Could this be the best Android tablet on the market?
People like small tablets. The Nexus 7 started the trend; the iPad mini proved it wasn’t just an Android thing; and the new Samsung Galaxy Tab S 8.4 could be the very best ‘small tablet’ around.
Like the iPad mini with Retina display, it favours a slightly larger 8-inch screen (8.4-inch to be precise) to the seven inches of the Nexus 7. And as the LG G Pad 8.3 reminded us, it’s a size that works perfectly for a small tablet. Unlike any of the above, the Samsung Galaxy Tab S 8.4 has a truly stunning Super AMOLED screen.
Samsung Galaxy Tab S 8.4: Screen
Like its larger sibling, the Galaxy Tab S 10.5, the Tab S 8.4 has a Super AMOLED screen with a super-sharp 2,560 x 1,600 resolution. Of course, on this smaller display it’s even sharper with 359 pixels per inch of screen space. It doesn’t look quite as sharp as the iPad mini’s LCD screen due to the PenTile sub-pixel arrangement, but this is a minor issue.
Another minor issue is the slight tendency to oversaturate colours. This is a common trait among AMOLED screens and the Galaxy Tab S 8.4 isn’t immune. But, like the Galaxy S5, it’s far less dramatic than on OLED screens of old, and the benefits of AMOLED far outweigh this weakness.
The benefit is the hugely impressive black level. Put even a good LCD next to this AMOLED screen and the quality and purity of blacks is immediately obvious. Samsung claims a contrast ratio of 100,000:1 (100x more than typical LCDs) and I don’t doubt this figure.
The result is photos and video that really impress with their richness, depth and quality. Web pages benefit, too. It’s an outstanding screen.
Samsung Galaxy Tab S 8.4: Design
Samsung has upped its game in the design department, too. That’s mainly thanks to the metal, curved edges, which make the Tab S 8.4 look and feel far classier than any Samsung tablet or phone I’ve seen to date.
This difference apart, the Galaxy Tab S is really a very large Galaxy S5. It has the same ‘dimple’ effect rear, and this dovetails very nicely with the new metal trim – the latter is a huge improvement on the nasty plastic accents on the S5.
This means you also get the S5’s fingerprint scanner, though it's a mixed blessing given how unreliable it proved on that phone – I didn’t have the opportunity to see if it’s any better here.
Size and weight are the Galaxy Tab S 8.4’s true strengths, though. It measures just 6.6mm and weighs just 294g. You can hold it very comfortably in one hand, making it perfect for reading and web browsing on the move.
The two case/cover options are nice, too. The Simple cover covers just the screen, while the Book Cover protects the rear too and offers three different viewing angles. I’m not mad about the ‘clicker’ mechanism for fastening them – it’s basically like a popper on a jacket – as it’s fiddly, but this shouldn’t prove too bothersome unless you feel the need to remove the case often.
Samsung Galaxy Tab S 8.4: Specs
This is top-spec tablet. There’s a Snapdragon 800 processor (or a Samsung Exynos 5 in some regions), 3GB of RAM, 802.11ac, Bluetooth 4.0, microSD card support up 128GB and plenty more. That includes an 8.1-megapixel camera with LED flash, a 2.1MP front-facing camera, and there will be an LTE version in addition to Wi-Fi only ones.
The fact none of this sounds hugely impressive is merely a mark of how much we take for granted now – the Galaxy Tab S 8.4 has every conceivable feature it needs and it has more than enough processing power on tap to get things done quickly.
Blacks don't get better than OLED blacks
First Impressions
Samsung has produced a very promising tablet in the Galaxy Tab S 8.4. The size is right, the design is right and screen is a stunner. Provided the price is reasonable, this is an Android tablet that can really take the fight to the iPad mini 2.
The Galaxy Tab S 8.4 goes on sale in July. Its price is still to be confirmed.
Next, read our best tablets round-up