Why You Can Trust CNET Samsung Galaxy Tab S2 showcases sharp design in two sizes (hands-on)
Korean giant Samsung has gone big on design with its new tablets -- the Tab S2 is sheathed in metal and comes in 8- and 9.7-inch sizes.
Samsung's latest metal-framed Galaxy Tab S2 tablet comes in two familiar sizes, 8 and 9.7 inches, and is slimmer and lighter than its predecessor, the Galaxy Tab S. The Korean electronics giant claims its slates are the "thinnest and lightest tablet of its size ever," and certainly, the tablet impressed me with its build quality and light weight during my hands-on session with both versions.
The tablet is out now in Singapore and will be available in the US starting September 3rd, with pre-orders starting today. Below you'll find the retail pricing for both models in Singapore, Australia and the US, which should give you a good indication of what the tablets will sell for when it hits the UK (these are approximate converted amounts).
Shop for Samsung Galaxy Tab S2 - tablet - Android 6.0 (Marshmallow) - 32 GB - 8"
See all pricesTab S2 models & pricing
| Model | Singapore | US | UK | AU |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Samsung Galaxy Tab S2 8.0 (Wi-Fi) | S$598 | $399 | £280 | AU$499 |
| Samsung Galaxy Tab S2 8.0 (4G+) | S$698 | N/A | £330 | AU$649 |
| Samsung Galaxy Tab S2 9.7 (Wi-Fi) | S$698 | $499 | £330 | AU$599 |
| Samsung Galaxy Tab S2 9.7 (4G+) | S$798 | $599 | £375 | AU$749 |
Samsung's Galaxy Tab S2 is a beautiful tablet that comes in two sizes (pictures)
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Editors' note: This post was updated to include US pricing and availability, as well as video and new photos.
Design
The Tab S2 eschews the large 10.5-inch screen of the original and opts for a more familiar size with 8- and 9.7-inch screens instead, the same as the iPad Air and iPad Mini. The home button has also shifted to where the iPad's home button is and unsurprisingly, the Samsung home button is also a fingerprint scanner.
Familiar button layout and screen sizes aside, the Tab S2 does look different from the iPad. It's unabashedly a Samsung product, beautifully designed and you'll not mistake the design of the tablet for anything else.
The slate is just 5.6mm (0.22 inch) thick, and weighs either 389 grams (13.7 ounces) for the 9.7-inch version and 265 grams (9.3 ounces) for the 8-inch model. It's incredibly light, especially the 8-inch Tab S2, and the weight is evenly distributed, so I hardly felt the strain even when holding it with one hand.
The rear sports a patterned texture, which makes for a good grip. While it's plastic, it doesn't feel cheap and helps when you're holding up the tablet for a long time while reading with it.
Hardware and software
Both tablets use Samsung's own Super AMOLED display, and the resolution of both screens match Apple's iPad at 2,048x1,563 pixels. Samsung has also added a few software tweaks to enhance the user experience with the tablet. The Tab S2 features an adaptive display that's capable of adjusting gamma, saturation and sharpness as well as color temperature based on the app running and the ambient lighting. There's also a special reading mode that helps to keep the eyes comfortable and avoiding eye strain by adjusting the brightness levels.
Other software features include multitasking and Quick Connect, which works with Samsung Smart TVs to let you easily watch TV on the tablet. The tablets run Android Lollipop 5.0.2 and like newer Samsung devices, such as the Galaxy S6 and A8, come with the Galaxy Life app, which offers lifestyle deals such as discounts for restaurants or spa treatments.
On the hardware side of things, both versions of the tablet are powered by Samsung's own Exynos 7 Octa processor, which has a clock speed of 1.9GHz and packs 3GB of RAM and 32GB of onboard storage. The 9.7-inch Tab S2 comes with a 5,870mAh embedded battery, while the 8-inch Tab S2 has a smaller 4,000mAh cell.
In the US, only the 9.7-inch model will be available from AT&T, Sprint, US Cellular, though both tablets support the 4G standard Cat 6 LTE, which allows for speeds of up to 300Mbps. It will work with Three and EE in the UK. The tablet will support all GSM networks and future models are sure to support local networks.
In Australia both sizes of the 4G S2 will be available from all major telecommunications providers from September 15.
Outlook
Samsung has made a pretty interesting tablet, and aping its main competitor's sizes seems to have paid off to some extent. That's not to say Samsung didn't include its own touches in the form of better reading modes and a design that's recognisably "Samsung." I expect there will be some interest for this new tablet, especially given the fact that new iPads are still a few months away.
