From iPad to Samsung; change of ideology. Information about the make, model, and alternative names of the particular device, if any

Today we are looking at a new generation of tablets from Samsung - Tab S2, namely 8.0 and 9.7. Last year I did, but then the diagonals were 8.4 and 10.5 ″. This is because the aspect ratio of the display has changed in the new models, now it is 4:3. Here I will briefly talk about my impressions of the devices and what else has changed.

Now devices compete very directly with the iPad mini and iPad Air, since they have completely identical display diagonals and their resolutions. Moreover, the devices also have similar shapes and dimensions. I tried putting both the larger and smaller models into the iPad Air and mini cases respectively and the result was interesting. The Tab S 9.7 turned out to be slightly lower than the Air, and thinner, so it fit into the case but didn't stay in it. But the smaller model didn't just fit in the iPad mini case, it snapped into it perfectly. And this despite a significantly smaller thickness. True, the case simultaneously clamps the lock and volume keys, so the tablet immediately enters recovery mode.

Otherwise, except for the dimensions and general shape, the tablets are outwardly not associated with Apple in any way, they are different and I like them more tactilely. In addition, Samsung is more confident in the hand due to the soft touch coating on the back. Tab S2 is thinner by 2mm, the models are only 5.6mm thick, but at the same time, the devices are not subject to torsion. The metal frame holds the structure well, even with prolonged use this should not be a problem.

Compared to the previous generation, the main orientation of the larger model has changed here. Previously, it was horizontally oriented, small - vertically. Now both have become vertical, as evidenced by the block of control keys below.

The MicroUSB and headset connectors are located at the bottom, along with the speakers. The Tab S2 8.0 also has a microphone, as the tablet can be used as a ceiling lamp. And above the display there is a conversational speaker.

The ergonomics of the devices are all right, I like them both visually and tactilely. Yes, and I did not see any problems in use. But, like last year, there is a caveat. On the back side there are fastenings for standard flip cases. These are holes that will be there whether you buy an accessory or not.

Everything is fixed with a magnetic strip, but there are nuances with it. For example, in the bent back state, this magnet blocks the screen and it cannot be unlocked even with a key. Also, the display is blocked by this magnet and in one of the standard stand positions indicated in the instructions. This is a shortcoming. Well, it is very difficult to insert / get tablets into standard case mounts. They are difficult to snap into place and even more difficult to snap off, it constantly seems that the device will break.

Well, okay, back to the pleasant moments. One of the nicest is the display. Samsung has always been proud of Super Amoled, and these matrices have become very good. Last year we even did a blind comparison with . The last one won. This year the display has become even more beautiful. The resolution is now 2048×1536 pixels, the pixel density of the smaller model is 320 dpi. The structure of the matrix according to the pen tile scheme and this is visible, but if you look closely. Viewing angles, as you would expect, are maximum, there is an anti-glare coating, different picture display modes and one of the best brightness on the market.

Cameras in a tablet, in my opinion, do not have to compete with smartphones, but here they are very good. The main one is 8 MP, the front one is 2.1 MP. Given the aperture ratio of 1.9, they are probably the best among all the tablets on the market. And considering how rarely you'll go to Instagram with a tablet, it's even more good for documents and home photos.

Hardware in front of us Galaxy Note 4. Processor Exynos 5433, 3GB random access memory, graphics Mali-T760 - everything is already known. Moreover, the display resolution is lower than in Note 4, which is why the same tanks come with high fps. In AnTuTu, tablets score about 53,000 points (you can see other tests on the screenshots), but the most important thing is the real speed of the interface and games.

• Dimensions: 134.8 x 198.6 x 5.6 mm (8″) and 237.3 x 169 x 5.6 (9.7″)
• Weight: 272 g and 389
• Operating system: Android 5.0.2 Lollipop.
• Processor: Octa-core, Exynos Octa 5433, 4 x Cortex-A57, 1.9GHz + 4 x Cortex-A53, 1.3GHz
• Graphics: Mali-T760 MP6.
• Display: Super AMOLED, 8.0″ and 9.7″, 2048x1536 pixels
• Memory: 16 GB flash, slot for memory cards up to 128 GB
• RAM: 3 GB.
• Camera: main - 8 MP, - 2.1 MP.
• Wireless technologies: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.1
• Interface connectors: 3.5 mm headphone jack, Micro USB 2.0.
• Battery: Li-Pol battery 4000 and 5870 mAh.

With the interface, everything is fine, with games in two ways. I tested Dead Trigger 2 at maximum settings, it plays smoothly and is generally cool. Things are a little worse with Real Racing 3, ladders are visible, but I think it's a matter of optimization. But with World of Tanks Blitz, everything is really bad. 60 fps game gives out only at low graphics settings, at medium and high we get an average of 15-20 frames per second. In principle, achieving 10 fps is not a problem.

Despite the similarity of the hardware with the Galaxy Note 4, it's very good that they put a new scanner. That is, you don’t need to fiddle with your finger on it, you just need to touch it and it works well. And in a tablet used for work purposes, data safety is important.

Everything will be stored in the cloud, on 32 GB of built-in space and on a memory card up to 128 GB. But the battery capacity of the 8″ model is 4000 mAh. Like a long-lived smartphone, only a tablet. This is perhaps the only drawback of the model that I found. In the game, the device lives a little more than 3 hours, the video will scroll for about 7. Similar autonomy figures for the older model, with larger display there is a capacity of 5870 mAh.

Android OS version 5.0.2, on top of it is a fresh touchscreen with all the features.

I am glad that the standard keyboard here is made for productive work, it is better than in the iPad. There is a cursor, not only backspace, but also cases, as well as combinations of actions with the control key.

For myself, I would settle for a smaller model, it is more versatile. The larger one is even suitable for solving some work issues, especially in a standard case with a BT keyboard.

Given the presence of OTG, here you can also connect a mouse and work fully for some time, like with a laptop. But for myself, I settled on 8 ″ models, they are much more convenient to manage on the road, you can hold them in one hand, and here you can also insert a SIM card if necessary. For example, in another country.

In general, the models are cool, among android tablets, without a twinge of conscience I will say - the best. And you can compare with the iPad forever, these are two different camps and, often, two models of use. For games better iPad, for work - Tab S2. For creating music and video - iPad, for communication and watching videos - Samsung. In general, here everyone is free to decide. There is one thing left - the cost. A 9.7″ model will cost $430, and an 8″ model will cost about $560. We already have it, so the prices are quite normal, even when compared with the same iPads.

Video review of Samsung Galaxy Tab S2 8.0 and 9.7

If you find an error, please highlight a piece of text and click Ctrl+Enter.

samsung galaxy Tab S2 9.7 was made specifically to compete with PRO iPad version, as mentioned above. In some ways, the model is better, in some ways worse. In exchanges, for example, our hero beats a competitor, because the thickness of the case is 5.6 mm! This is incredibly small, you can even be afraid to break it at first, because the base of the case is a matte soft plastic. Nevertheless, Tab S2 9.7 has a very nice shape, low weight, due to which it is very comfortable to hold even in one hand. It is not completely plastic, the side faces are made of metal. This makes the tablet expensive, yet when you pick it up, you understand that the device is very expensive.

Width

Height

Thickness

The weight

shell

Our gadget runs on Android 6 OS. By the way, there are more modifications of this tablet, but related to the release of last year. They have modifications with model names t7**. They have the fifth generation OS installed, so be careful when buying, do not accidentally buy an old tablet. The shell has long been familiar to us, it's TouchWiz, the tablet has a split screen into two parts so that you can use two applications at the same time. It is very convenient to use this feature on a large screen, as if you have 2 five-inch smartphones in your hands at once. With the fingerprint scanner, you can lock some apps so that your friends can't access them. The shell allows you to create a guest mode in order to generally restrict some applications for other users. In general, everything is not bad with data protection. In addition to the tablet, you can additionally buy a cover-keyboard, they are made very well, it is convenient to use.

Specifications

• CPU

  Qualcomm Snapdragon 652, 8 cores 1.8 GHz

• video processor

Our version on Qualcomm Snapdragon 652 is a good mid-range processor. It has 8 cores, the frequency of the older ones is 1.9 GHz. Adreno 510 video processor. The bundle is quite powerful, it copes with all modern loads, this is not only our opinion, but the opinion of people on various Runet forums.

Memory

Here things are more interesting. In our model, 32 GB, 24-25 GB are available for us to use, part of the space is occupied by products from Microsoft, which are 100% useful. In addition, you can buy a memory card up to 128 GB, but the American competitor cannot boast of this feature. Here you are free to choose the amount of memory required, use several memory cards, there is where to roam.

Connection

This is where things are going well. The tablet supports one nanoSim card, which gives you access to telephony and SMS messages. The device catches networks perfectly, there were no problems with GPS either, gadgets with such a processor always caught satellites quickly and well. There is no NFC chip and no FM radio, which, perhaps, can be attributed to shortcomings.

Look
updated as new information becomes available and published after careful review

Connectors and buttons

Above:
-

Bottom:
2 speakers, microUSB connector, headphone jack

From iPad to Samsung; change of ideology

31.12.2016

It would seem that such a thing - well, a person bought himself a new tablet and bought it, also an event for me. I thought so too, but I had the imprudence to brag about my purchase on Twitter. The indescribable began - people, even those whom I previously considered adequate, attacked me with angry statements like "Who will buy a Samsung tablet when there is an iPad for the same money", "Any Samsung is a lagging and slowing down disgrace" and "There is only one tablet is an iPad" and other, almost May Day slogans. On that wonderful day, I hit the "Block User" button more times than in all previous years.

Prerequisites

In 2011, we bought our wife a second-generation iPad as a tablet computer, which a couple of years later was smoothly replaced by iPad 4. The "ipadina" was used, as the spouse's tablet affectionately called, mainly for Internet surfing, for working with mail, for simple online games, less often for viewing photos and videos.

The iPad has never been a part of the notorious "Apple ecosystem", although attempts have been made, various apple devices, including the iPhone and MacBook, have appeared and disappeared at home from time to time. For some reason, my wife did not want to comprehend the intricacies of the peculiar logic of iOS, especially in the exchange of content, although I can’t blame her for laziness and lack of curiosity, she independently mastered the BlackBerry OS of several generations, but here ... It seems that there was some kind of it’s a vague dislike for the very ideology of Apple devices, and I can’t reproach my spouse with this, because I myself prefer the simple and understandable logic of Android.

But be that as it may, with each update, the iPad worked worse and worse, brakes and freezes began to appear in the interface, and after the latest update package, the question of upgrading (read - buying a new tablet) arose with a mute reproach.

Side note: I seem to understand why Apple continues to support its entire line of devices in software terms for so long. It's simple - after the next such update, you will want to smash your lagging and slowing down iPhone or iPad against the wall, and you go to the store to buy a new device from Apple. Although, it would seem, the old one still has to work and work ☺ .

Actually, there was no question of choice. We wanted to quickly buy some iPad Air 2 and calm down. But in the store, where the wife had already habitually begun to pull the veins out of the boy consultant, I suddenly thought.

And why, in fact, the iPad?

The spouse does not have any special sympathy for apple technology, does not use any Apple services, does not want to master working with iTunes - so why torture yourself and the equipment? And at the same time, she calmly handles her newly acquired BlackBerry Priv on the Android operating system, with which she coexists quite peacefully, understands and accepts its logic. So why not get an Android tablet?

Such a bold idea did not immediately fit into my head, I frantically went back and forth. What to choose from the tablet abundance placed on the shelves? Only Samsung competes on an equal footing with Apple, which means we will choose the best robot in the world.

A quick search on the Internet identified the Samsung Galaxy Tab S2 model, but it was not on the shelves, although the store's website said otherwise. The boy-consultant, torn from his wife, shyly explained that they didn’t put it on the window - “Anyway, no one buys Apple tablets for such a price.” Why bad? No... Is there a quality problem? No, Samsung. Maybe slow down? What are you, everything flies!

The wife jealously assessed the weight and thickness of the Tab S2 tablet taken out of the box: "And it definitely won't slow down?" To be honest, I thought about it. When we bought an iPad in 2011, out of curiosity, I drove the first Tabs from Samsung on display in the windows. They frankly upset me with their lags even with a simple flipping through the desktops.

And today I hoped for the best and, as subsequent events showed, I was not mistaken.

In general, we bought it ☺ .

Later, the wife admitted that she agreed to buy it because she somehow immediately liked the beautiful golden color of the tablet. Oh women; because of the beautiful color, they will also be led to some half-nameless Chinese freak.

Package

The tablet was packed quite soundly, despite the modest size of the box. All you need is a charger USB cable, "Samsung paperclip" to remove the SIM card and memory card trays.

The microUSB connector that was starting to become obsolete was somewhat frustrating, to be honest, I quietly hoped to attach at least a tangle of Type-C cables and chargers here, which I recklessly purchased in anticipation of the now deceased Samsung Galaxy Note 7, and now orphanly living in the far corner of the desk drawer.

"He's so light!"

On this, it seems to me, the question of doubts about the smoothness and speed of work on Samsung tablets can be closed.

Now let's take a look at device screen. It uses the latest generation Super AMOLED used by Samsung in its flagships. The resolution is 1536x2048, a setting similar to Apple's tablets.

The screen has all the advantages inherent in Amoled: impeccable black color, no concept of "visibility at tilt angles" and joyful saturated colors. You can say whatever you like, but I frankly like this pop palette and always have. Traditional IPS is not capable of displaying such colors, but on my Samsung I can always bring the screen back to normal (natural colors) using the usual settings for TouchWiz.

There is also a "Reading Mode", which adds very warm tones to the screen gamut, thus working with the tablet in the dark becomes very comfortable.

But, to be as objective as possible, I will also note a small drawback. The white colors of the screen during everyday work will still seem absolutely white to you, without straining in any way, but if you compare the tablet screen head-on with the iPhone 7 Plus screen at maximum brightness, you can see that the white color on the iPhone screen is whiter and brighter.

But, I repeat, everyday use this fact will not bother you in any way. The color reproduction of the tablet display is close to ideal. No "flickering" or traces of pentail, which amoledon haters love to write about, were noticed during operation. Long work with the tablet in a semi-lit room does not cause any eye fatigue - it's checked.

And the second small minus is the not very correct working automation, which sets the level of the screen backlight. Sometimes he thinks too long, reducing the brightness when turning off the lights in the room.

By sound. On the bottom edge of the tablet there are honest stereo speakers of very good quality, the music is played well and loudly, without distortion. Headphone sound is typical for Samsung smartphones.

About work wireless interfaces I can’t say anything bad, everything works as it should work on a quality device. This also applies voice communication, and LTE, and Bluetooth, and Wi-Fi. The data transfer speed is completely unlimited and rests only on the tariff plan.

From installed software on a smartphone, my attention was attracted only 3D shooting function, the essence of which is that you can capture any object from all sides with continuous movement and get its virtual three-dimensional 3D model.

The idea is great, but the execution leaves much to be desired. In practice, I ran into constant whims of the application - almost always there is not enough lighting for the camera! And when I arranged illuminators from all sides, the program brazenly announced that this time there was too much light for it.

In a word, to get a 3D model, you have to tinker with the order. A really high-quality result is generally unattainable, you can look at my best work.

Not impressive, right? But, perhaps, with long training, something worthy will work out.

As with any self-respecting mobile device of our time, the tablet has fingerprint scanner. You can tie a fingerprint to unlock the screen, enter sites, and more.

I remember that on Note 5 (not to mention Note 4) I didn’t really like using this function, it didn’t work very quickly and not very accurately - I compare it with the iPhone 7 Plus that I currently have. However, on the Samsung Galaxy Tab S2, the fingerprint scanner was very pleasant - there were no erroneous recognitions at all, and the whole thing works faster than on an iPhone. For a fraction of a second, but faster and it is noticeable. Unlocking the screen happens like this: press the Home key once (do not take your finger away!) - and the operation immediately occurs. Very fast.

Continuing the topic of security - the tablet has a traditional Samsung KNOX.

Former name, new format: with Galaxy tablet Tab S2 Samsung decided to move away from the concept of last year, adopting a new philosophy. The reason lies in changing user scenarios: consumers watch less video and more and more work with text and the Internet. How successful was the second generation? We will talk about this in Galaxy review Tab S2 9.7 LTE.

The main difference between the first and second Galaxy versions Tab S is noticeable by the model number. The diagonal from 8.4 turned into 8.0, from 10.5 to 9.7. That is, we got some reduction in the diagonal, although the form factor has also changed, now it has become closer to the iPad. Samsung just explains the reason above. The 4:3 display format is better suited for text because the previous 16:10 format is video oriented.

New higher quality display

Compared to its predecessor, the Galaxy Tab S2 9.7 display has a lower resolution and lower pixel density. The new model has a resolution of 2.048 x 1.536 pixels, that is, a density of 264 ppi. A year ago the resolution was 2.560 x 1.600 pixels, the density was 288 ppi. If you look closely, you can notice the difference with sharp vision, but in everyday scenarios it is unlikely. The new tablet delivers reasonably detailed and sharp text presentation, while the Super AMOLED panel brings color reproduction to the fore. As in the case of Galaxy smartphones, colors please with saturation, but it is not excessive.

One of the reasons for a high-quality picture is the contrast, which can be called infinite. Black is really black. Also, the white point temperature is quite decent. If you deviate from the factory settings, then the color temperature can be reduced to 6.700 K. The default temperature is 7.700 K, the colors have a bluish tint.

The brightness of the display was much higher than its predecessor. On the Galaxy Tab S 10.5 we had to make do with 300 cd/m², while on the second generation it reached 382 cd/m². For direct sunlight, the brightness is small, but in the shade you can work quite comfortably.

Not the latest SoC with stable performance

Samsung has changed not only the display, but also the SoC: the Exynos 5420 has given way to the updated Exynos 5433 model. The basic structure of the SoC has not changed. Eight CPU cores work inside - four Cortex-A53 and four Cortex-A57. The maximum frequencies of 1.3 and 1.9 GHz remained at the same level, the main difference lies in the addition of 64-bit support. The GPU has also been updated. The SoC has a Mali-T760 MP6 clocked at up to 700MHz, which promises a significant performance boost over the Mali-T628 MP6. At the same time, even lower power consumption is declared. The Exynos 5420 processor was manufactured using a 28nm process technology, the Exynos 5433 uses a more advanced 20nm process technology.

Samsung decided not to install the best SoC in the Galaxy Tab S2 9.7. Recall that in Galaxy smartphone S6 Edge+, the company already uses 14nm Exynos 7420, RAM is also more modern. In the case of a tablet, you will have to be content with LPDDR3. But at least 3 GB can be called a fairly large volume.

Faster modem

As for the rest of the equipment, there are few changes. Noteworthy is the new LTE modem, which supports Cat 6 up to 300 Mbps download and up to 50 Mbps in the reverse direction over six LTE bands. The Galaxy Tab S 10.5 LTE had to settle for Cat 4 and quad-band. The rest of the changes are not so serious. Bluetooth is now supported in version 4.1 instead of micro SIM cards the nano format is now supported. In terms of WLAN, the tablet still supports dual band and 802.11ac, home button integrated fingerprint sensor.

For internal storage, Samsung has announced 32GB and 64GB versions, but only a 32GB variant was available at the time of publication. In any case, you can expand the storage capacity using the microSD slot.

Good battery life

Due to the compact body, the battery capacity has decreased compared to its predecessor. Now it is 5.870 mAh. But this decrease is offset by a more efficient SoC. We have changed our test methodology so that we can directly compare the results of the Galaxy Tab S 10.5 LTE and new Galaxy Tab S2 9.7 LTE will fail. In any case, in the video streaming test at 200 cd/m² we were able to get almost 13 hours battery life, Samsung says about 12.

So in practice, the tablet will last even a long flight. Of course, with a more demanding load, battery life decreases. For example, under a PCMark load, the tablet lasted more than 6 hours, when browsing the Internet via WLAN or LTE, also at a brightness of 200 cd / m², almost 9 hours. Although here we got a little more battery life than Samsung promised.

Unfortunately, you will have to give up some of the comfort features that the Korean manufacturer's smartphones have. For example, the battery cannot be charged wirelessly, and there is no function fast charging; charging power does not exceed 10 watts. But there is at least an ultra-power-saving mode that gives you more battery life at the expense of some features.

Contents of delivery:

• Tablet
• Charger with USB cable
• Instruction

Specifications

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

Positioning

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

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

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

Design, dimensions, controls

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

For most consumers, the flagship must be made of metal, although this is not always convenient and correct. Upon impact, the metal beats the glass that protects the screen, but the plastic does not deform the case in such a way. The question of what the manufacturer should use, plastic or metal, has long turned into a philosophical one. But in practice, the difference is noticeable with the constant use of devices - for example, the weight of the Tab S2 is only 272 grams (for the LTE version, the Wi-Fi version weighs even less - 265 grams), while iPad Mini weighs 341 grams. Minimum difference? How to look. If you take the tablet in your hands from time to time, you will not see any differences. But if you are playing or watching a movie, the Tab S2 will be more comfortable, it does not pull your hand and is not felt in it. A child can easily hold it.

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

On the trip, I'm so used to tablet lightweight and small, that he was addicted to carrying it in the side pocket of his shorts, where he was not felt at all. An attempt to put the iPad there failed, it was noticeably heavier and hit the leg when moving.

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

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

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

On the left side are a paired volume rocker, a power button, a little lower - a slot for a nanoSIM card (the choice of such a card format is surprising and doubtful), as well as a slot for memory cards.

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

The build quality of the device is five plus, there are no problems. The disadvantages include the fact that, due to the thickness of the model, I had to sacrifice the usual Corning Gorilla Glass 4 coating, there is a “lightweight” version with a thinner outer layer. As a result, the screen is quickly covered with small scratches. You can see them only in the off state, it is, of course, impossible to feel them with your fingers.

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

Screen

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

To begin with, these weeks I often flew a DJI Phantom 3 quadcopter, and in order to watch real-time video from it (transmits at a distance of up to 2 kilometers in HD quality), I installed the Galaxy Tab S2. A little trick, in the settings you need to set automatic brightness control, then the maximum brightness of the backlight will double compared to the standard one when the tablet realizes that it is outdoors. Under direct sunlight, the picture remained fully readable, there was no need to look for a shadow. The photo does not convey this, it seems that the screen has faded, in life it is readable.

Now let's talk about what SuperAMOLED is criticized for, saying that it has too bright colors. In the settings, you can choose one of five operating modes (adaptive is the default, AMOLED Movie, AMOLED Photo, Basic, Reader).

In principle, it is worth stopping at the adaptive mode, it perfectly adjusts the image to the displayed content, plus it handles external lighting conditions. That is, the adaptive mode will turn on the settings for reading itself, realizing that you are reading a book or a page in the browser.

But if you do not want to trust this mode, then you can customize everything for yourself. And then the colors will not be so aggressive or become muted, it all depends on you. Other tablets do not have such technologies or they are in their infancy, in the same iPad, the ability to adjust the font size has only recently appeared, and nothing like the technology described simply exists. You cannot select a screen color temperature on the iPad. Someone can quite rightly say that this is not necessary on the iPad. Perhaps that is the case for you. Most likely, you simply have not seen what a high-quality screen is, and therefore you continue to consider a faded iPad screen acceptable. He is not bad in his class, but has long become average, nothing more.

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

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

Battery

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

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

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

In games, you can achieve a maximum of 7-7.5 hours of work, depending 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 to maximize battery life then don't use Chrome, Samsung's browser is much more energy efficient. The difference in operating time will be almost twice! As for me, Google urgently needs to do something with the energy efficiency of Chrome, it eats up the battery too quickly mobile devices, although it is convenient in other aspects.

Traditionally, there is a power-saving mode, when you can limit the processor performance, turn off the backlight of the touch keys, degrade the animation, and so on. Unfortunately, in this mode, you cannot select individual items, only enable them all at once. From the pleasant - you can set the automatic inclusion of this mode 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 is unique from other companies and is directly related to the capabilities of the display.

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

Memory, memory cards, performance

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

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

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

Communication options

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

Surprisingly, the Tab S2 will not support Samsung Pay(there is no separate chip for cryptoprotection of transactions), but it is pointless to worry about this, since the technology is focused only on the US market in 2015. Using a tablet for payments in the absence of NFC is only possible in the old fashioned way.

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

Support for GPS / GLONASS is implemented well, as a device for navigation, the tablet turned out to be successful. BMW chose him as the standard navigator for their 7 Series.

The radio module supports the following frequencies:

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

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

Camera

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

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

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

Photo examples

Now I want to dwell on one of the chips directly related to the camera and tablet performance. In the shop Samsung apps there is a 3D Capture program, it allows you to get three-dimensional images of objects. Press shoot, go around slowly a stationary object, preferably at the same distance, and in a minute you have a model in front of you that you can twist as you like, export to other programs for editing three-dimensional pictures (file format .OBJ and also .MTL). The built-in editor allows you to clean up the image, remove the background, select individual zones, and it is quite advanced, covering all the features you need. For most, this program will become a kind of toy, but someone will find it the right use.

With my hands, I managed to make a three-dimensional picture of bread on a plate, it was like a kind of miracle. He immediately twisted the picture, showed his friends what happened. I tried to position the tablet motionless and rotate the plate, the shooting did not happen - the tablet requires that it be rotated around the object.

I have always been amazed by such technologies that are becoming commonplace - ten years ago it was impossible to think that something like this would be in a mass device. This is what can be called high technology, and they are becoming publicly available. This tablet is a cheap way to get 3D models. Of course, here the question arises in their detail, quality. But for the mass consumer, this will definitely be the first encounter with such technology and the possibility of using it.

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

Software Features

The model comes with Android 5.0.2, and will be updated to 5.1.1 soon. Inside is a lightweight TouchWiz, which is completely or almost completely identical to what we see on the Galaxy S6. In the review of this phone, I analyzed in great detail all the pros and cons of such a solution, dwelling on all the little things. You can read about it in the review text.

Or watch the video on the Galaxy S6 as an example.

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

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

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

AT file manager bookmarks appeared, you can open different pages and copy files from one page to another.

The fingerprint sensor works by touch, there are no problems.

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

There are a lot of such small chips in the system, each of them does not mean anything, but all together they make the device convenient. For the LTE version, nanoSIM and voice calls are supported, as well as SMS, unlike the same iPad, where a SIM card is only needed for data transfer.

Love or hate TouchWiz, but the shell greatly complements the stock Android, bringing in handy features, there are plenty of them.

Accessories for Tab S2

Available for tablet standard set accessories, including various wired and wireless headsets, but I would like to draw your attention to three accessories that are different from other models and will only fit this tablet.

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

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

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

Impression

I did not like the Tab S2 at all in absentia, it seemed that the tablet did not bring anything new, and its subtlety was a tribute to fashion. In life, he changed his mind to the opposite - it is convenient to work with him, and the screen is excellent, no one simply has anything like it. I was especially pleased with the work on the street, however, the super-bright backlight eats up the battery quickly, but on the same DJI quadrocopter you can fly even on a summer afternoon, when the sun burns everything around and nothing is visible on the screens of other devices.

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

The Tab S2 competes in Russia with the first generation of this tablet, primarily due to the fact that the old prices remain on it. However, let's compare. The price for the Wi-Fi version is about 21 thousand rubles, for the LTE version - about 23,000 rubles. Of the minuses - a smaller amount of internal memory (16 GB versus 32 GB), old version The OS, without updating to 5.1.1 in the near future, has a slightly worse screen with fewer operating modes. The operating time in the first Tab S is slightly lower, but noticeably higher than that of all devices in this class. This line has become a kind of champion in terms of survivability thanks to the technical solutions used by the manufacturer.

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

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

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

Specially highlighted the review of the 8- and 9.7-inch model in different materials, as mentioned above. The difference between these models is fundamental, one is mobile and always accompanies you, the second is suitable for those who spend more time at home or carry a bag with them, where a folder for papers and, accordingly, Tab S2 9.7 will fit. Functionally, these models are identical, only their perception, price and positioning differ, we will talk about this in the review of the older device. As for me, Samsung turned out to be an excellent model, which has, perhaps, everything you expect from a flagship - the best screen on the market, excellent battery life, the ability to make and receive calls, support SMS and full-fledged LTE in any country in the world. The price bites, but the more attractive the previous generation of the device. This is the flagship without any discounts, we just have to wait for the fall and the next iPad Mini to see how Apple can respond to this device. I'm afraid that only iOS9 and an increase in RAM will be the answer, you should not expect fundamental differences. So, Tab S2 will remain the most interesting device according to the set of characteristics that it has. But here the question is how much you are committed to a particular platform, and you can argue about this for a long time and without much result.