Samsung Galaxy Tab S2: the thinnest flagship tablet in the world. Comparison of Samsung Galaxy Tab S2 and Galaxy Tab S Samsung Galaxy tab s2 tablets

Contents of delivery:

• Tablet
• Charger with USB cable
• Instructions

Specifications

• Android 5.0.2, update to 5.1.1 soon, TouchWiz shell, like on Samsung Galaxy S6/Note 5
• Screen 7.9 inches, SuperAMOLED, 2048x1536 pixels (326 ppi), 4:3 geometry, automatic backlight adjustment, maximum brightness outdoors for text readability (auto mode), additional screen adjustment modes;
• Chipset Exynos 5433 (as in Note 4), 8 cores up to 1.9 GHz, MALI T760
• 3 GB RAM, 16 GB internal memory, memory cards up to 128 GB
• Bluetooth 4.1, Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band
• LTE support
• Fingerprint sensor
• GPS/GLONASS
• Li-Ion 4000 mAh battery, HD video playback time up to 12 hours (maximum brightness), gaming about 6 hours
• Weight – 265/272 grams (Wi-Fi/LTE), dimensions – 134.8 x 198.6 x 5.6 mm

Positioning

The Tab S line is the flagships from Samsung, which were created to directly compete with the iPad, the company never hid this, moreover, when introducing the first generation of Tab S in the USA, they presented the iPad so that anyone could compare the quality of the screens and their differences. It is clear that the screen is not the only parameter for choosing such a device, but they differ like heaven and earth, the difference is visible to the naked eye, we even had a detailed analysis of the differences between these devices and their screens.

Samsung's ideology has always been to give the iPad more technology and capabilities for the price, to present the most technologically rich device possible. Not forgetting its convenience. In the Tab S2, the story is completely repeated with one difference - the tablet market has dropped significantly over the past year, and this applies to all major manufacturers, including Apple. Therefore, Samsung focused on updating the line without introducing any new, sensational features. The goal was to make flagship tablets that would be convenient for daily use, become the most powerful devices on the market in terms of performance (in the Android segment at least), and at the same time offer high-quality cameras plus good operating time.

The positioning of this device is typical for flagships - everything is without compromise, it contains the best components, the most productive solutions. For geeks, it’s a shame that the tablet is built on the same platform as the Note 4; with some stretch, they can be called twin brothers. But we must remember that Note 4, which appeared almost a year ago, was 1.5-2 years ahead of the market. Even today, there are no similar solutions from other companies, which makes this device the best in its segment. In short, if you are looking for the most powerful tablet, with the best screen and camera, without regard to its cost, then the Galaxy Tab S2 will certainly be among your options. And this will be one of the priority options.

Design, dimensions, control elements

Externally, the tablet turned out to be different from the first Tab S. The screen geometry is different, the frame, like in Note 4, around the body, it is made of metal, with a polished edge. Moreover, the edge is only on the front surface, and the back is plastic - the tablet is comfortable to hold in your hands, it does not slip.

For most consumers, a flagship must be made of metal, although this is not always convenient or correct. When struck, the metal hits the glass that protects the screen, but the plastic does not deform the body in this way. The question of what a manufacturer should use, plastic or metal, has long turned into a philosophical one. But in practice, the difference is noticeable with constant use of the devices - for example, the Tab S2 weighs only 272 grams (for the LTE version, the version with Wi-Fi weighs even less - 265 grams), while the iPad Mini weighs 341 grams. Minimal difference? How to look. If you pick up the tablet from time to time, you won’t see any differences. But if you play or watch a movie, then the Tab S2 will be more comfortable; it does not pull on your hand and does not feel in it. A child can easily hold it.

The thickness of the device is a parameter in which every manufacturer exercises, in Tab S2 the thickness is 5.6 mm (iPad 7.5 mm). It is very thin, but this parameter does not affect the characteristics in any way. Thin and delicate, after all, thinness is visually pleasing, in the hands it does not make a big difference. The dimensions of 134.8 x 198.6 x 5.6 mm are excellent for this type of device.

During the trip, I got so used to the fact that the tablet was light and small that I became addicted to carrying it in the side pocket of my shorts, where I couldn’t feel it at all. An attempt to put the iPad there failed; it was noticeably heavier and hit my leg when moving.

The back wall is made of soft-touch plastic, it hardly gets dirty, does not scratch, and is pleasant. The camera lens protrudes, but this is normal for such models. There are two “buttons” on the case for installing a branded case, some may find them superfluous, like me, I don’t wear cases on tablets, preferring to wear them that way.

At the bottom end you can see two speakers, this is not a scam, there are physically two of them, and they sound quite loud. The location of the speakers on one side of the body is not indisputable; I would like to see them spaced apart. But the sound does not suffer in most situations; it is impossible to cover both speakers with your hand. In terms of volume, the tablet clearly outperforms the iPad, however, the sound quality is higher.

At the same end there is a microUSB connector, as well as a microphone. The tablet has two microphones, they are needed for the noise reduction system to work. Let me remind you that the tablet can be used like a regular phone, with or without a headset.

On the left side there is a paired volume key, a power button, just below there is a slot for a nanoSIM card (the choice of this card format is surprising and questionable), as well as a slot for memory cards.

On the front panel, under the screen, there is a physical key exactly in the middle, and two touch keys on the sides. Due to the size, it is convenient to work with the keys, no problems arise.

The build quality of the device is a plus, there are no problems. The downside is that due to the thickness of the model, it was necessary to sacrifice the usual Corning Gorilla Glass 4 coating; here there is a “light” version with a thinner outer layer. As a result, the screen quickly becomes covered with small scratches. You can only see them when they are turned off; it is, of course, impossible to feel them with your fingers.

The tablet can be bought in black or white, below you can see what the white device looks like, it is no less interesting than the black one that I reviewed.

Screen

In order to understand how high-quality the screen is on the Tab S2, you need to look at it in real life. This is perhaps the best tablet screen that exists today. Here are its technical characteristics - 7.9 inches, SuperAMOLED, 2048x1536 pixels (326 ppi), 4:3 geometry. Now let's talk about what he can do in practice.

Let me start with the fact that these weeks I often flew a DJI Phantom 3 quadcopter, and in order to watch video from it in real time (transmits at a distance of up to 2 kilometers in HD quality), I installed a Galaxy Tab S2. A little trick, in the settings you need to set automatic brightness adjustment, then the maximum backlight brightness will increase twice as much as the standard one when the tablet realizes that it is outside. In direct sunlight, the picture remained fully readable; there was no need to look for a shadow. The photograph does not convey this; it seems that the screen has faded, but in real life it is readable.

Now let's talk about why SuperAMOLED is criticized for having too bright colors. In the settings, you can choose one of five operating modes (adaptive is the default, Movie AMOLED, Photo AMOLED, basic, for reading).

In principle, it’s worth choosing the adaptive mode; it perfectly adjusts the picture to the displayed content, plus it processes external lighting conditions. That is, the adaptive mode itself will turn on the reading settings, realizing that you are reading a book or page in the browser.

But if you don’t want to trust this mode, you can customize everything for yourself. And then the colors will not be so aggressive or become muted, it all depends on you. Other tablets do not have such technologies or they are in their infancy; the iPad, for example, only recently became able to adjust the font size, and nothing similar to the technology described simply does not exist. You can't choose the screen color temperature on the iPad. Some may quite rightly say that this is not necessary on the iPad. This may be true for you. Most likely, you simply have not seen what a quality screen is, and therefore continue to consider the faded iPad screen to be acceptable. He is not bad in his class, but has long become average, nothing more.

I repeat that if the display was excellent in the Tab S, then in the second version it became amazing. Good, clear picture, high brightness in the sun, pleasant viewing of photos and videos.

The screen geometry has become the same as in the iPad - 4:3. I like it less than 16:10, because I like to watch videos on my tablet. There are still black bars, just like on the iPad. But on the other hand, the picture quality overshadows everything. This is a tablet with the best screen on the market, as even ardent critics of all Samsung products admit (reluctantly or through gritted teeth).

Battery

The built-in Li-Ion battery has a capacity of 4000 mAh. At first glance, this is not much for a tablet; we are used to seeing batteries with a capacity of 5000-6000 mAh in such devices. But given the fact that it uses an energy-efficient chipset and a new screen option that consumes less than in previous models, the operating time in different modes has increased.

For example, when playing video in HD resolution (MX Player, hardware acceleration, AVI, maximum brightness), the operating time is about 12 hours. If you turn on automatic backlight adjustment or reduce the brightness, the operating time will increase to 13-14 hours. This is noticeably more than any tablet in this class. And if you take into account the weight and dimensions of the tablet, it can be considered a kind of record.

When using a SIM card in a tablet, when you make calls and write SMS, everything is not so rosy. It will work for a day or more with an average load (2 hours of screen, about an hour of calls). The cellular module eats up the battery quite quickly. If we limit ourselves only to data transfer, then everything will be typical for such devices, comparable to the same iPad - about 7-8 hours of operation. Here, for example, is how long my device worked when watching three episodes of a series (2 hours 15 minutes), working in other applications (half backlight brightness, automatic mode).

In games, you can achieve a maximum of 7-7.5 hours of work, which depends on the screen settings. But in games, the maximum number of cores is used, which negatively affects the operating time, the tablet noticeably warms up.

If you want maximum battery life, don't use Chrome; Samsung's browser is much more energy efficient. The difference in operating time will be almost double! As for me, Google urgently needs to do something about the energy efficiency of Chrome; it eats up the battery of mobile devices too quickly, although it is convenient in other aspects.

Traditionally, there is a power saving mode when you can limit processor performance, remove the backlight of touch keys, degrade animation, and so on. Unfortunately, in this mode you cannot select individual items, you can only enable them all at once. The nice thing is that you can set this mode to automatically turn on when the battery is discharged to a certain level (5, 15, 20, 50%).

In maximum power saving mode, the display turns gray and background data transfer is limited. This mode has no analogues from other companies and is directly related to the capabilities of the display.

The full battery charging time is about 3.5 hours (2A); fast charging mode, unlike the Note 4, is not supported. Overall, the Tab S2 is optimal in terms of operating time, if you remember its capabilities and performance.

Memory, memory cards, performance

The tablet uses the same processor that we saw in the Note 4 - Exynos 5433. This processor was way ahead of its time and offered a very high performance bar, it remains one of the best on the market. They don’t look for good from good, and for a tablet whose screen resolution is lower than that of Note 4, they decided to use it. Many expected that this would be a new generation of processor, but there was simply no need for it - it could only be needed when using high-resolution screens. The technical characteristics of the processor are as follows - 4 cores with a frequency of up to 1.3 GHz, 4 cores up to 1.9 GHz. Fast RAM (1066 MHz). However, look at the results of synthetic tests.

The built-in memory is 32 GB, you have about 24 GB of space available for your programs and data. You can install a memory card up to 128 GB, there is almost no difference in access speed, so applications stored on the card will work just as fast. There are versions of the tablet with 64 GB of internal memory, but they will not be supplied to Russia.

The amount of RAM is 3 GB, which is quite enough for any task. In the interface, the device works very quickly, there are simply no slowdowns.

Communication capabilities

Samsung has consistently abandoned the use of an infrared port to control household appliances; it was installed on most top models in 2014, including it can be found on the Tab S, but it is not here. Likewise, the tablet has lost NFC support, which is doubly offensive, since for most, the presence of this technology makes using the device more convenient (quick pairing with other phones or tablets with one touch).

Surprisingly, the Tab S2 will lack support for Samsung Pay (there is no separate chip for crypto-protection of transactions), but there is no point in worrying about this, since the technology is aimed only at the US market in 2015. You can only use a tablet for payments in the absence of NFC the old fashioned way.

Other strengths of Samsung tablets remain here: the Wi-Fi antenna is dual-band, works at 2.4/5 GHz, 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, traditionally there is Wi-Fi Direct. Bluetooth version 4.1.

GPS/GLONASS support is implemented well; the tablet turned out to be successful as a navigation device. BMW chose it as a standard navigator for its 7 Series model.

The radio module supports the following frequencies:

• LTE: 700/ 800/ 850/ 900/ 1800/ 1900/ 2100/ 2600
• 3G: 850/ 900/ 1900/ 2100
• 2G: 850/ 900/ 1800/ 1900

Here is a device that will easily work in LTE around the world.

Camera

If we approach it formally, the cameras have not changed in any way compared to the Tab S; the front one also has a resolution of 2.1 megapixels, the main one has 8 megapixels. But unlike the Tab S, the main camera doesn't have an LED flash. The front camera has become faster, as well as the main camera (f=1.9 versus 2.4 in the Tab S).

Look at sample images and the camera interface. I think you can see the similarities with the Galaxy S6. Photos look great on a tablet screen, noticeably better than their actual quality on a PC screen. The reason is the outstanding characteristics of the display, but not the camera; it is quite ordinary and inferior to most top-end smartphones on the market. On the other hand, this camera is one of the best for tablets, as you can easily see by looking at the comparison with the iPad Mini (right).

And this is how the tablet films in the evening and during the day, and also records video. It won’t be able to replace a top-end smartphone, but it’s quite good for everyday tasks.

Photo examples

Now I want to dwell on one of the features directly related to the camera and tablet performance. There is a 3D Capture program in the Samsung app store, it allows you to get three-dimensional images of objects. You press shoot, slowly walk around a stationary object, preferably at the same distance, and in a minute you have a model in front of you that can be rotated as you please, exported to other programs for editing three-dimensional images (file format .OBJ and also .MTL). The built-in editor allows you to clean up the image, remove the background, highlight individual zones, and it is quite advanced, covering all the possibilities that are needed. For most, this program will become a kind of toy, but someone will find the right use for it.

I was able to make a three-dimensional picture of the bread on a plate with my hands, it was like some kind of miracle. I immediately rotated the picture and showed my friends what happened. I tried to position the tablet motionless and rotate the plate, but no shooting happened - the tablet requires that it be rotated around the object.

I have always been amazed by technologies that become commonplace - ten years ago it was impossible to imagine that something like this would be in a mass device. This is what can be called high technology, and it is becoming publicly available. This tablet is a cheap way to produce 3D models. Of course, this raises the question of their detailing and quality. But for the mass consumer, this will definitely be the first encounter with such technology and the opportunity to use it.

Under no circumstances should you assume that 3D photography will be a feature that will attract attention to this product. It’s hard to believe, but this feature is unique, and other companies don’t have it (I haven’t seen it in any product). Of course, there are a dozen programs for iPad and Android that make 3D objects in .OBJ, but none of them are popular (maybe they are all niche?), and according to the description, the quality of the resulting files is not very good. I don’t presume to judge this; there will probably be those among the readers who have played with such programs and can evaluate their quality better.

Software Features

The model comes with Android 5.0.2, with an update to 5.1.1 coming soon. Inside is a lightweight TouchWiz that is completely or almost identical to what we see on the Galaxy S6. In the review of this phone, I examined in great detail all the pros and cons of this solution, focusing on all the little things. You can read about this in the review text.

Or watch a video using the Galaxy S6 as an example.

Just like with other flagship devices, you are offered free services and applications, for example, OneDrive from Microsoft gives you 100 GB of cloud storage upon registration. You can get a free subscription to various magazines, navigation and the like.

The multimedia capabilities of the tablet are excellent, it is omnivorous and digests most video formats (AC3 out of the box is not supported due to patent disputes, just install MX Player and everything will work).

I like the fact that you can download any files onto this tablet and immediately start watching and listening to them. As usual, maximum omnivorousness, no need to convert or download anything through a computer, everything is done from the device, it is completely independent.

Bookmarks have appeared in the file manager, you can open different pages and copy files from one page to another.

The fingerprint sensor works by touch, no problems.

Among the interesting features, I note that when working with Bluetooth, you can add “trusted devices” to the list. For example, this could be a speakerphone in a car. Then, when connected to such a device, the tablet will remain unlocked. At home, I set up a wireless speaker as such, and there is no need to put my finger on the sensor every time, the tablet is open.

There are quite a lot of such small features in the system, each of them means nothing, but together they make the device convenient. The LTE version supports nanoSIM and voice calls, as well as SMS, unlike the iPad, where a SIM card is needed only for data transfer.

You can love or hate TouchWiz, but the shell greatly complements standard Android, introducing convenient features, of which there are many.

Accessories for Tab S2

There is a standard set of accessories available for the tablet, including various wired and wireless headsets, but I would like to draw your attention to three accessories that are different from other models and are suitable only for this tablet.

Let's start with the Keyboard Cover, this is the cover in which the keyboard is built in, it is attached to magnets on the back surface. This accessory is not available for the 8-inch model, only for a tablet with a large diagonal, which may seem to some to be a sufficient reason to choose it.

At the same time, you can simply choose Book Cover, this is a regular cover that allows you to place a tablet to watch videos.

Finally, you can purchase the MT800 docking station, which has remained unchanged since the first generation of tablets and is familiar to us. This station has an HDMI connector with support for 4K video, two full-fledged USB connectors, microUSB, Ethernet - you can turn your tablet into a full-fledged computer.

Impression

I didn’t like the Tab S2 at all; it seemed like the tablet didn’t bring anything new, and its thinness was a tribute to fashion. In life, I changed my opinion to the opposite - it’s convenient to work with, and the screen is excellent, no one else has anything like it. I was especially pleased with the work outdoors, however, the ultra-bright backlight eats up the battery quickly, but on the same DJI quadcopter you can fly even on a summer afternoon, when the sun burns everything around and nothing is visible on the screens of other devices.

Even if you watch movies all day, your battery will last until the evening; in my normal mode, the tablet worked for about 2 days, which is not bad (the iPad runs out in a day). In a word, I liked the device, but not its price. It is clear that we need to stay on course, but still the flagship turned out to be expensive and not accessible to everyone - but should flagships be accessible to many? Question.

The Tab S2's competitor in Russia is the first generation of this tablet, primarily due to the fact that its old prices remain the same. However, let's compare. The price for the Wi-Fi version is about 21 thousand rubles, for the LTE version – about 23,000 rubles. The downsides are a smaller amount of internal memory (16 GB versus 32 GB), an older OS version, no update to 5.1.1 in the near future, a slightly worse screen with fewer operating modes. The operating time of the first Tab S is a little lower, but noticeably higher than that of all devices in this class. This line has become a kind of record holder for survivability thanks to the technical solutions used by the manufacturer.

The price for the Wi-Fi version of the 32 GB Tab S2 (SM-T710) is 31,990 rubles, for the 32 GB LTE version (SM-T715) – 35,990 rubles. The difference is simply radical, and the appeal of the first generation Tab S is greater from all points of view. You lose almost nothing by purchasing the previous model, but the savings are noticeable, enough for one or two more devices of a lower class.

Apple has no direct competitors to the Tab S2 yet, the new model has not been released, so we will have to compare it with the best offer that is now, this is the iPad Mini 3. It would have to be compared with the Tab S, they are classmates, but let's compare it with the Tab S2. The initial memory configuration for the iPad is 16 GB, it costs 26,990 and 35,990 rubles (Wi-Fi/LTE) in the official store. There is no 32 GB version, so it’s not possible to compare directly; the next 64 GB version costs 33,490 and 42,490 rubles. It turns out to be quite an interesting picture, if the LTE versions cost the same, but the Tab S2 has twice as much memory, plus there are memory cards, then Wi-Fi looks a little more expensive. The quality of the screens is incomparable; the Samsung model is a big winner. As well as in terms of operating time, weight and size, but many may like the fact that the iPad body is made of metal. As an owner of an iPad Mini, I can note that the Tab S2 is noticeably more convenient in everyday life; it wins in all respects. Anticipating the question of why I didn’t choose it or its predecessor - I’m not so wasteful as to change tablets every year, the old one does the job quite well. But the battery is starting to die a little, it’s possible that I’ll replace the old one with a new one in the coming months. When choosing a new tablet today, I would definitely compare the iPad Mini 3 and Tab S2, and then focus on the amount that I have.

In real life, the Tab S2 and iPad Mini 3 are completely different; they differ radically from each other. The aesthetics, the feel in the hand, the way you use these devices. In a word, look for yourself and decide what you like; no one can be your advisor here. An attempt to compare the Tab S2 with Android flagships from other companies is obviously doomed to failure. What other companies call flagships does not in any way technically correspond to this name - the models are weaker, just look at their screens and performance, they play in a different league. However, here it is quite fair to ask the question whether you need everything that the Tab S2 offers, or is it better to save money and buy something simpler rather than a flagship, but the answer to this question is again up to you.

I especially highlighted the review of the 8- and 9.7-inch models in different materials, as I said above. The difference between these models is fundamental: one is mobile and always accompanies you, the second is suitable for those who spend more time at home or carry a bag with them that can accommodate a folder for papers and, accordingly, the Tab S2 9.7. Functionally, these models are identical, only their perception, price and positioning differ, we’ll talk about this in the review of the older device. As for me, Samsung has turned out to be an excellent model, which has, perhaps, everything you expect from a flagship - the best screen on the market, excellent operating time, the ability to make and receive calls, SMS support and full-fledged LTE in any country in the world. The price is steep, but the previous generation of the device is even more attractive. This is a flagship without any discounts, we just have to wait for the fall and the next iPad Mini to see what Apple can do with this device. I'm afraid that the answer will only be iOS9 and an increase in RAM; there are no fundamental differences to be expected. This means that the Tab S2 will remain the most interesting device in terms of the combination of characteristics it has. But here the question is how committed you are to this or that platform, and this can be argued for a long time and without much result.

After Samsung revised the code names of its devices, the flagship models received the S index. Everyone knows smartphones in this series, and not so long ago the company began producing tablets. The first sign was the Samsung Galaxy Tab S devices, which received the best that the compositor had at that time and became a full-fledged competitor to the iPad.

One of the main competitors for the Apple iPad

Samsung Galaxy Tab S2 was a continuation of the series. The tablet has an almost standard display, a powerful processor, and a modern 4:3 screen format. Recent studies have shown that while previously users mostly watched movies, now they mostly read books and browse websites. This is what prompted the developer to create just such a format. So, we present to your attention a review of the Samsung Galaxy Tab S2 tablet.

Specifications

operating system	Android 5 Lollipop
Screen:	8 or 9.7 inches, SuperAMOLED, 2048 x 1536, 320 ppi, capacitive, multi-touch, glossy
CPU:	Samsung Exynos 5433, 8-core: 4 × 1.9 GHz + 4 × 1.3 GHz
GPU:	Mali-T760 MP6
RAM:	3 GB
Flash memory:	32 GB
Memory card support:	microSD (up to 128 GB)
Connectors:	microUSB + OTG, nano-SIM, 3.5 mm stereo
Camera:	rear (8 MP) and front (2.1 MP)
Communication:	Wi-Fi 2.4/5 GHz, Bluetooth 4.1, 3G/LTE, GPS, GLONASS
Battery:	9.7” - 5870 mAh 8.0” - 4000 mAh
Additionally:	accelerometer, fingerprint sensor, light sensor, proximity sensor, gyroscope, compass
Dimensions:	8.0” - 134.8 x 198.6 x 5.6 mm 9.7” - 169 x 237.3 x 5.6 mm
Weight:	8.0” - 265 g (Wi-Fi), 272 g (LTE) 9.7” - 389 g (Wi-Fi), 392 g (LTE)
Price:	from 26690 rubles

Contents of delivery

The manufacturer only supplies its flagship with a charger, a USB-microUSB cable for connecting to a computer, and a set of documents.

Design

The appearance of the Samsung Galaxy Tab S2 has one recognizable feature that makes it impossible to confuse it with a device from another company: the physical buttons on the front panel. One of them is a mechanical Home button with a built-in fingerprint sensor, while the other two are touch-sensitive. Otherwise, the tablet is similar to other models. However, it is difficult not to pay attention to the desire to inherit its main rival - the Apple iPad.

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S2 is available in two screen sizes - 8 and 9.7 inches. As already mentioned, the aspect ratio is 4:3, since the tablet is primarily positioned for business use and browsing. Samsung thought that this would be better, because compared to previous years, the disposal model for such devices has changed, and fewer users are viewing multimedia. And the new format adds 20% more space. By the way, the first tablet with such a screen was the Galaxy Tab A (read it).

In addition to the buttons, which are located on the narrow part of the tablet, there is a camera and a brightness adjustment sensor on the front surface. The display of the Samsung Galaxy Tab S2 is framed by narrow frames, and in the 8-inch model they are somewhat narrower, which makes the device more similar to smartphones. There is a metal frame around the display, giving the tablet a serious look. Moreover, at the back it turns into plastic. The back is covered with soft-touch plastic and has a . There is a rear camera on it, which protrudes above the body, the Samsung inscription and some kind of buttons for a branded case. All connectors are located on the sides: on the right are the volume and lock/power buttons, as well as two tightly closed slots for nano-SIM and microSD; at the top is a microphone; and at the bottom there are two stereo speakers, a headphone jack and a microUSB port. The left side remained completely free. And the 8-inch modification of the Samsung Galaxy Tab S2 with a cellular module has an additional speaker above the display and a microphone on the bottom edge, since you can make calls through it, just like through a regular phone.

The case itself is plastic and very thin, only 5.6 mm. This is the thinnest tablet in the world. Despite its thinness, the device is very durable and well-built. The parts fit very tightly together, and the body at times seems completely monolithic. Thanks to the refusal to use metal, the weight is only about 390 g for the 9.7-inch device and about 270 g for the 8-inch. Therefore, you can work much longer without stress.

Screen

In this component, Samsung has surpassed everyone, because the display of the Samsung Galaxy Tab S2 is the best on the market. The SuperAMOLED matrix with a resolution of 2048 x 1536 and a pixel density of 320 ppi has the highest brightness and incredibly realistic colors, and the highest contrast helps to display all the smallest details. Indeed, the color gamut of the sRGB palette has reached 100%, making viewing photos and watching videos very comfortable for the eyes.

Thanks to this resolution, the screen of the Samsung Galaxy Tab S2 does not have grain; it can only be seen when looking at the matrix under a magnifying glass. Even small letters are readable clearly and smoothly. Viewing angles are the highest, so you can comfortably show some content even in a group. If you are not satisfied with the too bright colors of the matrix, it is possible to customize the screen operation profile. There are four profiles available: Main, AMOLED Movie, AMOLED Photo and Reading Mode, as well as Adaptive Display, which automatically launches the desired profile depending on the content and conditions of use. You can select any profile manually. Each one is significantly different in terms of color display, white balance and brightness.

About brightness. The standard indicators of the Samsung Galaxy Tab S2 are about 375 cd/m2 and depend on the number of light colors. But once you activate automatic control and go out into direct sunlight, the brightness easily increases to 700 cd/m2. Almost no one has such indicators. In combination with an anti-glare filter, picture clarity and screen readability remain at the highest level in any case.

In addition, there is a coating against grease stains, as well as protective glass. Due to the small thickness, we had to install a thinner coating instead of Gorilla Glass 4. So over time, the screen becomes covered with small scratches, visible only in the light when the tablet is turned off. They do not affect the work in any way and do not spoil the overall pleasant impression. Indeed, the screen of the Samsung Galaxy Tab S2 is the best in quality not only by the standards of tablets, but also of most smartphones.

Performance

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S2 is powered by the most powerful Samsung Exynos 5433 processor, first used on the Galaxy Note 4 and significantly leapfrogging its time. It has a huge reserve of power and performance, since the chipset, manufactured using 20 nm technology, has 4 cores at 1.9 GHz, more economical 4 cores at 1.3 GHz, a Mali-T760 MP6 video adapter and 3 GB of RAM. In addition, the hardware supports special technology that allows you to use all 8 cores simultaneously. The whole question is which applications will utilize this feature. Maybe someone was waiting for a new generation processor, but you are unlikely to use its full resource.

Naturally, the Samsung Galaxy Tab S2 device functions simply exceptionally, there is not even the slightest hint of slowdown. The menu simply flies, the tablet easily reads video files with a resolution of 2K (3840 x 2160), opens documents, and allows you to play all modern games at maximum settings. Various performance tests show results on par with the best smartphones, although they don't always reach them. But its parameters are already sufficient for the most demanding user.

Multimedia capabilities

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S2 easily plays the highest bitrate media files and supports a variety of music and video formats. True, the standard player may not appeal to everyone. But you can download and install any one from the application store.

The two speakers reproduce all frequencies quite accurately and have a good volume reserve, so the sound quality is excellent. So you can watch videos even in a noisy place. Unfortunately, the square format will force you to put up with black bars when watching modern films on the Samsung Galaxy Tab S2, since most of them are recorded in 16:10 format. In headphones, the audio sounds very spacious and deep, music lovers will be happy. Although it is unlikely that anyone will buy such a tablet, focusing purely on sound quality.

Battery and operating time

The larger modification of the Samsung Galaxy Tab S2 is equipped with a 5870 mAh battery, and the smaller one is equipped with a 4000 mAh battery. This is a very good indicator for such a thin device. In addition, the power saving mode, screen technology and auto brightness extend the operating time up to 14 hours. Average performance with the 3G module turned on is 7–8 hours of continuous operation. In turn, the numbers may differ from the frequency of use, the type of wireless connection and its stability, the profile of the screen, its brightness level, and the temperature environment. So the performance may vary for each device. Games, in general, are the most voracious energy absorbers; you can achieve a maximum of 7–7.5 hours at minimum brightness. But in general, a tablet will be enough for a day, and if mobile communications are turned off, even two.

In the settings of the Samsung Galaxy Tab S2, you can activate a special power saving mode. It regulates running processes, reduces processor power, disables wireless modules, and at maximum savings, generally makes the screen black and white. This useful feature will extend the life of the device in desperate moments.

Camera

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S2 tablet is equipped with an 8-megapixel main camera and a 2.1-megapixel secondary camera. They are not much different from those in the previous model. The only difference is improved aperture, and therefore there is no flash. The secondary camera has a fixed focus and performs quite well. It also shows a good picture during video calls.

The main camera of the Samsung Galaxy Tab S2 does not demonstrate anything super-outstanding, compared to many smartphones, which are still significantly ahead of tablets. The improved aperture and f/1.9 aperture do not compensate for the lack of flash when shooting in the evening. Noise appears in the photo, white balance may be off, and autofocus may not work properly. During the day, the camera boasts good detail and sharpness. White balance works correctly, colors are not distorted, and the camera focuses instantly. Its settings menu is very reminiscent of the settings of the smartphone of the same series. Overall, the Samsung Galaxy Tab S2's camera is not yet comparable to phone cameras, but it is one of the best among tablets.

There is an interesting 3D Capture program in the Samsung app store. With its help you can create three-dimensional images. Just launch the application and, following the instructions, slowly rotate the device around the object, then save. Only a few devices have this capability.

Operating system and programs

The device is equipped with the Android 5.0.2 operating system with the traditional Samsung TouchWiz shell, which is almost completely identical to the telephone one. The set of programs is almost like that of bare Android, although some proprietary applications are still present. Therefore, you won’t have to spend a long time cleaning your tablet from software debris.

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S2 system has a large number of settings, including several proprietary features. For example, a device search engine S Finder was added, which allows you to find the desired file, application or setting, or Smart Manager - a junk file cleaner and accelerator. In addition, it has its own application store, Samsung Apps. The Microsoft Office Android office suite is also pre-installed, allowing you to quickly edit the desired document on the go.

The fingerprint sensor built into the Home button helps keep your data safe. When you use the feature for the first time, the setup wizard will ask you to place your finger on the sensor several times until the drawn fingerprint is filled. Up to 4 prints can be programmed. After this, recognition occurs instantly, just touch the sensor with your finger. You cannot configure multiple user profiles through the fingerprint scanner, but the device does have this option. This is very convenient if there is only one tablet for the whole family.

In a word, the system interface has been redesigned very cool. Samsung promises to release regular Android updates, and Android 6.0 Marshmallow is expected to be released in the second quarter.

Competitors

Sony Xperia Z4 Tablet - Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 processor with Adreno 430 video chip installed; the device has the best front camera resolution - 2.1 MP, widescreen 10.1-inch screen 2560 x 1600; memory volumes are the same; The tablet is protected from dust and water.

Apple iPad Air 2 - lower screen pixel density (264 ppi), 2-core processor, front camera only 1.2 Megapixels.

Considering that Sony's tablet was released later, it is not surprising that its screen resolution is slightly higher. Although we should not forget about the larger diagonal and wide format. The iPad loses in almost all characteristics. We can safely say that the Samsung Galaxy Tab S2 is perhaps the best flagship device today.

Advantages and disadvantages

To bring this review to a close, let us note the strengths and weaknesses of the Samsung Galaxy Tab S2.

• Almost perfect screen.
• Outstanding performance.
• High-quality assembly, body dimensions.
• menu.
• Fingerprint sensor.

• Inconvenient screen format for watching movies.
• No NFC module.
• Overcharge.

Conclusion

Surely everyone will agree that Samsung managed to set the tone in tablet fashion and the bar that many will strive to jump over. The price, however, is beyond the means of many, but that’s why it’s a flagship. Its highest performance, high-quality screen and strong battery will delight both game lovers and those who buy the device for work.

Are you planning to purchase the Samsung Galaxy Tab S2? Are you satisfied with everything about it? We will be glad to see your comments after reading the article.

A tablet is a reasonable compromise between a smartphone and a full-fledged laptop. It’s convenient to watch movies on the big screen, and powerful hardware allows you to play the latest mobile games. In addition, models with LTE modules will provide stable high-speed Internet almost anywhere. And if you wish, you can also connect a keyboard to make it more convenient to work with texts.

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S series of tablets is the flagship, which means it contains the most productive and reliable devices. In 2016, the company updated the line by releasing the Samsung Galaxy Tab S2 in two sizes - with a screen diagonal of 8 and 9.7 inches. Today we are talking about a larger modification - Samsung SM-T819 Galaxy Tab S2 (2016) with LTE support and 32 GB of internal memory on board.

When releasing the new Samsung Galaxy Tab S2, the manufacturer decided not to reinvent the wheel - the design remained virtually unchanged. The body is made of matte plastic with a soft-touch effect, the corners are rounded, the screen is covered with tempered protective glass. An innovation is a metal frame: it looks stylish and increases durability. There are two colors to choose from – black and gold.

At the top of the front panel of the tablet is the Samsung logo, above which there is a speaker slot, as well as a front camera and a light sensor. At the bottom is an oval physical Home button with a built-in fingerprint scanner, as well as two touch buttons (“Back” and “Applications”) on either side of it.

On the back panel at the top there is the main camera, and closer to the left edge there are small round legs that prevent slipping. On the right edge there is a volume rocker and a power button. By the way, the ribs are gracefully beveled - this allows you to hold the 9.7-inch tablet more confidently and press the buttons more comfortably.

– a tablet optimized for the Internet in all respects. Scientists have found that a person perceives information best on a page with an aspect ratio of 4:3, so Samsung designers chose this particular aspect ratio for a series of tablets.

The screen matrix is ​​traditionally Super AMOLED: Samsung’s proprietary design is becoming brighter every year, the colors are richer, the contrast is higher, so the picture looks as realistic as possible. The absence of an air gap between the matrix and the glass provides wide viewing angles - 178 degrees horizontally and vertically, which is very convenient for collaboration or relaxing on the sofa.

The brightness reserve is good - in direct sunlight you can read small text on the screen without straining your eyes. And in low-light conditions, the tablet will automatically lower the brightness to keep you comfortable. By the way, you can choose one of several color ranges for different conditions - games, movies, reading, photos. There is also an adaptive mode - it automatically adjusts the display brightness to the active application.

The resolution of the 9.7-inch screen is 2048x1536 pixels, there is no grain, so the picture looks solid. The sensor is very responsive in any conditions, it perceives even weak pressure - and this is one of the key differences between Samsung tablets and the Chinese “no-name”.

The tablet screen frame is relatively wide, but this cannot be called a disadvantage. On the contrary: holding the Samsung Galaxy Tab S2 (2016) 9.7 LTE in your hands is comfortable, there are no accidental touches on the edges, which is very important in dynamic games. The protective glass has an oleophobic coating - fingerprints and other dirt remain, but are very easily erased.

Chipset and memory

The tablet is based on an 8-core 64-bit Qualcomm Snapdragon 652 processor. It includes two quad-core processors: Cortex-A72 with a frequency of 1.8 GHz and Cortex-A53 with a frequency of 1.2 GHz. In addition, the chipset integrates the Adreno 510 graphics core, X8 LTE modules, dual-band Wi-Fi 802.11ac and Bluetooth 4.1. Qualcomm Quick Charge 2.0 is supported at the processor level.

In combination with 3 GB of memory, the chipset demonstrates excellent results in games. On the Samsung Galaxy Tab S2 (2016) 9.7 LTE, Asphalt 8 can be easily launched and runs at maximum settings, you can play Need For Speed: No Limits without dropping the number of frames, other resource-demanding applications also work flawlessly.

The tablet has 32 GB of permanent memory, of which 25.2 GB is available to the user. There is also a slot for microSD cards, media with a capacity of up to 128 GB are supported.

The resolution of the tablet's main camera is 8 MP, and it can shoot video in Full HD quality at up to 30 frames per second. The lens is fast (f/1.9), so there are no special problems when shooting indoors or outdoors in the evening. And during the day and in well-lit rooms, the photos are simply excellent. True, the Samsung Galaxy Tab S2 9.7 LTE does not have a flash, but, objectively speaking, the tablet is not a device that is convenient for constantly taking quick photographs.

The front camera resolution is 2.1 MP, which is more than enough for Skype and other video chats; however, you will have to try hard for selfies.

The tablet supports Russian LTE networks and voice communications. If your main phone is dead, you can call from your tablet. If you have a headset (wired or Bluetooth), the Samsung Galaxy Tab S2 (2016) 9.7 LTE can easily replace your phone. Without it, of course, constantly making calls and talking on a tablet is not so convenient.

Battery

The tablet's battery capacity is 5870 mAh. Is it a lot or a little? From one charge on the tablet you can watch videos for up to 12 hours or surf the Internet for up to 8 hours, and listen to music for more than 4 days continuously. A worthy indicator! The battery, by the way, is non-removable.

Connectors and sensors

The set of connectors on the Samsung Galaxy Tab S2 9.7 LTE is standard – a 3.5 mm port for headphones and microUSB for charging. There is no NFC module for contactless payments, but in Russia this technology is just beginning to be used.

GPS AND GLONASS are supported, the tablet finds satellites quickly enough, so it can be used as a navigator. There is a Hall sensor - you can use a cover that, when opened, unlocks the screen.

Software

Samsung Galaxy Tab S2 (2016) 9.7 LTE comes with the latest Android 6.0 and MS Office suite. The operating system allows you to work with two applications at the same time - for example, watch a movie and discuss it with friends in the messenger or edit two documents in different programs in parallel.

Samsung introduced its most technologically advanced tablet in 2014. Its distinctive feature was a Super AMOLED screen with a diagonal of 8.4" or 10.5" - no one has used such large OLED displays in mass products. It was logical to assume that the flagship tablet of 2015, the metallic Galaxy Tab S2, would also be presented. Its release date was set for August 2015. However, this time the company decided to use different screen diagonals: Galaxy Tab S2 8.0 and Galaxy Tab S2 9.7. In addition, they have become the thinnest in their class.

The aspect ratio of the new tablets is 4:3, that is, it is a more “square” option. The analogy with the iPad mini and iPad Air is direct, although Samsung probably decided that this option was simply more convenient, but we’ll figure that out later. In general, the company has exactly the same display geometry and diagonals. True, the screens there are much simpler - an LCD matrix, albeit PLS, but with a low resolution of 1024x768. They obviously decided to leave “Retina” for flagships.

At the same time, the tablet market began to “suffer losses” back in 2014, and in 2015 they reached “full strength.” People simply don’t buy these devices because they are content with old ones that don’t break and continue to work. The segment of expensive models is de facto left to Apple and Samsung today, which continue to regularly update their ranges, even successfully releasing something new. In this review, we'll look at what the best Samsung tablets of 2015 are like.

Video review of Samsung Galaxy Tab S2

As always, we suggest looking at the tablets through the lens of our video camera - this way you can get a much better idea of ​​them:

Now let's move on to the traditional review.

Design

Samsung in 2015 is difficult to understand. In the smartphone segment, she proposed the following classification: Galaxy A – fashion metal phones; Galaxy E - almost the same design, but in plastic; Galaxy J - budget handsets. But the Galaxy J is already de facto replacing the Galaxy E, and in tablets it has become the youngest, while the Galaxy Tab A is the middle version made of plastic. But the metal was “given” to the flagship Galaxy Tab S2.

Of course, if you don’t try to find connections between smartphones and tablets, then everything is more or less logical, but it somehow comes naturally if you deal with IT journalism every day. Moreover, the Galaxy Tab S2 is not made entirely of metal - only the side ends have it, as was the case with the Galaxy Alpha. And besides, there is nothing here, since the back of these smartphones is covered with glass.

Galaxy Tab S2 has a plastic back cover. It is painted in the color of the body, which can be black or white. The paint and the plastic itself are such that they somewhat resemble metal, but still are not it.

The back cover has a smooth soft-touch coating, which differs slightly between the white and black Samsung Galaxy Tab S2 tablets.

We have both options at our disposal: Galaxy Tab S2 8.0 and Galaxy Tab S 9.7. They differ from each other only in screen diagonal, dimensions, weight and battery capacity. At the same time, their design is very similar, but there are some differences.

So the 8-inch tablet received a thinner screen frame on the sides and a speaker above it. Apparently, Samsung is not ruling out the possibility of using the Galaxy Tab S2 8.0 as a phone. You can really clasp it with your palm, but it still spreads out a lot. And we even tried to put the tablet in a jeans pocket - under certain conditions it will actually fit into men's pants, but walking and sitting down is very inconvenient.

Moreover, both devices are distinguished by an extremely small thickness - 5.6 mm. We have never seen thinner tablets. Maybe some of the readers know them, so we will be grateful if you tell us about them in the comments. Let us remember that the first generation Galaxy Tab S had a thickness of 6.6 mm.

Not only the thickness has decreased, but also the weight. So the Samsung Galaxy Tab S2 8.0 weighs 265 grams (like a very heavy smartphone!), and the 9.7-inch one weighs 389 grams. For the Galaxy Tab S 8.4 and 10.5, these figures are 294 and 465 grams, respectively. Of course, the reduction in weight was also influenced by the reduction in diagonal, as well as the reduction in battery capacity, but in any case, both Galaxy Tab S2 are very light for tablets.

Overall, we liked the appearance of the Galaxy Tab S2, especially the 8-inch model, which looks more like a huge and thin smartphone than a small tablet. The devices fit perfectly into hands, which do not get tired at all from working with them. Samsung's technological leadership in new products is clearly visible, but we have not yet moved on to the main feature of tablets - their screen. But we will talk about it in a later section.

Connectors and controls

Changing the screen geometry of the Galaxy Tab S2 entailed the transfer of buttons and connectors. Tablets are now more like huge smartphones for which the long side is considered the main one.

Above the screen, the Galaxy Tab S2 8.0 has a front camera and an earpiece, while the Galaxy Tab S2 9.7 does not have the latter. It’s logical - if you can somehow hold an 8-inch tablet with one hand, then a 9.7-inch tablet will have to be used with two.

Below the screen are the traditional task manager buttons, Home and Back. The first and last are made touch, and Home, as usual with Samsung, is mechanical. In addition, there is a built-in fingerprint scanner.

The fingerprint sensor has been upgraded - the same one used in the Galaxy S6 is used. In other words, to scan your finger, you just need to touch it, and not swipe it, as before. Recognition occurs very quickly, but to remember it you need to put your finger on the sensor more than a dozen times. You can see how it all looks in reality in our short video:

The touch buttons are backlit, although they are clearly visible even without it.

On the back cover, special fastenings for the case are of interest. The Galaxy Tab S and Galaxy Tab A had the same ones.

At the top of the back there is a camera, which does not have a flash. Obviously, Samsung believes that you will rarely need to take photographs with the tablet.

On the right side there are volume buttons and compartments for a SIM card and microSD card. The Samsung Galaxy Tab S2 9.7 also has a conversational microphone on the right.

We received models SM-T715 (8-inch) and SM-T815 (9.7-inch), supplemented with a communication module for cellular networks, so that there was a second slot on the side.

The compartments are opened using an ejector or a thin paper clip. The holders themselves are plastic, so you shouldn’t handle them too roughly. Note that Samsung has switched to using nanoSIM in tablets. If you have any difficulties installing cards in the Galaxy Tab S2, then our short video on this topic will help solve the problem:

The left end was left completely empty.

At the bottom there are two speakers, a 3.5 mm mini-jack for headphones and headsets, as well as a microUSB connector. The Samsung Galaxy Tab S2 8.0 also has a microphone here.

The Galaxy Tab S2 8.0 has a microphone on top for noise reduction, while the 9.7-inch tablet does not have this at all - Samsung does not position it as a device for calls. Don't think that you can make calls using a tablet, but the company rightly believes that you won't have to walk down the street with it and talk like you would on a phone. And if you have to, then only via speakerphone or headset.

In terms of ergonomics, both tablets, especially the 8-inch one, resemble smartphones. Their main side is the narrow side. The location of the controls and connectors is well chosen and did not cause any negative emotions.

Case for Galaxy Tab S2

As always, Samsung will release branded covers for the Galaxy Tab S2, as it did in 2014 with the first generation of AMOLED tablets.

These will be cases that cover the screen and can serve as a stand for the tablet. Let us remind you that the Galaxy Tab S2 has two mounts on the back specifically for cases.

Screen

It was the screen that became the main feature of the Samsung Galaxy Tab S series tablets. In 2014, the Korean company began producing 10.5-inch Super AMOLED displays in mass quantities. Moreover, the devices that received them did not cost at all the same as a new small car. In 2015, the Galaxy Tab S2 repeats the story that happened to its predecessors. During the year, no other manufacturer offered a similar product.

It should be noted that the decision to switch from an aspect ratio of 16:10 to 4:3, coupled with a change in resolution and diagonal, resulted in a lower pixel density than the first Galaxy Tab S. The difference is not great, but it is there. Tablets in 2014 offered a resolution of 2560x1600, while today's ones offer 2048x1536. As a result, the Galaxy Tab S2 9.7 provides a pixel density of 264 ppi, while the Galaxy Tab S 10.5 gave 288 ppi. For the “younger” ones, these figures are respectively 320 ppi for the Galaxy Tab S2 8.0 and 359 ppi for the Galaxy Tab S 8.4. But in any case, you shouldn’t be upset - you can’t see the difference by eye, even if you put the old and new tablets next to each other.

Subjectively, the picture on them looks very cool: bright, rich, colors are pleasing to the eye. The screen behaves perfectly in the sun and does not fade very significantly. Viewing angles are maximum as always.

Objective measurements indicate a maximum brightness of 315.63 cd/m2 for the Galaxy Tab S2 8.0 and 358.48 cd/m2 for its 9.7-inch brother. Both of these values ​​are not record-breaking; rather, the figure is slightly below average when compared with modern tablets and smartphones. But in any case, there is enough brightness reserve. The brightness of black, as always, is practically zero - our calibrator does not see light there. This, if anyone is not aware, is one of the main features of OLED technology. So the black color is very natural and deep, the screen contrast tends to infinity.

The color gamut of the screens of both tablets is in perfect order. As always, it greatly exceeds the sRGB space and approaches AdobeRGB, another AMOLED feature.

Violation of color temperature is also typical for Super AMOLED. The Samsung Galaxy Tab S2 8.0 had a temperature of 7500-7700K, while the Galaxy Tab S2 9.7 had a temperature of 7900-8000K. The picture appears slightly cooler than necessary, but overall the excess is not very large.

The display gamma curves of both devices look excellent, almost identical to the 2.2 reference curve. So all areas of the image are displayed without unnecessary highlighting or darkening.

As always, a distinctive feature of Samsung devices equipped with a Super AMOLED screen is the ability to select a color profile. The feature is more than useful because everyone can customize the display according to their preferences.

As always, the screen supports up to 10 simultaneous touches. We didn't expect anything else from flagship tablets.

In terms of screens, both Samsung Galaxy Tab S2 tablets are the best on the market. Neither the iPad mini/Air, once the standard in this regard, nor any other product surpasses the models from the South Korean company in terms of picture quality.

Camera

Samsung is confident that a camera is not very necessary for tablets today. More precisely, shooting is not the defining function of this type of device. And if you’re not sure, how can you explain the same resolution of the rear and front cameras of the Galaxy Tab S and S2? Let's say more, the Galaxy Tab S2 even has no flash on the back! We will not say that the same sensor is used, but it is very similar.

The camera app has migrated to the Galaxy Tab S2 from the Galaxy S6. It is distinguished by a minimalistic, simple interface, which nevertheless is not devoid of advanced shooting modes.

So in Pro mode you can adjust white balance, ISO sensitivity level and exposure compensation.

There are other interesting shooting modes, including “Dual Camera” - it shoots from two cameras at once. It looks like this:

Moreover, you can even capture video in Full HD resolution:

In certain situations, it will be a good idea to film what is happening immediately behind and in front.

The maximum resolution of photos reaches 8 MP and only in the native screen aspect ratio of 4:3. By the way, because of this, the Galaxy Tab S2 camera cannot shoot video in Ultra HD resolution - it is not wide enough.

The footage looks quite decent, especially those taken outdoors during the day. There is no excessive saturation, the white balance is determined correctly, autofocus worked well. But when there is not much light, the pictures turn out somewhat worse.

Although video is not supported in 4K resolution, the camera can shoot QHD or 2560x1440. By the way, the Galaxy Tab S only provided Full HD video.

What can you say about the video? During the day everything looks great: the colors are beautiful, the picture is clear, the resolution is high.

The front camera does not have a “selfie resolution” of 2.1 MP. Photos and videos are shot in 1920x1080 or Full HD resolution.

The photos come out more or less decent, although somewhat blurry. But in general they are not overexposed, there are no chromatic aberrations, and the white balance is correct.

The video also doesn’t look as good as from the main camera, but it’s still decent.

On the larger side, we are satisfied with the camera of the Samsung Galaxy Tab S2 and even like it in some places. It’s a very good option for a tablet, but it’s a pity that they removed the flash.

Galaxy Tab S2 Specifications

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S2 tablet lineup consists of four products. They differ in screen diagonal (8.0" or 9.7") and the presence or absence of LTE support. And yes, in theory there are versions with different amounts of memory, although here we do not have exact confidence about the available modifications - according to some information, the minimum will be 32 GB of built-in flash memory, but in our hands there were tablets with 16 GB. Moreover, in theory, there is also a 64 GB version.

Galaxy Tab S in 2014 received a platform from, which was introduced back in 2013. The manufacturer did exactly the same thing with the Galaxy Tab S2 - the flagship tablets of 2015 received the filling from the Galaxy Note 4.

Thus, the Galaxy Tab S2 acquired a Samsung Exynos 5433 processor. Let us recall that it was the first to receive Cortex-A57 cores (4 pieces, frequency 1.9 GHz) and Cortex-A53 (also 4 pieces, frequency 1.3 GHz), which seem to be 64-bit, but on both the Galaxy Note 4 and Tab S2 they work in 32-bit mode. However, all this is not critical. They may not be the fastest by 2015 standards, but they provide very decent performance. Nothing will slow down, and here's why.

With the first Galaxy Tab S, their video card played a cruel joke - Mali-T628 MP6, used in the Wi-Fi version of the tablet; the accelerator is fast and in the Galaxy Note 3 it performed its tasks perfectly. But on the tablet, the screen resolution almost doubled and some games no longer ran so smoothly. But with the Galaxy Note 4 the story is different - the Mali-T760 MP6 renders the image in a resolution of 2560x1440, and in the Galaxy Tab S2 the screen provides a resolution of 2048x1536, so there are no speed difficulties. Games there do not slow down, even the most difficult ones. But we will talk about this in more detail in the next section.

The amount of RAM, as expected, remained at 3 GB. In fact, no more is required - the tablet doesn’t slow down anyway. Flash memory in our case turned out to be 16 GB, and in both versions of the Galaxy Tab S2: 8.0- and 9.7-inch. Presumably, versions with larger volumes will be released. In addition, expansion with microSD cards is available.

As for communications, only versions with Wi-Fi (SM-T710 - 8.0" and SM-T810 - 9.7") and LTE (SM-T715 - 8.0" and SM-T815 - 9) will be on sale ,7"). The latter, due to additional antennas, weigh a couple of grams more, and they also have plastic inserts on the upper end. But the most important thing is that Samsung abandoned the option based on a Qualcomm chip, as was the case with the Galaxy Tab S LTE. Now Exynos 5433 supports all the necessary technologies.

In total, the Galaxy Tab S2 received, albeit last year’s, an extremely high-performance hardware platform. The tablets will not be pre-slowed down, but to make sure of this, let's take a look at the test results.

Performance testing

Let's see how the performance of the Samsung Galaxy Tab S2 has changed compared to its previous generation.

Old benchmarks Smartbench 2012 and Quadrant show a clear superiority of the Galaxy Tab S2.

The constantly updated Antutu test also gave preference to the new device, which is logical.

In the relatively simple graphics benchmark 3DRating from the same Antutu, we got almost parity for both tablets. Let's take a look at what's to come in the more advanced 3D tests.

There is not much difference in GFXBench, where in the T-Rex offscreen test we again got the same results. However, when the T-Rex test was run in full screen, the Galaxy Tab S2 scored 25 FPS, and the Galaxy Tab S only scored 14 FPS. That is, a new tablet is better suited for higher resolutions.

But 3DMark easily and unpretentiously gave victory to the Galaxy Tab S2 - this tablet defeated its predecessor.

The autonomy of the Samsung Galaxy Tab S2 turned out to be very, very good, according to. However, the Galaxy Tab S 10.5 has it even better, but let's not forget that the new generation tablets have smaller batteries: 4000 mAh for the 8-inch and 5870 mAh for the 9.7-inch. Galaxy Tab S had batteries of the following sizes: 4900 mAh for the 8.4-inch and 7900 mAh for the 10.5-inch. But autonomy fell slightly, which simultaneously led to a decrease in weight and thickness. And in any case, it turned out to be more than decent.

As you can see, the 9.7-inch tablet lasts a little longer due to the larger battery capacity. At the same time, for both devices, the maximum consumption is for screen operation, 3D games (most of all here) and surfing the Internet via a mobile network.

Overall, we are more than satisfied with the performance and battery life of the Galaxy Tab S2. Even though the speed of tablets is not the best on the market, they de facto have no rivals, especially among analogues. Moreover, the issue with high screen resolution was resolved - it became slightly lower than that of the previous generation, and the video card turned out to be even more powerful, so the devices are even ready for future games, as well as current ones. You can see for yourself.

Games on Galaxy Tab S2

All games on the Samsung Galaxy Tab S2 run without any difficulties at all, which is what we saw when launching about 20 titles.

• Riptide GP2: excellent, the game does not slow down;

• Asphalt 7: excellent, the game does not slow down;

• Asphalt 8: excellent, the game does not slow down;

• N.O.V.A. 3: Near Orbit: excellent, the game does not slow down;

• Modern Combat 5: Blackout: excellent, the game does not slow down;

• Dead Trigger: excellent, the game does not slow down;

• Dead Trigger 2: excellent, the game does not slow down;

• Real Racing 3: excellent, the game does not slow down;

• Need For Speed: Most Wanted: excellent, the game does not slow down;

• Shadowgun: Dead Zone: excellent, the game does not slow down;

• Frontline Commando: Normandy: excellent, the game does not slow down;

• Frontline Commando 2: excellent, the game does not slow down;

• Eternity Warriors 2: excellent, the game does not slow down;

• Eternity Warriors 3: excellent, the game does not slow down;

• Trial Xtreme 3: excellent, the game does not slow down;

• Trial Xtreme 4: excellent, the game does not slow down;

• Dead Effect: excellent, the game does not slow down;

• Plants vs Zombies 2: excellent, the game does not slow down;

• Iron Man 3: excellent, the game does not slow down;

• Dead Target: excellent, the game does not slow down;

Actually, that’s what needed to be proven. There are no glitches or slowdowns on the Galaxy Tab S2.

BY

Having received the Galaxy Tab S2 at our disposal, we were somewhat surprised - it was there, although the previously presented mid-level smartphone was supplied. Presumably, flagship tablets were developed earlier, and therefore were tested with an earlier version of the system. But in any case, there is no need to worry, it will be updated, and more than once.

Let us also remind you that both Galaxy Tab S2 work in 32-bit mode, despite the processor. However, this did not affect the overall performance in any way - after all, the Galaxy Note 4 also does not suffer from the lack of 64-bit support.

The software shell of the Galaxy Tab S2 generally corresponds to what we saw in the spring of 2015. It was only slightly polished, and at the same time some applications were added.

The only noticeable difference is the presence of Galaxy Essentials and Galaxy Gifts shortcuts on the second desktop, which lead to sections of the Galaxy Apps store of the same name. Under the first link there is a list of additional applications such as Kids Mode, video editor, Story Album, Hancom Office and the like. Well, Galaxy Gifts are subscriptions to various services and materials.

Otherwise, the list of applications looks quite ordinary. There is the necessary minimum such as a browser, notes, a file manager, a calendar, and there are also additional applications SideSync and Smart Manager. We got acquainted with the first in detail in, and the second has been seen more than once on new Samsung devices.

Once again, we repeat that Smart Manager is a utility that contains managers for RAM, energy saving, a flash memory analyzer, and tablet protection tools.

In addition, there is a full suite of programs from Microsoft, namely Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote, Skype and OneDrive.

Almost a complete set of Microsoft Office devices from Samsung began to receive under an agreement with the software giant, which was signed in 2015. Moreover, all these applications, except PowerPoint, are already installed. Whereas Hancom Office will have to be downloaded separately.

Samsung, as always, has expanded the capabilities of the task manager - the MultiWindow function is available from it, dividing the tablet screen into two parts and launching two applications at once.

The second application is opened by selecting the one you need from the list of recently opened ones, or simply by clicking on the shortcut.

Applications can be displayed either one under one or next to each other - it all depends on the position of the tablet.

You can also open any program in a window.

By the way, the dialer is also made in the form of a window. Why not? The tablet screen is large and poking at huge buttons is no longer so convenient, although it is difficult to miss them.

We see no point in dwelling on standard applications in detail. They are the most common ones, although they are drawn differently.

All these notes, file managers and so on are available on most Android devices. And if they are made by Samsung, then they look the same.

We are quite satisfied with the proprietary TouchWIZ shell and software set from the South Korean company. Everything is well thought out, well drawn and does not slow down. The only complaint is more about the aspect ratio of the screen - due to the square display, watching movies is not so convenient.

Conclusion

In 2014, the Galaxy Tab S made a splash – no one had ever released mass-produced devices with such large OLED screens before! In 2015, the Galaxy Tab S2 no longer produces the same effect, although the second generation has become noticeably better. First of all, it can be praised for its metal frame, as well as for its screen. Visually it has become even better, the colors look more saturated and rich. This is clearly the best display on the market.

On the other hand, we're ambivalent about Samsung's decision to move its tablets to a 4:3 aspect ratio, like all iPads. A more square format may be better suited for web pages, but watching movies is no longer as comfortable - there will always be black bars at the top and bottom.

But otherwise, the Samsung Galaxy Tab S2 has solid advantages: these are the thinnest Korean tablets (and possibly on the entire market), they are very light, especially the 8-inch model, which is made in the smartphone form factor. The autonomy of the devices turned out to be very decent, as well as performance. They have acquired a fingerprint scanner, which you just need to touch with your finger. Add here a good camera, which, however, has lost its flash, and you will get, if not a perfect tablet, then close to it. However, a lot depends on the price.

Galaxy Tab S2 price

You can buy a Galaxy Tab S2 for 32 thousand for the younger version with Wi-Fi and 32 GB, and the version with LTE is estimated at 36 thousand. At the same time, prices for the first Galaxy Tab S have already dropped to 22-24 thousand for the youngest model.

The only current competitor on Android, and only in the 10.1-inch version, is the Sony Xperia Z4 Tablet. At a price of 42 thousand rubles, it looks good: Android 5.0, Snapdragon 810, 3 GB of RAM, 32 GB of internal memory, IPS screen with a resolution of 2560x1600, thickness 6.1 mm and weight 389 grams. Add here a metal case and moisture protection, as well as a 6000 mAh battery. In general, a worthy alternative, unless the Galaxy Tab S2 9.7 is cheaper.

And, of course, Apple. Here the company has the iPad Air 2 and iPad mini 3. They have greater thickness and weight, similar screens in resolution and diagonal, and a slower processor. Although in general they are still good, and they are not so expensive - from 27 thousand for the younger iPad Air 2. And do not forget that these are 2014 models, and more recent new items are on the way.

Pros:

• stylish design;
• metal body frame;
• excellent workmanship;
• very small thickness of 5.6 mm;
• light weight for a tablet;
• the best screen on the market – high-resolution Super AMOLED matrix;
• good camera for a tablet;
• modern version of Android with a guarantee of future updates;
• built-in second-generation fingerprint scanner;
• high performance;
• good autonomy.

Minuses:

• rear camera without flash;

Information about the make, model, and alternative names of the specific device, if available.

Design

Information about the dimensions and weight of the device, presented in different units of measurement. Materials used, colors offered, certificates.

Width Width information - refers to the horizontal side of the device in its standard orientation during use.	198.6 mm (millimeters) 19.86 cm (centimeters) 0.65 ft (feet) 7.82 in (inches)
Height Height information - refers to the vertical side of the device in its standard orientation during use.	134.8 mm (millimeters) 13.48 cm (centimeters) 0.44 ft (feet) 5.31 in (inches)
Thickness Information about the thickness of the device in different units of measurement.	5.6 mm (millimeters) 0.56 cm (centimeters) 0.02 ft (feet) 0.22 in (inches)
Weight Information about the weight of the device in different units of measurement.	272 g (grams) 0.6 lbs (pounds) 9.59 oz (ounces)
Volume The approximate volume of the device, calculated based on the dimensions provided by the manufacturer. Refers to devices with the shape of a rectangular parallelepiped.	149.92 cm³ (cubic centimeters) 9.1in³ (cubic inches)
Colors Information about the colors in which this device is offered for sale.	Black White
Materials for making the case Materials used to make the device body.	Metal Plastic

SIM card

The SIM card is used in mobile devices to store data that certifies the authenticity of mobile service subscribers.

Mobile networks

A mobile network is a radio system that allows multiple mobile devices to communicate with each other.

GSM GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications) is designed to replace the analogue mobile network (1G). For this reason, GSM is often called a 2G mobile network. It is improved by the addition of GPRS (General Packet Radio Services), and later EDGE (Enhanced Data rates for GSM Evolution) technologies.	GSM 850 MHz GSM 900 MHz GSM 1800 MHz GSM 1900 MHz
UMTS UMTS is an abbreviation for Universal Mobile Telecommunications System. It is based on the GSM standard and belongs to 3G mobile networks. Developed by 3GPP and its biggest advantage is providing greater speed and spectral efficiency thanks to W-CDMA technology.	UMTS 850 MHz UMTS 900 MHz UMTS 1900 MHz UMTS 2100 MHz
LTE LTE (Long Term Evolution) is defined as a fourth generation (4G) technology. It is developed by 3GPP based on GSM/EDGE and UMTS/HSPA to increase the capacity and speed of wireless mobile networks. The subsequent technology development is called LTE Advanced.	LTE 800 MHz LTE 850 MHz LTE 900 MHz LTE 1800 MHz LTE 1900 MHz LTE 2100 MHz LTE 2600 MHz LTE 700 MHz

Mobile communication technologies and data transfer speeds

Communication between devices on mobile networks is carried out using technologies that provide different data transfer rates.

Operating system

An operating system is a system software that manages and coordinates the operation of hardware components in a device.

SoC (System on Chip)

A system on a chip (SoC) includes all the most important hardware components of a mobile device on one chip.

SoC (System on Chip) A system on a chip (SoC) integrates various hardware components, such as a processor, graphics processor, memory, peripherals, interfaces, etc., as well as the software necessary for their operation.	Samsung Exynos 5 Octa 5433
Technological process Information about the technological process by which the chip is manufactured. Nanometers measure half the distance between elements in the processor.	20 nm (nanometers)
Processor (CPU) The primary function of a mobile device's processor (CPU) is to interpret and execute instructions contained in software applications.	4x 1.9 GHz ARM Cortex-A57, 4x 1.3 GHz ARM Cortex-A53
Processor size The size (in bits) of a processor is determined by the size (in bits) of the registers, address buses, and data buses. 64-bit processors have higher performance compared to 32-bit processors, which in turn are more powerful than 16-bit processors.	64 bit
Instruction Set Architecture Instructions are commands with which the software sets/controls the operation of the processor. Information about the instruction set (ISA) that the processor can execute.	ARMv8-A
Level 1 cache (L1) Cache memory is used by the processor to reduce access time to more frequently used data and instructions. L1 (level 1) cache is small in size and works much faster than both system memory and other cache levels. If the processor does not find the requested data in L1, it continues to look for it in the L2 cache. On some processors, this search is performed simultaneously in L1 and L2.	32 kB + 32 kB (kilobytes)
Level 2 cache (L2) L2 (level 2) cache is slower than L1 cache, but in return it has a higher capacity, allowing it to cache more data. It, like L1, is much faster than system memory (RAM). If the processor does not find the requested data in L2, it continues to look for it in the L3 cache (if available) or in RAM memory.	2048 kB (kilobytes) 2 MB (megabytes)
Number of processor cores The processor core executes software instructions. There are processors with one, two or more cores. Having more cores increases performance by allowing multiple instructions to be executed in parallel.	8
CPU clock speed The clock speed of a processor describes its speed in terms of cycles per second. It is measured in megahertz (MHz) or gigahertz (GHz).	1900 MHz (megahertz)
Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) The Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) handles calculations for various 2D/3D graphics applications. In mobile devices, it is most often used by games, consumer interfaces, video applications, etc.	ARM Mali-T760 MP6
Number of GPU cores Like a CPU, a GPU is made up of several working parts called cores. They handle graphics calculations for various applications.	6
GPU clock speed Running speed is the clock speed of the GPU, measured in megahertz (MHz) or gigahertz (GHz).	700 MHz (megahertz)
Amount of random access memory (RAM) Random access memory (RAM) is used by the operating system and all installed applications. Data stored in RAM is lost after the device is turned off or restarted.	3 GB (gigabytes)
Type of random access memory (RAM) Information about the type of random access memory (RAM) used by the device.	LPDDR3
Number of RAM channels Information about the number of RAM channels that are integrated into the SoC. More channels mean higher data rates.	Dual channel
RAM frequency The frequency of RAM determines its operating speed, more specifically, the speed of reading/writing data.	825 MHz (megahertz)

Built-in memory

Each mobile device has built-in (non-removable) memory with a fixed capacity.

Memory cards

Memory cards are used in mobile devices to increase the storage capacity for storing data.

Screen

The screen of a mobile device is characterized by its technology, resolution, pixel density, diagonal length, color depth, etc.

Type/technology One of the main characteristics of the screen is the technology by which it is made and on which the quality of the information image directly depends.	Super AMOLED
Diagonal For mobile devices, screen size is expressed by the length of its diagonal, measured in inches.	8 in (inches) 203.2 mm (millimeters) 20.32 cm (centimeters)
Width Approximate screen width	6.4 in (inches) 162.56 mm (millimeters) 16.26 cm (centimeters)
Height Approximate screen height	4.8 in (inches) 121.92 mm (millimeters) 12.19 cm (centimeters)
Aspect Ratio The ratio of the dimensions of the long side of the screen to its short side	1.333:1 4:3
Permission Screen resolution shows the number of pixels vertically and horizontally on the screen. Higher resolution means clearer image detail.	2048 x 1536 pixels
Pixel Density Information about the number of pixels per centimeter or inch of the screen. Higher density allows information to be displayed on the screen with clearer detail.	320 ppi (pixels per inch) 125ppcm (pixels per centimeter)
Color depth Screen color depth reflects the total number of bits used for color components in one pixel. Information about the maximum number of colors that the screen can display.	24 bit 16777216 flowers
Screen area Approximate percentage of screen area occupied by the screen on the front of the device.	74.27% (percentage)
Other characteristics Information about other screen features and characteristics.	Capacitive Multi-touch

Sensors

Different sensors perform different quantitative measurements and convert physical indicators into signals that a mobile device can recognize.

Main camera

The main camera of a mobile device is usually located on the back of the body and is used for taking photos and videos.

Sensor model	Samsung S5K4H5
Sensor type Digital cameras use photo sensors to take photographs. The sensor, as well as optics, are one of the main factors in the quality of the camera in a mobile device.	CMOS BSI (backside illumination)
Sensor size	3.6 x 2.7 mm (millimeters) 0.18 in (inches)
Pixel size	1.103 µm (micrometers) 0.001103 mm (millimeters)
Crop factor	9.61
Diaphragm	f/1.9
Focal length	3.23 mm (millimeters) 31.02 mm (millimeters) *(35 mm / full frame)
Image Resolution One of the main characteristics of mobile device cameras is their resolution, which shows the number of horizontal and vertical pixels in the image.	3264 x 2448 pixels 7.99 MP (megapixels)
Video resolution Information about the maximum supported resolution when shooting video with the device.	2560 x 1440 pixels 3.69 MP (megapixels)
Video - frame rate/frames per second. Information about the maximum number of frames per second (fps) supported by the device when shooting video at the maximum resolution. Some of the main standard video shooting and playback speeds are 24p, 25p, 30p, 60p.	30fps (frames per second)
Characteristics Information about other software and hardware features related to the main camera and improving its functionality.	Autofocus Digital zoom Self-timer Scene Selection Mode

Additional camera

Additional cameras are usually mounted above the device screen and are used mainly for video conversations, gesture recognition, etc.

Sensor model Information about the manufacturer and model of the photo sensor used in the device's camera.	Samsung S5K6B2
Sensor size Information about the dimensions of the photosensor used in the device. Typically, cameras with larger sensors and lower pixel densities offer higher image quality despite the lower resolution.	2.4 x 1.8 mm (millimeters) 0.12 in (inches)
Pixel size The smaller pixel size of the photosensor allows more pixels per unit area, thereby increasing resolution. On the other hand, a smaller pixel size can have a negative impact on image quality at high ISO levels.	1.25 µm (micrometers) 0.00125 mm (millimeters)
Crop factor The crop factor is the ratio between the dimensions of the full-frame sensor (36 x 24 mm, equivalent to a frame of standard 35 mm film) and the dimensions of the device's photosensor. The indicated number represents the ratio of the diagonals of the full-frame sensor (43.3 mm) and the photosensor of a particular device.	14.42
Diaphragm Aperture (f-number) is the size of the aperture opening that controls the amount of light reaching the photosensor. A lower f-number means the aperture opening is larger.	f/2.2
Focal length Focal length is the distance in millimeters from the photosensor to the optical center of the lens. The equivalent focal length is also indicated, providing the same field of view with a full frame camera.	1.87 mm (millimeters) 26.97 mm (millimeters) *(35 mm / full frame)
Image Resolution Information about the maximum resolution of the additional camera when shooting. In most cases, the resolution of the secondary camera is lower than that of the main camera.	1920 x 1080 pixels 2.07 MP (megapixels)
Video resolution Information about the maximum supported resolution when shooting video with an additional camera.	1920 x 1080 pixels 2.07 MP (megapixels)

Audio

Information about the type of speakers and audio technologies supported by the device.

Radio

The radio of the mobile device is a built-in FM receiver.

Location determination

Information about the navigation and location technologies supported by your device.

WiFi

Wi-Fi is a technology that provides wireless communication for transmitting data over close distances between various devices.

Bluetooth

Bluetooth is a standard for secure wireless data transfer between various devices of different types over short distances.

USB

USB (Universal Serial Bus) is an industry standard that allows different electronic devices to exchange data.

Headphone jack

This is an audio connector, also called an audio jack. The most widely used standard in mobile devices is the 3.5mm headphone jack.

Connecting devices

Information about other important connection technologies supported by your device.

Browser

A web browser is a software application for accessing and viewing information on the Internet.

Video file formats/codecs

Mobile devices support different video file formats and codecs, which respectively store and encode/decode digital video data.

Battery

Mobile device batteries differ from each other in their capacity and technology. They provide the electrical charge necessary for their functioning.

Specific Absorption Rate (SAR)

The SAR level refers to the amount of electromagnetic radiation absorbed by the human body while using a mobile device.

Head SAR level (EU) The SAR level indicates the maximum amount of electromagnetic radiation that the human body is exposed to when holding a mobile device close to the ear in a conversation position. In Europe, the maximum permissible SAR value for mobile devices is limited to 2 W/kg per 10 grams of human tissue. This standard has been established by CENELEC in accordance with IEC standards, subject to the guidelines of ICNIRP 1998.	0.345 W/kg (Watt per kilogram)
Body SAR level (EU) The SAR level indicates the maximum amount of electromagnetic radiation to which the human body is exposed when holding a mobile device at hip level. The maximum permissible SAR value for mobile devices in Europe is 2 W/kg per 10 grams of human tissue. This standard has been established by the CENELEC Committee in compliance with the ICNIRP 1998 guidelines and IEC standards.	0.472 W/kg (Watt per kilogram)
Head SAR level (US) The SAR level indicates the maximum amount of electromagnetic radiation that the human body is exposed to when holding a mobile device near the ear. The maximum value used in the USA is 1.6 W/kg per 1 gram of human tissue. Mobile devices in the US are regulated by the CTIA, and the FCC conducts tests and sets their SAR values.	0.957 W/kg (Watt per kilogram)
Body SAR level (US) The SAR level indicates the maximum amount of electromagnetic radiation to which the human body is exposed when holding a mobile device at hip level. The highest permissible SAR value in the USA is 1.6 W/kg per 1 gram of human tissue. This value is set by the FCC, and the CTIA monitors mobile devices' compliance with this standard.	1.593 W/kg (Watt per kilogram)