They are especially visible when switching between the Magazine UI and regular desktops. Sometimes you can also see slight stuttering in the application menu.

Autonomous operation

The tablet has a non-removable battery with a capacity of 7900 mAh.

In reading mode (30% brightness, airplane mode on), the tablet was discharged in 12 hours 18 minutes.

In HD video viewing mode, the device's charge lasted for 11 hours and 3 minutes (maximum brightness, airplane mode on).

With daily use you can expect 4-5 days battery life, depending on the intensity of use (when using mobile internet this is exactly 2-3 days).

In terms of HD video playback time, this is one of the best tablets, which makes it a very interesting offer for those who like to watch movies on long trips. Separately, I note that this tablet, like the Galaxy S5, has an emergency power saving mode, in which the screen switches to black and white mode and only the most basic functions are available.

Camera

The tablet has a main 8 MP camera with autofocus and LED flash. The front camera resolution is 2.1 MP. With this tablet you can easily shoot text or take a couple of landscape photos, but it is important to understand that this is not a camera, or even a top-end smartphone with a cool camera, so you should not expect miracles from this camera.

Wireless interfaces

Mobile network- the version with a 3G module works in cellular networks 2G (GSM/GPRS/EDGE, 850/900/1800/1900 MHz), 3G (900/2100 MHz) and 4G (2600 MHz). In addition to data transfer, you can also make calls from your tablet. 4G support is even available in models with Exynos Octa 5420; apparently, an external modem is used.

Wi-Fi (b/g/n)- in the settings you can enable the “distribution” of mobile Internet using Wi-Fi, as well as use file transfer using Wi-Fi Direct. One of the nice features is support for dual-band Wi-Fi.

Bluetooth 4.0– all popular profiles are supported, including A2DP.

GPS - Cold start takes no more than 10 seconds, there are no complaints about the operation of the module.

IR port- to use the tablet as a remote control for equipment, the device already has a pre-installed program for working with the infrared port.

Fingerprint scanner

This tablet, like the Galaxy S5, has a fingerprint scanner.

To unlock the screen using your fingerprint, you just need to swipe your finger from the edge of the screen across the scanner from top to bottom. In my sample, this function did not work as well as in the iPhone 5s; sometimes the device responded to the fingerprint only the second or third time.

In addition to simple unlocking, you can also use the scanner to protect your data and log in to PayPal. And a few more words about safety. If fingerprint screen unlocking is enabled, you will not be able to reset the tablet without authorization, this additional protection from thieves.

Conclusion

The tablet has already gone on sale at the following price - 23,000 rubles for the version with Wi-Fi and 27,000 rubles for the Wi-Fi + 4G version.

For this money you get a thin and light tablet with a huge, high-quality display (and at the same time relatively compact dimensions) and long battery life. Disadvantages - slowdown in TouchWiz.

Competitors

In fact, this is the main competitor of the Tab S 10.5, and it is with this that Samsung plans to fight with its new tablet. The iPad Air has a more readable aspect ratio, great design, and a high-quality aluminum body. On top of all that, there are a lot of cool games and apps for this tablet. Android is still catching up in this regard (although the situation is gradually changing, for example, Foursquare is available for Android tablets, but it is still not available for iPad). On the side of the Galaxy Tab S 10.5 is a more convenient screen for watching videos and longer operating time, as well as better dimensions (although the advantage here is less than with iPad comparison Mini Retina with Galaxy Tab S 8.4).

Another interesting competitor, this time from Asus. Yes, it came out quite a long time ago, but it still has relevant and competitive characteristics: an S-IPS matrix with a resolution of 2560x1600 pixels, NVIDIA Tegra 4 and a docking station with an additional battery. And all this for 20,000 rubles. Among the shortcomings, I note the lack of a 3G version and worse dimensions (this tablet is thicker and heavier).

And finally, let's take a look at the prices (as a “common denominator” I took the prices of one large chain; they are similar for most large retailers).

By the way, I note that in the same Svyaznoy the minimum version of the iPad Air costs 18,000 rubles, which also plays into the hands of the Air.

First of all, it is worth noting that the prices for the Samsung Galaxy Tab S 10.5 are slightly inflated, they are even higher than those of Apple, although the latter really likes to inflate them (we are talking about Russia).

In my opinion, Samsung made a great big flagship tablet. Among the advantages, I will highlight its beautiful display with a SuperAMOLED matrix (fans of the brand have been waiting for the appearance of tablets with such displays for a long time) and ultra-high resolution. The second advantage of the tablet is its light weight and thickness; in real life, the Tab S 10.5 feels impressively thin and light. And the last advantage - for a long time work in video viewing mode (coupled with an easy-to-watch aspect ratio, this makes this tablet one of the best for TV series lovers). The only thing that mars this whole picture is the high price and stutters in TouchWiz.

This summer, Samsung announced a line of Galaxy Tab S tablets. The main feature of the new products was high-resolution Super AMOLED screens, which were previously used exclusively in smartphones. Potential buyers were not disappointed by the size of the devices either. The thickness of the devices turned out to be no more than 7 mm. And, as the developers say, this did not affect the long battery life. In our editorial office there was flagship model new line - tablet Samsung Galaxy Tab S 10.5.

Over the past couple of years, there has been something of a stagnation in the tablet space. Existing hardware solutions already allow you to work with heavy video, 3D games and streaming data. More and more powerful chips are becoming more difficult to load with certain services. Programmers have come up with quite convenient and comfortable interfaces. Required programs and software - written. Well, most of the devices look similar to each other.

Against this background, Samsung decided to experiment with display types, as well as modes that allow you to work with multiple applications on one screen. We haven’t forgotten about biometric technologies. Using fingerprints to unlock devices became fashionable a year ago. That's how I was born new line Galaxy Tab S products.

Samsung Galaxy Tab S 10.5 is the first Samsung tablet model with a Super AMOLED display with all the unusual visual sensations that come with it (I’ll talk about them during the review), and also one of the thinnest and most compact on the market. At 10.5 inches diagonally, the Galaxy Tab S is only slightly larger than the iPad Air, which has a 9.7-inch screen.

Basic technical specifications

Dimensions. Scope of delivery

Even the packaging tells users that the tablet is miniature and compact. It is made of thin, easily recyclable cardboard. On the outside the box is disguised as wood, on the inside as cardboard from Soviet times (dark ocher).

In addition to the tablet, packed in a light plastic case, the kit contains everything you need: a charger adapter with a plug for the contact network and a separate microUSB cable. It can be connected to both a charger and a computer. There is no headset or capital case.

The first thing you notice when you pick up the tablet for the first time is that it is large and, at the same time, very thin. Weight is perceived adequately. The device does not feel heavy. The dimensions of the Samsung Galaxy Tab S 10.5 are 247x177x6.6 mm and the weight is 467 grams. For comparison, the parameters of the 9.7-inch Apple iPad Air are 240x169.5x7.5 mm, weight 478 grams. The difference is minimal, but the screen is bigger!

The device can be used with great comfort in public transport, in a car, on a train, or on an airplane. It is worth mentioning that it is almost impossible to operate the tablet with one hand. It is safer and more convenient to work with two hands.

To sum up the dimensions, I can say that the Samsung Galaxy Tab S 10.5 is a classic of the genre, just like the Apple iPad Air. For lovers of more compact models, of which I am one, there is an option with an 8.4-inch screen (as a competitor to the Apple iPad mini Retina). It is much more convenient and ergonomic, but the screen, of course, is smaller.

Design and appearance

The tablet design is standard. It resembles the appearance of other Samsung models. The front part of the case is glossy, there is a peculiar golden frame around the screen. The back part is made of hard textured plastic. The tactile sensations of this plastic are similar to those used in. Thanks to the matte surface, the tablet does not slip out of your hands or move off smooth surfaces. But what really makes the Galaxy Tab S stand out is... slim body. This is a feature of the device.

No metal is used in the housing design. Only plastic. Thanks to the materials, the device was made lighter. You can hold it in one hand for a long time. That's a plus.

There are two versions of the tablet available for sale: golden bronze and white. I tested the first option.

Above the screen there is a camera for video calls, which can be used in Skype, Viber and other video calling services. On the front of the Galaxy Tab S, in addition to the camera, there is a light sensor, a spatial location sensor, it controls the display of the picture (portrait or landscape).

Most of the tablet is occupied by a 10.5-inch touch screen. The control is completely touch sensitive due to using Android 4.4. There are three standard buttons below the screen: context menu, home and back.

The volume rocker is located on the upper side edge. The on/off button and changing profiles can be found there. In the center is an infrared sensor window.

The manufacturer prudently placed the speakers on the sides. There are only two of them. What’s interesting is that you can’t close it with your hands, even if you want to. The sound of the tablet is excellent - both through the speakers and through headphones. The connector for connecting an audio cable is located on the left side near one of the speakers, and near the other, on the right, there is a microUSB and a slot for a memory card.

I tested a device with 3G/LTE support, so on the right side there was a slot for a SIM card (micro-SIM type). In the version without 3G/LTE, of course, there is no SIM card slot.

There is a built-in camera with flash on the back side. Just below there is the developer's logo. At the bottom you can also find two “buttons”; they are needed for branded accessories.

I have no complaints about the assembly of the device; all the parts fit tightly together, the buttons do not dangle. The tablet is assembled at the company's plant in Vietnam.

Screen

The screen in the Samsung Galaxy Tab S uses Super AMOLED. This is a big breakthrough for the Korean company. This is the first high-resolution matrix of such a large diagonal. Screen diagonal - 10.5 inches, matrix type - Super AMOLED HD, resolution - 2560x1600 pixels (288 ppi). The screen is covered with protective glass. There is also an oleophobic coating that prevents the collection of dust, fingerprints, etc.

It is worth noting that Samsung continues to increase the screen diagonal without compromising the overall size of the devices. This is largely due to the decreasing thickness of the side frames, and this is an advantage of the Tab S line. The 10.5-inch version of the tablet is a clear confirmation of this.

The main advantage of SuperAMOLED matrices is low power consumption (especially for black display) and bright, rich colors. For lovers of calm colors, the tablet has the ability to fine-tune the display. However, I note that even after such adjustments, such a screen will be inferior to IPS matrices in terms of natural color rendering. What SuperAMOLED displays is what I call a “gypsy picture.” That is, everything is so garish that the eyes get tired very quickly if you look at contrasting colors on the screen without manual adjustment.

The sensitivity of the display is very high, and a light touch is enough to record the action. There is multi-touch support. Among the features, the screen has support for working with gloves. A good option for winter!

In the screen settings, you can select one of three operating modes: “Adaptive”, “Film”, “Photo” and “Basic”. The latter option does not display colors as loudly. During the test, this was the one I chose to work with.

Interface and navigation. Functionality

The tablet runs Android 4.4.2 with the latest generation TouchWiz proprietary shell. The software can be updated via a cellular network or Wi-Fi. As for updating the tablet to Android L, at the moment there is no reliable information on this matter.

By default, the user has three working screens available: one tiled (widgets) and two classic for Android. As for the widget screen, it serves to display news, calendar, to-do list and email. The BlinkFeed interface from HTC is organized in a similar way. You can change the page layout or remove some elements.

Among the features of the Galaxy Tab S, I note the appearance quick button to access files in the lower left corner of the desktop. This greatly simplifies working with files and folders on the device. In addition, a toolbar appeared in the upper right part of the screen, and an icon for a list of all applications appeared at the bottom.

Instead of the KNOX service, this model features a so-called private mode, in which you can hide super-secret documents, images, etc.

The Hancom Viewer office suite is installed out of the box, and applications for working with various office files must be updated independently via Samsung Apps or via Hancom Update to work correctly.

Despite minor changes, the TouchWiz interface, which is quite complex for uninitiated users, still looks the same. In my opinion, compared to the Galaxy Note PRO, it has become a little more convenient.

The tablet has all the standard tools for text and voice input, two on-screen QWERTY keyboards: standard from Samsung, standard from Google, as well as an application for voice input from Google.

I would like to note that you can make calls from the Samsung Galaxy Tab S using an operator SIM card. For this there is special application. The function of working with SMS and IP telephony is also available. You can call using the same Skype, Viber and other services.

The main browser of the Samsung Galaxy Tab S is Chrome. It supports modern operating algorithms, which is what a progressive browser should do.

The device is fully integrated with Google services.

Work tools include Google Calendar. It allows you to view events by date, time and action. The service is a high-quality planner-organizer, all in one. All events can be divided into groups with corresponding fields. All information is stored on a Google server; you just need to provide your account information.

Multimedia capabilities

The “Music” item is a music audio player. You can view and listen to audio tracks. Supported following formats files: aac, .amr, .ogg, .m4a, .mid, mp3, .wav, .wma. HTC Flyer can record audio files in .amr format. There is sorting by artists, albums, genres, composers.

The headset is not included in the package. But thanks to the miniJack 3.5 mm jack, you can choose any headphones.

The “Video” item displays videos made both by the device’s camera and downloaded from the Internet. The communicator allows you to view files in the following formats: .3gp, .3g2, .mp4, .wmv with resolutions up to 1080p. The tablet supports all standard video codecs DivX and Xvid and container.mkv.

Installing new programs

New programs and other applications can be downloaded for free and installed from Google Play via the Internet directly from your tablet. The appearance of the program is intuitive, there is a search for applications by criteria. All proposed utilities are divided into “Programs” and “Games”. Within each section there is also a breakdown into categories.

Among the pre-installed programs that are not included in the standard Android 4.4 package are: Hancom Viewer ( office suite), WatchON (TV remote control from a tablet), SideSync (synchronization of files and folders on different Samsung devices), Remote PC (remote access to computer content on a tablet), WebEX, Bloomberg Businessweek, Dropbox, Evernote, Flipboard, Dictionaries, purchasing service air ticket AnyWayAnyDay and others.

In "Settings" each user can personalize the tablet interface. This menu item concentrates almost all actions for setting up LTE, GPS, Wi-Fi, as well as data synchronization. In addition, settings for graphic themes, display design, installed applications, and much more are also available here.

Fingerprint scanner

The scanner itself is located in the Home key and partially on the screen above it. It responds when you swipe your finger over the button. You can register up to three fingers in total. In the future, the scanner's area of ​​responsibility includes unlocking the screen, paying with PayPal and checking your Samsung account.

To be honest, the quality of the sensor upset me. It works correctly only in 40% of cases. In order for identification to be successful, the finger must be dry, clean, and warm. Yes, and it needs to be done neither quickly nor slowly. After five unsuccessful attempts, the tablet is locked for 30 seconds.

As a result, using a fingerprint instead of a password seems less convenient.

Camera and video

Samsung Galaxy Tab S is equipped with an excellent 2.1 megapixel front camera with Retouch mode enabled by default. In addition, there is a main 8 megapixel camera with flash and autofocus. The settings have automatic and manual modes. There are as many shooting options, filters and settings as on all modern smartphones.

The tablet's camera takes pictures very quickly. In many ways, it feels similar to the Samsung Galaxy S4. Video is recorded in FullHD resolution. The quality of photography is quite decent, it applies to all modes, including macro and HDR, but the larger the diagonal of the tablet, the more awkward you feel at the time of shooting. It is much more comfortable to take photographs with a camera or smartphone.

Performance and memory

Samsung Galaxy Tab S runs on a chip with a quad-core Krait 400 (2.3 GHz) Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 processor, Adreno 330 graphics. 3 GB of RAM. The hardware allows the tablet to work very quickly.

The tablet uses built-in memory to store files and other data. I had a device with 16 GB of memory at my disposal. Memory can be expanded by using microSD cards up to 128 GB.

Communication capabilities

You can access the Internet from your tablet via a cellular operator’s 3G or LTE network and via Wi-Fi (WLAN IEEE 802.11b/g/n). The device also supports wireless accessories and bluetooth headsets 4.0, including wireless stereo headsets.

Samsung Galaxy Tab S can act as a Wi-Fi hotspot that distributes 3G/4G Internet connections. To do this, enable the “Wi-Fi access point” option in the wireless interfaces menu.

GPS and GLONASS modules are used for navigation. A cold start takes no more than 10 seconds, there are no complaints about the operation of the module.

The built-in infrared port is used as a remote control for equipment; the device already has a pre-installed program for working with the infrared port.

Duration of work

Samsung Galaxy Tab S 10.5 has lithium-ion battery capacity 7900 mAh. In testing conditions, a fully charged battery was enough to browse the Internet for 10 hours via Wi-Fi or watch videos for 9.5 hours. In terms of HD video playback time, this is one of the best tablets, which makes it a very interesting offer for those who like to watch movies on long trips.

When using the tablet for work purposes, charging will last for 2-3 days. These are very respectable indicators. With a lower load, longer operating times can be achieved. The battery charges in 5 hours.

Results

Samsung Galaxy Tab S left a very pleasant impression: good build, compact dimensions, despite a large screen of more than 10 inches, a fairly clear TouchWiz user interface that complements the basic operating system. It is very convenient to read e-books on a tablet.

The Super AMOLED screen deserves special mention. It's very bright. True, the naturalness of the picture does not benefit from this. The main bonus of the screen is that the tablet lasts a very long time from charge to charge.

Main competitor to Galaxy The Tab S 10.5 is an Apple iPad Air tablet that features a more readable aspect ratio, a great design, and a high-quality aluminum casing. On the side of the device from Samsung is a more convenient screen for watching videos and longer operating time, as well as better dimensions (although the advantage here is less than when comparing the iPad Mini Retina with the Galaxy Tab S 8.4).

What should it be modern tablet? What kind of display, platform, processor should there be? After all, literally every detail is important for the device that will be with you every day. On Samsung example GALAXY Tab S with an 8.4-inch display, we try to understand the intricacies of the characteristics, features and features of such devices in order to find the optimum.

Design

Is design important for a modern tablet? Certainly! After all, this device will be with you every day, and I would really like the gadget to look decent and interesting. Moreover, it is the design that influences everything else. For example, take the dimensions of the device, because weight and thickness are very important for everyday use.

We will study the Samsung GALAXY Tab S family using a model with an 8.4-inch display as an example. If you need a larger diagonal, take a look at a tablet with a 10.5-inch screen. The general points are identical for both models, this applies to characteristics and features.

The first thing you notice when you pick up the Samsung GALAXY Tab S is that the display occupies almost the entire front part of the tablet. There are almost no frames. Samsung will probably soon create a completely futuristic device, completely devoid of frames, but even now the Samsung GALAXY Tab S makes an impression. The tablet is as compact as possible, dimensions are 125.6 x 212.8 mm, thickness is only 6.6 mm, weight is just under three hundred grams. When first introduced, the tablet seems too light; I would like to feel the weight in my hand. On the other hand, this tablet is a record holder among its classmates - 294 grams, the closest analogue weighs about 340 grams. It is more convenient to hold it in one hand; due to its lighter weight, the palm does not get tired as much - although some may find this exercise difficult. But this is the most compact and lightest tablet; nothing more convenient has yet been invented. The back part is made of plastic with perforations, there are a pair of latches that look like buttons - they are necessary for using branded cases. In our opinion, they spoil the appearance of the tablet. Above the company logo is an eight-megapixel camera lens and flash. On the right side there are power buttons, volume controls, an infrared port (you can control home appliances), a slot for a microSD memory card - it’s easy to increase the tablet’s memory. The model with 3G/4G also has a slot for a SIM card, above the display - speaker, the model with Wi-Fi does not have it. At the bottom end there are 3.5 mm jacks for connecting headphones or a headset (it would be better if they moved it to the top end), a microUSB connector, the main speaker is very loud, you can do without headphones when watching movies. Below the display are the Home button and touch buttons, a set typical for a Samsung Android device.

Technical description design or characteristics are always quite boring to read, and we understand this very well. Moreover, Samsung GALAXY Tab S is a rather emotional device; this flagship tablet is made to help people with a variety of things every day. That is why a lot of attention is paid to little things - for example, there are two speakers here, at the top and at the bottom, if you decide to watch a movie without headphones - no problems. Home button made not sensory, but ordinary, mechanical, because many of us are accustomed to feeling pressure. By the way, it also performs another function - it has a built-in fingerprint sensor. Much attention is paid to security in the Samsung GALAXY Tab S; you can choose how the display will be unlocked - using the already mentioned fingerprint, password, pattern key. If your work colleagues or friends are trying to take away your Samsung GALAXY Tab S, we recommend installing fingerprint protection. Let them take it away, nothing will be done anyway.

What would we add here? Well, if you dream, you would like to get protection from water and more metal in the case; many users are willing to pay more, since metal seems more reliable to them. Moreover, in reality, both plastic and metal behave approximately the same when dropped and in everyday use. Well, moisture protection will soon become a common feature of most mobile devices– alas, it’s better not to take the Samsung GALAXY Tab into the shower with you for now.

Modifications

Here we want to help you figure out which Samsung GALAXY Tab S exist and which tablet you should choose for your tasks. Firstly, there are two main versions with different display diagonals, 10.5 and 8.4 inches. Naturally, a tablet with a larger display diagonal is ideal for video or for working with spreadsheets. But the version with an 8.4-inch display is more compact; in the cold season, such a device can even be carried in a jacket pocket. Secondly, there is a division in terms of 3G/4G support; you can choose a model with a built-in radio module and a SIM card slot, or a Wi-Fi version. Everything is simple here, if you constantly want to be in touch, want to use a tablet for conversations (you can make calls using the Tab S like a regular smartphone if you connect a headset to it), access the Internet even if there are no Wi-Fi access points nearby, then choose the 3G/4G version. If there is no need for constant connection to the network, then take a model with Wi-Fi. By the way, Samsung GALAXY Tab S supports 4G LTE – high speed internet, we recommend you try it. Thirdly, the models differ in color: a white tablet with a gold frame, or a brown tablet with a golden-bronze frame. It’s hard to advise here; you will need to decide on the modification yourself - and again we recommend visiting the company’s Samsung store and then make a decision there.

Worth adding one important point, the price difference between models with Wi-Fi and 4G is not that big, so you can safely choose the version with a SIM card, believe me, every time you go to the country you will thank us. You can watch a series, use the device as an access point, check your email, and make a calm call if your phone dies. And many people even use the Samsung GALAXY Tab as their main “phone”!

Display

Let's talk about the Samsung GALAXY Tab S display using the example of a model with an 8.4-inch screen. Resolution is 2560 x 1600 pixels, a Super AMOLED display is used, this type of screen displays up to 94% of the shades of the Adobe RGB color space. What does this mean for the user? If you look at the same photos on a regular tablet and on a Samsung GALAXY Tab S, the difference will be visible to the naked eye - more color, more naturalness and naturalness. It should be noted that there is a good supply of brightness and a small amount of glare from external illumination, and this plays a role both when viewing websites and when viewing photos and videos. The Samsung GALAXY Tab S display can automatically select settings for various usage scenarios - however, only in some pre-installed programs. For example, you watched a video and then switched to a reading program, at the same moment the optimal brightness and tonality of the picture will be selected - precisely for this task. This not only improves your user experience, but also saves battery power. There is also automatic brightness adjustment depending on external lighting, which already works in all applications.

For a modern tablet, the display is one of the most important components. And don’t believe those who say that the processor or the amount of memory is more important. If the display is so-so, then your impressions of videos, photos, or browsing websites will be negative (and of the device as a whole).

But there is one very subtle point here. Many users do not understand the difference in display diagonals - and therefore we would not recommend choosing a tablet without seeing firsthand the difference between an 8.4 and 10.5 inch screen. Meanwhile, the first one may well become your companion for every day, and the second one will serve as an ideal device for watching videos on the go. Go to any Samsung store and choose the tablet that suits you best.

Performance

The tablet uses Samsung's own Exynos Octa 5420 platform with big.LITTLE technology as a chipset, these are two quad-core processors, one based on Cortex A7 architecture with a frequency of 1.3 GHz, the other on Cortex A15 with a frequency of 1.9 GHz, Mali is responsible for graphics -T628 (with support for OpenGL 3.0). Speaking in simple words, the performance is enough for any application, even for resource-demanding modern games, or for any other programs.

Samsung played it safe and installed 3 GB of RAM, with a reserve - this will help you use the tablet with any programs in a year. 16 GB of flash memory is installed, there is a slot for microSD cards, cards with a capacity of up to 128 GB are supported.

The Android 4.4.2 operating system with Samsung’s proprietary shell, Eldar Murtazin talked about it in a separate article.

Technical characteristics affect the size of the device, its perception, as well as such parameters as operating time, the ability to run “heavy” games, transfer large files via WiFi or cellular network, if you have a 3G/4G module in your tablet. As a rule, devices begin to heat up under heavy load, and for engineers, removing excess heat becomes a top priority. Samsung solved this issue from several angles at once - they tried to limit the heating of the processor, changed the arrangement of components on the board - they did everything so that the heating was not felt on the device body. For example, in another tablet from a well-known brand, in addition to such tricks, they used heat removal from the metal case, this is a sort of large radiator. As a result, when heated, the case also heats up quickly, this is its task, otherwise it is impossible to remove excess heat. Look at the ice cubes, we played the same game on two tablets for 20 minutes - on the surface of the Galaxy Tab S the ice does not melt as quickly as on the other tablet. In real life, you are unlikely to conduct such experiments and you will notice the difference in the temperature of the tablets only when actively using the network or playing games. But it is noticeable to the naked eye - this is another “little thing” that distinguishes different products. And believe me, it’s not easy to achieve such a “trifle” from an engineering point of view.

The most common question from our users about the performance of certain devices comes down to a simple formulation: “Will application X run on device Y?” And everyone has their own favorite application. In the case of the Samsung GALAXY Tab S, the answer is simple - anything goes. And your favorite application will also launch and run quickly and smoothly.

With wireless interfaces the situation is as it should be, Bluetooth 4.0 is supported, the most modern profile, Wi-Fi (802.11ac is also supported, also the most modern profile). Files can be transferred using Wi-Fi Direct, or by sending via Bluetooth.

Opening hours

We ran our own tests and the Samsung GALAXY Tab S was a very pleasant surprise. There is a 4900 mAh battery installed here, here is the data:

• In reading mode, the tablet worked for 14 hours 14 minutes (brightness 30%, airplane mode on)
• In HD video viewing mode, the tablet worked for 11 hours 26 minutes (maximum brightness, airplane mode on)

The flight to New York is about twelve hours, to Hong Kong - nine hours. So, connect headphones to the Samsung GALAXY Tab S, turn on your favorite movie or TV series and relax throughout the flight without thinking about the battery. By the way, files in AVI format are supported at the hardware level, there is no need to convert. In urban conditions, the tablet will be able to work for two to three days at an average load level, these are excellent indicators for a modern device.

Modern tablet?

What should a modern tablet be like? Futuristic, light and thin, with a stunning display - yes. But first of all, it must fully satisfy the needs of the owner. We will look at how good the display characteristics and technical components of the Tab S are in the following materials dedicated to these tablets.

Related links

With the increase in the size of smartphones, the need for tablets began to gradually decrease. In fact, only two polar categories remain popular: ultra-budget (they are used as a bedside viewer, and in this camp Chinese manufacturers and Russian B- and C-brands reign) and premium. The latter includes the Samsung Galaxy Tab S3, which can be called an “improved and expanded” version of the previous flagship of the tablet line - the Samsung Galaxy Tab S2.

Prices for LTE version:

Prices for Wi-Fi version:

Unfortunately, the device arrived to us without retail packaging, so we cannot say anything about the package. But the characteristics are quite interesting. The dimensions remain the same as the Samsung Galaxy Tab S2, but the weight and thickness have increased, albeit slightly.

The flagship Qualcomm processor of 2016 is used - Snapdragon 820. In 2017 there are more powerful solutions, but, nevertheless, this SoC remains very, very fast. However, we will talk about this in more detail in the testing section.

RAM - 4 gigabytes. On the one hand, flagship “Chinese” versions have even more (6 GB), but on the other hand, the cost of LPDDR4 is quite high, and this volume is enough for most tasks.

Another nice feature is support for the S Pen, which now comes bundled with the tablet.

If previous version The tablet was made of plastic, but in this case the Korean company switched to current trends - the widespread use of glass and metal. It certainly looks great (especially on display), but from the point of view of ease of use, this approach, in my opinion, is not the best. The black version turned out to be very, very branded, this is noticeable even by the rim around the screen.

At the bottom there is a single protruding button, a combined sensory-mechanical one. It can be configured to be triggered by either touch or pressure. It also houses a fingerprint scanner, which can also be used to wake the tablet from sleep mode. Touch buttons "Home" and " Context menu"are located outside the screen and do not “eat up” precious space. True, their position cannot be changed, this is bad.

The charging and synchronization connectors, as well as the headset jack, are located on the bottom edge of the device. Here you can also see the grilles of two of the four stereo speakers.

The USB Type-C connector is used for charging and synchronization. In my opinion, this is an absolute plus: once you use it, you won’t want to go back to the flimsy Micro-USB.

On the left side of the device (if you hold it in portrait position, with the buttons facing you), there is a connector for an external keyboard. Unfortunately, we did not have it at our disposal.

In the promotional photo, the keyboard looks very similar to the one on the Samsung Galaxy Tab S2. It was quite comfortable when working on a desk, but completely inconvenient if you tried to place the tablet on your lap.

The controls are concentrated on the right. There is an on/off button and a volume rocker here. Also on the right side there is a tray for a SIM card and a microSD card.

The tray is double, but “dual-SIM capability”, of course, was not introduced.

The build quality and case materials are at the highest level.

On top are two more stereo speakers.

The edges are not “monolithic” - they have plastic inserts. Otherwise, it would be very difficult for tablet developers to make an LTE version.

The back of the tablet is glossy and collects fingerprints just fine. Apparently, the developers figured that he would spend most of his time in the case.

The camera bezel protrudes slightly beyond the surface, so the tablet is convenient to use even if it is lying on the table.

Despite the fact that the device comes with a stylus, there is no special hole for storing it (as in Note series smartphones), so you will have to take care not to lose it.

The stylus itself is very comfortable, with an additional button, it fits perfectly in the hand.

A detailed examination using measuring instruments was carried out by the editor of the "" and "" sections Alexey Kudryavtsev. Here is his expert opinion on the screen of the sample under study.

The front surface of the screen is made in the form of a glass plate with a mirror-smooth surface that is scratch-resistant. Judging by the reflection of objects, the anti-glare properties of the screen are worse than those of the screen (hereinafter simply Nexus 7). For clarity, here is a photo in which a white surface is reflected when the screens are turned off (on the left is Nexus 7, on the right is Samsung Galaxy Tab S3, then they can be distinguished by size):

The screen of the Samsung Galaxy Tab S3 is a little lighter (brightness according to photographs is 140 versus 114 for the Nexus 7) and has a slight bluish tint. The ghosting of reflected objects on the screen of the Samsung Galaxy Tab S3 is very weak, which indicates that there is no air gap between the layers of the screen. Due to the smaller number of boundaries (glass/air type) with very different refractive indices, screens without an air gap look better in conditions of intense external illumination, but their repair in the case of cracked external glass is much more expensive, since the entire screen has to be replaced. On the outer surface of the screen of the Samsung Galaxy Tab S3 there is a special oleophobic (grease-repellent) coating (effective, better than that of the Nexus 7), so fingerprints are removed much easier and appear at a lower speed than in the case of regular glass.

When displaying a white field in full screen and manually controlling the brightness, its maximum value was 285 cd/m² in normal conditions and rises to 375 cd/m² in very bright light. You also need to take into account the fact that in this case, the smaller the white area on the screen, the lighter it is, that is, the actual maximum brightness of the white areas will almost always be higher than the specified value, for example, when displaying a white field on half the screen and black on the other half, we for the above conditions we obtained values ​​of 325 cd/m² and 435 cd/m². As a result, readability during the day in the sun should be sufficiently good level. The minimum value is 1.3 cd/m². The reduced brightness level allows you to use the device even in complete darkness without any problems. There is automatic brightness adjustment based on the light sensor (it is located to the right of the logo on the front panel). The operation of this function depends on the position of the brightness adjustment, with which the user can try to set the desired brightness level in the current conditions. If in an office environment the brightness slider is set to maximum, then in complete darkness the auto-brightness function reduces the brightness to 17 cd/m² (normal), in an office illuminated by artificial light (approximately 550 lux) it sets it to 285 cd/m² (a little high), in in a very bright environment (corresponds to lighting on a clear day outdoors, but without direct sunlight - 20,000 lux or a little more) increases to 285 cd/m² (something will be visible), and conditionally in the sun, the brightness increases to 380 cd/m². If in an office environment, if you use the slider to set the brightness a little lower, then the screen brightness for the four conditions indicated above is as follows: 15, 220, 285 and 380 cd/m² (ideal combination). It turns out that the auto-brightness function works adequately and to some extent allows the user to customize their work to individual requirements. At any brightness level there is significant modulation with a frequency of approximately 239 Hz. The figure below shows brightness (vertical axis) versus time (horizontal axis) for several brightness settings:

It can be seen that at maximum and close to it brightness, the modulation amplitude is not very large, and as a result, there is no visible flicker. However, as the brightness decreases, modulation appears with a large relative amplitude; the presence of such modulation can already be seen in a test for the presence of a stroboscopic effect or simply with rapid eye movement. Depending on individual sensitivity, this flickering may cause increased fatigue.

This screen uses a Super AMOLED matrix - an active matrix on organic light-emitting diodes. A full-color image is created using subpixels of three colors - red (R), green (G) and blue (B) in equal numbers. This is confirmed by a fragment of a microphotograph:

For comparison, you can familiarize yourself with the screens used in mobile technology.

The screen has excellent viewing angles. True, the white color, when deviated even at small angles, alternately acquires a light blue-green and pinkish tint, but the black color remains simply black at any angle. It is so black that the contrast setting is not applicable in this case. For comparison, here are photos in which the screens of the Samsung Galaxy Tab S3 (profile Basic) and the second comparison participant are displayed identical images, while the brightness of the screens was initially set to approximately 200 cd/m², and the color balance on the camera was forced to switch to 6500 K.

White field:

Note the good uniformity of brightness and color tone of the white field.

Color rendition is good, the colors are moderately saturated, the color balance of the screens varies slightly. Recall that photography can't serve as a reliable source of information about color rendering quality and are provided for illustrative purposes only. In particular, the pronounced reddish tint of the white and gray fields present in photographs of the Samsung Galaxy Tab S3 screen is visually absent when viewed from a perpendicular view, as confirmed by hardware tests using a spectrophotometer. The reason is that the spectral sensitivity of the camera sensor does not exactly match this characteristic of human vision. The photo above was taken after selecting a profile Basic in the screen settings, there are four of them:

Profile Adaptive display differs in some kind of automatic adjustment of color rendering to the type of output image and environmental conditions:

Saturation and color contrast greatly enlarged, looks terrible. What happens when you select the two remaining profiles is shown below.

Movie AMOLED :

Saturation and color contrast are also increased, but not as much.

Photo AMOLED :

Saturation is slightly lower, but color contrast is slightly higher than in the case Movie AMOLED.

Now at an angle of approximately 45 degrees to the plane and to the side of the screen (profile Basic). White field:

The brightness at an angle for both screens has noticeably decreased (to avoid strong darkening, the shutter speed has been increased compared to previous photographs), but in the case of the Samsung tablet the drop in brightness is much less pronounced. As a result, with formally the same brightness, the screen of the Samsung Galaxy Tab S3 visually looks much brighter (compared to LCD screens), since you often have to look at the screen of a mobile device from at least a slight angle. And a test picture:

It can be seen that the colors have not changed much on both screens and the brightness of the Samsung tablet at an angle is noticeably higher. Switching the state of the matrix elements is performed almost instantly, but at the switching edge there may be a step with a width of approximately 17 ms (which corresponds to a screen refresh rate of 60 Hz). For example, this is what the dependence of brightness on time looks like when moving from black to white and back:

In some conditions, the presence of such a step can lead to plumes trailing behind moving objects. However, dynamic scenes in films OLED screens are distinguished by high clarity and even some “twitchiness” of movements.

A gamma curve constructed using 32 points with equal intervals based on the numerical value of the shade of gray showed that there is no significant blockage either in the highlights or in the shadows. Approximating indicator power function is equal to 2.11, which is slightly less than the standard value of 2.2, while the actual gamma curve deviates slightly from the power law:

Let us recall that in the case of OLED screens, the brightness of image fragments dynamically changes in accordance with the nature of the displayed image - it decreases for generally light images. As a result, the resulting dependence of brightness on hue (gamma curve) most likely slightly does not correspond to the gamma curve of a static image, since the measurements were carried out with sequential display of shades of gray on almost the entire screen.

Color gamut in the case of a profile Adaptive display very wide:

In profile Movie AMOLED coverage is a little narrower:

When selecting a profile Photo AMOLED coverage is adjusted to Adobe RGB boundaries:

When selecting a profile Basic coverage is compressed to sRGB boundaries:

Without correction, the spectra of the components are very well separated:

In case of profile Basic with maximum correction, the color components are already noticeably mixed with each other:

Note that on screens with a wide color gamut, without appropriate correction, the colors of regular images optimized for sRGB devices appear unnaturally saturated. Hence the recommendation: in most cases, watching movies, photographs and everything natural is better when choosing a profile Basic, and only if the photo was taken on an Adobe RGB setting, does it make sense to switch the profile to Photo AMOLED. Profile Movie AMOLED, despite the name, is the least suitable for watching movies or anything else.

The grayscale balance is good. The color temperature is close to 6500 K, while in a significant portion of the gray scale this parameter does not change very much, which improves the visual perception of color balance. The deviation from the blackbody spectrum (ΔE) across most of the gray scale remains below 10 units, which is considered a good indicator for a consumer device, and this parameter also does not change much:

(The darkest areas of the gray scale can be ignored in most cases, since there is no color balance of great importance, and the measurement error color characteristics at low brightness it is large.)

Let's summarize. The screen has a fairly high maximum brightness and has good anti-glare properties, so the device is most likely special problems Can be used outdoors even on a sunny summer day. In complete darkness, the brightness can be reduced to a comfortable value. It is acceptable to use a mode with automatic brightness adjustment, which works adequately. The advantages of the screen include an effective oleophobic coating, as well as a color gamut close to sRGB and good color balance. At the same time, let us recall the general advantages of OLED screens: true black color (if nothing is reflected in the screen), a noticeably smaller drop in image brightness than LCDs when viewed at an angle. Disadvantages include modulation of screen brightness. For users who are particularly sensitive to flicker, this may cause increased fatigue. However, overall the screen quality is high.

Samsung Galaxy Tab S3 runs Android 7.0 Nougat with its own software shell.

The general logic of the shell is classic, with desktops and a separate application menu.

The notification shade is comfortable, in light colors; it is possible to customize notifications or disable them for certain applications.

The settings are also redrawn and conveniently grouped, there are hints and search.

One of the main features of the new tablet compared to the old one is pen compatibility. There is special software for it, which is generally much more convenient than the S-Pen that came before. Using the notepad is easy, you can draw and select different “brushes”. Unfortunately, I'm not an artist, so I can't test the quality of the pen - I can only say that it really draws differently depending on the tilt and pressure.

There are such nice additions as password-protected folders, as well as the ability to run “two identical applications"(not all applications are compatible with this).

Another nice feature is the ability to launch applications in a small window in overlay mode (again, only those applications that support this). You can also configure, for example, blocking notifications from different applications. As expected, there is work with the Samsung cloud.

A lot of time has passed since the first Korean shells, the developers have worked fruitfully, and today using the Samsung shell is convenient and pleasant.

As for the communication part, the Samsung Galaxy Tab S3 is in no way inferior to modern smartphones. The device works as standard in 2G GSM and 3G WCDMA networks, and also has support for fourth-generation networks. LTE generation, and the maximum number of frequency ranges is supported, including those used domestic operators FDD LTE Band 3, 7 and 20. In practice in the Moscow region, the device confidently registered and worked in 4G networks, quickly reconnected after a break, and did not lose connection in areas of poor reception.

The tablet can work in two Wi-Fi bands, supporting the Wi-Fi 802.11ac standard, so with quality and speed wireless transmission he has no data problems. There is Bluetooth 4.2, but the hero of the review was deprived of NFC support. Wi-Fi Direct is supported, you can organize wireless point access via Wi-Fi or Bluetooth channels. USB Type-C connector supports connecting external devices USB mode OTG, but the adapter from USB Type-C to HDMI did not work in our case.

The phone application supports Smart Dial, that is, while dialing a phone number, a search is immediately carried out by the first letters in contacts.

Benchmark testing showed that the tablet is doing well: fast RAM, excellent write speed to the internal flash, and the overall performance of the platform is excellent.

Testing the graphics subsystem in gaming tests 3DMark, GFXBenchmark and Bonsai Benchmark:

It would be strange to expect a different result from such a powerful combination of processor and graphics card.

Testing in the latest version of GeekBench:

Testing in Antutu:

As for benchmarks for assessing the speed of the javascript engine, you should always make allowance for the fact that their results significantly depend on the browser in which they are launched, so the comparison can only be truly correct on the same OS and browsers, and this is possible during testing not always. For Android OS, we always try to use Google Chrome.

The Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 platform is practically the top one today. It's safe to say that the performance of this tablet will be enough for several years.

We were unable to check the theoretically possible support for adapters for outputting images to an external device due to the lack of an adapter option that connects to the USB Type-C port, so we had to limit ourselves to testing the output of video files to the screen of the device itself. To do this, we used a set of test files with an arrow and a rectangle moving one division per frame (see “”). Screenshots with a shutter speed of 1 s helped determine the nature of the output of frames of video files with various parameters: the resolution varied (1280 by 720 (720p), 1920 by 1080 (1080p) and 3840 by 2160 (4K) pixels) and frame rate (24, 25, 30, 50 and 60 fps). In the tests we used the MX Player video player in the “Hardware” mode. The test results are summarized in the table:

Design and ports

Nothing special: a black tablet with quite thin edges. There are no buttons below the display, like the Tab S3. The case is thin, but not so thin as to create the impression of an unreliable device. The aluminum frame has rounded edges, so the tablet feels good in your palms.

The back of the device is made of glass. Apparently, this is how Samsung decided to endure uniform style in a number of mobile devices, since such a solution does not provide functional features: support wireless charging not here. On the back panel there is a camera, a flash, the company logo and a mention of AKG, which designed the Tab S4 audio system. The panel easily collects fingerprints and, even worse, minor scratches. It is better to carry the tablet in a case.

We will see the speaker holes on the top and bottom edges of the device (when the tablet is positioned in portrait mode). There are also two inputs at the bottom: USB Type-C and a mini-jack. Above the display is the front camera and sensors. On the right is a “cradle” for nanoSIM and microSD, paired volume buttons and a power and unlock button. The latter has barely noticeable play. The buttons are very thin and quite high. It's not that important, but the tactile experience could be more pleasant. On the left side there is nothing but grooves and contacts for the keyboard case. There is no call button for Bixby that is not particularly necessary - this is good.

The device makes a good first impression: it is weighty, serious, stylish, there is nothing superfluous in it. But there is no need to talk about any unique user experience. Just the right modern tablet.

The Tab S4 has Samsung Super AMOLED with a resolution of 2,560 × 1,600 pixels. The density is not bad for a tablet - 286 ppi. This is slightly more than, for example, the number of pixels per inch in . In general, we have no complaints about the screen: it has correct color reproduction, good viewing from any angle, and brightness with which you can use the tablet moderately even in strong lighting.

The display aspect ratio is 16:10. It’s cool to watch videos on and easy to manage with the split-screen function. Thanks to it, you can simultaneously read Lifehacker and send links to your favorite articles to friends in the messenger.

Initially, the screen is quite well calibrated, but for those who like to customize every little detail for themselves, there is room to roam here: you can adjust the saturation and color ratio using the RGB palette or set the brightness to a certain level of lighting.

Sound

Good. Stereo panorama is provided by pairs of AKG speakers on each side, and they also provide good power. It’s comfortable to watch movies and TV series on the tablet, and even when listening to music in a small room, you can do without connecting Bluetooth speakers. The sound is clear and detailed, low frequencies sag as expected, but for mobile devices this is not even the norm, but inevitable.

It has a Snapdragon 835 with eight Kryo cores: four at 2.35 GHz and four at 1.9 GHz. This is no longer a top-end configuration, but quite a flagship one: there is no lag, PUBG successfully launches with maximum settings graphics. It’s possible that with smart unlocking, the Tab S4 does not behave as quickly as or, but this may be due to the fact that, in principle, it is more difficult to turn the tablet towards you parallel to your face and some milliseconds are spent on aiming.

For fans of numbers - the result of the Geekbench 4 test:

And the result in AnTuTu:

Camera

The camera performs well in natural and bright lighting. The photos are definitely no worse than on top smartphones. But the darker it is, the sadder it is. Noise creeps out, defocus appears due to the increased shutter speed, and in general the photographs come out quite average. There is no portrait mode, but there is a function to blur the edges of the frame when taking selfies.

The interface of the standard camera application has seven modes: HDR, panoramic, professional, “Beauty” for adjusting skin tone and eye expressiveness, auto, mode with stickers and recording hyperlapse video. In professional mode, you can adjust brightness, light sensitivity, white balance and exposure metering type.

Verdict: the camera is not bad, but it is demanding on lighting. The standard application supports both required functions, and those that most people will never need. Most likely, you will continue to use your smartphone camera.

And here is the killer feature of the device - the mode for using the tablet together with the keyboard hidden in the case. Unfortunately, we didn't get the accessory to test, so we can't say for sure how convenient and useful it is. It looks something like this:

In DeX mode, the Tab S4 changes its interface: it looks like a desktop operating system with a windowed view. Like Windows. Add to this standard Word and Excel, and the purpose of the function becomes clearer. It turns the tablet into a transformer - like a laptop with a touch screen, but only very compact.

Multitasking in DeX mode is implemented at the desktop level, it is clearly more convenient and serious than what a tablet provides, even with a split-screen function. The cover has a rigid fold. With it, the Tab S4, which has suddenly become a netbook, can be placed comfortably on your lap and continue working with tables, for example, in a taxi.

You don't need to connect a keyboard to enter DeX mode. In addition, the connected device may not be original: the Tab S4 works with any Bluetooth keyboard.

This feature will be useful for those who work a lot with office documents and do not like to be tied to a computer. Looking ahead, let's say that the Tab S4 with a keyboard case for 8,990 rubles costs more than the Wi-Fi version of the iPad Pro 10.5 with Apple Pencil. And all this is because of the DeX mode.

If DeX is designed for office workers, then the S Pen stylus will appeal to those who often take notes or draw. To make some quick sketch, just bring the S Pen to the tablet and hold down the button on the handle. A lightweight version of the note-taker will appear on the locked screen. Here you can quickly write down something, such as an email address or phone number.

Using the stylus, you can not only jot down notes or draw in graphic editors, but also quickly take and crop screenshots, translate texts, create animations for messages. You can type text - Tab S4 almost always correctly identifies what is written, even with clumsy handwriting. The S Pen is also pressure sensitive: the stronger it is, the thicker the brush line when drawing. You can spend several minutes jotting down stupid scribbles in notes and not even notice - I already talked about this in the Note 9 review. And here there is also a large screen.

The main disadvantage of this whole S Pen idea is that there is simply nowhere to put the stylus. There is no slot for it in the tablet body. It is inconvenient to carry the stylus in your pocket; if you put it in your bag, it will get lost. The only option is to buy a case, it has a pocket for the S Pen.

Unlock

There are four ways to unlock the Tab S4: PIN code, face recognition, iris recognition, and a smart unlock method that combines face and iris recognition. The most effective is the latter, which automatically selects one of the types of identification depending on the lighting.

Either because of the not-so-top performance indicators, or because of the need to hold the tablet strictly parallel to your face, smart unlocking takes a little longer to work than on the same Note 9. But it works even with the display in landscape orientation, that is, when you hold tablet horizontally.

Autonomy

The Tab S4 has a 7,300 mAh battery, which is larger than most flagship mobile devices. But due to the size of the display, the battery life of the Tab S4 and top-end Samsung smartphones is approximately the same: with active use, the tablet will last at least 10 hours.

We turned on a YouTube video at medium volume and left the Tab S4 for an hour - the charge dropped by 9-10%. This is a good result, especially considering that we, as a rule, do not use tablets all the time, but from time to time. The Tab S4's battery can last for one, two, or even three days with moderate use for several hours a day.

The Tab S4 runs Android 8.1 Oreo with Samsung Experience 9.5 on top. At first, all sorts of invitations to the ocean of pre-installed services are confusing, but you can refuse almost all of them. There are applications from Google and Microsoft. The interface is classic and familiar to all owners of the latest Samsung devices. This is a good shell, quite nimble and logically designed.

Results

The Tab S4 is a great device. It will cope with all the tasks that a tablet should cope with: movies, the Internet, games. But all the advantages come with a very serious price: 52,990 rubles for the only available version of the device with LTE and 8,990 rubles for the keyboard case, without which the Tab S4 does not particularly stand out among less expensive competitors - tablets from Huawei or Apple.

The Tab S4 is suitable for those who do not want to buy a convertible laptop and are looking for an alternative - mobile and equally multitasking. If your work with a tablet is not related to documents, you get by just fine without LTE, and the DeX mode and the presence of a stylus are not decisive moments for you, then it is better to buy something else.