Samsung Galaxy Tab S3 – Our first take with the new Android tablet. Samsung Galaxy Tab S3 review - it came to pick the apple from the palm Is it worth buying the Galaxy Tab S3

Something important happened recently for anyone interested in global technology journalism: Walt Mossberg announced his retirement after years of service at the Wall Street Journal, Recode and, in recent years, The Verge. In an article summarizing his 26 years in the industry, in addition to many interesting generalizations (), he makes this obvious point - despite the fact that the iPad has become the most important gadget after the iPhone over the past 10 years, and the tablet market has experienced explosive growth, devices This type could not be replaced by personal computers, and remained frozen between smartphones, which absorb all the functions a person needs, and desktop laptops, which hold their niche.

Many companies have already curtailed their attempts to make a “real iPad killer” or, moreover, stopped even trying to make the most ordinary tablet - the bedside gadget never came to every home, and when the diagonal of the average smartphone reached 5.5-5.8 inches, The “multimedia-surfer” scenario for its use simply collapsed. But there is still hope for replacing the laptop - at least partially. Here, the only thing that distinguishes a tablet from a laptop is a cloth keyboard (prominent representatives are Microsoft Surface and). Apple was and is being presented as a cross between these “desktop tablets” and a mobile device. The Samsung Galaxy Tab S3 is heading in the same direction - it is a direct competitor, with a display of the same diagonal and resolution, with a connected keyboard case and, of course, with a stylus. By the way, regarding the last point, Koreans can say with a grin: “We knew it!”

An important feature of the Tab S3 is the platform on which it is based. Samsung is proud, and deservedly so, of its own systems-on-a-chip, equipping its smartphones for the global market only with them. But the tablet was released immediately for everyone with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 on board - and turned out to be the only modern device of this format with last year’s flagship platform. This decision looks strange considering that the Exynos 7880 is at least no worse. But in any case, you can count on a full-fledged performance dispute with at least the iPad Pro 9.7.

⇡ Technical specifications

	Samsung Galaxy Tab S3	Apple iPad Pro 9.7	Apple iPad Pro
Display	9.7 inches, resolution 2048 × 1536, 264 dpi; AMOLED matrix	9.7 inches, resolution 2048 × 1536 (Retina Display), 264 ppi; IPS matrix	12.9 inches, resolution 2732 × 2048 pixels (Retina Display), 264 ppi; IPS matrix
CPU	Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 MSM8996: two Kryo cores, 2.15 GHz + two Kryo cores, 1.6 GHz; 14 nm process technology	Apple A9X: two Apple Twister cores (ARMv8 A32/A64); frequency 2.16 GHz; 16 nm process technology; Apple M9 coprocessor	Apple A9X: two Apple Twister cores (ARMv8 A32/A64); frequency 2.26 GHz; 16 nm process technology; Apple M9 coprocessor
Graphics controller	Adreno 530, 624 MHz	PowerVR Series 7XT (12 cores)	PowerVR Series 7XT (12 cores)
RAM	4 GB	2 GB	4 GB
Flash memory	32 GB	32/128/256 GB	32/128/256 GB
Memory card support	Yes	No	No
Connectors	1 × USB Type-C	1× Lightning 1 × 3.5mm headset jack	1× Lightning 1 × 3.5mm headset jack
SIM cards	Nano-SIM (optional)	Nano-SIM (optional)	Nano-SIM (optional)
cellular	3G: UMTS 850, 900, 1900, 2100 MHz; 4G: LTE Cat. 6 (300 Mbps) band 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 17, 20, 28, 40	2G: GSM/EDGE 850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz; 4G: LTE Cat. 4 (150 Mbps) band 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 38, 39, 40, 41	2G: GSM/EDGE 850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz; 3G: UMTS / HSDPA 850, 1700, 1900, 2100 MHz; CDMA CDMA/EV-DO 800/1900 MHz; 4G: LTE Cat. 4 (150 Mbps) band 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 38, 39, 40, 41
WiFi	802.11a/b/g/n/ac, 2.4/5 GHz; MIMO 2×2 support	802.11a/b/g/n/ac, 2.4/5 GHz; MIMO 2×2 support	802.11a/b/g/n/ac, 2.4/5 GHz; MIMO 2×2 support
Bluetooth	4.2	4.2	4.2
NFC	Eat	Eat	Eat
IR port	No	Eat	Eat
Navigation	GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, BeiDou, Galileo		GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS (optional)
Sensors	Accelerometer, fingerprint scanner, gyroscope, geomagnetic sensor, magnetometer (digital compass), light sensor	Light Sensor, Proximity Sensor, Accelerometer/Gyroscope, Magnetometer (Digital Compass), Barometer, Fingerprint Sensor, TrueTone Sensors	Light sensor, proximity sensor, accelerometer/gyroscope, magnetometer (digital compass), barometer, fingerprint scanner
Main camera	13 MP, autofocus, flash, 4K video shooting	iSight: 12 MP, autofocus, TrueTone flash, Live Photo shooting, 4K video shooting	iSight: 8 MP, autofocus, no flash
Front-camera	5 MP; no autofocus, no flash	5 MP; without autofocus, Retina Flash (display)	1.2 MP (1280 ×960), back-illuminated matrix; no autofocus, no flash
Nutrition	Non-removable battery 22.2 Wh (6000 mAh, 3.7 V)	Non-removable battery 27.3 Wh (7184 mAh, 3.7 V)	Non-removable battery 38.8 Wh (10307 mAh, 3.77 V)
Size	237.3 × 169 × 6 mm	240 × 169.5 × 6.1 mm	305.7 × 220.6 × 6.9 mm
Weight	429 grams (without built-in modem) 434 grams (with built-in modem)	437 grams (without built-in modem) 444 grams (with built-in modem)	713 grams (without built-in modem) 723 grams (with built-in modem)
Housing protection	No	No	No
operating system	Android 7.0 Nougat with Samsung proprietary shell	iOS 9	iOS 9
Current price	49,990 rubles (Wi-Fi), 59,990 rubles (Wi-Fi + LTE)	From 44,990 rubles (32 GB, Wi-Fi) to 68,990 rubles (256 GB, Wi-Fi + LTE)	From 52,990 rubles (32 GB, Wi-Fi) to 82,990 rubles (256 GB, Wi-Fi + LTE)

⇡ Appearance, ergonomics and software

For the most part, companies don't invent anything new when developing tablets, adhering to a simple rule: make the smartphone bigger, change the proportions a little - and you're done! In this case, we have a certain average image of a Samsung smartphone with enlarged frames around the screen, a large number of speakers and connectors for a keyboard case on the left side.

As in the latest generations of Galaxy S smartphones, the tablet has a glass back - aluminum is used only for the edges. At the same time, Samsung does not disclose what kind of tempered glass protects the screen and back - Gorilla Glass 3, 4, 5 or another brand altogether, but I did not notice any problems with micro-scratches, which are typical here, in particular. The back surface remained clean and smooth even after a test cycle of several weeks.

Samsung Galaxy Tab S3, front panel: under the display - a Home key with a fingerprint scanner and two touch navigation keys; above the display - front camera and ambient light sensor

Samsung Galaxy Tab S3 is offered in one single color: the front panel is painted black, the edges and back are silver. Keyboard cover - grey. Everything is extremely neat, the gadget is very thin (6 mm, thinner than most smartphones and one tenth of a millimeter thinner than the iPad Pro 9.7 - that’s right!), you can, in principle, even use the term “beautiful” - I’m just not a connoisseur of the tablet genre in industrial design.

Samsung Galaxy Tab S3, bottom edge: two more speakers, as well as a mini-jack and a USB Type-C port

The competition with the iPad Pro is also obvious if you look at the weight of the Tab S3 - at least a few grams, but you definitely need to win! The Korean tablet weighs 434 grams (in the LTE version), and the iPad Pro 9.7 in the same version weighs 444 grams. Or a rather clumsy slot for a stylus in the keyboard case - at least there is one! Yes, Samsung also hasn’t figured out how to place the pen in the tablet body itself without increasing its thickness and attaching crutches - but at least somehow! True, the same weight reduction also has a downside - it was achieved, among other things, due to a less capacious battery: 6000 mAh versus 7184.

Samsung Galaxy Tab S3, right side: slot for memory card and nano-SIM, two microphones and two keys - power and volume control

The Galaxy Tab S3 uses a proprietary control system with a hardware Home key, which has a built-in fingerprint scanner. It is physical and responds to pressure - to be honest, I like these buttons much more than touch buttons like those on the iPhone 7, the latest HTC or Xiaomi Mi6. On the sides of the main key there are two touch navigation elements, classic for Android.

The fingerprint scanner is quite traditional - it uses a capacitive sensor that is sensitive to microdamage to the skin; As long as the fingerprint is in its original state, the device will unlock almost instantly.

Using fingerprints, you can both unlock the device and log into your Samsung account and log in to your favorite websites.

Samsung_Galaxy_Tab_S3_ui

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S3 runs Android 7.0 Nougat with the Samsung proprietary shell installed on top, which is no longer called TouchWiz and, in general, has become much “lighter,” cleaner and more understandable in recent years. I would like to note the good adaptation of the shell to a large screen and its non-standard aspect ratio (4:3 instead of 16:9 or 2:1 for smartphones), neat icons, a separate screen for Briefing news reports and a reasonable set of additional software. In addition to Samsung's proprietary applications (Flow for tablet and smartphone collaboration, children's mode, browser, calendar, notes, and so on), there are a couple of optional programs (Soundcamp for virtual playing of musical instruments and TV Player for watching TV programs - and this is only a shortcut for installations, the application itself still needs to be downloaded) and Microsoft Office tools are more than appropriate.

There seems to be nothing to complain about the Samsung shell being excessively intrusive, but it’s quite possible to rejoice at its fast operation and overall consistency.

⇡ Display and sound

Apple iPads have always been famous for their displays - excellent detail, especially with the transition to the retina standard, ideal settings, all sorts of bells and whistles like . But Samsung also has something to argue with the Cupertines who are proud of their “ideal for designers” displays. The objection consists of six letters: AMOLED. It’s high time to leave talk about some kind of “not so” color rendering or “poor” Pentile in the past; modern OLED displays are simply better than IPS in everything. But to realize the advantage, you still need to fine-tune the tablet display. And Samsung did it.

The Tab S3 uses a 9.7-inch matrix with a resolution of 2048 × 1536. The pixel density is 264 ppi - exactly the same as the iPad Pro 9.7. You can see the pixels if you want, but the desire for this must be really strong. This, of course, is not 400-500 ppi, as on current smartphones, but for tablets it is an elite level. It's also notable that the display can display HDR content. When there is enough of it, you can rejoice, but for now it’s just a line on your resume.

The contrast is conditionally infinite. Black here, even in contrasting scenes, turns out to be truly black, and not a surrogate represented by a set of shades of gray. Viewing angles are free - even if you look at the screen from a very acute angle, the contrast does not drop, and the colors are only slightly distorted.

Brightness is not impressive in purely digital terms - 326 cd/m2 versus 511 for the iPad pro 9.7. But in fact, in bright light, the displays behave approximately the same - it is comfortable to work with both devices. The polarizing layer is in place, the glare of the Tab S3 screen is very moderate.

The display is set up perfectly. However, to get this excellent setting, I highly recommend switching the operating mode from “adaptive”, which is set by default, to “basic”. White will immediately seem a little more “yellowish” to the eye - but this is because in the “adaptive” mode everything is displayed in cooler tones than required. Both for watching movies and for working with photos or illustrations, greater compliance with sRGB standards is beneficial.

Here are the results of measurements in the “main” mode. The temperature of shades of gray hovers around 6500 K - this is the “gold standard”. Average gamma of shades of gray: 2.16, gamma curves dance a little, but not too critical.

The color gamut is higher than normal, but the color accuracy is impressive. The average DeltaE deviation across the Color Checker spectrum (grayscale + extended color gamut) is within the normal range: 2.58, and the deviation beyond the boundaries of the “green” (reference) zone occurred only due to deviations in “cool” gray tones. The situation is exactly like the iPad Pro 9.7 - only with an immeasurable advantage in contrast.

Results of measurements of Samsung Galaxy Tab S3 display parameters in “adaptive” mode

When you turn on the “adaptive” mode, the indicators drop for all settings - I provided the graphs above.

The world's first tablet to support HDR video.

Watching the dark episode of The Man in the High Castle on the Samsung Galaxy Tab S3's HDR panel feels like the Apple iPad Pro has gone Android.

The new tablet offers quite a lot. First of all, it is a worthy competitor to Apple from the camp of Android tablets, capable of putting to shame even thanks to its leading characteristics, elegant design in the style of the Samsung Galaxy S7 - as well as a huge range of functions.

pros:

• Best tablet design from Samsung;
• S-Pen stylus included;
• The screen is ready for future HDR content;

Minuses:

• The keyboard is an expensive addition;
• As expensive as the iPad Pro;
• A tablet will not replace a laptop for multitasking;

The new Galaxy Tab S3 is without a doubt the best Android tablet you can buy right now, thanks to its updated all-glass design, HDR display and included S-Pen. This is not to say that it was difficult for us to choose a new leader in the column of Android tablets, since the aging one remained the only real contender for this role, and the new S3 replaces the cheaper Galaxy Tab S2, which automatically moves them down the rating.

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What's the real problem is the positioning of the new Tab S3. It costs $599 abroad, which is equivalent to 39,000 rubles in Russia, and while the tablet comes with an S-Pen (Apple's tablet, for example, does not offer a stylus included), the keyboard is sold separately. When you add the cost of a keyboard, a tablet borders on the price tag of an inexpensive laptop, and the cheap 8-inch Tab S3 isn't there to offer you an entry-level, affordable tablet option.

The Galaxy Tab S3 is best positioned in the market for users who travel frequently and work on the go, as long as you're willing to pay extra for the keyboard. The new tablet is thinner and lighter than the Samsung Chromebook Pro, which doesn't have a detachable keyboard, and also uses a smaller S-Pen, and we could now expect the Tab S3 to compete meaningfully with the iPad Pro.

SamsungGalaxyTabS3: Price and release date

• A tablet with a stylus costs 39,000 rubles;
• The keyboard is sold separately (about RUR 8,000);
• In stores from March 24;

As mentioned earlier, the Samsung Galaxy Tab S3 costs $599 abroad, and will come to Russia with a price tag of about 40,000 rubles, which means that the tablet will share the price tags of the iPad Pro 9.7. In addition, while we are discussing Wi-Fi Only, there will also be a cellular version of the Wi-Fi + Cellular tablet, which will cost even more.

The real edge over Apple's tablet comes with the included S-Pen that comes with the Galaxy Tab S3 - the Apple Pencil will cost you an extra $99. Plus, you don't have to worry about charging your Samsung S-Pen, and you also get more pressure levels for drawing and handwriting.

The keyboard for the Galaxy Tab S3 will have to be purchased separately. Samsun charges a price tag of $129 (8,500 rubles). You may find a tempting offer from Samsung that includes a free keyboard for pre-ordering the tablet. But this offer is not found everywhere; in some regions, instead of a keyboard, the manufacturer offers a bundled 64 GB MicroSD memory card, a much less generous offer, don’t you think?

As for the release date of the Samsung Galaxy Tab S3, the tablet will be available in Russian stores on March 24, while in some regions it will appear only on March 31. Regardless of regions, pre-orders for the Tab S3 tablet are open from March 17th.

SamsungGalaxyTabS3: Design

• Elegant tablet design made of glass and metal;
• More comfortable to hold;
• Except for materials repeatsGalaxyTabS2;

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S3 is a small but attractive design upgrade over the Galaxy Tab S2, even if you can easily confuse the new and old tablets based on their bezels.

The best change comes from the round back of the tablet, with the new Tab S3 offering a glass back in black or silver. The back panel looks and feels better than the rubberized plastic body of the Tab S2 and, surprisingly, the glass is more comfortable to hold. And while the glass panel becomes a magnet for every fingerprint on the surface of Gorilla Glass, we like this solution much more.

Technically, Samsung can claim that its new Tab S3 is thinner and lighter than the iPad Pro, measuring 237.3 x 169 x 6mm and weighing 429 grams (the iPad Pro measures 6.1mm thick and weighs 437 grams). But don't be fooled, the difference is barely noticeable. The Galaxy Tab S2 offered a thickness of 5.6 mm and a weight of 389 grams, so we hardly noticed any difference between the three tablets in practice.

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The new Tab S3 resembles a bloated Samsung Galaxy S7 phone, with a physical Home button that integrates a fingerprint scanner, as well as capacitive Back and Multitasking buttons at the bottom of the tablet. Without a keyboard connected, you get a great entertainment device.

The real difference comes with the HDR panel, which offers a high contrast ratio, as well as the four speakers, which pump out sound significantly better than tablets with a mono speaker. We've already seen HDR on mobile with the short-lived Samsung Galaxy Note 7. This time, making its debut on tablets, the technology promises to truly bring video content to life in the future.

HDR display and four speakers

• AmazingAn HDR panel is waiting to happenHDR content;
• The equipment promises us the firstThe world's HDR-ready tablet;
• Four new speakers promise volume and fine-tuning;

What you'll be able to take advantage of right now is the Galaxy Tab S3's quad speakers. They offer high volume, much higher than the mono speakers of the Tab S2 and most other tablets. Even better is the fact that the speakers are motion-calibrated, so rotating the tablet will change the stereo sound layout across the speakers depending on the orientation, so you'll never be holding the tablet the wrong way for audio.

As long as you don't expect deep bass, the AKG-tuned quad speakers deliver rich sound that rivals the iPad Pro 9.7 speakers. You can get a decent base out of the Tab S3 with good headphones, which you'll likely use more often in public.

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And we come to the good news: the new tablet comes with a 3.5mm headphone jack at the base of the tablet, and the Galaxy Tab S3 also supports Bluetooth 4.2. As you can see, none of the manufacturers are in a hurry to get rid of the 3.5 mm headphone jack.

StylusS-Pen

• The new stylus is biggerS-Pen phones and previous tablets;
• The flat design of the stylus with a clip ensures safety;
• There's no stylus holster until you buy the keyboard;

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S3 transforms the look and feel of a tablet, including a new S-Pen stylus and a connected keyboard. These are must-have accessories if you want to unlock the potential of a 2-in-1 hybrid tablet.

The S-Pen stylus is an upgrade from the fine stylus we've used on Note phones and Samsung Chromebook Pros. At 9.4mm thick, the stylus is thicker, making it easier to hold and making previous S-Pens look like toothpicks. It still uses a thin 0.7mm stem (this time made of rubber rather than plastic0), as well as a side interactive button to activate the Air Command instrument panel.

All the traditional S-Pen tools return, including Notes, Smart Select (cuts out elements from a screenshot and makes GIFs), Screen Write (writes directly to a screenshot). There are also three new features that can be added to the quick access list: Translate, Magnify and Glance.

Writing and drawing naturally becomes much better on a tablet, thanks to the thick S-Pen. The stylus is roughly the same width as the , but is shorter and offers four times more pressure levels. The stylus correctly recognizes almost every tilt goal, which is great for shading and other artistic tricks, depending on the application you're using. Samsung includes two apps - Notes and the coloring app PEN.UP. You will find many more applications in the Google Play Store.

The S-Pen doesn't have a slot inside the thin tablet, so you can't easily hide the chunky stylus when it's not in use. Instead, Samsung includes a hinged keyboard holder - if you buy a keyboard. The good news is that the new S Pen doesn't require charging and won't roll away thanks to its two flat sides. The Apple Pencil likes to roll off the table because there is nowhere to put it and, if used regularly, it can run out of charge.

Connectable keyboard

• Shares the function of a case that covers the tablet from all sides;
• No charging or pairing required - just works;
• The keyboard cover does not turn off the screen and does not have magnetic solutions;

The connected keyboard for the Samsung Galaxy Tab S3 is worth the extra expense if you plan to replace your regular laptop with a tablet. Its cramped layout (a necessity) is still useful, the buttons promise decent action, and all the necessary keys are in place.

What is missing? The keyboard doesn't have any function keys along the top row, and it's also woefully lacking a Home button, forcing you to reach for the fingerprint sensor in the Home button and possibly knocking over your coffee in the process. We'd also like to see a Search button for Google Search instead of Google Now On Tap, which requires an additional touch tap (across the screen) on the search bar.

The keyboard offers good travel on the plastic buttons.

The accessory fits tightly into the soft plastic case that envelops the tablet. This is a big plus. The problem is that the iPad Pro's keyboard only covers the tablet's screen, while the aluminum back panel is not dent-resistant. Samsung, in turn, covers the back panel of its tablet.

And another positive feature is that there is no need to charge the keyboard or pair the accessory with the tablet via Bluetooth. The keyboard has six Pogo pins above the top row of keys, along with the Tab S3's magnetic clasps. Samsung offers its own version of the Smart Connector.

We just wish the magnets were stronger. If you lift the device by the screen, the bottom of the keyboard usually comes off (thankfully, the back, where more magnets are located, remains attached). The screen cover should also be magnetic and turn off the screen when closed. Instead, the lid may pop open if you are not careful.

Android 7.0 and applications

• SoftwareSamsung is simpler than ever;
• Multitasking in shapeSplitScreen remains a drawback;
• Can't completely replace a laptop without scrolling through apps;

Bonus: Game Launcher, which first debuted on the Samsung Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge, makes gaming on your tablet much easier. The important thing is that it allows you to disable the tablet's capacitive keys while gaming. You can also turn off alerts, take screenshots in games, and even record videos, complete with the option to connect images from the front camera.

Features and Performance

• Old chipset from early 2016;
• Easily launches all modern 3D-games;
• Memory card slotMicroSD (256 GB);

The heart of the Samsung Galaxy Tab S3 is the Snapdragon 820. This is a new chipset for this series of tablets, but it was already used by several dozen Android phones in 2016.

The good news is that this Qualcomm chipset is powerful enough to run all the latest 3D games with ease, and it will remain a viable solution for most of this year's new games. The chipset has found popularity in many flagship phones of 2016. No one has canceled market rules.

Now for the sobering news: this is last year's chipset, which is complemented by 4GB of RAM - the same one that debuted on the Samsung Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge. The new Samsung Galaxy S8 will use .

Pogo contacts will provide instant connection and no need for charging, unlikeBluetooth keyboards.

When you buy a tablet whose technology is future-proof, we are now talking about an HDR panel, a first for tablets, it becomes curious why the chipset lags behind the manufacturer's flagship phones. However, the performance is quite decent, at least for now.

Samsung prefers to use 32GB of internal storage on its entry-level tablets, but you can upgrade the storage capacity to 256GB; the Galaxy Tab S3 also uses a spill-resistant MicroSD slot. The card allows you to avoid the expensive purchase of a larger tablet, but 256 GB may not be enough in the first year of use.

Battery life

• Battery life is shorter than expected;
• HDR video playback can last up to 12 hours;
• The adaptive charger charges the tablet up to 23% in just 30 minutes;

Yes, this is the first important release from Samsung after the failure of the Galaxy Note 7. No, the tablet will not burn or explode - this is practically the first thing we hear when mentioning the Samsung Galaxy Tab S3 review.

Its 6,000 mAh battery is slightly larger than the Tab S2's (5,870 mAh), but it's still behind the iPad Pro 9.7 (around 7,300 mAh) and Google Pixel C (around 9,200 mAh).

In testing, the impression was that the new Galaxy Tab S3 offers above-average battery life, enough that you can rely on the tablet for a long flight across Russia if you want to watch a movie or two and get some work done. Playing a 90-minute HD video at almost full brightness drains about 13% from the battery, leaving us with 87% charge.

Samsung claims the Tab S3 offers enough power for 12 hours of battery life during video playback, a claim backed up by our testing of the tablet, just 30 minutes apart from the manufacturer's official rating. There's also a power saving mode that will help the Tab S3 last up to the claimed 12 hours.

You can quickly charge the Galaxy Tab S3 (for tablet) using the Samsung adaptive charger that comes with the tablet (similar units come with Samsung's new flagship phones, so you'll be able to get your hands on a second charge soon; +1 to brand loyalty) . It took 2 hours and 55 minutes to charge the tablet from 0% to 100%, which exceeds Samsung's stated 165 minutes by 10 minutes.

Cameras

• The tablet's photo quality leaves much to be desired;
• Cameras (13 / 5 MP) are suitable for casual shots;
• Excellent camera interface;

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S3 has a 13-megapixel main camera, which you won't use often. There's auto focus, f/1.9 aperture, and flash in case you want to draw more attention to yourself...photo tablet user.

Photo quality is quite good for a tablet, complete with gesture controls and 4K video recording, but a smartphone camera will always be better. As a rule, tablet users take photographs of some kind of reference information, where the quality of the image does not play a big role.

Much more important for potential tablet buyers is the front camera, which is used for video chats. And here Samsung offers an adequate 5-megapixel camera with an f/2.2 aperture. As you'd expect, the camera's performance in low-light conditions leaves much to be desired.

Samsung listened to our wishes, the Tab S3 borrows the improved camera interface from the Samsung Galaxy Note 7. Switching between the two cameras is done with a wave of your hand up or down, right on the screen (much better than searching for a tiny camera switch button). The menu is on the left, and the effects are located to the right of the viewfinder.

Summing upresults

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S3 is the best Android tablet on the market, it is designed based on the popular 2-in-1 concept, offers S-Pen and keyboard functionality, and its beautiful HDR screen and four loud speakers offer you the best multimedia system.

The iPad Pro meets its competition when it comes to value for money. Samsung fully matches Apple's hardware capabilities and also offers a stylus in the box. You'll have to pay extra for the keyboard, but at least it's cheaper than Apple's and also fully protects the tablet. The MicroSD card slot takes Samsung up a notch.

Value for money is not everything, of course. The new Tab S3 can't be recommended for everyone; Android tablets shouldn't cost that much. The iPad still offers the best software and broad app support for tablets. And while Android Nougat with TouchWiz is closing the gap, the multitasking capabilities of a tablet are still not enough to improve the productivity of working users who can buy a laptop for the money.

On the other hand, this is the best Android tablet on the market, just remember that the price increase relies heavily on the 2-in-1 hybrid form factor designed to help you get your work done.

Who is it for?

Looking for a good tablet but limited by the Android ecosystem? That's pretty much the right audience for the new Samsung Galaxy Tab S3. The tablet boasts a carefully crafted design, powerful features, and overall high-end specs, even though it uses the chipset of 2016 smartphones. The tablet has a panel that supports the HDR10 standard with an eye toward the future, but for now you'll be limited to a limited selection of HDR content.

Should you buy it?

You're paying significant money for future opportunities, some of which you won't be able to use today. However, if you're looking for a tablet that will help you stay on the cutting edge of the tech market, with an eye toward watching HDR content in the future, this is the best tablet you can find. The keyboard will help you stay productive if you're willing to slow down due to Android's poor multitasking capabilities.

Specifications

• Android 7
• Display 9.7 inches, SuperAMOLED, 2048x1536 (QXGA), automatic brightness adjustment, S Pen support
• Chipset Qualcomm Snapdragon 820, 4 cores (2x2.15 GHz, 2x1.6 GHz)
• 4 GB of RAM, 32 GB of internal memory (23.1 GB available to the user), memory cards up to 256 GB
• Li-Ion 6000 mAh battery, stated operating time in WiFi/LTE mode up to 8 hours, video playback up to 12 hours
• 5-megapixel front camera, 13-megapixel main camera, autofocus, LED flash
• WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, bluetooth 4.2, USB Type C, ANT+
• Fingerprint sensor
• GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, Galileo
• LTE - band 1/2/3/4/5/7/8/17/20/28
• nanoSIM (LTE version only)
• 4 AKG speakers
• Size 237x169x6 mm, weight 429 grams (434 grams LTE version)

Contents of delivery

• Tablet
• Charger with USB Type C cable
• S Pen
• Instructions

Positioning

The tablet market all over the world is going through far from the best of times, the reason is banal - old tablets bought several years ago cope with their tasks perfectly, you can play games on them, watch movies, surf the Internet. The only reason why tablets are replaced is their failure; obsolescence of tablets is practically not affected. Perhaps that’s why Samsung was in no hurry to update the Tab S2; ​​between the Tab S2 and S3 there is a gap of almost two years. This once again further demonstrates that the tablet segment is no longer a priority for the company. And if previously it was important for Samsung to be number one in this segment, to overtake Apple in terms of the technical characteristics of its products, then in the Tab S3 we see for the first time something completely different - it is rather a repetition of what was done in the iPad Pro 9.7. That is, a kind of year-late response to a competitor’s successful model.

Samsung does not attach any importance to the Tab S3, it does not receive significant marketing support, promotion efforts are noticeably less than for the Tab S2, these efforts are relatively less, if not by orders of magnitude, then by several times. In such conditions, Samsung decided that the Tab S3 would be interesting to a narrow audience that is attracted by new flagship products, so instead of positioning at the iPad level, this model is positioned higher in some countries! And if in the USA the cost of these solutions is the same up to a dollar, then in Russia they are very different. The reason is also that the Tab S2 is still selling well and this model is considered more interesting in terms of sales. Therefore, you need to clearly understand what this tablet can give or not give you in order to choose it consciously, taking into account all the pros and cons.

Also in the Tab S3 there was a merging of two product lines, once Samsung produced tablets with the Note prefix and S Pen support, now they are two in one, the Tab S3 comes with a stylus that allows you to draw on the screen and write. This is one of the competitive advantages of this model and an additional audience of creative people who need an accurate tool for entering information by hand.

Design, dimensions, control elements

The design of the tablet has undergone major changes, now it has a metal chassis and a glass back, in some ways it reminded me of Sony tablets, which are no longer on the market. The use of such materials is a tribute to current devices from Samsung; flagship smartphones are exactly like this, so the flagship tablet was created in a similar way. It’s difficult for me to assess how necessary this was, since a plastic case is more convenient for a tablet, it doesn’t get dirty, and is reliable in case of falls (less chances of breaking it). And despite the fact that the Tab S3 uses Corning Gorilla Glass 5, this does not matter - the number of surfaces that can be broken in an unfortunate fall has doubled.

The change in case materials affected the weight; if the previous one weighed 389 grams, the new one weighs 429 grams. The difference is noticeable only in direct comparison, but I like the Tab S2 much better in my hands, it is more grippy.

The tablets are available in two colors - silver and black.

The side edging of the tablet is made of metal, it is painted on top, this is especially noticeable over time, abrasions appear and the metal is exposed.

One of Samsung's typical problems is painting metal; they don't know how to make it durable. Therefore, the most practical option would be to buy a silver-colored device.

Hand marks remain on the glass, there is no escape from this. I prefer the metal body of the iPad, especially since it weighs about the same and the dimensions are similar.

At the top and bottom ends (narrow) there are speakers from AKG, that is, there are four speakers in total in the tablet. There is also a 3.5 mm jack at the bottom end, as well as a USB Type C connector; it is not centered and is shifted to the right.

On the left side there is a magnetic connector for connecting external accessories, such as a keyboard case.

On the right side there is a paired volume key, just above the on/off button. There are also two microphones on this side, plus a slot for a nanoSIM card (only in the LTE version).

On the front side there is a camera, a light sensor, and in the center there is a mechanical key with a fingerprint sensor embedded in it. The operation of the fingerprint sensor does not raise any questions; everything works quickly and efficiently. On the sides of the key there are two touch buttons, they are quite convenient.

There are no questions regarding the build quality of the tablet; everything is reliable and good. The build quality feels like a flagship.

Display

Display 9.7 inches, SuperAMOLED, 2048x1536 (QXGA), automatic brightness adjustment, S Pen support. Historically, Samsung makes screens that are the best in their classes, and this was the case when comparing the Tab S2 with the iPad Air 2, but with the release of the iPad Pro 9.7, Apple made their screen no worse than the one in the Tab S2, and even better in color reproduction. From the Tab S3, I personally expected a qualitative change in the screen so that it would surpass the display in the iPad in terms of its characteristics, but this did not happen. The only parameter in which Samsung is better is the behavior of the screen in the sun and brightness adjustment. Otherwise, the displays are at least comparable, and subjectively the iPad Pro 9.7 wins. The peculiarity of the implementation of games on Android makes the picture a little more blurry, not so sharp on the Tab S3, and this is noticeable to the naked eye. The fonts are not written out as well, the colors are more acidic.

I can't say that the screen is bad, but the progress compared to the Tab S2 is not very noticeable and this raises questions. In its strongest area, Samsung decided not to improve the product and this is very strange, if not surprising. For Android tablets, this is the best possible screen, but it is plus/minus identical to what we see in the iPad Pro (despite the fact that it is an IPS matrix).

In the settings, you can choose one of four operating modes (adaptive is the default, Movie AMOLED, Photo AMOLED, basic). 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.

There is also a blue filter for working before bed, so as not to excite the psyche.

Battery

The built-in Li-Ion battery has a capacity of 6000 mAh. When playing video in HD resolution (MX Player, hardware acceleration, AVI, maximum brightness), the operating time is almost 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.

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.

Full battery charging time is about 4.5 hours (2A), fast charging mode is not supported. In terms of overall operating time, the Tab S3 is normal, but does not set any records.

Memory, memory cards, performance

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 256 GB, there is almost no difference in access speed, so applications stored on the card will work just as quickly. 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.

The chipset is not the latest - Snapdragon 820. Four cores, maximum frequency up to 2.15 GHz. The speed of the tablet does not raise any questions, and this is also proven by synthetic tests.

Communication capabilities

The tablet does not support NFC, which is a shame, because for most, the presence of this technology makes using the device more convenient (quick pairing with other phones or tablets with one touch).

Other strengths of Samsung tablets remain here. The antenna for Wi-Fi is dual-band, operates in 2.4/5 GHz, 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, traditionally there is Wi-Fi Direct. Bluetooth version 4.2.

GPS/GLONASS support is implemented well; the tablet turned out to be successful as a navigation device.

Camera

The front camera has a resolution of 5 megapixels, the main one is 13 megapixels. Formally, the cameras are better than they were and noticeably better than those in the iPad Pro, but the problem is that few people take pictures with such a large tablet. And it is right. It’s unlikely that anyone will shoot 4K video, which is also supported. Look at the interface and sample pictures.

Sample photos

Software and S Pen Features

The tablet runs Android 7 with TouchWiz, which is slightly different from what we see on the Galaxy S8, but very similar to that on the S7/S7 EDGE. In a separate material we describe the features of this shell.

The tablet comes with an S Pen; unfortunately, the stylus will need to be carried separately; it is impossible to attach it to the body; there is a compartment for it in a proprietary case. Although you can attach the S Pen to the back surface with a metal clip (there is just a magnet inside for the keyboard cover). It holds securely, but will definitely fall off on the road.

The stylus itself supports 4000 degrees of pressure, and a number of programs have been adapted for it, such as Samsung Notes, the Soundcamp music application and Pen.UP (a kind of social network for those who like to draw).

The S Pen is a pleasure to draw with and is a comfortable pen. Especially for those who are accustomed to ordinary pencils, you can buy this pencil separately.

S Pen support is available in most graphics applications, but the maximum support is only in those that are adapted to all capabilities, for example, overlaying colors like in a regular watercolor and the like. For those who draw, this tablet is surprisingly convenient; unfortunately, I am not one of them. The iPad Pro offers roughly the same drawing experience, but doesn't offer the additional capabilities of the Apple Pencil. But with the S Pen, this is the so-called Air Command; you can call up the context menu and highlight an unfamiliar word to immediately see its translation on the screen. Different languages ​​are supported, you choose them yourself. For learners of other languages, this is an invaluable, handy tool.

Traditionally, you can take various screenshots, cut out parts of pictures of any kind (oval, ellipse, magnetic lasso). You can write something right there on the screenshot and send it by mail or some other way.

A few words about the sound capabilities of the device; they have changed a lot compared to all previous devices. In addition to the fact that the tablet has 4 speakers from AKG and they are loud and clearly audible (the volume level is similar to the iPad Pro with its speakers). But in addition to this, a separate music DSP and amplifier are used inside; they allow you to get rid of delays when broadcasting sound, which is the problem with Android as such. And this explains the lack of music applications for those who create music on Android, with the advent of this tablet the situation may change, but for now the only application specifically adapted to the Tab S3 is Soundcamp. It is unlikely that this will convince musicians to switch to this device; we expect new products to appear.

For the mass consumer, working with sound is not at all critical; people simply won’t notice the difference. Listening to different compositions with different settings on headphones did not reveal any fundamental differences; subjectively, at the level of perception, something sounds better, but it seems to me that this is simply convincing yourself that a difference should be felt, so the brain produces “differences.”

Impression

Two years ago, the Tab S2 came out in two sizes, small and large tablets, 8 and 10 inches. The Tab S3 model was released in only one size - 9.7 inches, that is, they created a complete analogue of the iPad Pro 9.7. Let me remind you that the iPad came out a year earlier, and the only difference between the product and Samsung is that the S Pen is included in the package; for the iPad you need to buy the Apple Pencil separately, its price is one hundred dollars. However, there is one more advantage: the S Pen does not need to be charged, although this is no longer so important, since the Apple Pencil can be charged directly from the tablet and one charge will last for a long time.

For a long time, consumers have been waiting for an update to the Note line of tablets, the Tab S3 is a partial answer to such expectations. The positioning of the device in Russia is very strange, since the price of WiFi/LTE versions is 49,990 and 59,990 rubles. For comparison, the price of iPad Pro 9.7 in Russia is 44,990 and 54,990 rubles. I think the pricing logic was as follows: tablet plus stylus. But in the end, this plays a cruel joke on the Tab S3; for the mass consumer who is not tied to the platform, the iPad Pro 9.7 is the best choice, since most likely he does not need a stylus and will not pay for it. The correct approach for Samsung would be to position itself at the same price level. But this did not happen, and therefore, with a better perception of the iPad, they will buy it en masse, which is what is happening, the preponderance of iPad sales is significant, but the demand for the Tab S3 is very modest.

The Tab S3 has no competitors in the Android tablet market; no one produces this kind of device. But coming a year after the iPad Pro 9.7, the Tab S3 doesn't have much going for it, which is surprising and different from previous years. In a word, you decide how interested you are in this product.

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.	237.3 mm (millimeters) 23.73 cm (centimeters) 0.78 ft (feet) 9.34 in (inches)
Height Height information - refers to the vertical side of the device in its standard orientation during use.	169 mm (millimeters) 16.9 cm (centimeters) 0.55 ft (feet) 6.65 in (inches)
Thickness Information about the thickness of the device in different units of measurement.	6 mm (millimeters) 0.6 cm (centimeters) 0.02 ft (feet) 0.24 in (inches)
Weight Information about the weight of the device in different units of measurement.	434 g (grams) 0.96 lbs 15.31 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.	240.62 cm³ (cubic centimeters) 14.61 in³ (cubic inches)
Colors Information about the colors in which this device is offered for sale.	Black Silver
Materials for making the case Materials used to make the device body.	Metal Glass

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 700 MHz Class 13 LTE 700 MHz Class 17 LTE 800 MHz LTE 850 MHz LTE 900 MHz LTE 1700/2100 MHz LTE 1800 MHz LTE 1900 MHz LTE 2100 MHz LTE 2600 MHz LTE-TDD 2300 MHz (B40) LTE 700 MHz (B28)

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 820 MSM8996
Technological process Information about the technological process by which the chip is manufactured. Nanometers measure half the distance between elements in the processor.	14 nm (nanometers)
Processor (CPU) The primary function of a mobile device's processor (CPU) is to interpret and execute instructions contained in software applications.	2x 2.15 GHz Kryo, 2x 1.6 GHz Kryo
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.	1536 kB (kilobytes) 1.5 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).	2150 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 530
GPU clock speed Running speed is the clock speed of the GPU, measured in megahertz (MHz) or gigahertz (GHz).	624 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.	4 GB (gigabytes)
Type of random access memory (RAM) Information about the type of random access memory (RAM) used by the device.	LPDDR4
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.	1866 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.	9.7 in (inches) 246.38 mm (millimeters) 24.64 cm (centimeters)
Width Approximate screen width	7.76 in (inches) 197.1 mm (millimeters) 19.71 cm (centimeters)
Height Approximate screen height	5.82 in (inches) 147.83 mm (millimeters) 14.78 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.	264 ppi (pixels per inch) 103 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.	72.89% (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.

Rear camera

The main camera of a mobile device is usually located on its back panel and may be combined with one or more secondary cameras.

Sensor type
Svetlosila	f/1.9
Focal length	27 mm (millimeters) *(35 mm / full frame)
Flash type The rear (rear) cameras of mobile devices mainly use LED flashes. They can be configured with one, two or more light sources and vary in shape.	LED
Image Resolution	4160 x 3120 pixels 12.98 MP (megapixels)
Video resolution	3840 x 2160 pixels 8.29 MP (megapixels)
	30fps (frames per second)
Characteristics Information about additional software and hardware features of the rear (rear) camera.	Autofocus Continuous shooting Digital zoom Geographical tags Panoramic photography HDR shooting Touch Focus Face recognition White Balance Adjustment ISO Setting Exposure compensation Self-timer Scene Selection Mode

Front-camera

Smartphones have one or more front cameras of various designs - a pop-up camera, a rotating camera, a cutout or hole in the display, an under-display camera.

Sensor type Information about the camera sensor type. Some of the most widely used types of sensors in mobile device cameras are CMOS, BSI, ISOCELL, etc.	CMOS BSI (backside illumination)
Svetlosila F-stop (also known as aperture, aperture, or f-number) is a measure of the size of a lens's aperture, which determines the amount of light entering the sensor. The lower the f-number, the larger the aperture and the more light reaches the sensor. Typically the f-number is specified to correspond to the maximum possible aperture of the aperture.	f/2.2
Focal length Focal length indicates the distance in millimeters from the sensor to the optical center of the lens. Equivalent focal length (35mm) is the focal length of a mobile device camera equal to the focal length of a 35mm full-frame sensor, which will achieve the same viewing angle. It is calculated by multiplying the actual focal length of a mobile device's camera by the crop factor of its sensor. Crop factor can be defined as the ratio between the diagonals of a 35 mm full-frame sensor and the sensor of a mobile device.	23 mm (millimeters) *(35 mm / full frame)
Image Resolution One of the main characteristics of cameras is resolution. It represents the number of horizontal and vertical pixels in an image. For convenience, smartphone manufacturers often list resolution in megapixels, indicating the approximate number of pixels in millions.	2592 x 1944 pixels 5.04 MP (megapixels)
Video resolution Information about the maximum video resolution that the camera can record.	1920 x 1080 pixels 2.07 MP (megapixels)
Video recording speed (frame rate) Information about the maximum recording speed (frames per second, fps) supported by the camera at maximum resolution. Some of the most basic video recording speeds are 24 fps, 25 fps, 30 fps, 60 fps.	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.

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.

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.	0.993 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.	1.1 W/kg (Watt per kilogram)

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S3 turned out to be beautiful and quite original, as far as possible for a tablet.

The device looks unusual due to its glossy glass back. Beautiful, but rather dubious from a practicality point of view. Otherwise, it is a typical monotonous rectangle - thin, with rounded edges and keys below the screen. One of them is physical, with a built-in fingerprint scanner, on either side of it there are two backlit touch buttons. The back panel is also quite typical - the camera lens is on top in the center and the flash eye. In addition, you can note two speakers on the top and bottom, as well as docking contacts for the keyboard on the side.

Like most tablets, the Galaxy Tab S3 is ergonomically awkward. Due to the wide format of the screen, it is not easy to hold in one palm. The thin body is difficult to grasp with your hands, and due to the narrow frames, you can accidentally press your palm onto the screen. True, all this can be said to one degree or another about any tablet. However, in this case, you can add a glass back to this “standard” set. Not only is it slippery, but it also easily picks up fingerprints and small scratches. In general, the tablet is assembled with high quality, made of metal and glass, but still thin and noticeably bendable.

Samsung Galaxy Tab S3 can be purchased in two colors - black and white.

Dimensions and weight - 4.3

Samsung Galaxy Tab S3 is one of the thinnest and lightest 10-inch tablets.

In terms of weight (434 grams), the model is comparable to, but heavier than the old one. Dimensions of the tablet: 237×169×6.2 mm. Despite its comparative compactness and lightness, it is not very comfortable to hold in one hand. Due to the wide screen format (4:3), the tablet barely fits even into a wide palm. But you can easily take it with you by throwing it in your bag - you will hardly feel the weight of the device.

Ports and interfaces - 4.7

The tablet has a wide range of ports and communications, the only thing missing is an NFC chip. Otherwise, this is a typical top-end set with fast Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, A-GPS (with GLONASS included) and Bluetooth v4.2. It would be possible to add an infrared port, FM radio and NFC, which is gradually gaining popularity.

The connectors and buttons are in the following order:

• on the right - power key, volume rocker, microphone, slot for microSD and nanoSIM, microphone;
• at the top are the speakers;
• at the bottom there is a pair of speakers, a connector for USB Type-C;
• on the left are contacts for the docking station.

As usual, the Galaxy Tab S3 9.7 can be purchased in two versions: with and without an LTE modem.

Performance - 4.8

The performance of the Galaxy Tab S3 is high and quite comparable to the flagship smartphones of 2016. The device works quickly and smoothly, but is not always stable.

The tablet does not have the latest, but quite powerful Qualcomm MSM8996 Snapdragon 820 processor, introduced at the end of 2015. In total, it has four cores, two of them operate at a frequency of 2.15 GHz and two at 1.6 GHz, and the Adreno 530 is responsible for solving graphic tasks. Together with 4 GB of RAM, this is more than enough to solve any problems and applications and games. Nevertheless, there is a desire to save money, which is again strange given the high price for the device.

In various benchmarks, the tablet receives typical flagship scores:

• SunSpider (browser speed) - 378 ms, almost twice as slow, but still fast;
• GeekBench 4 (processor test) - 3927 points, inferior, but only due to fewer cores;
• 3DMark Ice Storm Unlimited (graphics test) - 29915, comparable to .

The results are good, and the tablet itself works quickly. However, during our tests of the Galaxy Tab S3, we noticed problems with the optimization of the device. They manifest themselves either in microlags or in periodic crashes from applications.

Display - 4.7

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S3 has a high-quality and clear AMOLED display, although it is slightly inferior to the screen.

The screen resolution is high, 2048 × 1536 pixels with a 4:3 format and a pixel density of 264 per inch. This is clear enough. Image irregularities can be seen, but only when you get close to it. There are models on sale with clearer screens, but, as a rule, this is achieved through a smaller diagonal, as, for example, is the case with. But there are also exceptions like . The tablet uses a rich AMOLED matrix with natural black color and high, almost infinite contrast. An interesting feature is support for HDR content - although there is little of it yet, it is a prospect for the future.

The range of brightness measured by the colorimeter is wide - from 2 to 440 nits. The lower limit turned out to be perhaps the best among. The screen is comfortable both in the dark and in sunlight, although it is slightly less readable. The display has a noticeable glare, but this is noticeable either when the screen is turned off or when viewing an image against a dark background. The contrast of the picture tends to infinity - this is one of the main features of display technology. The backlight uniformity turned out to be rather average - 90%. Color gamut varies depending on picture mode. If you select "Adaptive", "Video AMOLED" or "Photo AMOLED", it will cover up to 100 Adobe RGB, and in "Basic" the color gamut narrows to about sRGB, "falling out" of it in places. At the same time, in the first three you will get oversaturated colors and an inflated color temperature. Color rendition was also at a fairly high level, but if you are a designer or enthusiast, you may notice slight deviations.

The screen has an oleophobic coating. It doesn’t protect you from fingerprints, but it’s easy to wipe them off. The touchpad of the device is sensitive, but there is no glove mode. In addition, due to the thin frames, you can accidentally touch the screen with your palm and it will stop responding to your finger. As a disadvantage, we note the lack of special protective glass - after all, it is easily scratched. For that kind of money you could expect Gorila Glass, and on both sides.

Battery - 5.0

The autonomy of the device is at a very high level, although it is slightly inferior to the latter.

The battery capacity is 6000 mAh. This is slightly more than its direct predecessor, but less than the 8827 mAh of the Apple iPad (2017). Nevertheless, the manufacturer promised up to 12 hours of video viewing, and it did not deceive. Our tests showed up to 13.5 hours at moderate screen brightness of 200 nits. The tablet lasts for 5-6 hours in games, and in standby mode at minimum brightness - up to 22 hours. These are high results, but they are still slightly inferior to the autonomy of the latest Apple iPad (2017).

Interestingly, the device charges quite quickly - just over 2.5 hours using fast charging. It seems like a long time, but not for a tablet.

Cameras - 5.0

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S3 received decent 13 and 5 MP cameras by tablet standards, comparable in photo quality to smartphones. It may be inconvenient to shoot on a tablet, but if the need suddenly arises, it can replace your budget one.

Compared to its predecessor, the camera interface has changed slightly, but still remains quite simple. A swipe on the left takes you to different shooting modes, a swipe on the right takes you to effects. As usual, the main part of the menu is hidden behind the settings gear. Interestingly, the camera has a Pro mode. True, you can only change the exposure metering method, the exposure itself, ISO and choose one of five white balance options. By standards this would be very modest, but for a tablet it’s already good that it exists at all.

We cannot somehow single out the main camera for its high quality. It focuses quickly, reproduces colors fairly correctly, but otherwise matches the camera of an average smartphone. For a device costing 60 thousand rubles, this is not impressive.

The 5 MP front camera can shoot Full HD video (1920x1080 pixels). She takes selfies quite well outdoors or indoors with good lighting. The shots come out with good detail and a wide dynamic range, although if you zoom in on the photo you can see some grain. As expected, the front camera received decorating filters, a widescreen or panoramic selfie mode, burst and virtual shooting (photos of objects from different angles).

Photo from camera Samsung Galaxy Tab S3 - 5.0

Temperature - 2.7

The Galaxy Tab S3 wasn't all that cool, although it scored average in heating tests.

In standby mode (screen on), the tablet can heat up to 32 degrees, like. This is a comfortable temperature, but noticeably higher than room temperature. Under load, the device heats up to 41 degrees on the back on the top right and up to 41.4 at the top of the display. It's not hot, but it already brings discomfort. For comparison, the latest iPad of 2017 always remains cool, and of the other current flagships, only the iPad gets hotter.

Memory - 4.0

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S3 has 32 GB of permanent memory (approximately 23.7 GB available to the user). Not bad, but for that kind of money you could count on 64, if not all 128 GB. But, unlike, there is a slot for a memory card, that is, you can expand the original volume.

Peculiarities

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S3 has many features, the main one being its incredibly high price. The tablet runs on the proprietary Grace interface.

A little unusual, but the tablet comes with a stylus, also known as the S Pen. The stylus is lightweight, comfortable and works without batteries. True, it is not clear how to carry it anywhere with you and not lose it. For example, the case had a special connector for a stylus, but this is not the case here. Also special is a four-speaker system, a separately sold Bluetooth keyboard and a glass case, which is still unusual for tablets.

Separately, we note that the device comes pre-installed with a lot of proprietary software that cannot be removed. In addition to them, applications from Microsoft are initially installed, such as Skype, Word, Excel, and so on, but at least they can really be useful in work.

There are also unpleasant features such as unstable operation of the device. The camera periodically refuses to start, there are microlags and short freezes, and once the touchscreen “fell asleep” and did not respond to the fingers until the tablet was rebooted. In general, Samsung still has some work to do. Like the Galaxy S8 Plus, the device is still a bit damp. All this looks almost indecent for his money.