Tablet computer Samsung Galaxy Tab with 8.4. Memory cards are used in mobile devices to increase the storage capacity for storing data
You won't be able to resist the impression of the display Samsung Galaxy Tab S 8.4. There's no need for a review of the tablet here; just looking at the lock screen makes it obvious that the tablet has an incredibly high-resolution panel. With a resolution of 2560 x 1600 pixels crammed into an 8.4-inch display, the Samsung tablet offers a pixel density of 356 pixels per inch, which makes its images look incredible and also makes it impossible for you to make out individual dots on the screen.
Of course it is Super AMOLED, which is typical for Samsung tablets, a technology that is far ahead of similar offerings from competing tablets, including, Apple iPad Mini and others. In fact, the color saturation was so great that it took a while for the eyes to adjust, and after a while, other screens looked sparse.
Samsung's Adaptive Display Setting also helps ensure that the screen in the best possible way adapted to lighting conditions, which are determined using a special RGB sensor located on the front panel of the tablet. This is a much more advanced sensor than the automatic brightness adjustment you typically see on tablets and smartphones. The point is that RGB adjusts gamma, saturation and sharpness, rather than simply varying brightness.
The sensor identifies the color temperature of the environment and adjusts the image properly, ensuring you top scores. Our review of the Samsung tablet found that the feature works just fine, making adjustments easy and also helping to avoid unrealistic color casts, so we leave it turned on without reservation. It's also worth noting that the feature is app-specific, so it's not universal, and plenty of third-party apps don't benefit from this technology. There are also presets for film, photography, and core modes that work across the board and we found them visually pleasing.
Tests, portsAndAndroid
Samsung Galaxy Tab The S 8.4 we reviewed came in champagne colors with a gold outer edge and bezel accents. Rest assured, this color scheme is a striking departure from the traditional white and silver. The color certainly helps the tablet exude luxury, which we think was Samsung's goal. However, the gold tablet is not for every taste. If you're not a fan of white, the Galaxy Tab S 8.4 is also available in Titanium Bronze.
At 6.6mm thick and weighing 294g, it's a thin and light tablet that feels quite slender in your hands. It uses a slightly ribbed, soft-touch polycarbonate back panel that helps keep the tablet in your hands without flexing against the body. Samsung also makes a number of specialized protective cases, as well as a keyboard case, that are secured using a pin that you will find on the back of the device.
Samsung used its own 8-core Exynos 5 system-on-a-chip (SoC), which debuted on . Technically, it is a 1.9 GHz quad-core ARM processor with Cortex A15 cores, paired with a 1.3 GHz quad-core processor with Cortex A7 cores, which is used for less power-intensive routines. Also available in stores is the Galaxy Tab S 8.4 LTE, which uses a quad-core processor Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 with a clock speed of 2.3 GHz. All models are generously equipped with 3 GB of RAM.
The review Samsung Galaxy Tab S 8.4 was powered by an Exynos 5 processor and managed to achieve 1.014 ms in SunSpider JavaScript tests. This figure puts him head to head with Sony Xperia Z2 Tablet, which also did not bend in tests. The next test was 3DMark Ice Storm, designed to check the gaming performance of the device. The test recorded 9012 points in Ice Storm Extreme and 13648 points in Ice Storm Unlimited. This means the tablet is capable of smoothly and consistently playing any game available on Android today. In our tests of continuous video playback, the Samsung Galaxy Tab S 8.4 worked for 10 hours and 55 minutes, showing a similar time.
Our Galaxy Tab S 8.4 ran on and Samsung included a few of its own tweaks to the Android OS. One of the most notable inclusions, of course, is the multi-window mode, which allows you to use two applications simultaneously. This is useful when you're watching movies and want to open your browser to see, say, an actor's story. Not all applications support this mode, but there are enough of them. Child mode is also included in the tablet, allowing you to create a safe ecosystem for children within your means parental controls and child-friendly user interface. All this means that you can safely leave the tablet with your child without additional supervision.
On the sides of the tablet you will find a traditional headphone jack, a Micro USB port that supports charging, a power button and a volume rocker. Interestingly, the tablet is equipped with an IR blaster to control your TV, and you will also find a MicroSD slot that supports memory cards up to 128GB. All this allows you to significantly expand the amount of internal memory, which is initially limited to 16 or 32 gigabytes. Stereo speakers are pleasant to hear, unlike traditional mono solutions. They are positioned so that your hands do not limit the sound of the tablet in landscape mode - standard problem, typical for most tablets from other manufacturers. The sound was loud enough to make it difficult to always use headphones, although the sound quality remains average.
Cameras and scanner
The front panel of the tablet shines with an 8.4-inch screen. Samsung is once again placing separate menu buttons under the display, which saves screen space and gives you soft tactile buttons. We have long been accustomed to this state of affairs on Samsung devices; the “Back” and “Tasks” buttons change places relative to the standard positioning on Android, which may at first be unusual after Android smartphones.
Similar to Samsung's current flagship smartphone, the Samsung Galaxy S5, a fingerprint scanner has been included in the Home button, which offers you the most secure way to unlock the device, log into your Samsung account, or pay for anything using PayPal. You can register up to three fingers per user, and we found that the scanner worked consistently and in all conditions, always registering a fingerprint. Using a scanner is also significantly faster than entering codes or pattern unlocking the screen, and it remains the preferred solution for unlocking a device. Samsung is expected to open up the scanner API to supporter apps, so we're expecting a similar option in other apps in the future.
Above the display panel, you'll find the aforementioned RGB sensor and a front-facing 2-megapixel webcam. We found the camera to be quite passable for casual selfies, and it's certainly useful for Skype sessions as well. On the back of the device, you'll find an 8-megapixel camera, complete with an LED flash to help in low-light conditions, not common on most tablets. It's annoying that the camera blocks the flash if the battery charge drops below the set level in order to save money. However, if you plug the tablet into the network, the flash remains locked, a mystery.
Even though tablet cameras can't boast quality, we were pleased Galaxy images Tab S. The camera supports image stabilization for video and still frames, which even in low light conditions, with long shutter speeds, turned out to be quite decent. We also tried out HDR mode, panorama mode, time-lapse mode, and Dual Cam, which lets you use both cameras at the same time, a fun feature that debuted on the Samsung Galaxy S4. Overall, the camera shoots clear and very decent footage, which is characterized by excellent saturation and low noise.
Conclusion on SamsungGalaxyTabS 8.4
The review shows a beautiful tablet with an outstanding screen that beats out the iPad Mini Retina and Google Nexus 7. It's a thin, light Samsung tablet with excellent runtime battery life, an amazing set of applications and amazing gaming performance. With a price tag of about 19,000 rubles, it will stand on the same shelf as the Apple iPad Mini Retina, another great tablet among small models. The iPad has some advantages when it comes to features and content (apps), but Android already boasts a powerful app library and a practical operating system.
Verdict:
A stunning screen and magical performance make the Galaxy S 8.4 the best Android tablet in a compact form factor.
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. | 212.8 mm (millimeters) 21.28 cm (centimeters) 0.7 ft (feet) 8.38 in (inches) |
| Height Height information - refers to the vertical side of the device in its standard orientation during use. | 126.6 mm (millimeters) 12.66 cm (centimeters) 0.42 ft (feet) 4.98 in (inches) |
| Thickness Information about the thickness of the device in different units of measurement. | 6.6 mm (millimeters) 0.66 cm (centimeters) 0.02 ft (feet) 0.26 in (inches) |
| Weight Information about the weight of the device in different units of measurement. | 298 g (grams) 0.66 lbs 10.51 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. | 177.81 cm³ (cubic centimeters) 10.8 in³ (cubic inches) |
| Colors Information about the colors in which this device is offered for sale. | White Bronze Golden |
| Materials for making the case Materials used to make the device body. | 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 2100 MHz LTE 2600 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. | Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 MSM8974AB |
| Technological process Information about technological process, on which the chip is made. Nanometers measure half the distance between elements in the processor. | 28 nm (nanometers) |
| Processor (CPU) The primary function of a mobile device's processor (CPU) is to interpret and execute instructions contained in software applications. | Krait 400 |
| 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. | 32 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. | ARMv7 |
| Level 0 cache (L0) Some processors have L0 (level 0) cache, which is faster to access than L1, L2, L3, etc. The advantage of having such memory is not only higher performance, but also reduced power consumption. | 4 kB + 4 kB (kilobytes) |
| 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 as system memory, and other levels of cache memory. 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. | 16 kB + 16 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. | 4 |
| 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). | 2300 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. | Qualcomm Adreno 330 |
| 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. | 4 |
| GPU clock speed Running speed is the clock speed of the GPU, measured in megahertz (MHz) or gigahertz (GHz). | 578 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. | 933 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. | 8.4 in (inches) 213.36 mm (millimeters) 21.34 cm (centimeters) |
| Width Approximate screen width | 7.12 in (inches) 180.93 mm (millimeters) 18.09 cm (centimeters) |
| Height Approximate screen height | 4.45 in (inches) 113.08 mm (millimeters) 11.31 cm (centimeters) |
| Aspect Ratio The ratio of the dimensions of the long side of the screen to its short side | 1.6:1 16:10 |
| Permission Screen resolution shows the number of pixels vertically and horizontally on the screen. Higher resolution means clearer image detail. | 2560 x 1600 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. | 359 ppi (pixels per inch) 141 ppcm (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. | 76.19% (percent) |
| 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 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/2.4 |
| 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. | 3.33 mm (millimeters) 32.02 mm (millimeters) *(35 mm / full frame) |
| Flash type The most common types of flashes in mobile device cameras are LED and xenon flashes. LED flashes produce softer light and, unlike brighter xenon flashes, are also used for video shooting. | LED |
| 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. | 1920 x 1080 pixels 2.07 MP (megapixels) |
Information about the maximum number of frames per second (fps) supported by the device when shooting video with 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 Geographical tags |
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 may have a negative impact on image quality when high levels photosensitivity (ISO). | 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 specific 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/2.4 |
| 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) |
| Video - frame rate/frames per second. Information about the maximum number of frames per second (fps) supported by the secondary camera when shooting video at the maximum resolution. | 30fps (frames per second) |
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.
| Browser Information about some of the main characteristics and standards supported by the device's browser. | HTML HTML5 CSS 3 |
Audio file formats/codecs
Mobile devices support different audio file formats and codecs, which respectively store and encode/decode digital audio data.
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.
| Capacity A battery's capacity indicates the maximum charge it can hold, measured in milliamp-hours. | 4900 mAh (milliamp-hours) |
| Type The type of battery is determined by its structure and, more precisely, the chemicals used. There are different types of batteries, with lithium-ion and lithium-ion polymer batteries being the most commonly used batteries in mobile devices. | Li-Ion (Lithium-ion) |
| 3G talk time 3G talk time is the period of time during which the battery charge is completely discharged during a continuous conversation on a 3G network. | 29 h (hours) 1740 min (minutes) 1.2 days |
| Characteristics Information about some additional characteristics device battery. | Fixed |
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 electromagnetic radiation to which the human body is exposed when holding a mobile device next to the ear in a conversation position. In Europe the maximum permissible value SAR for mobile devices is limited to 2 W/kg per 10 grams of human tissue. This standard established by the CENELEC Committee in accordance with IEC standards, subject to the ICNIRP guidelines of 1998. | 0.264 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. | 0.989 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. 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. | 0.63 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. | 1.56 W/kg (Watt per kilogram) |
Friends, my adventures with devices and platforms continue. The ideal is unattainable - we all know this, but the process of searching and trying to achieve that very ideal is more important and interesting than the result itself. This time, the playful little hands of an avid gadget lover got to the tablet, which has been in active use for more than three months. This is a special device for me because it is the successor to the best compact tablet of the pre-era era. iPad mini" Yes, yes, we are talking about experimental and legendary. The newcomer is also an experiment, and a very successful one, albeit with its own “cockroaches”.
Everything is relative
If we talk about modern platforms, I started actively comparing iOS and Android when Samsung “shot” with its Galaxy S and began to enthusiastically fight competitors. Then there was the first tablet phone on the market, and with the second one I took an almost year-long break, tired of the features of the alternative platform. But during this time, the “Green Robot” seriously matured, which I was able to appreciate thanks to.
By the way, one of the driving forces of Android is huge variety of devices, among which there are many very interesting specimens. I am happy with everything or almost everything about iOS and I returned to Android again precisely because of my interest in devices based on this platform. Xperia Z Ultra attracted me with its design, size, format, and I just wanted to please myself and somehow reward myself for a very difficult, but successful year in terms of work and personal achievements. Well, during operation it became clear that Android has outgrown children’s pants, and in my personal use pattern it easily replaces iOS in the area of content consumption.
This gave impetus to further search for the ideal, as a result of which the thin Japanese phablet was replaced by a “cheerful Chinese”. The gadget is good for everyone, I still consider it the best 7-inch Android tablet in terms of all its characteristics, but the spoiled iOS user still began to lack performance.
I didn’t have to think long about the replacement, because Samsung Galaxy Tab S 8.4 I've been following since the announcement. We were attracted by the minimal weight and thickness of the device, but most of all by the AMOLED display, as the memories of . Ever since Windows Mobile and the standard “night” theme in AlReader, I love the design e-book with a black background and green letters. In this mode, when reading from an AMOLED display in complete darkness, you only see letters floating in front of your eyes. A similar effect cannot be achieved with an LCD, where black in the dark is more like an illuminated gray. The same goes for watching videos in low light conditions - the “glowing black” is annoying. True, in the most modern IPS matrices, in terms of contrast in video, everything is already good, which I experienced on, but at the time of searching for a new Android gadget, the Apple tablet was not yet on sale.
The last straw was a personal test of the Galaxy Tab S 8.4. When I picked it up, I tried the display and saw that AMOLED no longer had problems with white color. And when I saw the super-saturated picture (yes, I always liked this feature in AMOLED screens) and appreciated the convenience of a narrower body than the iPad mini when working with the gadget with one hand, then I simply could not resist buying it.
Relatively cool piece of hardware
The tablet is built on the basis of a proprietary single-chip system Exynos 5 Octa with a maximum operating frequency of 1900 MHz and eight cores. This is architecture ARM big.LITTLE: one quad of cores is a high-performance computing unit for complex tasks (games, active web surfing, etc.), and the second consists of simpler solutions, the capabilities of which are sufficient for basic tasks, including video playback, and at the same time they consume significantly less energy. If necessary, the system can activate eight cores simultaneously. All these tricks are needed to save energy, but specifically for the Tab S 8.4 they don’t help much - we’ll talk about that a little later.
The video processor (GPU) is a six-core Mali-T628 MP6- it seems cool, six cores, although in fact this is not the fastest chip, although its capabilities are sufficient for most modern games (Sky Force still works worse than on the iPad mini 2Gen, not to mention the iPad Air 2, and the picture is not so smooth). 3 GB of RAM is not at all superfluous, plus 16 GB of built-in flash memory (there are models with 32 GB), which can be expanded using microSD cards.
By the way, I had a small incident with expanding disk space. With 32 GB Samsung card The tablet works perfectly, but the 64 GB Transcend Class 10 “loses” from time to time. You reboot the device, the card appears, sometimes you have to remove it from the slot and put it back. Whether the problem is in the card itself, in its thickness (bad contact) or in the tablet - I haven’t figured it out yet (it works with a laptop without problems), but I don’t recommend this for use in conjunction with the Tab S 8.4.
Battery on 4900 mAh rather weak for an 8.4-inch tablet, since with active use (watching videos, web surfing, some games) it easily runs out of charge in half a day. For example, in the 7-inch mentioned above Huawei MediaPad The X1 7 has a 5000 mAh battery (and you can safely count on a whole day of active use). You remember that the main consumer of resources is the display and an additional one and a half inches makes a difference. Add to this the high resolution of 2560×1600 pixels (359 ppi). But the gadget turned out to be very thin and light. In this regard, it is more compact than the iPad mini (thickness 6.6 mm versus 7.5 mm, weight - 298 g versus 331 g). On the other hand, the Samsung device is 12 mm taller, but almost a centimeter smaller in width. Thus, the Galaxy Tab S 8.4 is much more comfortable to hold in the palm of your hand in portrait orientation.
The second point is body material. We use glossy metal-like plastic in the frame and matte plastic that feels like rubber on the back panel with a characteristic plaster texture, which only the lazy would not mock. Nevertheless, I really liked it both to the touch and in its properties. The fact is that this plastic is grippy, it doesn’t slip at all, and holding the tablet is much more comfortable than a slippery aluminum iPad (that’s why I put a vinyl sticker on the back of my copy).
Concerning main camera, then this is an 8-megapixel module of average quality with autofocus and flash. The tablet cannot boast of cool photo capabilities, which is traditional for devices of this kind. So far, only the iPad Air 2 stands out with a pretty decent camera from the iPhone 5. But it does not have a flash, and this is sad; the flashlight in the Tab S often helps out. Front-camera equipped with a 2.1 megapixel module - quite suitable for selfies and video chat:
There is an infrared port on the right side (you can use the remote control from the tablet to household appliances do), slot for microSD cards(and SIM in the 3G model), a power button and a paired volume key. The hardware controls have a short travel, but a clear click, they are convenient to use, plus I liked that the power button is located above the volume rocker. The latter is very convenient for turning pages in AlReader and Pocket.
But I won’t express any enthusiasm about the Home button under the display. Yes, it has a fingerprint scanner, but I don’t use it. It is very far from the quality of work found in Apple devices. There are no complaints about the click - in this regard, everything is good and clear, the movement is small. I don’t like the fact that this button sticks out like a pimple, which is why it is constantly accidentally pressed when the tablet is in a “pocket” type case or just lying in a bag or backpack. Why Samsung doesn't make their Home buttons concave like Apple is beyond me.
Left and right system touch keys. Despite the protruding Home button, I want to note that I support the Koreans’ decision to use hardware keys, which greatly save screen space. Yes, in Android 4.4 and newer versions the on-screen keys are translucent or hidden, but these are unnecessary actions. It’s more convenient when they are not on the screen, but separately. Although this is a matter of taste and habit.
The micro-USB power connector and audio port are on the bottom edge. One of the two speakers hid right there:
The second speaker is located on the top edge:
Availability stereo speakers really pleased. Firstly, the sound they produce is loud, rich and very bassy. Secondly, watching the video is a pleasure. After the Tab S, the mono speaker in the iPad is sad.
Display- also a big plus for watching videos and any other activity on the tablet. In the past, I had questions about Samsung SuperAMOLED screens with a Pentile matrix structure (including), in particular, I didn’t like the white color, which was in fact rather gray. But the Tab S has no problems with this - the best tablet screen on the market. There are a few color profiles, including one close to IPS for those who like “warm” images, but I personally prefer the adaptive mode, when the picture automatically adjusts to external conditions, and we are talking not only about brightness, but also about color temperature. In addition, it has enormous brightness, which is enough even for comfortable work on a bright sunny day:
In the opposite situation, when you work with the tablet in complete darkness, everything is also fine - the picture does not dazzle and is really good for the eyes. This best screen for working in the dark or for reading before bed in complete darkness. Don’t forget about the perfect black color, because every pixel individually glows and if you need to create a completely black color, then the necessary areas simply do not light up. So it’s also great for watching videos in any conditions. And if compared with the iPad mini, then the Korean also plays in favor of aspect ratio 16:10 versus 4:3 for the Apple gadget - there is much more useful space for video and, as you can see in the photo below, the picture is larger:
You could say the Tab S has a 0.6-inch larger display, but the most interesting thing is that its widescreen video window size is identical to the larger 9.7-inch iPad.
Concerning wireless modules then there are Bluetooth 4.0, Wi-Fi (802.11 b/g/n/ac) and GPS/GLONASS, and the latter is available not only in the 3G model, but also in the one with only a Wi-Fi module. This really made me happy, but the lack of NFC made me sad - it’s like saving money on matches. There is also an infrared port. There are no complaints about the operation of the radio modules - the network works well, Bluetooth is also stable (I used the tablet in conjunction with it for quite a long time), GPS seems to be good too, but I didn’t actively test it, only for a few walks around Kyiv.
It is also worth mentioning a strange feature in the form of a pair of press-in buttons on the rear panel:
This is a hardware mount for a branded cover case. It’s a strange decision, to be honest, although in actual use it doesn’t bother me, except that it’s not very aesthetically attractive.
What can be done conclusions on the hardware component of Samsung Galaxy Tab S 8.4. The tablet is very compact, lightweight and easy to hold in one hand, which is also facilitated by the grippy plastic on the back panel. It has the best display of any device of its kind, which works perfectly both in the sun and in complete darkness, although there are questions about the system automatic adjustment brightness Often, in artificial lighting conditions or in natural light in an apartment on a cloudy day, the automation does not work very correctly and sets the brightness too low. The stereo speakers are excellent, the presence of a microSD slot was nice, but the camera is mediocre.
The main hardware disadvantage of the tablet lies in a weak battery, which simply cannot cope with a large display and the penultimate generation Samsung processor, made using a 28 nm process technology. The Galaxy Note 4 and Galaxy Alpha also have a newer 20 nm chip and are 20 percent more economical. What do I mean by "can't cope"? For example, having left for Kyiv at 8 am with a 100% charged tablet, by 4 o’clock in the afternoon it was already discharged almost to zero, and yet it was actively used for only 4 hours during a trip between cities and destinations within them. I didn’t play games, I only read, video, and the Internet (web surfing and Twitter). The second nuance that greatly impacts autonomy is the tablet’s simply terrible performance in standby mode. If you charge it 100% in the morning and don’t touch it, then by the evening it will discharge to 65-70%, just lying on the table. Normal mode Samsung's energy saving option does not help, but the extreme one does (the display turns black and white, almost all network activity and most system services are turned off), but it is only effective if you really do not touch the tablet for a long time, at least several hours . If you use it from time to time during the day, then this is not an option - because of this extreme mode energy saving it takes 10–15 seconds.
In terms of performance, this is a question, not about the tablet. In general, there are no complaints, especially compared to the Huawei MediaPad X1 7, but when compared with the iPad (the last two generations mini and Air), the interface lags are very noticeable.
I won’t recommend the tablet to game lovers, since Mali video chips are not the best for this, and the resolution is too high for the Mali-T628 MP6. I won’t lie and say that everything is bad - there are no particularly terrible brakes, but don’t expect huge performance in complex 3D games. I personally don’t like the image generated by the GPU - it’s rough, too pixelated or something, I don’t know how to explain it more precisely. I personally have an association with the fact that in the past they released 3DFX video cards of the Vodood 3xxx series and NVIDIA Riva TnT. For the former, the picture is bright and smooth in 3D, for the latter it is darkish and rough. Although, maybe all these are just personal zabubos, but I like the image generated by GPU PowerVR, Tegra and Adreno more.
Operating experience
What I mainly use a compact tablet for: YouTube (I watch a lot of videos, especially on nutrition and sports), reading, social networks (Twitter, Facebook), web surfing, watching movies or TV series on the road, reading literary books or working with news via RSS, reading pending articles in Pocket, mail. All this can be done on a large tablet, but it was precisely because of the increased comfort on the road that I switched from iPad to iPad mini. Samsung Galaxy Tab S 8.4 easily replaces the small one apple tablet in terms of content consumption, and in many ways even superior.
For video, the big plus is the aspect ratio and high-quality AMOLED display. For example, when I travel on a train, late in the evening the conductor turns off the lights there (there is no individual lighting in the reserved seat), and in the dark you see really black color in the video, and not illuminated gray, plus there are no luminous frames, as if you were just holding a picture in your hands - great feeling. If you need to download some videos from YouTube before your trip, there is a useful application OGYouTube, which allows you to save videos to an offline cache. It is not available on Google PlayMarket because the program violates the rules Google service to save the video in the cache, but it’s not difficult to find it on the Internet. All third-party YouTube clients for iOS that allowed you to cache videos have been removed from the App Store, so things are sad for now on this platform. For more than a year now, YouTube has been promising to independently implement saving videos in a cache for viewing offline (this is the reason for this policy regarding third party clients), but things are still there.
And in the last couple of months, Google has broken the proprietary YouTube client on Android, and it is unpleasantly buggy on the Galaxy Tab S - video controls simply disappear in full screen mode. You either have to rotate the tablet portrait orientation(and then the player buttons may appear), or return to windowed mode by pressing a hardware button. But these are minor things. I hope the company fixes everything.
As for films and TV series, I watch them without converting using MX Player[download from Google Play] - I have been using this player for a long time and consider it the best for Android. There are no complaints about the work - the tablet can digest any content, including FullHD, without problems. By the way, he understands out of the box microSD formatting exFAT, that is, there are no difficulties with writing files larger than 4 GB.
I use it as a Twitter client Phoenix[download from Google Play] is a very convenient application, almost Tweetbot, and the presence of a built-in YouTube player even surpasses it, but on the Tab S there is one problem - the font is small, even if you set it to “Huge” in the options. By the way, the problem is with the small font and interface elements in third party applications- This is a long-standing disease of Samsung tablets. It was similar with the Galaxy Tab 7.7, but then the problem concerned the poor adaptation of the Android 3.x interface for small tablets - it basically didn’t exist. Now the problem is that the resolution is too high and that the Tab S 8.4 uses the Android interface for large tablets, and not for 7-inch ones. In theory, you can correct the PPI value, but for this you need to do Root. I’m too lazy to bother yet, and if I do, I’ll most likely install third-party firmware, for example, based on CyanogenMod.
I use it for web surfing Chrome[download from Google Play ] and I like it, especially the ability to set minimum size font. Although because of this, the layout of sites sometimes breaks, plus from time to time I encounter “dancing” fonts (a well-known “feature” of Chrome). But there are no problems with WebKit, unlike iOS 8. They are expressed in the fact that some comment forms and search on the page in WordPress are buggy. In general, it’s crazy that WebKit is buggy in iOS - this has always been the prerogative of Android and I was always upset by the inability to properly edit errors in my materials via WordPress on Android devices, but now everything is exactly the opposite and this saddens me even more, since the platform Apple remains central to personal work.
WITH Lingua Leo[download from Google Play or App Store] the situation is also sad, but only in the case of a Korean tablet. For example, on the NVIDIA Shield Tablet this program looks great, but on the Tab S everything is very small.
About the shell TouchWiz I didn’t write much, because only the lazy didn’t scold her. It's really useful for the Galaxy Note thanks to its excellent stylus support, but for a tablet it doesn't have much to offer. Retarded color design, stuck in the days of Android 2.x, the same crooked and scary folders and the inability to work with them normally in the application menu (you need to press the " Options", Then " Change"and only after that you can place shortcuts in folders and move them inside), a completely unnecessary and strange magazine function, which supposedly should demonstrate the latest news and activity on social networks in a convenient format, but in fact it is more convenient to track all this in the corresponding clients, through RSS or on Flipboard. The reason why I did not replace this rarity with another launcher is only that the tablet is not the main one, it is used for consuming content and, in principle, I am satisfied with the functionality of TouchWiz. And the fact that he is scary, you can come to terms with that. And I don’t want too much hanging around in my memory. You can’t just throw the Samsung shell out of there, and the RAM is not rubber, despite the fact that it is 3 GB. In fact free RAM usually remains no more than 800 MB, the rest is occupied by Samsung and Android services.
What's the result?
Samsung knows how to make cool, technically very strong devices. The same Galaxy Tab S was clearly released under the slogan: “ We have the coolest displays", - and indeed it is. Better quality tablet display does not exist on the market, just like the Galaxy Note 4 has the highest quality screen among smartphones. Although, in fairness, it is worth noting that the iPhone 6 has the best telephone display on the market, based on an LCD matrix, judging by the data. Let's return to the tablet. An ideal display, very powerful hardware, great sound, minimal dimensions for an 8.4-inch device, excellent communication capabilities (the 3G/LTE model can even be used as a phone), but a weak battery and sometimes crooked software. The problem with the software can be solved with third-party firmware, which also partially eliminates the problem with the battery. This is what I will do in the future.
In general, there was a great desire to sell the Samsung Galaxy Tab S 8.4 after purchase, but now is not the best time for this. The unstable economic situation does not encourage people to purchase tablets, and they are reluctant to sell it too cheap after 4 months of use. Still, in terms of weight and size characteristics, display and sound, this is one of the best representatives of its kind on the market. At least if we're talking about about a gadget for consuming content.
So a thin tablet with a gorgeous display will wait a little until the owner again has a thirst for adventure, after which it will find a second life with new firmware, and if the experience is successful, then I will definitely write about it. But not before I tell you about my experience. iPad operation Air 2, which is wonderful (albeit with its own cockroaches), especially in conjunction with the keyboard cover
Samsung is a company that has been on everyone's lips for a long time. This is one of the few manufacturers whose products are not outright failures, much less of poor quality. Some people don’t like the plastic casing of their smartphones, others are not satisfied with the software shell or the price. But from year to year the company releases more and more technologically advanced mobile devices.
Samsung Galaxy Tab S 8.4 is significantly different from its predecessor. With the same high screen resolution of the QHD standard, a SuperAMOLED matrix is used here. The tablet has a different processor installed, the amount of RAM has been increased, and support for even more capacious memory cards has been added. There are other additions as well. For example, the Tab S has a fingerprint scanner.
In addition, Samsung worked on the design and reducing the size of the device. In fact, we have to get acquainted not just with a more recent modification, but for the most part with a new model.
South Korean company this moment has practically monopolized the niche of eight-inch Android tablets with advanced hardware and high-resolution displays. As in the case of the Galaxy Tab Pro 8.4, it will only have to compete with a few previously released models from Apple, LG and ASUS, or a few “Chinese” ones. In all cases, some compromises will have to be made. At the same time, the Tab S, like the Tab Pro, is even more rapidly moving away from its competitors in terms of its level of technology. The only thing that can stop you from buying is the price of the new product, which is quite high and fluctuates on average around 20 thousand rubles. Only this factor does not allow Samsung to lead with complete confidence against the backdrop of more affordable solutions.
The new tablet is available in white and dark gray with LTE and Wi-Fi only. The storage can receive 16 or 32 GB of flash memory (according to preliminary information, the price for the 32 GB version is unknown). We received a white tablet with 4G and 16 GB of memory for testing.
Let's start our detailed review of the Galaxy Tab S 8.4 with a brief description of its parameters.
Specifications
| Device type | Tablet |
| operating system | Android 4.4.2, Magazine UX |
| Housing materials | Plastic |
| Screen | 8.4", SuperAMOLED, 2560 x 1600, 359 ppi |
| CPU | Exynos 5240, 4 cores Cortex-A15 1.9 GHz and 4 Cortex-A7 1.3 GHz cores |
| Video processor | Mali-T628 MP6 |
| RAM | 3 GB |
| Built-in storage | 16 GB |
| Memory card slot | Micro SD (up to 128 GB) |
| Interfaces, communication and data transfer | USB 2.0 (MHL), Wi-Fi (b/g/n/ac), Bluetooth 4.0, (A) GPS/GLONASS, 2G (850/1900), 3G (850/2100), 4G (800/2600), IR port |
| SIM slots | 1 piece, micro-SIM |
| Cameras | 8 megapixel main with autofocus and flash, 2.1 megapixel front |
| Battery | 4900 mAh |
| Sensors | Accelerometer, gyroscope, lighting, proximity, geomagnetic, fingerprint, Hall |
| Dimensions | 212.8 x 125.6 x 6.6 mm |
| Weight | 298 g |
| Price | 18,000 – 23,000 rubles |
Tab S 8.4 has become even more compact and lighter. The hardware is now more impressive, and the fingerprint scanner and new design bring the tablet in line with the latest Samsung devices.
There are not many weak points here. Except that there is no NFC, and the battery for all this power and a power-hungry screen does not look the most capacious. And some potential buyers will traditionally have a negative attitude towards the all-plastic body and oversaturated SuperAMOLED screen. This is a matter of taste.
Packaging and equipment
The hero of the review arrived for testing without packaging or delivery kit, so we will simply list what the buyer can find in the box after purchasing the device.
A small cardboard box will contain minimum required. As usual, there are no surprises here:
- Charger;
- USB cable;
- User guide.
Let's begin the external inspection of the laboratory guest.
Appearance and design
Galaxy Tab S 8.4 is made in a plastic non-separable case. The entire front panel is occupied by protective glass, under which the screen is located. It is slightly deeper in relation to the ends.
The back is covered with plastic that imitates perforated leather (like the Galaxy S5). Only here perforation is not so frequent. The ends are framed by a plastic edging, stylized as polished golden metal. Here it is worth noting once again that the new product can be found in white and dark gray.
The appearance of the device is typical for the latest generation Samsung devices. The case is very thin, its thickness is 6.6 mm over the entire area. The edges of the back panel and corners of the tablet are smoothed.
The device is comfortable to hold and does not seem big. The owner of an average-sized hand can even pick up the tablet like a regular smartphone and put it to his ear for a conversation without any problems. The texture of the back cover allows the device not to slip out of your hands.
Two strange buttons appeared on the back panel. It turns out that they are needed to attach the branded case.
The gadget is designed for use primarily in portrait orientation. This is evidenced by the location of most elements on the body.
The height of the device is 212.8 mm, width – 125.6 mm. Galaxy Tab S is noticeably more compact than its predecessor. The frames on the sides of the display are very narrow, at the bottom and top they are somewhat wider. The device weighs 298 g, which is 37 g less than the Galaxy Tab Pro 8.4. The tablet feels light for its size, fortunately the weight is evenly distributed throughout the body.
All connectors and buttons are distributed across several ends. The surface of the rear panel is rough and hardly attracts fingerprints. The white color of the case has a slight pearlescent tint.
Above the screen are the front camera, speaker, light and proximity sensors. The speaker is equipped with a medium-sized slot covered with a convex grille. Below it is the company logo. There is no event indicator or charge level.
At the bottom center of the front panel there is a wide hardware Home button with a fingerprint scanner. Two touch buttons located on the sides and visible without backlight. The buttons have a white backlight, which is bright enough to be clearly visible in low light.
The main camera is now centered at the top of the back panel, rather than on the edge. Its module protrudes slightly above the level of the case and, most likely, will be scratched. There is a flash located under the camera.
At the bottom there is a USB connector, a call microphone hole, a 3.5 mm headphone jack and one of two speakers.
The upper end is reserved for the second speaker and noise-canceling microphone. Thus, this model solves the problem of the Galaxy Tab Pro, where the speakers were located at one end. Now you can get a stereo effect and uniform sound on both sides of the screen. In this case, the speakers will not overlap when gripping the device with both hands.
The double volume control button and the power button are on the right side. Here in the center there is an IR port window. Just below are the slots for Micro SIM cards and memory cards in MicroSD format.
These connectors are closed with tight plugs.
There are no elements on the left side.
The quality of materials and their processing is very good. The plastic is of sufficient thickness. The case is assembled very well, nothing creaks or plays. The fit of the parts is precise and tight. Controls and connectors are conveniently located. The size of the buttons is sufficient; they are pressed with a short stroke and a quiet but noticeable click. During active use and under heavy loads, the tablet body heats up slightly. The vibration motor works well.
The design of the device fits into the overall design of the 2014 line of smartphones and tablets. There will be no discoveries for the user here. The only thing that will amaze you is the truly small thickness of the gadget.
And now another model of the same format, the Samsung Galaxy Tab S 8.4, has fallen into our hands. Despite the same diagonal and screen resolution, as well as a set of connectors and wireless modules, there are quite a lot of differences between these two tablets, for example, the hero of our review is noticeably thinner and lighter, it has a Super AMOLED display, not Super Clear LCD, an eight-core platform, and not a quad-core one, and in addition there are such pleasant nuances as an original accessory mounting system and a fingerprint scanner.
Design, materials
The Samsung Galaxy Tab S 8.4 tablet looks like a solid “A”. Claims to appearance This device is unlikely to occur even to an inveterate esthete, since this time Korean designers were able to create a truly elegant and minimalistic image. In addition, the plastic case, which is only 6.6 millimeters thick, is surprisingly rigid and tightly built.
The tablet is available in two color versions - “dazzling white” (Dazzling White) and “titanium bronze” (Titanium Bronze). In both cases, not only the back cover of the case, but also its front panel is made in the main color, and a shading edging on the side edges is used to visually separate both parts. We got our hands on a light version of the design of the Samsung Galaxy Tab S 8.4, and that’s what we’ll be talking about in our review.
The model is made in the not very common 8.4-inch format, while the vast majority of tablets of similar dimensions are equipped with 8 or 9-inch screens. dimensions the devices are 125.6 x 212.8 x 6.6 mm, weight – 294 grams. For comparison, the thickness of one of the main competitors of the Apple iPad mini is 7.5 mm, and the weight is 331 grams, and this despite the fact that the Apple tablet is equipped with a smaller 7.9-inch screen. Comparison of other dimensions is not entirely correct, since Samsung uses a wider format, but for a general understanding of the situation, it is worth mentioning that the Galaxy Tab S 8.4 is about a centimeter longer and the same centimeter narrower than the iPad mini.
The front panel of the Samsung Galaxy Tab S 8.4 tablet is covered with protective Gorilla Glass with a high-quality oleophobic coating. The screen border along the long sides of the body is only a few millimeters; it does not distract from what is happening on the screen at all.
Along the entire perimeter of the case there is a narrow edge-edging of golden color, which helps to make the tablet visually even more compact than it actually is. The finishing material looks like metal, but in fact it is just plastic painted to look like metal, and the replacement can only be detected by secondary signs, such as the lack of characteristic coolness.
The back cover of the Samsung Galaxy Tab S 8.4 is finished with the same “perforated” plastic that is used in Samsung smartphone Galaxy S5. In fact, there are no holes in the material, these are just small indentations that make the back of the tablet more attractive in appearance and more pleasant to the touch. The surface of the plastic has a chameleon effect, that is, it changes color from pure white to slightly golden when the viewing angle changes.
Samsung Galaxy Tab S Simple Cover and Book Cover
For those who cannot imagine using a tablet without additional protection, Samsung company offers to purchase two types of branded covers: Galaxy Tab S Simple Cover for $39 and Galaxy Tab S Book Cover for $59.
The accessories are offered in various colors and, apart from the price, differ from each other in that the Simple Cover covers only the screen, while the Book Cover completely covers the body and, in addition, allows you to tilt the tablet at three different angles. Fixation on the tablet is carried out using the same round holes on the back panel.
Controls, connectors
At the bottom of the screen edge of the Samsung Galaxy Tab S 8.4 you can find the three-button control unit familiar to devices from the South Korean company. There is a hardware Home key in the center, flanked by a pair of Recent and Back touch buttons.
In a passive state, the touch buttons look like gray icons, but as soon as you touch them, the white one turns on LED lights. In the settings (Display -> Advanced -> Key backlighting) you can select a lighting interval of 1.5 or 6 seconds, and also keep the backlight on or off all the time.
The Home button is finished with a golden border, which matches the overall style of the entire tablet. With its help, it is very convenient to unlock the screen from the front panel, without resorting to the standard power off/lock button on the side. In addition, this button has a built-in fingerprint scanner, which we will talk about a little later.
In the center of the upper part of the front panel there is a silver Samsung logo and a speaker. By the way, it is present only in the 3G version of the tablet codenamed SM-T705, which can be used as a very large smartphone. A little to the right you can find a dual window for light and proximity sensors, and finally, a 2.1 megapixel front camera is placed in the very corner.
The back panel of the Samsung Galaxy Tab S 8.4 tablet contains only service information, an 8 megapixel main camera with a flash, and two “pseudo buttons” designed for attaching branded accessories. The camera lens protrudes noticeably above the surface of the panel, so careless handling can easily scratch the protective glass. The flash is placed in a separate “window”, which the designers decided to provide with a thin golden edging.
The upper edge of the tablet contains a false speaker grille and a digital microphone, the lower edge contains another pair of the same elements, supplemented by a combined audio port and micro-USB connector. Note that the tablet's USB connector supports OTG and MHL technologies, which allows you to easily connect compatible peripherals and display images on an external screen using appropriate adapters.
The left side of the Samsung Galaxy Tab S 8.4 is completely free, which is more than compensated by the completely filled right side. At the very top there is a power button and a volume rocker, exactly in the middle there is an infrared sensor behind which you can find slots for micro-SIM and microSD memory cards.
Fingerprint's scanner
You should start working with the fingerprint scanner in the Samsung Galaxy Tab S 8.4 from the corresponding settings item, where you will be asked to gently swipe your fingertip downwards eight times in a row. Home key. In total, you can register up to three fingerprints in the system, which will allow you to give two more family members access to the tablet, or just in case, remember a couple more fingerprints in reserve.
Along with the fingerprint, you will be asked to provide an alternative alphanumeric password, which will help you log into the system in case of problems with the sensor. If the fingerprint does not pass the first time, the verification system will give prompts such as “swipe across the entire panel”, “... in the center”, “... slower”, etc.
In addition to the incorrect fingerprint scanning technique, excessive excitement or rain can prevent you from unlocking the screen, since the sensor has difficulty recognizing wet fingers. After five unsuccessful attempts, the Samsung Galaxy Tab S 8.4 will close the ability to log in with a fingerprint for 30 seconds, and after fifteen errors in a row, the tablet can only be unlocked using the same alternative password.
Super AMOLED display
The Samsung Galaxy Tab S 8.4 tablet is equipped with an 8.4-inch Super AMOLED display with a resolution of 2560 x 1600 pixels, so the pixel density is 360 PPI. For reference, the pixel density of Apple tablets is 326 PPI for the 7.9-inch iPad mini with Retina and 264 PPI for the 9.7-inch iPad Air. Subpixels are placed according to the usual PenTile scheme for AMOLED matrices, but taking into account high density their placement makes it almost impossible to discern its characteristic features by eye.
The developers claim that their Super AMOLED matrix displays more than 90% of the Adobe RGB color space, while a typical tablet LCD display is capable of approximately 70% coverage of this space. It is impossible not to mention the radically black color of the Super AMOLED matrix, which made it possible to increase the contrast level to an impressive figure of 100,000:1.
The characteristics declared by the manufacturer were confirmed by instrumental measurements. In particular, the minimum screen backlight brightness was 2 cd/m2, the maximum was 300 cd/m2, and the black brightness was only 0.03 cd/m2, which ultimately gives a contrast ratio of 100,000:1. The brightness is adjusted manually or automatically based on readings from the light sensor. There is also an option to auto-adjust the screen depending on the display mode, which helps save battery power.
The owner of the Samsung Galaxy Tab S 8.4 tablet will be able to choose the most suitable screen mode from the options “Main”, “Photo AMOLED” and “Movie AMOLED”. The first preset looks the most calm and natural; it is perfect for those who do not like AMOLED screens for their overly bright “screaming” color scheme. The “Photo” preset enlivens the image a little, but the “Film” mode shows everything that a screen of this type is capable of (remember, more than 90% of the Adobe RGB color space).
Basic mode
In addition to the three main display modes, you can choose two additional options. “Adaptive Display” automatically optimizes image parameters (color range, saturation, sharpness) to achieve the most successful results in the Gallery, Camera, Browser, Video, Books applications. Reading mode adjusts the screen so that it is most comfortable for the user to perceive text.
Photo AMOLED mode
Note that the screen timeout can be adjusted from 15 seconds to 10 minutes, and you can also use the optional “smart shutdown” function. If you're annoyed by the screen being forced to turn off while you're viewing something, the tablet will start tracking your face with the front camera and won't turn off the backlight while you're looking at the screen.
AMOLED Movie Mode
Capacitive touch screen Samsung Galaxy Tab S 8.4 supports up to 10 simultaneous touches. The responsiveness of the screen is not satisfactory, but in the settings you can further increase its sensitivity for use in the cold season, when your hands are warmed by gloves. Viewing Angles Super screen AMOLED are at a very decent level; artifacts in the form of a green tint on a white background can only be seen from an acute viewing angle.
Hardware platform, benchmarks
The Samsung Galaxy Tab S 8.4 tablet is based on a very powerful eight-core processor Samsung Exynos 5420 Octa with big.LITTLE architecture, made using a 28 nm process technology.
Depending on the type of tasks performed, the processor uses four productive ARM Cortex-A15 cores with an operating frequency of 1.9 GHz or four energy-efficient ARM Cortex-A7 cores with an operating frequency of 1.3 GHz. Unlike the predecessor processor Exynos 5410 Octa, all eight cores of the 5420 chip can work simultaneously, supporting a fair eight-core mode.
AnTuTu, Quadrant, Vellamo
A2, BaseMark X, Epic Citadel, GFX Bench
The Exynos 5420 Octa system-on-chip also integrates six-core ARM Mali-T628 graphics with an operating frequency of 600 MHz and a dual-channel 32-bit LPDDR3(E)-1866 memory controller. The RAM capacity is 3 GB, and the built-in storage capacity is 16 GB. The tablet is equipped with a slot for MicroSD memory cards, and models up to 128 GB are supported.
All variants of the Samsung Galaxy Tab S 8.4 are equipped with GPS/Glonass, Bluetooth 4.0 and Wi-Fi modules, while the latter can not only operate in two frequency bands (2.4 and 5.0 GHz), but also supports the latest 802.11ac standard . In addition to the “Wi-Fi only” modification of the SM-T700 tablet, there is also a 4G version of the SM-T705 with a built-in modem that supports both data transfer and voice calls.
The Samsung Galaxy Tab S 8.4 tablet is equipped with a 4900 mAh lithium-ion battery, a full charge of which, according to the manufacturer, should be enough for 10 hours of Internet browsing, 12 hours of watching videos and 80 hours of listening to music. Our test measurements showed very similar results, as can be easily seen by looking at the results table.
Battery life
| Mode | Battery drains in 2 hours | Approximate operating time (100% to 0%), h:min |
| Music | 3% | 66:40 |
| Reading | 16% | 12:30 |
| Navigation | 40% | 5:00 |
| Watch HD video | 14% | 14:15 |
| Watching HD videos from Youtube | 22% | 9:00 |
| Game (GFXBench) | 622 points (11.1 fps) | 3:28 |
The % value displays by what percentage the battery was discharged during 2 hours of testing, the approximate operating time was obtained by linear extrapolation based on 2 hours of operation in this mode. You can read more about the testing methodology here -.
By the way, in addition to the standard mode, the tablet supports energy saving and extreme energy saving modes. In the latter case, the system limits the use of applications and communication modules, and also turns the tablet screen from color to black and white, but it promises to last 12 days on a 60% charged battery.
Camera
Like any other modern tablet, the Samsung Galaxy Tab S 8.4 is equipped with a pair of cameras. If there is nothing special to say about the front camera, except that it is two megapixel, then it is worth talking a little more about the main 8 megapixel camera with built-in flash.
Despite the fact that the main camera is equipped with an 8 megapixel sensor, by default it offers photographing 6 megapixel frames with a resolution of 3264 by 1836 pixels and an aspect ratio of 16:9. A photo with maximum detail will have characteristics of 3264 by 2448 pixels and an aspect ratio of 4:3. Interestingly, the system also supports square photos a la Instagram with a resolution of 2448 by 2448 pixels.
The interface of the “Camera” application will, in general terms, be familiar to any mobile photographer, but there are some improvements here. The name of the current shooting mode is displayed at the top of the main window, and you can change it to another in the lower right corner. Initially, the modes “Auto”, “Retouching”, “Serial”, “Panorama”, “Rich tones (HDR)” and “Double-sided shooting” are offered, while by clicking the corresponding icon you can load several additional modes, for example “Sound and Photo” and “Sports”.
In addition to the preview of the last frame and the Mode button, here you can also find two more separate round shutter buttons for taking photos and videos, as well as the current storage location for photos ( inner memory or memory card) and mode indicators. On the left, by default, there are only buttons for changing cameras and the settings gear, but by clicking on this same gear you can see three icons for controlling settings, such as flash, photo size and ISO selection.
Naturally, the quality of the photos depends on the conditions in which you photograph them, but a good 8 megapixel camera, built-in flash and a good set of available adjustments and shooting modes allow you to take high-quality photographs in almost any conditions.
Interface
The Samsung Galaxy Tab S 8.4 runs on the Android 4.4 “KitKat” operating system, complemented by the proprietary Samsung TouchWiz shell and a whole range of additional features. One of the most interesting features of Multi Window is that you can work with two different applications, for example, calling a friend and checking the news.
We cannot fail to mention the SideSync 3.0 service, which allows you to combine your tablet with an Android smartphone for two-way data exchange. Samsung KNOX allows you to protect your content and software, Remote application PC will help you gain remote access to your home or office PC, and the “Children” mode will certainly be appreciated by parents who are not afraid to share their tablet with small children. The proprietary S Voice system will be able to perform tasks using voice commands, and S Planner will help you optimally plan your work day.
Even the thoroughly studied desktop of the Samsung Galaxy Tab S 8.4 contains not only application shortcuts, widgets and the system notification bar, but also a call button file manager, as well as a drop-down toolbar for quick access to five selected applications. Interestingly, you can add not only system applications to this drop-down panel, but also any other installed applications.
Video review of the Samsung Galaxy Tab S 8.4 tablet
Results
The Samsung Galaxy Tab S 8.4 tablet turned out to be very interesting, and we had no complaints about any of its key parameters. The design is excellent, the weight and size parameters are best in class, a full set of connectors, communication modules and additional functions (fingerprint scanner, IrDA, camera with flash, etc.), 8.4-inch Super AMOLED display has a “super resolution” of 2560×1600 points, but the powerful eight-core Samsung Exynos 5420 Octa platform paired with 3 GB of RAM easily copes with most typical tasks. In fact, the only things we didn’t like were the periodic slowdown of the rich TouchWiz interface and the rather high cost of the device; in all other respects, the Samsung Galaxy Tab S 8.4 is close to ideal, for which it deserves the title “Editor’s Choice.”