Samsung Galaxy Tab S 8.4 tablets. Hardware platform, benchmarks. Wi-Fi is a technology that provides wireless communication for transmitting data over close distances between various devices

Samsung Galaxy Tab PRO 8.4 is without a doubt one of the best tablets on the market, and may even be the best small Android tablet at a reasonable price. However, as often happens, it was not without its drawbacks. Or an improved version of it, Galaxy Tab, S 8.4 - is it deprived of them?

In many ways, the Tab S 8.4 is identical or nearly identical to its big brother.

Technical specifications

The device was tested in the WiFi version, which was equipped with the following:
Dimensions: 212.8 x 125.6 x 6.6 mm
Weight: 294 g
Display: Super AMOLED, 8.4″, 16:10, 2560×1600, D 359, 16 million colors
Processor: Exynos 5 Octa 5420 (4 cores 1.9 GHz, quad cores 1.3 GHz)
GPU: Mali T628 MP6
RAM: 3 GB
Built-in memory: 16 GB
Camera:
Rear: 8 MPX, AUTOFOCUS, LED -, video-1080p (30 fps)
Front: 2.1 MPX
Communication: WiFi, LTE (optional)
Wi-fi: 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac MIMO (2.4 GHz and 5.0 GHz)
Bluetooth: 4.0 LE, A2DP, AVRCP, DI, HID, HOGP, HSP, OPP, PAN
Sensors: accelerometer, gyroscope, light sensor
USB 2.0, MHL
Jack: 3.5mm mini jack
Memory card slot: microSD up to 128 GB
GPS: GPS, GLONASS
Battery: 4900 mAh
Operating system: Android 4.4.2

Appearance

For the first Galaxy look Tab S 8.4 looks almost the same as PRO 8.4 - only minor details differ. The shape of the device itself has not changed and we are still dealing with a product that looks like a very stretched smartphone from the Galaxy series.

The front of the device is mostly filled with large, as are the overall dimensions tablet computers– display, and is completely covered with scratch-resistant glass. Under the screen there is a place for three standard buttons - multitasking, return, as well as “Home”, which this time additionally functions as a fingerprint scanner.

Above the display there is one of the speakers, a camera, and a set of additional sensors.

Particular attention is once again drawn to the excellent use of space - the shots are as clear as possible.

At the same time, their small thickness does not prevent you from holding the device with one hand by the long edge - during the tests it never happened to accidentally press anything on the screen.

From the first view Tab S from Tab PRO can be distinguished by the frame surrounding the tablet. In the case of the second, in the white version of the case, it has silver color, and in the first - golden. However, two things must be emphasized.

One should be afraid of such a combination, but the soft design does not catch the eye at all. In hands, Samsung begins to become a master of the combination of “plastic and metal”. The material, finishing of the edges of the device is really High Quality and leaves a great impression in the palm.

The set of connectors and ports is not particularly different from the Tab PRO, although the location of some of them has changed. This especially applies to the speaker - instead of two small ones at the bottom, we are now dealing with one large one located at the bottom and one large one located at the top.

Thanks to this, the tablet solves one of the most important problems of the PRO, when resting it, for example, on the stomach, the sound was muffled or completely disappeared.

Now, no matter how we hold it, at least one of the speakers plays loudly and well - that's a plus. Microphones are placed in a similar way.

Also, the microSD slot and port have been moved to the bottom of the tablet. The location of the volume buttons, power buttons and IR LEDs has not changed almost at all.

Looking at the device in profile, one cannot help but notice one more thing. Tab S breaks all limits if we're talking about about the thickness of devices of this type. Already 7.2 mm, the Tab PRO was a monumental result. This time Samsung managed to go even lower to a thickness of 6.6 mm. What's surprising already? Is not it?

At the rear, the S 8.4 has probably acquired the most Big changes In design, compared to the PRO, the Note 3's plastic skin has been replaced with a finish almost identical to the Galaxy S5.

The choice of just a little harder and smoother material and texture allows the Tab S to feel brilliant in the hands - solid as a rock, even despite its small thickness. And although the PRO 8.4 was not a poorly made device, on the contrary, it beats it in this regard and is an order of magnitude better when it comes to subjective impressions.

Samsung Tab S can slide on the table, it is more convenient when using a fingerprint scanner, and the grip of the device itself may be less confident.

On the back of the Tab S, you can find a camera, a lighting indicator and the manufacturer's logo. On the right side there are two circles, which seem to be needed for “contact” with a special case. Despite the fact that the device has a powerful magnet, the case is attached in a completely “analog” way – by pressing the buttons firmly.

This solution is not very elegant, but it is incredibly practical. While our tablet can fall out of magnetic cases at the slightest movement, the Tab-S stays in the package absolutely confidently.

Fingerprint's scanner

We already know the fingerprint scanner from the Galaxy S5, and in this case almost all of its advantages and disadvantages have been moved. To both should be added the fact that we are dealing with a device, and therefore much larger equipment, and used a little differently.

The advantages are that the reader basically works as it should, and above all, it is almost always higher than the keyboard, even if the operation needs to be repeated once or twice.

If we are talking about his worst traits, then sometimes he simply does not work.

The finger should always be held perfectly perpendicular to the button, not too fast, not too slow, and taking care to get to its center. This is especially difficult when using the tablet in landscape mode, which requires unnatural twisting of your arm.

Screen

This is undoubtedly a display. Even Tab PRO 8.4 fell short of perfection, but the S version sets entirely new standards.

The screen has retained most of the parameters - with a diagonal of 8.4 ", a resolution of 2560 × 1600 pixels and an aspect ratio of 16:10, but instead of an LCD screen, SuperAMOLED is used here, so the difference is visible to the naked eye, and this is not just a marketing ploy.

The combination of fabulous resolution, equally amazing contrast, color saturation with excellent viewing angles gives stunning results.

Photos and films, of course, of appropriate quality, seem almost real, and no matter how we look at the screen, it is like the world around us. Although, I think, even reality does not have such beautiful colors - pitch black, incredibly rich red, and white does not turn green or blue, as in some cases. Everything is as fabulous as it can be.

And there is no exaggeration in this. The screen was tested on several people, and each of them was surprised at how good it looked.

The remaining parameters also do not disappoint. The screen backlight level can be so low that you can easily read messages while lying in bed in the evening, or vice versa, it can be powerful enough to provide moderate comfortable work during the day. Sensitivity and accuracy are also at a high level.

If this is not enough, then we can to some extent regulate the way the content is displayed on the screen. Using the settings drop-down menu on the main screen, we can choose from four modes - Basic, Adaptive, Cinema and Photos. In the first of them, the screen becomes quite neutral, and, one might say, universal. In the third, everything becomes darker and increases the contrast, and in the last, everything becomes brighter.

The only problem is that this option only works for a few system applications. As a result, if we watch movies in factory settings, the Cinema mode will be activated. If we work with another application from Google Play, we will have to make the appropriate changes ourselves.

Mobility and ease of use

How much does a tablet with an 8.4 diagonal screen weigh? It turns out that the result achieved by Tab PRO 8.4 was not the best at all. Samsung thus once again beat not only its own result, but also its closest competitors - Apple.

The Tab-S, in addition to being incredibly thin yet solid, boasts a weight of just 294 grams - more than 30 grams less than the Tab PRO or iPad mini Retina, with a half-inch smaller display.

If we add to this a smaller frame around the screen than its competitors, we get a product that is simply brilliant when it comes to mobility and the ratio of usable area to total area (volume).

The Tab S's bezels aren't just smaller than the iPad mini's - they're even smaller than the Tabie Pro's, making the device about 7mm lower and another 3mm narrower.

The Tab S's portability doesn't need to be discussed. You can hold it in one hand for hours, carry it even in a small bag and not feel the slightest fatigue. S makes you think about whether you even need a smartphone with a large screen? Maybe we could carry it with us instead regular phone and this tablet?

Components and Performance

Under the hood, the Tab S has better hardware than its predecessor. In the WiFi version, the Exynos 5 Octa 5420 processor and graphics are responsible for the operation. Mali processor T628 MP6, and in the LTE version - Snapdragon 800 (2.3 GHz and Adreno 330). In both cases, they have 3 GB of RAM. To be honest, there are no big differences with the Tab PRO.

Tab S works perfectly in almost all applications. Applications launch instantly, even more demanding games or video with enough high resolution and quality work without problems, and using two windows at the same time does not require much effort from the user.

More mundane tasks like browsing websites, documents, or PDF files weren't much of a problem either.

Only one problem comes to light... main screen, or rather one of its sub-screens, it, like in all previous tablets, sometimes just freezes for a split second (or more) when we decide to get to it.

In the question of memory, we are dealing rather with norms that do not satisfy the standard. 16 GB in the basic version, of which about 12 GB for the user. Fortunately, memory cards can always come to the rescue.

System and improvements

Typically, in the case of Samsung, pure Android This bad Android, so apparently it’s not enough that this version of the Samsung tablet is visually different, it’s also offered whole line more or less necessary additives.

It should be noted, however, that the difference relative to PRO 8.4 is relatively small. In other words, along with various display modes and software, a fingerprint scanner, it is possible to change the sensitivity of the display (operation with gloves) and save energy using the characteristics of the AMOLED screen (more gray and black), extreme savings (almost the same as in the S5).

Approximately similar interface (obviously), the whole package is there additional applications, including office suite, etc., as well as a number additional functions, related in particular to supporting the contactless function of the tablet.

Once again, I must note that Android, as a system for tablet computers, on average gets the job done. And its openness, as well as the possibility of modification and addition, can help in attempts to make it an advanced alternative for regular computer, but the use of many, even the most popular applications, alas, it still causes sadness.

Samsung has done a great job - on every device, the software takes full advantage of big screen and high resolution.

Photo and video camera

This element was just “live” transferred from the previous Tab PRO, and therefore it is difficult to expect any changes. In good lighting, the photos are very clear, very detailed, and the device allows you to take pictures even from very close distances.

And, as usual, the darker the worse - in the evening or at night, we will have big problems with obtaining photographs with a good amount of detail - with not very beautiful grain, which even modern processing and correction mechanisms are not able to cope with.

What has changed is the location of the lens. Instead of one of the top corners, it is now in the middle, which, unfortunately, is not very a good option. Pictures in which the main character was a finger are still not uncommon.

Battery

A small, ultra-mobile tablet should offer a long runtime on a single charge, and the Tab S doesn't disappoint. However, you need to remember one thing - using an AMOLED screen, on the one hand, it can help save battery, on the other hand, it can have an incredibly negative effect on it.

Is it worth buying Samsung Galaxy Tab, S 8.4?

Starting with the benefits when watching videos or other content from dark background, Tab-S is able to withstand an incredibly long time. 10 or even 12 hours, no problem, but when correct setting screen, you can get even more!

Even better results can be obtained by using the extreme battery saving mode, although this will also be useful to us, in fact, only in extreme situations.

However, as is the case with AMOLED, black saves, white kills. Battery life when browsing the web or documents drops sharply, and in some cases is even slightly less than the PRO 8.4, which has a smaller battery. However, it still remains between 7 and 8 hours (with correspondingly reduced backlight and WiFi operation), which seems to be quite satisfactory.

During the tests, fortunately, it turned out that the majority, even the most demanding users, had no problems with using Tab S all day long without the need to recharge. Basically, being in the zone all the time WiFi actions, and with fairly intensive use of the tablet, the charge lasted about 1.5 days.

At extreme energy consumption, the device operates for about 4 hours, which is also an excellent indicator.
You can only complain about the battery charging time. This figure was just over 4 hours.

Advantages:

Brilliant screen
Incredibly thin, light and mobile
Good quality execution
Useful additions from Samsung and thoughtful applications
Interesting solution case fastening
Performance is satisfactory in most cases
Very good battery(under certain conditions)
Very good speakers

Flaws:

Less good results battery capacity in the browser and similar applications
Not the best new processor
Android apps are still not all suitable for tablets
Not everyone will like the mini-jack at the bottom

If you find an error, the video does not work, please select a piece of text and click Ctrl+Enter.

I don’t know about you, but I have a very biased opinion towards tablets. If there is something to choose from among smartphones for several years now, especially if you look at flagship models, then the situation with tablets is much worse. There seem to be a lot of them, but there are literally only a few that are worth it. Until recently, I only liked the iPad (Mini Retina and Air) and ASUS Nexus 7 (2013). These models are cute, high-quality, productive and really attract people. Too few really interesting tablets are coming out, which is a pity. Of course, these are not all interesting new products, but there are very few of them. And recently two more standing ones appeared.

We will, of course, be talking about the Tab S 8.4 and 10.5 models from Samsung. These are tablets that immediately catch your eye because of their design, but their main feature is the display. In 2011 Samsung already released a model with Super AMOLED screen ohm - and then it differed favorably from all the others in everything except the cost and some lags in TouchWiz. The cost was explained by the high cost of the display matrix, and after that model, Samsung didn’t produce anything like it for almost 3 years. Today we will look at the smaller model, which I liked more, but only because I like smaller display diagonals in tablets; otherwise, the models are identical and this is good - the user does not have to worry that something else has been cut down on the display size.

Design and ergonomics

The tablet has very small frames around the screen, so at first it seems that the display diagonal is just 7.7″, but it is 8.4″. The device is very thin, but this does not harm it, hard case and not flexible to torsion.

In addition, the device is small and weighs 297 g, but the tablet does not feel like a toy. The material is plastic, the assembly is excellent. The back side has similar perforations to the SGS5, although tactilely different.

This is not soft touch plastic, but it is not easily soiled – it is matte. The side frame is also plastic, not metal. It is painted gold, looks cool, but not for everyone. Despite the fact that the tablet easily fits into your hand, I would be careful, my feeling is that the body tends to slip out of my hands. It's better to hold it with both hands.

Overall, I liked the minimalistic design, however, there are two nuances that confuse me. First - function keys The lighting is somehow not presentable, the light breaks through the paint a little and turns out hazy. And the second thing, which is quite obvious, is two mounts for a branded case directly on the body. The two buttons located on the back are made to connect the cover, but they are made by Samsung. That is, the accessory is very narrowly targeted; moreover, many people do not use cases. And these fasteners not only spoil the appearance, as it seems to me, but the very fact of having something that will not be used is a little embarrassing. It seems to me that it would be better to do it more traditionally - place the magnet under the case.

Otherwise, the arrangement of the elements is completely standard: under the display, if you hold the tablet vertically, there are control keys, one of which is mechanical, above it is the front camera; there are stereo speakers at the bottom and top, and there are also connectors for a headset and a MicroUSB cable on the bottom edge; on the right are volume and lock keys, an infrared port and a card slot Micro memory SD.

Samsung Galaxy Tab S is the first tablet with a fingerprint scanner. I expected Apple to implement Touch ID last year in its tablet line, but no, and Samsung was first. The operation of the scanner built into the Home key is exactly the same as in the Samsung Galaxy S 5. In order to unlock the device, you do not need to hold your finger, but move it over the button. The recognition accuracy is good, but the number of errors is slightly higher than in the Apple solution. However, having a scanner in a tablet is definitely good, because many people use them as full-fledged work tools, especially on the road. And storing information on such a lock is quite safe.

Display

And now to the main feature - the display. Unlike all other tablets on the market, this one is Super AMOLED. Previously, the company already had a model with such a matrix - Tab 7.7, and it was possible to make calls from it. But then the device was unreasonably expensive due to such a matrix, therefore, the idea was closed until better times. The displays look unusual, like for a tablet; there are many fans of this type of matrix. Viewing angles are maximum, black is truly black. The only thing is that the colors are a little richer than in real life and on IPS screens, but this can be changed in the display settings. By the way, there are presets and an adaptive mode that will change not only the brightness, but also the color saturation depending on the situation.

The screen resolution is 2560x1600 pixels, the pixel density is as much as 359 per inch, which is more than in the iPhone 5s. However, there is still a little more grain here due to the Pentile subpixel design. But for a tablet it’s just super.

Camera

The Tab S has two cameras: front and main, 2.1 and 8 MP, respectively. In 8 MP resolution, pictures are obtained with an aspect ratio of 4:3 - cool, I don’t like wide-format photographs with heavily distorted edges. The main camera has a flash, which is rare for tablets. The quality is very good, again for a tablet, considering that most often you will be photographing documents, not landscapes. The video is recorded in 1080p. There are many modes and standard set settings.

Photo examples

Example video

Specifications and software

New processor Samsung Exynos 5 Octa (5420), consisting of eight cores, four of which are Cortex-A15 with a frequency of 1.9 GHz, and another four are Cortex-A7 with a frequency of 1.3 GHz. Graphics – Mali-T628 MP6. We saw the same solution in the Galaxy Note 3 and some others. Well, there is one interesting feature - there is no modification in Tab S with Snapdragon processor from Qualcomm, and LTE is supported by Exynos. And rightly so, there is no need to torment more or less experienced users with the choice; previously they had to look for a model from Qualcomm. RAM is 3 GB, which is also very cool. This hardware can easily cope with any heavy tasks, including heavy videos and demanding games. True, Real Racing 3 is in low resolution, but this is a problem with the game; previously the same problem occurred on the Nexus 7 (2013). Entertainment lovers will be pleased. But I also cannot say that there is a serious performance gap for the future; in benchmarks the model did not show the best results. Built-in memory is 16 or 32 GB, but you can insert Micro SD up to 128 GB into the slot! In general, the hardware is ok, although I’m sure there will be those who won’t like the lack of Snapdragon.

The battery capacity is 4900 mAh for the 8″ model and 7900 for the larger one. It doesn’t seem like much, but in browsing, social media and reading mode, the tablet lives longer than iPad. Here, most likely, the Super AMOLED screen makes itself felt, which consumes less energy when dark colors. The manufacturer also claims up to 11 hours of video playback. However, games discharge it just as quickly as smartphones - it’s just somehow anomalous. If you need the tablet to last as long as possible on a single charge, there is an extreme power saving mode, like in the S5.

Android version – 4.4.2. The proprietary Magazine UX interface is installed on top of it. Like most Samsungs, here you can divide the display into two parts, there is child mode, a power saving mode has appeared and much more. But there are nice features for the tablet, like free annual subscriptions to cool publications (NY Times, Bloomberg Businessweek), a six-month subscription to the Cisco WebEx video conferencing service, applications for remote control smartphone and PC SideSync 3.0 and RemotePC and more. Everyone will be happy, even business users. And here we remember again about the scanner - the last one will come in very handy. But there is one thing - in current version The software and interface often lag. Sometimes the screen doesn’t light up for a couple of seconds when you try to unlock the tablet, sometimes the FPS just drops. There is nothing critical, the work is stable, but I would like it to be fixed.

Conclusion

Tab S 8.4 is an interesting model and not only for its display. Lovers Super AMOLED matrices, of course, now they know which tablet to choose, but everyone else will also find a lot of good features here. For example, the thinness and compactness of the body as a whole, which, at the same time, did not cause the fragility of the device, good battery life, a very decent camera, like for a tablet, the presence of a fingerprint scanner and the aforementioned subscriptions to business services.

The disadvantages include the presence of mounts for the branded cover directly on the back side of the tablet, low battery life in games and a jittery interface. I think the last two points can be corrected over time, but the first one will have to be tolerated, or, at least, purchase a branded accessory. average cost The device in our area is slightly superior to that of the iPad mini 2 - $600 versus $500, but overseas models cost the same. The youth of this model is a sign; over time, the price tag will drop a little. If we compare the Tab S with the iPad mini 2, the first one will be more interesting to many due to the presence of a fingerprint scanner, flash, memory card slot, video omnivory, higher pixel density on the display and the flexibility of Android. However, it seems to me that the main enemy of the Tab S is not the iPad mini 2, but budget Android tablets. There are quite a few of them and among them there are interesting models, which, although they will be weaker and larger, are also involved in the battle for the user.

Video review of Samsung Galaxy Tab S 8.4

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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.

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 several 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're looking at a Samsung tablet, you'll likely recognize it immediately by its rounded edges and 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 an 8.4-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 buttons " Latest apps" and "Back". It is important to note here that the physical button protrudes slightly above the rest of the tablet’s surface, so erroneous presses are possible in the backpack. In principle, this can be solved by installing fingerprint unlocking, but it was worth noting this problem.

On the right side there is a power button, a volume rocker, an infrared port and plugs for a microSDHC memory card and a microSIM SIM card.

At the bottom there are microUSB and 3.5 mm headphone jacks.

Stereo speakers were installed on the sides of the tablet. They have an excellent (for a tablet) clean and loud noise, there are no complaints about their sound. But in terms of location, it is important to note one feature: if you hold the tablet in horizontal mode physical button on the right, you will cover the speakers with your palms, so you need to hold it so that the Home button is on the left.

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 8.4 is one of its key advantages. With a diagonal of 8.4 inches, this tablet weighs less than 300 grams and is only 6.6 mm thick. These dimensions are, frankly, impressive, especially when you compare them with the dimensions of competitors.

Screen

Perhaps the main event 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 8.4 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 general sizes 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.

From left to right - Samsung Galaxy Tab 8.4 Pro, Samsung Galaxy Tab S 8.4, Apple iPad Mini Retina, Google Nexus 7 2013

Another drawback of the display is the shift to green tones when displaying white. In fact, during normal use you won't even notice it, but when directly compared with competitors, the difference is visible to the naked eye.

From left to right - Samsung Galaxy Tab 8.4 Pro, Samsung Galaxy Tab S 8.4, Apple iPad Mini Retina, Google Nexus 7 2013

Unfortunately, unlike Tab 7.7, it uses a matrix without the “+” sign, which automatically implies the presence of PenTile. Well, let's talk a little about him. PenTile really exists, and if you look closely, you can even see it. But in fact, in most use cases it is invisible. The only scenario in which you are guaranteed to see it is when viewing text with very small font. This font will look less clear than on the same Galaxy Tab 8.4 Pro.

Another advantage of the display of this particular line is its excellent behavior in artificial light. I don’t know whether you noticed or not, but when watching a video in the same subway, you have to turn the tablet’s brightness to maximum, and you can still see glare or reflections of your own face. The Galaxy Tab S 8.4 does not have such a problem: with a brightness of 80-90%, you see the image perfectly and can enjoy watching your favorite TV series or movie.

operating system

Tablets work under Android control 4.4.2 s branded shell TouchWiz 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 I will provide several screenshots of the shell.

As for updating the tablet to Android L, 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 the 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 is on Cortex A15 with a frequency of 1.9 GHz), the Mali-T628 (with support for OpenGL 3.0) is responsible for the graphics.

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

The amount of RAM is 3(!) GB in both versions, the capacity of the internal storage depends on the version (16/32/GB), there is a slot for a memory card, cards with a capacity of 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, these have already become branded Samsung feature slowdowns when scrolling 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.

You know, it sincerely upsets me that in 2014, when Project Butter and other optimization technologies have long been released, Samsung tablets still slow down when scrolling through desktops and application menus.

Autonomous operation

The tablet has a non-removable battery with a capacity of 4900 mAh.

In reading mode (30% brightness, airplane mode on), the tablet was discharged in 14 hours 14 minutes.

In HD video viewing mode, the device's charge lasted for 11 hours 26 minutes ( maximum brightness, airplane mode is on).

For everyday use, you can expect 2-3 days of battery life, depending on usage (when using mobile internet this is exactly two days).

I would like to comment a little on the tablet’s results when playing HD video - these are very good indicators that make the Galaxy Tab S 8.4 one of the most interesting offers for fans of watching movies in 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 - version with 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 the 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 “distribution” of mobile Internet from using Wi-Fi, and also 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- A 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's 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 - 20,000 rubles for the version with Wi-Fi and 23,000 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 for a long time autonomous work. Disadvantages - slowdown in TouchWiz.

Competitors

The key competitor that the Galaxy Tab S 8.4 will fight with. The iPad Mini has a more readable aspect ratio, great design and high quality aluminium case. Among other things, this tablet has many cool games and applications. 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, the Galaxy Tab S 8.4 has a more convenient screen for watching videos and longer operating time, as well as better dimensions (the tablet is thinner and lighter).

By the way, the situation with the price is interesting. So the iPad Mini Retina 16 GB + Wi-Fi now costs 16,000 rubles, and the version with 4G will cost you 21,000 rubles, while the Galaxy Tab S 8.4 costs 20,000 and 23,000 rubles for the corresponding versions. Amazing situation. However, when purchasing the Galaxy Tab S 8.4, you can increase the memory capacity using a microSDHC card; the iPad Mini Retina does not have this option.

If you are not ready to put up with TouchWiz brakes, iOS limitations, and also want to save money, then I confidently recommend this tablet for purchase. Small, compact, very fast and receiving current updates from Google. The same Galaxy Tab S 8.4 is inferior in thickness and weight, as well as battery life in video mode.

My conclusion is quite simple: if you plan to do a lot of reading and gaming on your tablet, and also use the browser a lot, then get the iPad Mini Retina. If you watch videos more often, and games with web surfing take less time, look towards the Galaxy Tab S 8.4. And the Nexus 7 2013 is suitable for those who want to save money, but still buy a quality tablet.

Article Index

Page 1: Test and review: Samsung Galaxy Tab S 8.4 LTE (SM-T705) – tablet with Super AMOLED screen

With two Galaxy tablets Tab S Korean manufacturer Samsung aimed at users demanding display quality. And after the “older” model, we are pleased to present a test of the Galaxy Tab S 8.4, which, despite the smaller diagonal, pleases with a display with Super technology AMOLED and extremely high resolution.

Galaxy Tab PRO tablets with diagonals of 8.4 and 10.1 inches are already selling quite successfully on the market, so the introduction of two more Galaxy Tab S models with the same diagonals seems strange at first. Still, Samsung has already quite well satisfied all users who need a powerful and stylish Android tablet with a high-resolution screen with two Galaxy Tab Pro models. But the release of the Galaxy Tab S family is justified not so much by the display resolution as by the matrix technology.

Super AMOLED displays promise infinite black depth, the brightness of which tends to zero, resulting in record-breaking high contrast and very rich colors. , it really kept the manufacturer's promises. But the 10.5" diagonal cannot be called compact. If you need a compact tablet with a Super AMOLED screen (which, by the way, is also cheaper), then pay attention to the Galaxy Tab S 8.4.

If you look at the specifications, the “younger” Samsung tablet is in no way inferior to its “big brother”. With the Galaxy Tab S 8.4 we get largely identical characteristics:

A complete list of features is available at last page review.

With the “junior” Galaxy Tab S we also get a very high resolution of 2,560 x 1,600 pixels. Samsung also used a powerful Exynos 5420 Octa SoC with four power-efficient Cortex-A7 cores and four powerful Cortex-A15 cores. Depending on the required performance, one or another group of cores is selected. Of course, the Galaxy Tab S 8.4 is much more compact than the 10.5-inch model. But the thickness has not changed - 6.6 mm, so both Galaxy Tab S tablets can be called very thin. But the weight of the “younger” model has changed, decreasing from 467 g to 298 g. Slightly smaller iPad tablets The Mini with Retina display is even heavier at 331g (Wi-Fi version) or 341g (3G version).

Of course, except different sizes and weight we get other differences between the two Galaxy Tab S tablets: the Galaxy Tab S 8.4 uses a battery with a capacity of 3,000 mAh less. But the Galaxy Tab S 8.4 is cheaper. Wireless version without 3G (SM-T700) will cost from 13.3 thousand rubles in Russia or from 380 euros in Europe. The tested LTE option (SM-T705) – from 17.0 thousand rubles in Russia or from 470 euros in Europe. Compared to a 10.5-inch tablet, the savings are about 3.5 thousand rubles.

Samsung is a company that has been on everyone’s lips for a long time. This is one of the few manufacturers whose products are not outright failures, much less of poor quality. Some people don’t like the plastic casing of their smartphones, others are not satisfied with the software shell or the price. But from year to year the company releases more and more technologically advanced mobile devices.

Samsung Galaxy Tab S 8.4 is significantly different from its predecessor. With the same high screen resolution of the QHD standard, a SuperAMOLED matrix is ​​used here. The tablet has a different processor installed, the amount of RAM has been increased, and support for even more capacious memory cards has been added. There are other additions. For example, the Tab S has a fingerprint scanner.

In addition, Samsung worked on the design and reducing the size of the device. In fact, we have to get acquainted not just with a more recent modification, but for the most part with a new model.

The South Korean company currently practically monopolizes the niche of eight-inch Android tablets with advanced hardware and high-resolution displays. As in the case of the Galaxy Tab Pro 8.4, it will only have to compete with a few previously released models from Apple, LG and ASUS, or a few “Chinese” ones. In all cases, some compromises will have to be made. At the same time, the Tab S, like the Tab Pro, is even more rapidly moving away from its competitors in terms of its level of technology. The only thing that can stop you from buying is the price of the new product, which is quite high and fluctuates on average around 20 thousand rubles. Only this factor does not allow Samsung to lead with complete confidence against the backdrop of more affordable solutions.

The new tablet is available in white and dark gray with LTE and Wi-Fi only. The storage can receive 16 or 32 GB of flash memory (according to preliminary information, the price for the 32 GB version is unknown). We received a white tablet with 4G and 16 GB of memory for testing.

Detailed Galaxy review Tab S 8.4 let's start with brief description its parameters.

Specifications

Tab S 8.4 has become even more compact and lighter. The hardware is now more impressive, and the fingerprint scanner and new design brought the tablet in line with latest devices Samsung.

There are not many weak points here. Except that there is no NFC, and the battery for all this power and a power-hungry screen does not look the most capacious. And some potential buyers will traditionally have a negative attitude towards the all-plastic body and oversaturated SuperAMOLED screen. This is a matter of taste.

Packaging and equipment

The hero of the review arrived for testing without packaging or delivery kit, so we will simply list what the buyer can find in the box after purchasing the device.

Small cardboard box will contain minimum required. As usual, there are no surprises here:

• Charger;
• USB cable;
• User guide.

Let's begin the external inspection of the laboratory guest.

Appearance and design

Galaxy Tab S 8.4 is made in a plastic non-separable case. Occupies the entire front panel protective glass, under which the screen is located. It is slightly deeper in relation to the ends.

The back is covered with plastic that imitates perforated leather (like the Galaxy S5). Only here perforation is not so frequent. The ends are framed by a plastic edging, stylized as polished golden metal. Here it is worth noting once again that the new product can be found in white and dark gray.

The appearance of the device is typical for devices Samsung latest generations. The case is very thin, its thickness is 6.6 mm over the entire area. The edges of the back panel and corners of the tablet are smoothed.

The device is comfortable to hold and does not seem big. Someone with average sized hands can even pick up a tablet like regular smartphone, and without any problems put it to your ear to talk. Texture back cover allows the device not to slip out of your hands.

Two strange buttons appeared on the back panel. It turns out that they are needed to attach the branded case.

The gadget is designed for use primarily in portrait orientation. This is evidenced by the location of most elements on the body.

The height of the device is 212.8 mm, width – 125.6 mm. Galaxy Tab S is noticeably more compact than its predecessor. The frames on the sides of the display are very narrow, at the bottom and top they are somewhat wider. The device weighs 298 g, which is 37 g less than the Galaxy Tab Pro 8.4. The tablet feels light for its size, fortunately the weight is evenly distributed throughout the body.

All connectors and buttons are distributed across several ends. The surface of the rear panel is rough and hardly attracts fingerprints. The white color of the case has a slight pearlescent tint.

Above the screen are the front camera, earpiece, light and proximity sensors. The speaker is equipped with a medium-sized slot covered with a convex grille. Below it is the company logo. There is no event indicator or charge level.

At the bottom center of the front panel there is a wide hardware Home button with a fingerprint scanner. Two touch buttons are located on the sides and are visible without backlight. The buttons have a white backlight, which is bright enough to be clearly visible in low light.

The main camera is now centered at the top of the back panel, rather than on the edge. Its module protrudes slightly above the level of the case and, most likely, will be scratched. There is a flash located under the camera.

At the bottom there is a USB connector, a microphone hole, a 3.5 mm headphone jack and one of two speakers.

The upper end is reserved for the second speaker and noise-canceling microphone. Thus, in this model it is solved Galaxy problem Tab Pro, where the speakers were located at one end. Now you can get a stereo effect and uniform sound on both sides of the screen. In this case, the speakers will not overlap when gripping the device with both hands.

The double volume control button and the power button are on the right side. Here in the center there is an IR port window. Just below are slots for a Micro SIM card and a MicroSD memory card.

These connectors are closed with tight plugs.

There are no elements on the left side.

The quality of materials and their processing is very good. The plastic is of sufficient thickness. The case is assembled very well, nothing creaks or plays. The fit of the parts is precise and tight. Controls and connectors are conveniently located. The size of the buttons is sufficient; they are pressed with a short stroke and a quiet but noticeable click. During active use and at heavy loads The tablet body heats up slightly. The vibration motor works well.

The design of the device fits into the overall design of the 2014 line of smartphones and tablets. There will be no discoveries for the user here. The only thing that will amaze you is the truly small thickness of the gadget.