MEGATech Videos: Hands-On with Samsung Galaxy Tab S

Do you remember when the original Samsung Galaxy S smartphone launched four years ago? It came in a few different variations, but the one thing they had in common was that Super AMOLED display. That technology has finally made the migration over to the bigger screened world of tablets in the form of the Samsung Galaxy Tab S. Announced earlier this month, it ships in both 8.4-inch and 10.5-inch variations.

Aside from the screen size and the battery capacity, the two variants of the Samsung Galaxy Tab S are otherwise identical. We had the opportunity to get some hands-on time with these new tablets and there were two things that struck me right away. First, that 2560 x 1600 pixel Super AMOLED display is pretty fantastic. Some people may not be fans of the higher level of saturation typical of Samsung’s Super AMOLEDs, but that’s a matter of personal preference. Photos and videos really pop here and there’s even an auto-magic button to further enhance your videos based on the video content, the app being used and the ambient lighting conditions.

The second thing that struck me was just how thin the Galaxy Tab S is. We’re splitting hairs, but that 6.6mm profile is actually noticeable in your hands. The Galaxy Tab S also carries through many of the design cues and features that we see in devices like the Galaxy S5 smartphone. You get an IR blaster, a fingerprint scanner, and a microSD card slot good for up to 128GB of storage beyond the 16GB of internal space. You also get a number of free “gifts” from Samsung, including a 50GB subscription to Dropbox, a one-year subscription to the Globe and Mail newspaper, and a 2-month subscription to Next Issue.

Samsung is accompanying the launch of the Galaxy Tab S with a range of suitable accessories, meant to maintain the thin and light design of the tablet itself. Instead of using magnets, these covers snap into place with the two circular “buttons” on the back of the tablets themselves. I personally find those circles take away from the otherwise clean appearance of the Galaxy Tab S.

Moving forward, it will be interesting to see how the Galaxy Tab S slots in with its stablemates, like the Galaxy NotePRO, Galaxy Tab 4, and Galaxy Tab Pro lines. In any case, watch the hands-on video below for a closer look at the Samsung Galaxy Tab S 8.4 and 10.5. We have one in the labs too, so keep your eyes peeled for a fuller review in the days and weeks to follow.