Samsung in the pink - and blue and green

A new tablet computer with a stunning display and sporting several fun and useful functions, the Samsung Galaxy Tab S 8.4 is sleek, slim and weighs nothing at all. 

At its heart is the 8.4-inch Super Amoled that not only boasts high 2,560 x 1,600-pixel resolution but true-to-life colour reproduction that supports 94 per cent of the Adobe RGB colour gamut compared to that of LCDs (73 per cent).

That means brighter and more dynamic images with vivid colours and deep blacks. And with a contrast ratio 100 times higher, the display is excellent for watching HD movies.

The Tab S also comes with Adaptive Display technology that automatically adjusts the colour gamut, sharpness and contrast of the screen according to the content though this works only with the Gallery, Camera, Internet, Video, E-Book (Google Playbook), and VT Call apps as well as Samsung’s UI (user-interface).

Tab S is powerful and can easily play HD video clips thanks to its eight-core processor – the Exynos 5 Octa with four cores running at 1.9 GHz and four others at 1.3 GHz. It doesn’t have performance hiccups because it comes with a generous 3 GB of working memory. The 16 GB internal storage can be expanded with a microSD card up to 128 GB.

Tab S runs on the latest Android operating system (4.4 or KitKat) and supports both 3G and LTE 4G connections. The 3G connection supports all 850 MHz, 900 MHz and 2,100 MHz bandwidths so if you’re lucky enough to have a Wi-Fi router with latest 802.11 ac technology, you’re off to a really great start.

You can also think of the Tab S as a giant phone. I could make phone calls by holding it like a phone in one hand and listening through the top speaker without the need to use the speaker phone function though obviously it would be more convenient to use a Bluetooth or stereo headset.

I tested Tab S using my TrueMove H’s 850 MHz 3G account and was able to check my emails and update and check my Facebook wall smoothly while travelling on the bus. Checking in to locations on Swarm (used to be Foursquare service) was done without problem. Applications were also downloaded and installed fast. I took photos and uploaded them to my Facebook with ease. 

Tab S’s main camera uses CMOS image sensor with 8-megapixel. I found that the camera took good quality photos for a mobile device. And being a Sansung, it also comes with fun shooting modes, including Beauty face, Dual Camera, HDR (Rich tone) and Panorama. You can also download two more modes – Sound and shot and Sports shot and it seems likely that Samsung will add more modes later.

The tablet had good performance during the test. Its touch screen and menus were responsive and the screen scrolled well. Colours were vibrant when viewing photos and watching videos. The screen was readable even in the sunlight.

Tab S has a multi window function that allows two apps to open side by side. You simply swipe the multi window tray from the right edge of the screen and then drag and drop the first application to either the top or bottom. Follow the same process for the second app and adjust screen size for each window. This function lets you drag and drop test or copied images from one window to another, which is really useful.

Tab S is also security conscious with a finger scanner that is embedded in the Home button. It can be used to unlock the screen. Tab S will prompt you to scan your index finger eight times. It will display a fingerprint on the screen above the home button on which you place your index finger then swipe down. The security function also requires you to key in a password in case you are unable to scan your finger in the same way as the eight recorded ones.

Those who regularly forget their battery charges will be happy to know that Tab S supports Ultra-Power Saving Mode. This mode really saves a lot of battery by turning the screen into black and white and disabling all apps except Phone, Message, Internet browser, a calendar app, a clock app. You can add four more apps to be used in this mode. During the test, Tab S reported that its battery, which was about 84 per cent, would last 10.5 days.

Another useful function is called SideSync 3.0. This allows you to view your smartphone screen and control it on your Galaxy Tab S screen. You can also make and receive calls on your tablet when it is linked with this function to Galaxy S5.

Another app that I found very useful was the Remote PC. This function allows you to use Tab S to log into your PC away from home so that you can read or copy files from PC.

To use this function, you need to register for a Samsung account and install Remote PC agent on your desktop computer. After that simply log on to the account using the agent and then leave your computer turned on when you leave home. The remote PC app can then connect to your computer using the same Samsung account, allowing you to browse through all the folders on your desktop computer and copy them.

One function I loved was the Tab S’s music player because it supports FLAC format encoded in the high-resolution of 192kHz/24 bit sampling rate.

Moreover Tab S’s Music player has SoundAlive feature that simulates the timbre of a tube amplifier. Playing hi-res songs on Tab S via Sennheiser Momentum headphones, I found the sound quality was really good.

Tab S also comes with infrared port and an app that can turn the tablet into a universal remote control, which is really useful.

Tab S 8.4 retails for Bt16,900. A10.5-inch display version is also available and goes for Bt19,900.

 

Key specifications

Network: LTE: 800/ 900/ 1800/ 2600+850/ 2100 MHz; 3G UMTS: 850/ 1900/ 900/ 2100 MHz

Processor: Exynos 5 Octa (1.9 GHz QuadCore+ 1.3 GHz Quadcore)

Display: 8.4-inch 2560x1600(WQXGA) Super Amoled

OS: Android Kitkat (4.4)

Camera: Main: 8MP with LED Flash Front: 2.1MP Full HD

Video: H.263, H.264(AVC), MPEG4, VC-1, WMV7, WMV8, VP8; Recording : FHD(1920 x 1080) @ 30fps; Playback: WQHD (2560x1440) @ 30fps

Audio: MP3, AAC, AAC+, eAAC+, WMA, Vorbis, FLAC

Connectivity: Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac MIMO, Wi-Fi Direct, Bluetooth 4.0, IrLED

Sensor: Accelerometer, Fingerprint Sensor, Gyro Sensor, Geomagnetic Sensor, Hall Sensor, RGB Sensor, Proximity Sensor

Memory: 3GB (RAM) + 16GB internal memory, expandable with microSD up to 128GB

Battery: 4,900mAh

Dimension: 125.6 x 212.8 x 6.6mm

Weigh: 298g.