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Samsung Galaxy Tab S2 launched in 8- and 9.7-inch models

by Mark Tyson on 20 July 2015, 13:06

Tags: Samsung (005935.KS), Google (NASDAQ:GOOG)

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Samsung has launched the Galaxy Tab S2 worldwide. There are two models; one with an 8-inch screen and another with a 9.7-inch screen. Both are very thin at just 5.6mm from back to front. The new metal-framed tablets are also light; the 8-inch model weighs in at 265g and the 9.7-incher is 389g. "The Galaxy Tab S2 is not only our thinnest and lightest tablet of its size ever, it also gives users quick, easy access to a wealth of superior viewing and productivity features," said JK Shin, CEO and President of IT & Mobile Division at Samsung Electronics.

Screen highlights

Samsung said that the new Galaxy Tab S2 range offers a screen which is perfect for reading and viewing any type of digital content. The 4:3 ratio Super AMOLED Displays deliver 94 per cent of natural tones to show true-to-life colours (Adobe RGB colour standard). Samsung has implemented Adaptive Display technology to "intelligently adjust gamma, saturation, and sharpness based on the application, the colour temperature of the viewing environment and ambient lighting". A reading mode is included to lower brightness and reduce eye strain.

Hardware highlights

Both new Galaxy Tab S2 Android 5.0 Lollipop tablets employ an unnamed, probably Samsung, Quad 1.9GHz + Quad 1.3GHz, Octacore application processor. They share the same memory configuration; 3GB (RAM) + 32/64GB internal memory + microSD up to 128GB. Though the screens are different sizes the 8- and 9.7-inch models offer the same pixel resolution of 2048×1536(QXGA). Rear and front cameras provide images with 8MP and 2.1MP respectively. The inter-model differences are down to physical size; dimensions, weight and battery capacity. Please consult the images to check the full specifications on offer.

Samsung Galaxy Tab S2, 8-inch

Samsung has installed a touch-enabled Fingerprint Scanner in its new Tab S2 range. The tablets are compatible with the Samsung Book Cover Keyboard. In terms of custom software you will benefit from Samsung Multi-Window, Pop-Up Windows, pre-installed anti-malware, and Microsoft Office Solutions pre-loaded with two years of 100GB OneDrive storage.

Samsung Galaxy Tab S2, 9.7-inch

The Galaxy Tab S2 will be available in 9.7-inch and 8.0-inch versions with Wi-Fi, or Wi-Fi and LTE, with 32GB or 64GB of built-in storage. They will become available globally from August. European pricing will be as follows, from SamMobile, however it isn't indicated whether the models below offer 32GB or 64GB of built-in storage.

  • Galaxy Tab S2 8.0 Wi-Fi: Euro 399
  • Galaxy Tab S2 8.0 LTE: Euro 469
  • Galaxy Tab S2 9.7 Wi-Fi: Euro 499
  • Galaxy Tab S2 9.7 LTE: Euro 569


HEXUS Forums :: 6 Comments

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I can understand Samsung trying to take the high end what with all the little fish circling and biting at its ankles LOL, but it has to differentiate and innovate more to command those sort of prices. Mercs and Kias (yes, the auto analogy sry!) are a lot easier to tell apart than generic Chinese tabs from Samsungs (or even Apples)…

Personally went from Note 8.0 to Xiaomi MiPad btw. Sammys just don't look great value atm…
Why the concentration on lightness and especially thinness? I'd really prefer a meatier battery. And then of course, those two Tab's will be “enhanced” by Samsung's legendary bloat collection. :wallbash:

By the way, in the pictures under the Sensor heading is “Hall Sensor” - what the heck is that?

Oh, and while these new Samsung's may be quite good, I'm not impressed with the looks (slap-in-the-face plain compared to previous models like the Note's) and I've got a Lenovo Yoga2 that I'm pretty impressed with.
A Hall effect sensor is a transducer that varies its output voltage in response to a magnetic field. Hall effect sensors are used for proximity switching, positioning, speed detection, and current sensing applications. In its simplest form, the sensor operates as an analog transducer, directly returning a voltage

They're used in my joystick apparently :undecided
The hall effect sensor will just be used for detecting if a cover is over it or not…

4:3 ratio screen though, is that because the nexus 9 is a roaring success ? oh wait it's not it's a total flop!

4AH battery in the 8 is a joke, 5.87AH in the 9.7 is better but still weak, sure modern (14nm) chips a little less juice but not by much when paired with thirsty screens.
My 3 year old note 10.1 has a 7AH battery and guess what it's biggest drawback has been.
Yup you guessed it could do with a longer battery life when in use. It'll idle for two weeks but use it and you get 8 hours out of the battery and it's gone.
keithwalton
The hall effect sensor will just be used for detecting if a cover is over it or not…
Ah right, the light dawns - thanks!
keithwalton
4:3 ratio screen though, is that because the nexus 9 is a roaring success ? oh wait it's not it's a total flop! 4AH battery in the 8 is a joke, 5.87AH in the 9.7 is better but still weak, sure modern (14nm) chips a little less juice but not by much when paired with thirsty screens. My 3 year old note 10.1 has a 7AH battery and guess what it's biggest drawback has been.
Yes, the current fad for “4 by 3's” doesn't win me over - for what I use a tablet for the 16:9 or 16:10 “widescreen” size feels much more natural.

Like you I've got a Note 10.1 (old model) and while it's been a good machine overall (use it daily) the battery hasn't been the biggest annoyance - instead it's Samsung's god-awful software. For example, if I launch the web browser (with a single tab of a page on Amazon) then it takes more than 30 seconds to get to the point where I can select another page - utterly unacceptable. Funnily enough I switched from TW to Nova for my front-end and while Nova feels a little “unpolished” I've seen an across-the-board increase in responsiveness. :)

If Samsung were listening (ha!) then if they want me to buy another Samsung tablet then I want a 2015/2016 Note 10.1 that is no lighter and especially not thinner than the current one. If they can save on the internals then I would want that saving used for extra battery. Oh, and most important, no fixed-in-place bloatware (and I particularly mean “Samsung Apps”). Oh, and preferably microSD card support and for the sake of all that's holy swap out that proprietary connector for a microUSB and none of that “you must use the official charger and cable” nonsense!

Actually, last time I suggested dropping the special cable I got told that it was needed for the current draw. Not true - the old HP Touchpad, my LG G3 phone and Lenovo Yoga2 and S8 tablets all charge at 2.0A, yet can use any 2.0A charger and the “standard” cable.