Samsung has unveiled two new flagship Android tablets, the Samsung Galaxy Tab S 8.4 and Galaxy Tab S 10.5, both of which use stunning high-res Super AMOLED screens.
The two tablets use Super AMOLED screens similar to that found in the Galaxy S5, but with a retina-standard 2,560 x 1,600 resolution.
This resolution puts the Galaxy Tab S 8.4 and Tab S 10.5 in direct competition with the iPad mini with Retina display and iPad Air. But Samsung believes the AMOLED screens give them a serious edge thanks to the famously brilliant contrast and black level of AMOLED screens
It claims the two tablets manage an incredible 100,000:1 native contrast ratio, as opposed to the 1,000:1 or so of even the best LCD screens, and that they cover more than 100 per cent of the Adobe RGB colour space.
Samsung Galaxy Tab S specs
Inside, the Galaxy Tab S specs include: a Samsung Exynos 5 Octa core processor comprised of four 1.9Hz CPU cores and four 1.3GHz CPU cores; a plentiful 3GB of RAM; inbuilt 802.11ac Wi-Fi and the option for 16GB or 32GB of inbuilt storage. If that’s not enough, the microSD card slot supports cards up to 128GB.
Both tablets measure just 6.6mm thick and they’re not heavy, either. The Tab S 8.4 weighs just 294g, the 10.5 just 465g.
Similar, again, to the Galaxy S5, they both have ‘dimple’ effect rears, and include the (somewhat hit and miss) fingerprint scanner from the Galaxy S5.
They run Android 4.4 and include SideSync 3.0, an updated software system that uses Wi-Fi Direct to allow you to take calls from a supported Samsung phone on your tablet.
Samsung Galaxy Tab S accessories
Samsung also unveiled a set of accessories designed specifically for the Galaxy Tab S range. They include the Simple Cover, a simply screen protector flip cover; the Book Cover, a version that also protects the rear; and a Bluetooth keyboard designed specifically for the Galaxy Tab 10.5.
The Book Cover case has three levels of elevation, a tall angle for watching video, a middle angle for touch and a flat angle for typing using the screen.
Samsung Galaxy Tab S release date and price
We haven’t received specific dates, but Samsung tells us the Samsung Galaxy Tab S will go on sale through June and July. We’re still waiting on precise UK pricing, but we expect the Galaxy Tab S price to slot in at a similar level to their rival iPads.
Next, read our Android 4.4 tips and tricks
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Editorial independence
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
