Lots of benefits at the right price
At the CES 2014 Consumer Electronics Show at the beginning of the year, Samsung introduced a major update to its tablet lines, which received the “Pro” suffix in the name. At the end of January, we talked in detail about the largest and most expensive of the new models - Samsung Galaxy Note Pro 12.2. And today, on the contrary, we will talk about the smallest and budget - samsung galaxy Tab Pro 8.4, version without 3G and LTE.
The choice of 8.4 inches as the minimum diagonal is not particularly original. We have already dealt with a tablet that is almost identical in size - the well-proven LG G Pad 8.3. As for the other eminent competitors, the size of their displays differs diagonally by at least half an inch.
| Samsung Galaxy Tab Pro 8.4 | LG GPad 8.3 | Google Nexus 7 (2013) | iPad Mini Retina | |
| Screen | IPS, 8.4″, 2560×1600 (359 ppi) | IPS, 8.3″, 1920×1200 (273 ppi) | IPS, 7″, 1920×1200 (323 ppi) | IPS, 7.9″, 2048×1536 (326 ppi) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SoC (processor) | Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 (8974) @2.3GHz (4x Krait 400 cores) | Qualcomm Snapdragon 600 @1.7GHz (4x Krait 300 cores) | Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Pro @1.5 GHz (4 Krait cores) | Apple A7 @1.3 GHz (2 Cyclone cores, 64-bit) |
| GPU | Adreno 330 | Adreno 320 (overclocked) | Adreno 320 | PowerVR G6430 |
| RAM | 2 GB | 2 GB | 2 GB | 1 GB |
| Flash memory | 16 GB | 16 GB | 16/32 GB | 16 to 128 GB |
| Connectors | Micro-USB, 3.5mm headset jack | Micro-USB, 3.5mm headphone jack | Lightning, 3.5mm headphone jack | |
| Memory card support | microSD (up to 64 GB) | microSD (up to 64 GB) | No | No |
| cameras | front (2 MP) and rear (8 MP, with flash) | front (1.3 MP) and rear (5 MP) | front (1.2 MP) and rear (5 MP) | |
| Internet | WiFi | Wi-Fi (optional - 3G and LTE) | Wi-Fi (optional - 3G and LTE) | |
| Wireless modules | Bluetooth, GPS/Glonass, Infrared | Bluetooth, GPS, Infrared | Bluetooth, GPS | Bluetooth, GPS (optional) |
| Operating system* | Google Android 4.4.2 | Google Android 4.2.2 | Google Android 4.3 | Apple IOS 7 |
| Battery capacity (mAh) | 4800 | 4600 | 3950 | 6471 |
| Dimensions (mm) | 219×129×7.2 | 216×126×8 | 200×114×8.7 | 200×134×7.5 |
| Weight (g) | 331 | 338 | 294 | 339 |
| Average price (Y.Market) | T-10673484 | T-10547274 | T-10451398 | T-10546224 |
| Offers Samsung Galaxy Tab Pro 8.4 (Ya.Market) | L-10673484-10 | |||
* at the time of writing the relevant article
The Samsung Galaxy Tab Pro 8.4 outperforms its competitors in more than just pixel density. It also has the most powerful SoC and the highest resolution rear camera module (by the way, it is the only one with a flash). The infrared port is not forgotten either - a distinctive feature of almost all Samsung tablets.
The delivery package of the tablet turned out to be the most minimalistic: a Micro-USB cable and a power adapter (5.3 V, 2 A). But Samsung, as a self-respecting major manufacturer, did not stint on papers
We tested the American version of the tablet. Devices officially sold in Russia, of course, are accompanied by adapters with a suitable plug.
In matters of design, the South Korean manufacturer is distinguished by the consistency characteristic of Asians. Galaxy Tab Pro 8.4 is a smaller version Galaxy Note Pro 12.2, keeping elements of the larger model intact.
To estimate the dimensions, we present comparative Samsung photos Galaxy Tab Pro 8.4 and Google Nexus 7 (2013):
If we compare the Tab Pro 8.4 with the iPad mini retina, then the numerical characteristics clearly show: with a display diagonal of half an inch more, the Tab Pro 8.4 turned out to be half a centimeter narrower, which is good news. If you hold the tablet in portrait orientation, then the thumb slides slightly into the display. However, in the OS interface, this is not scary. The only active zone in this case located in the upper corner: if you take the tablet by the edge where the clock is located, the menu will begin to open android notifications. However, this situation is hardly applicable in practice, therefore, in the worst case, when gripping with one hand, several millimeters of the screen will be obscured.
The Samsung logo is aligned above the display in the middle, next to it is replaced by a lighting sensor and front-camera. Below - illuminated in white touch buttons task manager and return, as well as a mechanical menu key.
On the other hand, we still have a pleasant to the touch plastic panel textured like leather. With an artificial seam and small thickenings in the area of the connectors.
In Note Pro 12.2, the rear camera has been aligned in the middle. Here it is located on the edge, which is not so convenient for shooting. There is also a flash, which competitors usually neglect for some reason.
On the left side is a slot for a memory card. The plug did not start to play during testing.
Most of the functional elements of the tablet are concentrated on the opposite side of this connector. In the middle is an infrared port, on the corner is a microphone hole, between them are standard Android buttons.
On the top of the tablet is a 3.5mm headphone jack.
For charging and data transfer, a Micro-USB connector of the second version is used. Samsung uses the faster standard exclusively in flagship mobile devices ah (for example, in the notorious Galaxy Note Pro 12.2 and Galaxy Note 3).
Stereo speakers, as is now the case with most compact tablets, are brought out by thin slots on the underside. This makes it pointless to use two speakers instead of one, since the sound sources are mixed and shifted to the side anyway (if you use the tablet in landscape orientation). Let's remember the second generation of Asus Fonepad 7 with a kind word - everything was in order in this regard. The maximum volume of the Tab Pro 8.4's speakers is at an acceptable level, but nothing more.
In the Pro update, pen input is still an exclusive feature of the Note model - you need to somehow distinguish it from the older Tab. The build quality of the tablet is at a high level: the case did not make any suspicious sounds during active use. However, it heated up noticeably even with a slight constant load.
The front surface of the Samsung Galaxy Tab Pro 8.4 screen is made in the form of a glass plate with a mirror-smooth surface that is resistant to scratches. Judging by the reflection of objects, there is very effective anti-reflective filter, which is approximately equal to the screen filter of Google Nexus 7 (2013) (hereinafter simply Nexus 7) in terms of reduced reflection brightness. For clarity, here is a photo in which a white surface is reflected in the off screens of both tablets (Samsung Galaxy Tab Pro 8.4, as it is not difficult to determine, on the left, then they can be distinguished by size and characteristic button icons):
Both screens are dark, and the brightness of the screens from the photographs is 81 for the device under test and for the Nexus 7. The tripling of reflected objects in the Tab Pro 8.4 screen is very weak, this indicates that there is no air between the outer glass (it is also a touch sensor) and the surface of the matrix gap (screen type OGS - One Glass Solution). Due to the smaller number of boundaries (glass-air type) with very different refractive indices, all other things being equal, such screens look better with strong external illumination, but their repair in case of cracked external glass is much more expensive, since the entire screen has to be changed. On the outer surface of the screen there is a special oleophobic (grease-repellent) coating (very effective, maybe a little worse than Nexus 7), so fingerprints are removed much easier, and appear at a slower rate than in the case of ordinary glass.
With manual brightness control, its maximum value was about 400 cd/m², and the minimum 5 cd/m². The maximum value is quite high, and, given the good anti-reflective properties, the image on the screen should be clearly visible in bright daylight. In complete darkness, the brightness can be lowered to a comfortable level. Automatic brightness control works based on the light sensor (it is located to the right of the logo on front panel). IN automatic mode when it changes external conditions brightness of the screen both increases and decreases. In complete darkness in automatic mode, the brightness decreases to about 7 cd / m² (darkish), in an artificially lit office (about 400 lux) the brightness is set to 160-170 cd / m² (optimal), in a brightly lit environment (corresponds to on a clear day outdoors, but without direct sunlight - 20,000 lux or a little more) rises to 400 cd / m² (to the maximum, which is logical). Eventually the auto-brightness function, except for conditions of complete darkness, works adequately. At any brightness level, there is virtually no backlight modulation, so there is no screen flicker.
This tablet uses IPS type matrix. Micrographs show a typical IPS subpixel structure:
For comparison, you can see the gallery of microphotographs of screens used in mobile technology.
The screen has good viewing angles without hue inversion and without significant color shift even with large deviations of the gaze from the perpendicular to the screen. For comparison, here is a photo in which the same images are displayed on the Nexus 7 and Tab Pro 8.4 screens, while the brightness of both screens is set to about 200 cd / m². Perpendicular to the plane of the screens is a white field:
The uniformity is good, the color tone is close to the tone of the Nexus 7 screen (when photographing, the color balance on the camera is forced to 6500 K). And a test picture:
Color reproduction is good and colors are saturated on both screens. Now at an angle of approximately 45° to the plane and to the side of the screen:
It can be seen that the colors did not change much on both screens, but the contrast at an angle in the case of the Tab Pro 8.4 dropped sharply due to the increase in the brightness of the black box. And the white box:
The brightness at an angle for both tablets has noticeably decreased (at least 4 times, based on the difference in shutter speed), but in the case of Samsung, the drop in brightness is less (brightness in photos is 234 versus 217 for Nexus 7). At the same time, the color tone has changed slightly. The black field, when deviated diagonally, is highlighted strongly and acquires a purple or red-violet hue. The photos below demonstrate this (the brightness of the white areas in the direction perpendicular to the plane of the screens is the same for the screens!):
And from another angle:
When viewed perpendicularly, the uniformity of the black field is good. The corners of the screen differ in brightness, but there are no local illuminated areas, which is more important for a visual assessment of uniformity:
Contrast (approximately in the center of the screen) is not outstanding, but, in general, normal - about 710:1 . The response time for the black-white-black transition is 19 ms (11 ms on + 8 ms off). The transition between 25% and 75% grayscale (according to the numerical value of the color) and back takes a total of 32 ms. The gamma curve constructed from 32 points with equal intervals according to the numerical value of the gray tint did not reveal a blockage either in the highlights or in the shadows, and the exponent of the approximating power function turned out to be from 2.18, which is close to the standard value of 2.2, while the real gamma - the curve practically does not deviate from the power dependence:
The color gamut is sRGB:
Apparently, the matrix filters mix the components to each other to a moderate extent. The spectra confirm this:
As a result, the colors of images - drawings, photographs and films - oriented to the sRGB space (and the vast majority of them) have a natural saturation. The balance of shades on the gray scale is good, since the color temperature is slightly higher than the standard 6500 K, and the deviation from the blackbody spectrum (ΔE) is less than 10, which is considered acceptable for a consumer device. At the same time, the variation in color temperature and ΔE is small, which also has a positive effect on the visual perception of color balance. The dark areas of the gray scale can be ignored, since the color balance is not of great importance there, and the measurement error of color characteristics at low brightness is large.
The brightness adjustment range of this screen is wide, and the anti-glare filter is very effective., which allows you to comfortably use the tablet both on a clear day on the street and in complete darkness. It is acceptable to use the mode with automatic brightness adjustment, which works more or less adequately, except that in complete darkness you may have to manually increase the brightness a little. The advantages also include an effective oleophobic coating, no flicker and no air gap in the layers of the screen, sRGB coverage, good color balance. Traditionally for modern (on IPS matrices) Samsung tablets are disappointing strong highlighting of black color even with a slight deviation of the gaze perpendicular to the screen surface. Apparently, the manufacturer does not consider this parameter particularly important. Therefore, the screen is not very suitable for watching movies (especially with dark scenes), but this drawback is unlikely to have any effect when working with text, in games, etc. As a result, in terms of the combination of characteristics tablet screen samsung computer Galaxy Tab Pro 8.4 has high quality.
Samsung Galaxy Tab Pro 8.4 is running Android 4.4.2 operating system in the Magazine UX shell, which appeared in Samsung Pro-series tablets. There are practically no differences from Note Pro 12.2.
The number of tiles available to add to Magazine UX desktops is significantly less than Note Pro 12.2. In regular Android, the icons on the notification bar are always visible, and you don't need to pull it out, as in a twelve-inch tablet.
The lock screen has become even less functional. You cannot insert widgets instead of a clock, but you can add some kind of inscription to them.
Unlike Note Pro 12.2, there is no Hancom Office office suite by default, but it can be downloaded for free from the store Samsung apps Apps. Cisco Webex Conferencing Service is preinstalled. The Tab Pro 8.4, like other Samsung tablets, is subject to affiliate program Dropbox - 50 GB storage free for two years.
Of the 16 GB of internal memory, approximately 11.78 GB is available to the user. Turning on the tablet takes approximately 23 seconds. The stability of the operating system is at a high level, but it cannot be called ideal. We occasionally experienced scrolling stutters and Samsung Apps not being able to connect to the server to download the update. And Magazine UX wasn't exactly smooth, as you can see when setting up its desktops.
The Samsung Galaxy Tab Pro 8.4 is based on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 modification 8974 single-chip system. It is often used in older models of Samsung's flagship products, such as Galaxy Note Pro 12.2 and Galaxy Note 3. In Galaxy Tab Pro 8.4, the manufacturer decided to do without variations and, regardless of the modification of the tablet, installed the same single-chip system everywhere.
The processor part is formed by four Krait 400 cores - Qualcomm's proprietary architecture. They operate at a frequency of 2.3 GHz. To work with video, the Adreno 330 GPU is used, the nominal performance of which is one and a half times higher than that of the Adreno 320 installed in the LG G Pad 8.3.
Browser tests clearly illustrate the consistent development of Snapdragon SoC. And if the superiority of the 600 series over the S4 Pro is very unstable, then the difference between the Snapdragon 600 and 800 is absolutely clear. But before the Apple A7, there is still development to be done here.
Starting with this review, we are excluding the complex benchmark Quadrant from the test suite, which, according to our observations, does not keep pace with the development of mobile device capabilities.
Antutu 4 shows a big performance difference between Snapdragon 600 and 800 series. And MobileXPRT stood out: here Samsung is already one and a half times faster in performance, but it is absolutely identical to LG in the interface. We can only agree: the G Pad ran at least as smoothly as the Tab Pro.
The score in Antutu X is almost the same as Antutu 4:
In Geekbench 3 multi-core mode, the quad-core Tab Pro still snatches victory from the dual-core iPad mini retina. A certain role in this was played by twice the amount of RAM of the latter. SuperPi puts the Snapdragon 800 way above its predecessors.
At the Quadrant Benchmark, the changes in the test suite are not over. To evaluate gaming performance, we are introducing two new benchmarks. uses a demo scene based on the popular Unity game engine (version 4.2 at the time of this testing). Bonsai Benchmark also uses Unity, but, in addition, this test is also attractive because it is multiplatform.
What is the reason for such a discrepancy between the results in the two benchmarks? The fact is that Basemark X is held in a fixed resolution, and Bonsai Benchmark adjusts to the resolution of the device. This greatly facilitates competition for tablet Digma with a 1280x800 display (remember, the Tab Pro has 2560x1600 - exactly four times as many pixels). For this reason, by the way, we expected a better result from Clovertrail+ in Basemark X.
Epic Citadel didn't find much difference between all Snapdragons; moreover, our hero was even rated a little worse than his colleagues. But in Ice Storm, everything is very clear: for the S4 Pro, all modes were a test, the S600 received “Maxed out!” in the base, and for Snapdragon 800 already Extreme is a trifle.
| Samsung Galaxy Tab Pro 8.4 | LG GPad 8.3 | Google Nexus 7 (2013) | Apple iPad mini Retina | |
| GFXBenchmark T-Rex HD (C24Z16 Offscreen) | 26 fps | 14 fps | 15 fps | 27 fps |
| GFXBenchmark T-Rex HD (C24Z16 Onscreen) | 17 fps | 13 fps | 15 fps | 21 fps |
| GFXBenchmark Manhattan HD (C24Z16 Offscreen) | 11 fps | - | - | - |
| GFXBenchmark Manhattan (C24Z16 Onscreen) | 5.8 fps | - | - | - |
In the multi-platform GFXBenchmark, the comparison with the iPad Mini Retina is interesting. Tab Pro 8.4 did not keep up with him, but, as they say, breathed down his neck. How will real games perform?
Most of the games in our test suite run great on the Tab Pro 8.4, but there were a few problems with a couple. We also noticed that some areas of the screen noticeably heat up when playing for a long time.
Additionally, the MHL interface was tested. To test it, we used the LG IPS237L monitor, which supports direct MHL connection using a passive Micro-USB to HDMI adapter cable. Recall that Samsung has implemented its own version of this interface at the physical level. As a result, to connect an external device via MHL, you need to use special adapters or connect standard MHL adapters through simple passive adapters.
In this case, we conducted the test using a proprietary adapter from Samsung, while MHL output was carried out at a resolution of 1920 × 1080 pixels at 60 fps. When the tablet is in landscape orientation, the image is displayed on the monitor screen in landscape orientation, while the image on the monitor is inscribed in the screen boundaries in height, and narrow black fields are displayed on the sides to maintain the correct proportions.
When the tablet is in portrait orientation, the image on the monitor screen is also displayed in portrait orientation, while the image on the monitor is inscribed in the screen boundaries in height, and wide black fields are already displayed on the right and left.
The sound is output via MHL (in this case, the sounds were heard through the headphones connected to the monitor, since there are no speakers in the monitor itself) and has a good quality. At the same time, sounds are not output through the speaker of the tablet itself, and the volume is controlled by the buttons on the tablet case. In principle, in the tablet settings, you can select the sound output mode - stereo or surround. However, in our case, the monitor only accepted stereo sound, so there was no choice. Again, in our case, the tablet with the MHL adapter connected, judging by the charge indicator, was charging, but at the end of the tests, the charge level was lower than at the beginning. Perhaps there was not enough power from an external source (it was a monitor) connected to the adapter.
Further, using a set of test files with an arrow and a rectangle moving one division per frame (see "Methodology for testing video playback and display devices. Version 1 (for mobile devices)"), we checked how the video is displayed on the screen of the tablet itself. 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 1280×720 (720p), 1920×1080 (1080p) and 3840×2160 (4K) pixels and the frame rate was 24, 25, 30, 50 and 60 fps. In tests, we used the MX Player video player in the "Hardware" mode and the standard video player when outputting to an external monitor. The results of this (block titled "Tablet Screen") and the following test are tabulated:
| File | Uniformity | Passes |
| tablet screen | ||
| 4K/30p | Fine | No |
| 4K/25p | Fine | No |
| 4K/24p | Fine | No |
| 1080/60p | Great | No |
| 1080/50p | Fine | No |
| 1080/30p | Great | No |
| 1080/25p | Fine | No |
| 1080/24p | Great | No |
| 720/60p | Great | No |
| 720/50p | Fine | No |
| 720/30p | Great | No |
| 720/25p | Fine | No |
| 720/24p | Great | No |
| MHL (monitor output) | ||
| 1080/60p | Fine | few |
| 1080/50p | Fine | No |
| 1080/30p | Great | No |
| 1080/25p | Fine | No |
| 1080/24p | Fine | No |
| 720/60p | Fine | few |
| 720/50p | Fine | No |
| 720/30p | Fine | No |
| 720/25p | Fine | No |
| 720/24p | Fine | No |
Note: If both columns Uniformity And Passes green ratings are set, this means that, most likely, when watching movies, artifacts caused by uneven interleaving and dropping frames will either not be visible at all, or their number and visibility will not affect viewing comfort. Red marks indicate possible problems associated with the playback of the respective files.
According to the criterion for displaying frames, the quality of video files playback on the screen of the tablet itself is high, since frames (or groups of frames) can be displayed with more or less uniform alternation of intervals and without frame drops. However, uniform frame interleaving is a relatively unstable state, as some external and internal background processes sometimes cause the correct interleaving of intervals between frames to periodically fail and even (very rarely) to skip individual frames. The displayed range of brightness is equal to the standard range of 16-235, that is, in the shadows and in the highlights, all gradations of shades are displayed. When playing video files with a resolution of 1080p (1920×1080 pixels), the image of the video file itself is output exactly to the width of the screen, but the actual resolution is slightly reduced due to interpolation to the screen resolution.
With a monitor connected via MHL, when playing video with a standard player, the image of the video file is displayed only in landscape orientation, while only the picture of the video file is displayed on the monitor, and only information elements and virtual controls are displayed on the tablet screen.
When playing video files with FullHD resolution (1920 × 1080 pixels) on the monitor screen, the image of the video file itself is displayed exactly along the border of the screen while maintaining true proportions and the resolution corresponds to FullHD resolution. The brightness range displayed on the monitor is equal to the standard range of 16-235, that is, all gradations of shades are displayed in the shadows and in the highlights. Note that the standard player did not play our test files at 4K resolution, and MX Player is not able to output video to the entire display area of the monitor. We considered the second one more critical, and therefore testing video output to an external monitor was carried out using the standard player. The results of the monitor output tests are shown in the table above in the "MHL (monitor output)" section. The output quality is good, but slightly worse than on your own screen, which can be explained by changing the player.
The conclusion is typical - the MHL connection can be used for games, watching movies, displaying web pages and other activities that benefit from the increase in screen size. True, you will have to purchase an adapter specifically for Samsung or find the appropriate adapter.
Let's evaluate the playback of five standard video files:
| Format | container, video, sound | MX Video Player | Regular video player |
| DVDRip | AVI, XviD, 720×400, 2200 Kbps, MP3+AC3 | plays normally | plays normally, no subtitles |
| Web-DL SD | AVI, XviD, 720×400, 1400 Kbps, MP3+AC3 | plays normally | plays normally, no subtitles |
| Web-DL HD | MKV, H.264, 1280x720, 3000Kbps, AC3 | plays normally | played without sound |
| BDRip 720p | MKV, H.264, 1280x720, 4000Kbps, AC3 | plays normally | played without sound |
| BDRip 1080p | MKV, H.264, 1920x1080, 8000Kbps, AC3 | plays normally | played without sound |
Hardware decoding of AC-tracks by a regular player is not supported, as well as subtitles.
We tested the basic modification of the tablet, which supports Internet access only via dual-band Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac (2.4 GHz + 5 GHz). In addition, in the list wireless standards is Bluetooth 4.0 and IrDA, used for remote control.
Navigation deserves special praise. It took the Galaxy Tab Pro 8.4 a matter of seconds to establish a connection with satellites under the Moscow sky, and, surprisingly, the connection was not interrupted even when we returned to the premises - this happens very rarely among tablets.
Connection Supported external drives. The transfer speed from the flash drive was about 14.7 MB/s. In the opposite direction, copying is slower, but still faster than average - at a speed of about 8.13 MB / s.
Samsung Galaxy Tab Pro 8.4 is equipped with two cameras. The front has a resolution of 2 megapixels, the rear - 8 megapixels. The latter is also equipped with a flash; other eminent manufacturers do not indulge us with this. The work of the rear camera was commented by Anton Solovyov.
Perhaps Samsung is one of the few companies that installs cameras in their tablets for more than just a show. In this case, we are dealing with a camera, which is quite worthy good smartphone not to mention the tablet. Of course, in some places it is a little rough, sometimes you feel a certain clumsiness in the work, but on the whole it is done very worthily. There is practically no noise in the pictures, but the results of their processing are visible. Noise cancellation works quite rough, which does not prevent the camera from working out small details. In poor lighting, the camera noticeably loses, but in good lighting it fulfills its 8 megapixels in full.
Given the lack of strong sharpening, the camera can be forgiven for lagging in resolution from its older brother by almost 0.1 lines per pixel. In field scenes, she copes well. In general, the camera is quite good and is suitable for most artistic and documentary subjects.
The camera can shoot videos in Full HD. Below are two clips, with and without stabilization.
The camera is clearly not designed for too dynamic scenes, although there are no pronounced ripples and distortions when shooting. Stabilization helps a little, but if you don't know it's on, you might not even notice it. Video sharpness is quite good.
It is impossible to unequivocally say that the Samsung Galaxy Tab Pro 8.4 camera is better than the iPad mini Retina. It is favorably distinguished by such items as a higher resolution and the presence of a flash, which is a completely natural improvement, since progress still does not stand still. There is a certain artistry to the iPad mini Retina camera shots. In the pictures of the Galaxy Tab Pro 8.4, a certain clumsiness is felt in places, but with better detail. All this speaks of different scenarios for using cameras: the Tab Pro will do much better with documentary shooting, and perhaps the iPad mini Retina with artistic shooting. If we recall bench shooting, then with noise samsung tablet performs much better than the Apple product.
The battery capacity of the Samsung Galaxy Tab Pro 8.4 is 4800 mAh - notably less than the iPad mini Retina, but more than the LG and Google Nexus tablets. In the settings, you can turn on the power saving mode. We used it in the reading subtest.
If you compare the time that the tablet worked in reading mode (less workload with power saving on) and in video mode (heavy workload with power saving off), it becomes clear that the effectiveness of the power saving mode is not great. However, even without it, Tab Pro shows excellent results in all scenarios except gaming, a couple of hours ahead of the iPad Mini Retina.
When the cost of computing resources of the tablet increases, and the screen ceases to be the main consumer of energy, then the operating time of the new Samsung tablet drops. It remains noticeably larger than that of Snapdragon colleagues, but it is no longer up to the Apple tablet.
Charging Galaxy Tab Pro 8.4 from network adapter from the kit takes about three hours. Using the USB port of a computer, the Tab Pro can charge, but only when it is turned off.
The Samsung Galaxy Tab Pro 8.4 is a tablet with many strengths. At a minimum, these include performance, display, as well as battery life (in most cases) and a very decent camera. On the other side of the scale are details that can be decisive only in special cases. Perhaps the Samsung Galaxy Tab Pro 8.4 is best suited as the main competitor of the iPad Mini Retina. Including the price - the appetites of South Koreans have long been keeping up with their position in the market.
Do you want to always have a reliable guide to modern Internet resources, games, videos and other options at hand? Feel free to choose Samsung tablets. South Korean-made products, according to sales statistics, rank second in the world in terms of popularity among consumers. What is the reason for such success? Universal Tablets with excellent technical specifications Ideal for all advanced users.
Advantages and features of devices of a popular brand:
Samsung Galaxy Tab tablets are also presented on our website. This model is based on innovative operating systems that ensure the smooth operation of the device.
In our catalog you will find best models tablet computers from Samsung. A convenient search system allows you to set the desired parameters, a photo of each tablet is accompanied detailed description. You just have to choose the model that suits you best. On the site you can also buy an original case for a Samsung tablet - a very convenient option.
Samsung Galaxy is a successful combination of computer and phone in one device. Watch your favorite video, work in applications, listen to music - everything is possible with a compact tablet. You will be pleased with the color reproduction of images on the screen and excellent speakers - avid music lovers will be satisfied.
I would like to note the ergonomics of Samsung gadgets: some models, thanks to their thin body, easily fit in your pocket. The purchase of this modern device with delivery at a bargain price on our website will allow you to become the owner of modern gadget for work and play profitably.
Small tablets sometimes seemed small to us for work, then suddenly smartphones began to approach them. Will the Samsung Galaxy Tab Pro 8.4 be an innovation?
The answer is somewhat hampered by the fact that there are countless Samsung tablets on the market. From small ones that can be easily confused with smartphones, up to those whose screen size can confuse more than one laptop. On the other hand, it was from small devices - tablets, that the Koreans began their struggle with the ipad. How much did they manage to accomplish during this time?
Dimensions: 219 x 128.5 x 7.2 mm
Weight: 331g
Color version: black and white
Display: 8.4" (213.7mm) WQXGA TFT LCD, 16M color touchscreen, 2560 x 1600, no S-Pen support
Processor: Quad-core Snapdragon 800, Krait 400 core clock speed - 2.3 GHz
Adreno 330 GPU
RAM: 2GB RAM
Internal memory: 16/32 GB (depending on the market)
Memory cards: MicroSD (up to 64 GB)
Camera:
8 MP rear, LED flash, AF, video recording: FHD (1080p), 30 fps
2 MP, front.
GSM communication:LTE
WiFi, WiFi Direct
Bluetooth: BT 4.0/DI, HOGP, PAN, A2DP, AVRCP, HSP, OPP, HID
Sensors: Accelerometer, geomagnetic sensor, light sensor, Hall sensor
USB: USB 2.0, MHL, USB-host
Audio Jack: 3.5mm
SIM card slot: micro-sim
Location: GPS, GLONASS
Battery: sdxc, lithium ion accumulator battery capacity 4800 mAh (up to 10 hours internet wi-fi, 12 hours video, 127 hours audio playback)
Operating system: Android 4.4.2 KitKat
For a tablet with the prefix "Pro" in the name, and not the lowest price, the accessories are rather poor. In a cardboard box imitating wood, we will find only a device, a charger, a USB cable and instructions.
However, given the fact that we bought a tablet and not a box, we quickly move on.
One thing you can't help but notice in Tab Pro 8.4 is its 100% identity with the vast majority of Samsung's flagship products, including not only tablets, but also smartphones.
On the one hand, it can be pleasant, but on the other hand, it can be boring. Some buyers who already have some Samsung device, probably, they will be glad that they do not have to re-learn and master the device, as well as tame to its appearance.
The frames, especially the side ones, take up very little space, and the top and bottom are among the thinnest in their class, which is not an empty sound, but at the same time necessary additions.
Webcam, light sensor and manufacturer's logo, perhaps everything that is located at the top. Compared to Samsung phones, there were not enough front speakers.
There are three buttons on the bottom. The middle one - input / long press - Google Now, and the other two, located at a fairly large distance from the center of the device, are capacitive. Left button takes us to the multitasking menu, and the right one is the classic "Back" button. At the same time, both are illuminated and, after pressing, are activated by a soft, but embossed vibration.
Beneath the tempered glass slab, the frame surfaces are made from a material that is very pleasing to the eye. On the one hand, it seems to be matte, but upon closer inspection, you can see the graininess.
The edges of the device, made exactly as in Note 3 - made of plastic, artificial metal. The biggest advantage of the device is its thickness. Just 7.2 mm is a value that many will envy.
The side function buttons and connectors do not creak, causing a positive impression associated with the aesthetics of the entire tablet. Next to the speaker grilles, located at the bottom of the tablet, are the volume or power buttons, they look impressive, but at the same time not disgusting.
Only the IR port on the right edge, which stands out very clearly against the background of the frame, causes slight doubts, as well as a blank card microSD memory.
Behind, known to the vast majority, there is a (not) favorite plastic leather with plastic inserts. Fortunately, it does not give a bad impression of contact with the device, partly making it easier to hold, and from a distance it seems quite elegant. All the time, though, just like on the Note 3, we can't help but realize that the bezels are just pretending, that they're made from materials they're trying to imitate. Or that serious problem? Most likely no.
The appearance of the "leather" panels is violated only by the camera lens and flash, as well as the standard manufacturer's logo and a few additional signs.
And although in appearance in the Samsung Galaxy Tab Pro 8.4, it’s not easy to fall in love right away, but then it’s hard not to fall in love with it. Simple and versatile, maybe even "Pro" as the name suggests.
Everyone knows that the display is one of its main advantages - the tablet. The fantastic resolution of 2560 x 1600 pixels makes the pixel density on the device almost 400 per inch. Distinguishing at least one of which is almost impossible, even for the most stubborn, and even the text, when the image is enlarged, remains completely smooth and beautiful.
The same can be said, however, about graphics, movies and games. The amount of detail is simply huge, of course, after some time after the purchase, we will only look for an opportunity to admire it (and the content presented on the tablet screen).
The rest of the display parameters are not inferior in clarity. The backlight is very powerful and allows you to work even in difficult conditions, sensitivity and accuracy are unlimited, visibility at very wide angles is very good. The colors also look very attractive, though admittedly they could be a little more vibrant.
At the same time, 8.4 inches (combined with high resolution) is already a concern for the user, who can think of a little more complex work. Among the solutions proposed by Samsung, there was one that was especially useful - the ability to simultaneous launch multiple applications in windows.
There are two modes available. In the first, more streamlined, two programs can be presented on the display at the same time, whether in horizontal or vertical viewing mode. In addition, in a convenient and fairly wide range, we can scale their width / height (depending on the location of the tablet), so that the window for the new site can already be away from the browser, etc.
The second mode, in which we can enable three applications, can cause certain problems in the long run. First, the lack of any tools that make it easier to scale windows. Hot corners are not marked and it's easy to get into the app in the background by moving it to the front.
In many cases, content inside windows, especially in a browser, when changing the width or height of the window does not work, and elegant scaling does not work at all. Everything shrinks or stretches, and even if you wait longer, it does not change the state of things and just looks ugly.
The nail in the coffin of this mode is the fact that if everything works properly in two applications, the activation of the maximum third mode already causes a serious hiccup, which sometimes looks as if the program did not respond to the open command at all. We are not talking about powerful games now, we are talking, for example, about your browser, application, contacts and mail. I am glad that the delay does not always occur, but with intensive use, decidedly too often.
But the Tab Pro's excellent screen, in this case, works pretty well with two open windows, and when performing miserable tasks.
In addition, this has already been said, and there is nothing special to write about. You can only slightly boast of the performance of the volume and power buttons. They are relatively easy to find, and the click is just right.
The use of plastic elements in their devices has long been one of the main hot spots if we are talking about Samsung products. The Galaxy Tab 8.4 is no exception in this case, but once again I see no reason to specifically cling to this.
The tablet, despite this, creates a very pleasant and, above all, reliable impression. It is in vain to look for shoals of squeaks or glitches, even giving it a lot of attention. All elements work well, even considering that physically, center button minimum can be lifted to the side.
In addition, thanks to the use of different materials, Tab Pro with a 0.5-inch larger display has the same weight as the iPad mini Retina. And if we consider this as one of the most important parameters, then Tab Pro wins here.
When it comes to devices from the category of consumer electronics, which, despite their large size, should be as a model of mobility and comfort, even if held in one hand for a long time, then the Galaxy Tab Pro 8.4 is able to surprise. Holding it in one hand for a long time causes absolutely no effort.
Small thickness and weight, comfortable grip, rough surface of the back panel, easy access to the buttons. What more can you ask for from a tablet, for which the biggest advantage is precisely the combination of a large screen with smaller dimensions.
Snapdragon 800, Adreno 330 and 2 GB don't impress anyone anymore, but it certainly doesn't. weak parameters. The vast majority of games and applications launch instantly and run so smoothly that there is nothing to complain about. A large number of minimized apps also don't slow down the Tab Pro.
But there are exceptions. The first is intensive multitasking using windows displayed simultaneously on the screen. The second is, unfortunately, the tablet screen. When navigating through the system menus, setup or whatever is perfectly smooth, but navigating through the widget interface tabs can cause stuttering. The solution that came to mind in the first place - eliminating what causes problems is simply impossible.
Sometimes it's almost imperceptible, sometimes it's almost non-existent or not at all, but sometimes the "dullness" can be incredibly annoying. Maybe it has to do with the update rate of the MULTIPLEX content, but in that case it had to be solved in a different way. As it stands, it's just hard to accept.
Other elements in this category can be defined as standard. 16 GB of which there is about 12 GB of free memory, and as for the heating of the device, it completely disappeared in normal mode and is only slightly felt, for example, during a long game. Does not interfere with the use of the device in any way.
Behind plastic panels, a lot of controversy is also caused by Samsung's author's overlay on Android - TouchWiz. The new, updated version is thankfully more pleasing to the eye and less annoying than it was a while ago.
However, this does not mean that it has become gloomy and boring. We are still amazed by the variety of pastel colors, although in the “flat” version it is all much lighter. The elegance of the whole device is still missing a lot, but at least we don't have the impression that we bought equipment for children (and young people).
I think a million add-ons and applications from Samsung will suffice for anyone, although this time, we must admit that many of them make sense and, most importantly, work.
Smart Stay, Smart Rotate, Smart Pause, One Gesture Screenshot, Mute, Vibrate Rollover Notification from tablet, and more convenient panoramic view of images. How can we do without all this, but if we take some time to study these supplements, one or more will probably be to our taste.
The same can be said about pre-installed applications. office suite"Hancom" may not be perfect, but for most people they are certainly enough. S Voice, Dropbox, Samsung Apps, Remote PC, WebEX, eMeeting, SideSync, Soundhunt, etc. should also be our favorites, because nothing will stop us from trying them.
Of course, we liked the Samsung keyboard, with three appearance options (full screen width, floating or fixed). Writing on it is quite convenient and fast, although it may seem strange that there should be a little more words in our language.
Unfortunately, although a lot of time has passed since the release of the first Android tablet, one can still get the impression that, despite the alterations of the manufacturers so far, this system is not completely designed for large screens. Many applications that are good and functional for smartphones look terrible when enlarged to fill 8.4 inches. Small fonts, small buttons, giant expanses of white space - that's why you don't want to use them yet.
Although the system works surprisingly stably and even applications do not “hang”, we have not yet managed to avoid the influence of errors that meet us already from the first launch of the device. Example? By default, the backlight hold time is set (I think so) to 15 or 30 seconds, which, of course, is not to complain about. On two different tablets Koreans, after cleaning to the factory settings, it disappeared, a rather specific error - the screen faded away almost immediately after the finger was taken off it.
By trial and error, it was possible to reach the point that the system simply did not load the "lower" parameters, the backlight time, showing them as "<>and treating it like… zero. Power Users, probably cope with this without problems, but let's give a PRO-class device a minus for this.
In this regard, the tablet may not be absolutely universal, but USB with MHL support and USB-host provides support for almost all usb flash devices. Bluetooth version 4.0 LE, and therefore allows the use of a wide range of peripherals. which are supported WiFi networks, with a large range and providing a stable connection. Infrared port for those who find a use for it. Without fantasy, but there is what you need, and it works as it should.
The same can be said about additional LTE connectivity. If we want, then with Pro 8.4, we can make calls and send SMS messages without any problems. At least in theory, because in practice, probably, few people will dare to do this.
Likewise with photographs. The small Tab allows you to shoot video in fairly good quality, but at the same time, it is certainly not a device designed for this. Keeping the tablet immobile (even despite the small mass) of the equipment for a long time is simply difficult, and photography itself is not very convenient.
The camera is also not the highest flights. At good conditions lighting copes, however, at least not to say that it is good. The colors are nice, the amount of detail is OK, and you should be happy with the results, but the darker the worse. Much worse.
Even in the evening light or in rooms where too much light does not penetrate, the details begin to merge into one shapeless mass, into a "grain", which becomes visible to the naked eye. With large close-up shots, there are also problems with AF, which does not work in the best light.
Video in 2K resolution and good games come in handy, still good sound quality from the built-in speakers. And although this is the case with Pro 8.4, perhaps far from brilliant, but quite like the volume - at a very high level. And while that might not be a big compliment, this compact tablet is more enjoyable to play than my laptop.
The location of the speakers on the bottom of the device has one serious drawback. Although in films computer games(most often, we will hold it horizontally, leaving at least one speaker uncovered, while surfing the Internet, most likely we will hold it like a smartphone - vertically). If we keep it in the air, this is normal, although it is very far from true stereo.
However, if you lean it on your knees or stomach, it is easy to guess what happens to the sound.
Of the manufacturer's three run times on a single charge - up to 10 hours of web browsing, 12 hours of video watching and 127 hours of music listening - only this last one seems to be real.
Let us begin, however, to use it more intensively, and already these results are clearly weaker. Browsing the web, even with a screen with automatic backlight control active, will drain in a good case after 6-7 hours, more often than not, this result will be closer to the first of these two values.
When watching a video with success, you can subtract another hour from this, and when playing a game, two or even two and a half. Of course, such results are also obtained in the process of natural exploitation, synchronization in the background, by several programs. By removing everything, it may well be possible to get closer to the declared figures, but it is well known that no one uses a tablet like that.
Unfortunately, Samsung did not decide to use any technologies in this fast charging- filling time from zero and almost always at 3 hours.
Although, of course, it could always be better.
Okay, discreet appearance
Good workmanship
Convenient for everyday use
Very compact despite the screen size
small mass
shiny screen
Reasonable price
Very good performance in 95% of cases
A set of required communication standards
Interesting additions, in particular in the form of support for multiple applications in windows
Not good powerful battery
No S-Pen support
Deception of body materials
2 years ago 0
I haven't seen anything better yet. I think that many characteristics of the device are clear to everyone. Excellent battery (see comments), light weight and stylish design ( back cover made with imitation leather trim in the same way as on the flagship Samsung Galaxy Note 3), Android latest version 4.4.2 Kit Kat. The screen is great, the processor's huge performance is evident, the Wi-Fi works great, the camera is excellent quality, especially for a tablet, the sound in the headphones is the same as on my laptop - excellent quality, memory card slot, interface, including dual window mode, works like clockwork. In general, everything works, nothing slows down. When playing video, the tablet does not heat up, I would not be able to distinguish it from being turned off. And what else, in fact, to expect from Samsung in a premium class device.
2 years ago 0
1.Excellent screen. 2.Sufficiently powerful processor. 3. Good battery. 4. Possibility of memory expansion up to 64 GB. 5. Relatively low price. 6.Beautiful design.
2 years ago 0
Other users have already described here all its advantages.
2 years ago 0
Of course, the screen: with such a resolution, watching movies and playing is a pleasure, the processor, the battery (with energy saving 2 days at an average load), the build quality is on top, the camera.
2 years ago 0
Gorgeous bright and very clear screen - Decent performance - Nice design - Very comfortable dimensions - Pleased with the physical home button - Surprisingly decent front camera with flash - Good battery life when watching movies
2 years ago 0
good tablet. Excellent screen (good screen resolution)
2 years ago 0
Everything is very worthy, the memory is as stated, freely 1870m. The overall rating in parrots is 34500, wifi is not super, but quite decent, the navigator pleased, I was afraid that it would slow down without a SIM card, but everything works very well, they surprised Google maps, they also work without a SIM card on satellites. The toys are comfortable, I enjoyed it. Inet and video are on the level, there were no problems with this and in earlier gadgets.
2 years ago 0
High processor performance Adreno 330 - tanks fly at high A high resolution screen with a small diagonal Decent speakers Camera with flash, it is at the level of s3, Open support Support otg Excellent sound from headphones
2 years ago 0
Great widescreen, very clear good colors and high maximum brightness. Remains readable in the sun. The aspect ratio of the screen is ideal for watching videos and surfing the web. With a large screen, relatively small size and weight. In general, the tablet is very convenient, it is light, fits well in the hands, it is convenient to carry it in the pocket of the bag. The filling is powerful, all the games that I set went perfectly, without crashes and brakes. Video plays any, I use MX Player for this. There is support for the AptX codec, that is quality sound via Bluetooth. You can connect external devices via a USB-OTG adapter (not included). I connected the mouse and gamepad, everything worked.
2 years ago 0
screen, design, stuffing
2 years ago 0
The device has two non-obvious things: the Magazine UI shell and the use of the tablet as a control panel (see comments).
2 years ago 0
I did not notice any particular shortcomings. I want to highlight only one - the awkward placement of the speakers, which are closed with the palm of your hand when in a horizontal position.
Another controversial drawback is the camera. It is clear that in tablets it does not play a big role, but still.
2 years ago 0
The main disadvantage is that without LTE and WiFi it is a useless toy. It is also problematic to hold in hands in landscape orientation, without accidentally pressing the buttons with the right hand. You can hold it with one hand, but it is almost impossible to control it with one hand ( iPad Air Can). Very illiterate location of the speakers at the bottom. Everyone watches videos only in landscape orientation, not in portrait. And this means that the sound will only go to the right, which is very unpleasant. Well, the rest of the shortcomings: the average battery, the inability to install programs on memory cards, is quite heavy.
2 years ago 0
Touch With is the only and biggest drawback (when flipping home screens and minimizing applications, slowdowns are noticeable).
2 years ago 0
Inconvenient speaker placement (95 percent of the time I use the tablet in landscape orientation, the speakers are on the side)
2 years ago 0
In comments...
2 years ago 0
The biggest jamb, after a year of work, the battery does not hold, it resets by 85% and requires recharging, and I found out that this is not only with me, the repair gives 50% luck in curing the problem, but the repair is expensive.
2 years ago 0
High screen resolution with a small amount of RAM, it is impossible to free up more than 1 GB of RAM, a weak battery, a very energy-consuming processor, a soiled screen, it is difficult to disassemble
2 years ago 0
No significant shortcomings were found.
From the little things - the tablet has an infrared port, but I did not find an application that would work with it. I also didn’t really like the new additional desktops, this is a clear imitation of Windows 8, and in my opinion not very successful. True, it is easy to get rid of them, it is enough to install an alternative shell. There are minor flaws in the software, for example, the settings application crashed a couple of times. Most likely this will be fixed in updates.
2 years ago 0
battery, android from samsung
An all-round media tablet for Windows 10 fans.
Samsung has been playing for a long time, even longer the company introduces Windows laptops. Now, with the new Galaxy TabPro S, the South Korean electronics giant is introducing a competitor that is also looking to oust the market with a supercharged Windows 10.
The 12-inch tablet is extremely thin and boasts a very bright Super AMOLED display that will playfully push any competitor in the Windows device market. However, limited by Intel Core M-series processors and low memory headroom, it lags behind the best Windows tablets like the HP Specter x360. But perhaps not everything is so bad. Samsung Review Galaxy TabPro S more…
Galaxy TabPro S design
It's hard to find words to describe how incredibly thin this tablet is. Measuring only 6.3mm, the TabPro S is thinner than the Surface Pro 4 by a significant margin, and the same goes for iPad Pro 12.9.
You could easily confuse the TabPro S with Samsung Android tablets as it's almost as thin as the . The resemblance is striking, with similar shapes and minimalistic design, right down to the hump of the main camera on the back of the tablet.
Of course, the main difference is the processor inside the TabPro S and Windows 10 on the screen where you might expect Android.
The Windows tablet, unfortunately, doesn't use a unibody magnesium body like its Tab S2 counterpart. Instead, the new Galaxy TabPro S has a magnesium frame and plastic back panel. Materials aside, the 12-inch tablet feels sturdy and light enough to hold upright for hours on end.
The framing is a little let down, a little more than optimal by today's standards, especially with the side frames, which are about 2 centimeters. However, this is forgivable as these panels help to hold the tablet without affecting the touch screen.
Bad contact
And while the Samsung Galaxy TabPro S we reviewed left the impression of being a thin and beautiful Windows device, the bundled keyboard was too flimsy to hold this 12-inch behemoth upright.
Like most tablet covers, the keyboard is a foldable case with a tablet inside. It uses magnets built into both sides of the case, as well as a magnetic anchor above the keyboard.
On one side, a pliable, segmented panel covers the back of the tablet and offers support. On the other side of the tablet, meanwhile, is a magnetic strip above the keyboard and slanted clips designed to hold the tablet at a 115- or 155-degree angle.
The tilt of the screen between those two corners is annoying, especially when you have to carefully separate the tablet from the magnetic case so the whole thing doesn't fall apart. No matter how careful you are, you'll quickly realize that the thin back of the case just isn't strong enough to hold your tablet in place.
The back cover often slips out of the retaining part, causing the tablet to fall on its back, I had to repeatedly catch it before it hit the floor. You can also forget about using the keyboard with the tablet lying down when the screen tilts towards the keyboard, as it just falls forward and falls flat on the keyboard.
And while these magnets are strong enough to hold a 10-inch Android tablet, the situation looks very different with a larger 12-inch device. In particular, with the review Galaxy TabPro S, the process resembles the motion sickness of a child who cannot hold his own head.
The ultimate failure of this case is that you can't tuck the keyboard behind the tablet to use it purely as a Windows touch tablet. Such an attempt can cause the tablet to go to sleep, thanks to the magnet built into the bottom segment of the panel that covers the back of the tablet.
It appears to be a design flaw, which means you'll have to completely separate and stow the keyboard to the side if you want to use the Samsung Galaxy TabPro S as a tablet.
As for the keyboard itself, it feels surprisingly roomy, thanks to the excellent size of the individual keys and their positioning relative to the tablet. However, it lacks the media buttons that I would like to see, the keyboard follows a traditional pattern, so anyone will feel comfortable.
In the end, the keyboard feels very unusual as it lies perfectly flat on whatever surface you place the tablet on. Most hybrid devices use a mount that tilts the keyboard slightly for more comfortable typing. The Galaxy TabPro S doesn't offer anything like that, as its keyboard is more like a Type Cover for a Surface Pro.
The plastic trackpad is remarkably compliant, offering precise cursor movements and good scrolling, if it could be better, it's only marginally better. In addition, you should be attentive to the cleanliness of your hands, since the keyboard attracts dirt, and the place under the wrists is also rubbed.
Measuring 291 x 199 x 6.3 mm and weighing 693 grams, new samsung The Galaxy TabPro S is an extremely compact Windows tablet. The keyboard adds up to a centimeter of thickness and adds significant weight, up to 1.09kg, but even in combination the tablet is still lighter than most ultrabooks.
For comparison, Microsoft Surface Pro 4 is a tablet, weighing 785 grams. Add a keyboard to it and the Microsoft tablet will grow up to 1.07 kg, only a hair lighter than Samsung.
On its own, the TabPro S is even lighter than the 12.9-inch iPad Pro (710 grams). In terms of thickness, Samsung effortlessly comes out on top as performance oriented Apple tablet measured 6.9mm in thickness.
Equipped with the components shown above, the Galaxy TabPro S will set you back $899 (about $63,000). This price also includes a keyboard, which is great considering the lack of it in competitors from Microsoft and Apple.
Priced at Rs 63,000, the Surface Pro 4 comes in the same configuration, except better resolution 12.3" display (2736 x 1824) with PixelSense technology. You will have to purchase the Type Cover keyboard separately for $129 (9,000 rubles), in the box you will find only a tablet.
Speaking of Apple, you'll be shelling out $949 (about $66,000) for a 128GB iPad Pro with fewer accessories supplied, limited to just the essential charging cable and adapter. If you want it, it will cost you $169 (about $12,000) and also $99 ($7,000).
From a purely mathematical standpoint, the Samsung Galaxy TabPro S comes out on top. This is a flagship tablet that offers decent specs with big screen in a thin but durable case. Samsung offers its 12-inch Windows tablet as a cost-effective alternative to the competition.
And while the TabPro S is incredibly thin, it's also powerful, thanks to Intel processors Core M3. The processors in this series can easily handle daily work in Microsoft Word and Google Doc, will survive vigorous web exploration, and of course handle chat windows full of GIF animations with ease.
You won't be able to fully enjoy heavy games if you limit yourself to card Solitaire and Hearthstone. But the streaming service Xbox One and the ability to run light PC games promise to remedy the situation.
Galaxy TabPro S Benchmarks
In benchmark tests, the Samsung Galaxy TabPro S tablet performed as follows:
Looking at the raw performance numbers, it's time to be surprised, the Galaxy TabPro S sits at the very bottom of the performance chain. On GeekBench tests, for example, the iPad Pro scored over 5472, while the Surface Pro 4 (Intel Core i5) performed even better with a score of 6649.
Of course, numbers are not everything. While the iPad Pro was faster in one test, it's still limited to apps designed for iOS. However, the Surface Pro 4 and TabPro S do not suffer from these limitations and can run desktop programs such as AutoCAD and Adobe Premier.
However, programs will run much more comfortably on Microsoft tablets thanks to advanced processors i5 and significantly better integrated graphics.
Galaxy TabPro S screen and speakers
OLED panels are becoming the norm on laptops this year, so having Super AMOLED on the TabPro S is a unique and welcome addition. This is an ultra-bright panel that won't be damaged by the sun and glare while the wearer renders the photo's lush blue tones.
The extremely high contrast of the Galaxy TabPro S panel affects all areas of the image, making the picture more voluminous and the text sharper. Like most other 12-inch tablets, Samsung offers 2K resolution (2160 x 1440 pixels). That's slightly above traditional 1080p, and while the extra resolution is very useful, it doesn't hurt the Samsung tablet's battery or performance.
The speakers on this tablet were also an unexpected revelation. Even though they point sideways rather than forward, they still offer crisp and loud sound for music and video playback. And while they can't offer punchy bass, the stereo speakers did a decent job of voicing scenes from the second season of Daredevil.
Galaxy TabPro S battery life
The Samsung Galaxy TabPro S offers surprisingly long battery life considering its extremely thin design. The 12-inch tablet lasted an impressive 4 hours and 40 minutes on PCMark 8 battery tests. It then lasted 6 hours and 6 minutes on our looped video tests (Guardians of the Galaxy) at 50% screen brightness and 50% volume.
When it comes to streaming services, we can expect better performance in the long term. During extended Netflix playback, for example, the Galaxy TabPro S we reviewed scored 10.5 hours of battery life. Thanks to Samsung's fast charging technology, you can get your tablet back up and running in 2 hours and 30 minutes.
In comparison, the Microsoft Surface Pro 4 lasted only 5 hours and 15 minutes, although the reason may be a faulty firmware from Microsoft for a test version of the tablet that came to us for review. On the other hand, the iPad Pro lasted six hours, which is much closer.
Overall, by today's standards, Samsung's tablet doesn't offer amazing results, but it's still a great result for 12-inch tablets available today.
Complete software
Samsung has a reputation for being the go-to virus PC purveyor, thanks to its vast array of little "S" apps on Android tablets. But the manufacturer has cleaned up the number of pre-installed applications - they are all useful in their own way.
Rootstock totals
The Samsung Galaxy TabPro S is an ambitious device that aims to topple the title-holding iPad Pro on Windows 10. It's worth noting that Samsung has achieved this goal, to say with some respect.
It's not just one of the Windows 10 tablets, it's the thinnest and most premium tablet I've used. Add an affordable price, in any case, against the background of competitors. And while the tablet is great for day-to-day use as a standalone tablet, we hope that Samsung or third-party accessory makers can come up with a better keyboard, much needed for a clean work experience.
We liked
You can't ignore how thin this 12-inch tablet is. You could easily mistake it for an Android tablet if it wasn't for Microsoft's OS on the device.
Samsung has used its years of experience in tablet development to take the Windows untrodden path with a bright screen, powerful speakers, offline work and reliability.
We didn't like it
There's nothing wrong with the Galaxy TabPro S, but standard keyboard, which comes in the box, overshadows the user experience of this 12-inch tablet. The keyboard is too wobbly and the trackpad behavior leaves a lot to be desired, so third-party keyboards would be welcome.
In this case, Samsung's expertise in Android tablet development is a double-edged sword. And while Samsung is building on the success of Windows tablet designs, the keyboard case that worked so well on the stellar Android tablets just can't replace a laptop.
Final word
The Samsung Galaxy TabPro S really blew me away. Without many words, best tablet on Windows 10 to watch videos and read online. This is not surprising given the company's stellar history in the Android tablet market.
However, the keyboard case becomes an important disadvantage. It handles well when you take the tablet out of the bag and set it on a flat table, but it is too unstable to safely use the accessory on your lap. Plus, you need a place to store your keyboard whenever you want to use the TabPro S in pure tablet form.
