Samsung Galaxy Tab S Review, Top Shelf Android

Samsung is targeting people who want to use their tablet to watch movies, play games, view pictures, and perform other tasks that can fully utilize a gorgeous high-resolution display with its new flagship Galaxy Tab S line of tablets. As far as flagship tablets are concerned, the Tab S 8.4 has all of the high-end features we’d expect, including a fast processor, plenty of RAM, expandable storage, and the latest version of Android.

Samsung has also included various apps with the Galaxy Tab S 8.4 that add to its utility. Some of the great apps that are included with the Galaxy Tab S include SideSync 3.0, Multi Window, Kid Mode, Samsung’s new Papergarden, and Milk Music powered by Slacker. Thanks to its gorgeous high-resolution display, the Galaxy Tab S is also one of the few Android devices in the U.S. that offers Netflix HD.


Find the Samsung Galaxy Tab S 8.4 for $397 on Amazon - 10.5-Inch version for $497

Samsung has also increased security for the Galaxy Tab S by integrating a fingerprint reader into the Home button. During our tests, this fingerprint reader worked very well and was easy to configure. In terms of benchmarks, the Galaxy Tab S performed well and often finishing near the top of the charts.

By combining all of these features with a thin and light design that also looks great, Samsung has achieved a near perfect combination, which results in a very attractive flagship tablet. Of course, you’ll have to pay for all of this functionality. At $399.99 for the 8.4-inch Galaxy Tab S, however, the price is in line with what we’d expect from a tablet with bleeding edge hardware and innovative software features.

 

 

     
  • Stunning WQXGA (2560x1600) Super AMOLED display, 360ppi
  • Useful apps and Galaxy Gifts included
  • Excellent real-world battery life
  • Thin and light
  • Samsung’s optional cases and snap-on design could be improved
  • With the high-end tablet comes a high-end price tag


Jennifer Johnson

Jennifer Johnson

Jennifer grew up around technology. From an early age, she was curious about all things related to computers. As a child, Jennifer remembers spending nights with her dad programming in BASIC and taking apart hard drives to see what was inside. In high school, she wrote her senior term paper on her experiences with building custom computers.

Jennifer graduated from the Jeffrey S. Raikes School of Computer Science and Management at the University of Nebraska at Lincoln. After college, she began writing full-time for various PC and technology magazines. Later, she transitioned to the Web. In these roles, Jennifer has covered a variety of topics including laptops, desktops, smartphones, cameras, tablets, and various consumer electronics devices. When she's not playing with or writing about the latest gadget, Jennifer loves to spend time with her family, capture memories with her camera, and scrapbook.

Opinions and content posted by HotHardware contributors are their own.

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