Galaxy Tab S 8.4 and 10.5 arrive with high-resolution SuperAMOLED displays
At this evening's Galaxy Premiere event in New York City, Samsung has taken the wraps off a new line of high-end Android tablets, dubbed Galaxy Tab S.
The new tablets come in 8.4 and 10.5-inch screen sizes and are the first Samsung tablets in a couple of years to use SuperAMOLED displays. Speaking at today's launch event, Samsung executive DJ Lee revealed that the new Tabs are just 6.6mm thin, with a high-resolution SuperAMOLED display. The 8.4-inch Tab weighs in at 294 grams, while its big brother weighs 465 grams.
The Tab S devices pack high-resolution WQXGA SuperAMOLED displays at 2560x1600 pixels. That's the same resolution as Samsung's earlier Tab Pro devices, but the first time we've seen such a high resolution SuperAMOLED panel on a tablet. On-stage, Samsung Electronics America SVP Michael Abary talked up SuperAMOLED's potential for more vibrant and accurate colors compared to LCD, as well as deeper blacks. Like the Galaxy S5, the Tab S devices include Adaptive Display for tweaked viewing experiences in different lighting situations.
The 8.4-inch Tab S packs a 4,900mAh battery, while the 10.5-inch model features a 7,900mAh cell, and Samsung claims the devices can deliver more than 11 hours of 1080p video playback on a single charge. Elsewhere, the Tab S boasts a fingerprint scanner, like the Galaxy S5, and this fingerprint recognition can be used to toggle between users — 8 people on one device.
On the software side, Samsung will offer a new magazine experience called Papergarden, with content from partners including Condé Nast and National Geographic, optimized for the Tab S devices' 16:10 display. Like the Galaxy S5, the Galaxy Tab S series will come with free content and service deals through Galaxy Gifts. Besides that, signature Samsung features like Multiwindow return on Samsung's latest tablets.
Samsung will also offer a range of cases for the device, including a snap-on case with uses magnets to hold the tablets in three different positions for typing or watching content. There'll also a Bluetooth keyboard offered for both sizes.
8.4-inch Tab S starts at $399, while the larger 10.5-incher goes for $499
Connectivity-wise, the global cellular version of the Tab S will support calls and SMS. The new tablets will also come with the new SideSync feature for answering calls from a paired Samsung phone, and transferring files between phone and Tab.
In the U.S., both sizes of Wifi Tab S will arrive in July, with the cellular versions arriving shortly afterwards. The Wifi Tab S 10.5 will cost $499, while the Tab S 8.4 will cost $399.
