Samsung Launches the 9.7-inch Galaxy Tab S3: Snapdragon 820 with 6000mAh and HDR
by Ian Cutress on February 26, 2017 1:11 PM EST
Along with the Galaxy Book parts being launched today, Samsung also announced the next generation of Galaxy Tab. The S3 is also an iterative design, with what Samsung believes is the premium Android tablet available in the market. Starting with the Snapdragon 820 SoC, featuring Qualcomm’s custom Kryo cores, the headline message for the S3 is support for HDR 8-bit content as well as a 6000 mAh battery and support for fast charging technology.
Aside from the SoC, the tablet is set to be offered in a 4GB DRAM and 64GB storage option, with a microSD card allowing for another 256GB. Wireless, aside from the 2x2 802.11ac inside, comes via an LTE Cat.6 modem, good for 300 Mbps downlink speed. There is also support for BEIDOU and GALILEO location detection services.
The 9.7-inch display uses Samsung’s Super AMOLED display technology, with a resolution of 2048x1536, and uses quad-stereo speakers tuned by AKG/Harman. Similar to the Galaxy Book, Samsung is promoting its latest ‘Flow’ technology, allowing biometric login for wirelessly tethered devices, and the new S Pen with ‘screen off’ note taking functionality. These are built upon Android 7.0, which along with the SoC is engineered for 4K60 video playback.
The camera setup is similar to the 12-inch Galaxy Book, with a 13MP rear sensor with auto-focus and a 5MP front sensor (other details should emerge on these. Samsung is listing the weight at around a pound for the S3 (434g in LTE mode), and the unit comes with a kickstand.
We’re awaiting more details on the hardware and the implementation, hopefully coming through the press event that’s starting as I’m writing this news post. We’ll hopefully get pricing and availability information too.
Edit: All Tab S3 units will come with the S-Pen as standard, and Samsung are partnering with Staedtler to provide a special S Pen called Noris Digital in the traditional school pencil style.
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UtilityMax - Monday, February 27, 2017 - link
I use my tablet as an entertainment device a lot, and for me it is crucial to be able to use storage cards or upload to the tablet media files bypassing the buggy monstrosity that is the iTunes app. For most other purposes, Apple dominates Android tablets. I think Apple tablets have been good enough for so long that I wouldn't mind buying even an "out of date" Apple tablet. These holidays, I picked up a 32GB iPad 2 for just 280 bucks. It's a fine device, and that's close to the most I am willing to pay for a tablet anyways.R. Hunt - Monday, February 27, 2017 - link
Same here. Also, Apple may be using the best LCD in the world but Amoled for me is simply a must.Meteor2 - Monday, February 27, 2017 - link
Actually my use of 'will' was too strong. It will have to have an excellent screen (including low reflection, not just top-notch accuracy) and good speakers too -- and not cost the earth.Meteor2 - Monday, February 27, 2017 - link
S-A, I'm not putting much stock on those 'new iPads in March' rumours. Though they're well overdue a refresh, that's never been a reason for Apple to do anything about it. Apparently the current iPads are still selling steadily.But yeah, primarily I'd like to switch to Android. Things like OK Google and seamless sharing of almost anything between almost any apps are things I miss when using iOS.
bug77 - Monday, February 27, 2017 - link
The speaker positioning is still retarded.Placing both speakers on the smallest side reduces the stereo effect to a minimum. Plus, there's no way to hold that tablet in landscape mode without covering one of the speakers with your hand.
UtilityMax - Monday, February 27, 2017 - link
It has not two, but FOUR speakers for all corners. Check the specs again.xdrol - Tuesday, February 28, 2017 - link
820? What year is this?R. Hunt - Tuesday, February 28, 2017 - link
Judging by the insane prices, its indeed 2017.abufrejoval - Tuesday, February 28, 2017 - link
I keep hearing that tablets just don't sell large volumes. So investing design time into a niche product simply doesn't seem green-lighted in project reviews.With production now shifting towards higher-end Exynos and 835 variants for the high-volume smartphones (where Samsung seems to control all supply), they simply may want to reycle the surplus 820s they didn't sell as Note 7s: They probably have a whole stockpile of them because selling yesterday's high-end chips into mid-range phonse doesn't seem to work out financially, either.
Shame, though, I'd like to see much more 820s in €100-200 devices.