Samsung Galaxy Tab Pro 8.4 and 10.1 Review
by Jarred Walton on March 22, 2014 9:30 PM ESTSamsung Galaxy Tab Pro 8.4 Subjective Analysis
When I first started using tablets a few years back, I was generally in the “bigger is better” crowd – within limits of course. Basically, I liked the 10” form factor. As time has passed, I’ve started to gravitate towards a slightly smaller screen. Smartphones are still a bit too small for some things I do (hey, I’m getting old so staring at a 4-5” screen and reading text isn’t all that fun anymore), but carrying around a 10-inch tablet can be a bit cumbersome. That leaves 7-inch and 8-inch devices, and since I have a 5-inch smartphone (Nexus 5), I like the 8-inch class devices as a nice middle ground between smartphones and laptops.
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I’ve seen some noise about Samsung going with an 8.4-inch device (as opposed to 8.0-inch). I haven’t had a chance to use a lot of tablets (yet – that’s coming with future reviews), but I do have the Dell Venue 8 still hanging around. That’s a budget 8-inch tablet, so it’s not necessarily the best comparison, but while the screen on the Samsung 8.4 is visibly larger, the dimensions aren’t really that different – it’s maybe a quarter inch taller and actually slightly narrower than the Dell. The actual screen however feels quite a bit larger than that; the Samsung display diagonal is about 8.43” while the Dell display is 8.0”, but the Samsung LCD measures 7.15”x4.45” compared to 6.8”x4.2” on the Dell – basically more than a quarter inch in each dimension. Perhaps the bigger factor is that Samsung uses a dedicated Home button on the bezel with capacitive task switcher and back buttons next to it, so you don’t lose some of the screen real estate to these buttons…except, in practice I’m not so sure I like this approach.
Moving over to the physical characteristics, having these buttons on the bezel sounds nice in theory, but I have two issues with this design. First, Samsung locates the buttons such that the Tab Pro 8.4 is designed to be held in a portrait orientation. That’s fine most of the time, but if you happen to switch to landscape orientation, suddenly your home/back/task switcher buttons aren’t where they’re supposed to be – which is at the bottom of the device. The second problem is that the capacitive buttons in particular are quite sensitive, so if you use the Pro 8.4 in landscape mode (which is what I do for a lot of games as an example), frequent inadvertent activations of the navigation buttons on the bezel occur. I’m not sure I can say that either approach is universally better, but after having the navigation cluster as part of the display for every other Android tablet I’ve used, having them locked into positions on the bezel feels less…intuitive I guess. Apple also has a discrete Home button, but note that there’s only one button instead of three, which in my experience doesn’t present as much of a problem.
In terms of the port locations, there’s not a whole lot to discuss. There’s a micro-USB port on the bottom (used for charging and connecting external devices) along with stereo speakers, a headset jack is on the top, the microSD slot is behind a cover on the left, and the power and volume controls are on the top-right edge along with an IR port in the center. That IR port location is a bit odd once again – the device is clearly designed to be held in portrait mode, but if you want to use it as a remote, you’ll need to switch to landscape mode. That’s not really a problem, but now your navigation buttons are going to be right where your right thumb typically rests while holding the device. Also note that the speaker location means you’ll only get audio from the right (or left) side of the tablet in landscape mode – it’s not a problem with headphones, of course, but it’s slightly distracting without them.
Outside of those small complaints, however, the Samsung Tab Pro 8.4 is a great tablet. Performance is good, and the display is absolutely beautiful. Samsung has also used a bonded display with fewer layers, so you don’t get that “sunk down” appearance that you’ll see on budget displays (e.g. the Venue 8). Colors are bright and vibrant (and oversaturated, but I’ll get to that later), and the touchscreen is responsive as well. As for the resolution, at 2560x1600 in an 8.4-inch LCD, there’s no way I can resolve individual pixels without a magnifying glass or microscope. I’m pretty sure this is the highest PPI display I’ve ever encountered, and it’s a bit funny that I now have the same resolution display on an 8.4-inch tablet as what I’ve been using on my 30-inch desktop for about a decade. It’s also interesting that even with such a high resolution, in general I didn’t have any issues with performance – in 3D games or elsewhere. There’s probably some scaling going on in some cases, but if so it wasn’t enough to be distracting (and of course we’re not trying to render Crysis level visuals either).
Other aspects of the tablet worked as expected in the limited amount of time I had to use the 8.4. The GPS picked up a signal and tracked location better than some of the other (cheap and/or old) tablets I’ve used, WiFi was nice and snappy, and including support for 802.11ac is always appreciated. The camera is also pretty decent as far as tablets and smartphones go – I’d rather use a point-and-shoot or smartphone, personally, but at least the photos it captures are serviceable.
One thing I didn’t appreciate as much: TouchWiz UI. It’s another “personal preference” thing, but having used a Nexus 5 smartphone as well as the Dell Venue 8, both of which use stock Android, I wasn’t as keen on the “extras” Samsung’s TouchWiz brings into play. It’s not that it’s bad, and I’ll have more to say about the software after discussing the general impressions of the Pro 10.1, but there’s definitely some choppiness in the UI at times. That’s sort of the way of Android though – it can be buttery smooth and then suddenly it’s not. If that sort of thing bothers you a lot, you might need to switch to a different OS.
The feel in hand with the Pro 8.4 is excellent, with slightly rounded corners that don’t become uncomfortable to hold. There’s a metal trim around the outside, and the back has a white faux-leather backing (made of plastic). While battery life isn’t exceptional, it should get most users through a full day of use (outside of playing games for several hours). I think most of us are at the point now where we are used to plugging in our smartphones at the end of each day (and sometimes during the day), and I basically do the same thing with tablets. If you’re using a tablet constantly for work and navigation during the day, however, you might want something that can last longer than the rated 9-10 hours of the Pro 8.4.
I’ll be honest in stating that I’m usually a fan of budget tablets, just because they’re so economical. I have children as well (ages 2, 4, and 11), and I’d much rather let them play with (and potentially damage) a $150 or $200 tablet as opposed to a $500 tablet. Plus, most things that I do on a tablet (besides games) don’t really need more than a budget offering. That said, remove the kids from the equation and the difference in feel, responsiveness, and just general quality is very palpable, making devices like the Samsung Tab Pro 8.4 very compelling. $400 is as much as you’ll pay for a budget laptop, but instead you get a premium tablet. I usually have several laptop options around that I can use if needed, and yet there are plenty of times where I now grab a tablet simply because it’s more convenient. I do wish Samsung had opted to go with 32GB of storage (even if it added $25 to the price), but the display, performance, and overall design are all so good that I can almost overlook the lack of storage space.
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TestKing123 - Thursday, March 27, 2014 - link
"Well that was a waste of time since you obviously lack the minimum nerve, decency and intellectual capacity to understand my points."What points? All you've done is make blanket statements of YOUR OPINION with NOTHING to back it up with, NOT EVEN A SINGLE EXAMPLE as I've asked you to do countless times.
Now let's take a look at your LONELY opinion (again YOUR opinion NOT SHARED BY OTHERS) regarding hybrids:
"-you are talking a 13.3 inch, 1.4kg ultra book is a good thing to use as a tablet
Anyone with a half sense sees how idiotic proposition this is.. but not you!"
Who's anyone? Are you that delusional? If you think "anyone with a half sense" would rather use an inferior, limited android/ipad over a full fledged hybrid than WHY IS THE HYBRID MARKET SO SUCCESSFUL??
Yoga 2 Pro
Sony Vaio Flip
Dell XPS 12
Acer Aspire S7
Razer Blade
etc..
I guess the bigger question is, HAVE YOU USED ONE YOURSELF? Rather than continue to talk out of your ass?
The point is, people can use these devices as a tablet WHEN THEY WANT TO and a laptop WHEN THEY WANT TO. Is it that hard to understand or are you that plain stupid? You're opinion of "how a person should use a tablet" yada yada is the minority, and if you think otherwise please post in the Notebook section of Anandtech so we can all see just how narrow minded and deluded you are.
"- if we actually take a usable tablet form windows (8-10" and a 500-700grams) and try to use it for your idiotic propositions of playing pc games, programing (lol) or ANY use that you can benefit from a laptop form factor..so we need to hook up a keyboard and a mouse to a 10" screen, put it on a table and squint onto it."
Why are you hung up on the Surface 2 Pro? You have YET to truly point out this argument with hybrids. Do you even know which market the Surface 2 Pro is aimed at? Like other PC centric tablets and hybrids, it's aimed at people who need the versatility of a tablet and the power/software of a regular PC...usually professionals in their line of field....HENCE why it's given the "Pro" monikor. Understand?
"Office, again only a professional who is living offa doc editing will have a real benefit in MSOffice ..and ypu thik those proffesionals will not therefore use a real laptop?!?!
Average people that need to write something on their TABLETS will be more than served by the likes of Kingsoft office.
You ever even used it or are you the one talking out of your ass!
It can do spreadsheets, power point, pdf files, and more word and excel than anyone will ever need on a touchscreen."
Again, you don't have a DAMN clue about who the Pro market is aimed at, or why it's even a large market to begin with. There is not a SINGLE office facsimile for android/ipad that offers the same level of versatility that a desktop application offers (not Kingsoft office that you ignorantly keep referring to), and PLENTY of people would prefer working out of a lower profile machine on the go rather than a full fledged laptop, hence why they're selling so well. Again, this is YOU NOT UNDERSTANDING the market and just forcing your OWN ignorant opinion. LOL!
"As that's what I am talking about from the start..understanding what a TABLET really is and what people are needing it for.
And that is a causal, comfortable media consumption in something they can easily handle, hold in one hand and carry around in a purse or even a pocket."
Who the hell are YOU to determine for everyone how to "use a tablet" or what tablet to use, just because of what YOU think it should be? The people use 7" tablets are NOT the same people buying Windows 8 Pro tablets and hybrids. They aren't using these machines for simple media consumption to carry around in their purse like you do.
HOW RETARDED ARE YOU to not even understand that you CAN do gaming (PC gaming at that) on a tablet, WITH OR WITHOUT a keyboard/mouse (you can plug in a controller, and many games work well with touch interface)....and a 10" or 13" screen is more than good enough to game on...especially with a QHD display.
"Starting to sink into that tiny clouded mind of yours now??"
That's funny, coming from you. You are the one that's narrow minded and incapable of understanding the different market segments. Your statements have proven this through and through, and everyone sees it.
"And further proof of your prejudiced stupidity is that you you fail to realize
that the games I mentioned are in fact a pc games, and a great pc games at that.
I only and merely answered to your callout because it technically was off.
You lack a basic understanding and reading comprehension.
And you waste other people's time!"
Again not addressing my point after exposing your flawed arguments. All you've done is mentioned mobile versions of games, not even recent, and somehow the fact that you can run the LATEST PC games on much more powerful hardware in a Windows 8 tablet/hybrid than that found in a dinky ipad/android SOC. To MANY people (and this clearly shows on this website), this is a MAJOR selling point for these devices. Your single minded, single voice OPINION means NOTHING.
LOL!
darkich - Thursday, March 27, 2014 - link
Geez, this is by far the most ironic and sad discussion I ever had in my life.Let md draw out the freaking obvious to you and end this. Do not expect me further answering you, nutcase:
HUNDREDS OF MILLION OF PEOPLE USE TABLETS.
They buy and use them because they want a portable, light, manageable touch interactive devices for easy to use casual media consumption, social networking, intuitive entertainment for their kids, reading, and gaming.
The ridiculous fact screaming into your face is that compared to tablet market, hybrid ultra book market is miniscule!
Hundred million people will buy an iPad this year.
The whole hybrid market COMBINED will barely, if at all, reach 10 percent of that!
Now ask yourself why exactly is that so, you lunatic!
TestKing123 - Thursday, March 27, 2014 - link
What an absurd line of reasoning. The hybrid market is just now emerging, how the hell can you compare it to millions of EXISTING users in a tablet market that's been ongoing for YEARS?That's basically the equivalent of comparing the early HDTV market to the larger regular TV market segment. Or touch phones to the much larger button phone market in the early days.
Of course, this is a line of understanding you've proven yourself countless times over and over, and yet again here, that you know NOTHING about.
Hybrid sales and market presence is increasing rapidly because current technology allows it to be so. Compare CES this year to last year, there are literally DOZENS of new high profile hybrid models and more being released every month. People are buying them, and the market is growing. Hell, you just need to read this damn site every now and then to understand that, especially their Surface 2 Pro review (not to mention, the huge number of users in the anandtech forums).
So please continue to pretend this market doesn't exist, like some kind of fanboy, and make statements that truly showcases your ignorance.
TestKing123 - Thursday, March 27, 2014 - link
Let me respond specifically to this as well:"HUNDREDS OF MILLION OF PEOPLE USE TABLETS.
They buy and use them because they want a portable, light, manageable touch interactive devices for easy to use casual media consumption, social networking, intuitive entertainment for their kids, reading, and gaming."
You just gave a list of general reasons people use a small profile tablet for. Now, do you understand what people who buy a PRO tablet or hybrid for? If you don't, then your presence in this discussion was absolutely a waste because you're too ignorant of basic principals and factors for the pro hybrid/tablet market. I outlined those reasons quite clearly above, yet you're not any closer to understanding. LOL.
Again....
The people who use 7" tablets are NOT the same people buying Windows 8 Pro tablets and hybrids. They aren't using these machines for simple media consumption to carry around in their purse like you do. The point is, people can use these devices as a tablet WHEN THEY WANT TO and a laptop WHEN THEY WANT TO. Is it that hard to understand??
darkich - Thursday, March 27, 2014 - link
Average tablet use case(in the overwhelming majority of the cases)..picking one up while sitting back on the couch after work, or laying down in bed before sleep, or after waking up.Checking the Internet, posting, commenting, watching YouTube, playing candy crush or Clash of Clans (heres a fun piece of info for you..that single game earned more than billion $ last year(!!)..and of course, you can't play it on windows at all, like hundreds of thousands of other casual touchscreen games)..and that is pretty much all people are using tablets for.
Overwhelming majority of people that buy tablets DO NOT NEED, do not care, or even know about things like special features of ms office, and they wouldn't ever trying to bother with playing a pc game, let alone trying to play it in such convoluted way.
And you call me narrow minded..damn.
The mere example alone that tablet gaming is a business of billions of dollars while gaming on laptops is an exotic activity (huge majority of gaming happens on consoles and desktop) ..that fact alone perfectly reflects just how beyond clueless you are in actual understanding of the market and products.
TestKing123 - Thursday, March 27, 2014 - link
"And you call me narrow minded..damn."LOL...look at your own statement:
"Overwhelming majority of people that buy tablets DO NOT NEED, do not care, or even know about things like special features of ms office, and they wouldn't ever trying to bother with playing a pc game, let alone trying to play it in such convoluted way."
What about the overwhelming majority of people that buy PRO tablets, knowing SPECIFICALLY it is installed with a desktop OS and equipped with PC hardware, costing nearly 2x - 3x as much as a regular tablet?
Not only are you narrow minded, but you are so bluntly stupid to understand different market segments. People who buy $299 tablets to sit back on their couch after work to play Candy Crush are not the people going to spend $1000 or more for a hybrid.
For the people that DO, you're making yourself a moron by commenting how they should or should not use their device. That's the point of a such a device isn't it....to use as a tablet WHEN THEY WANT and a laptop WHEN THEY WANT, otherwise they wouldn't have bought it wouldn't they?
And guess what, more and more people shelling out the extra cash to purchase hybrids because they function exceptionally well....it literally lets people HAVE their cake AND eat it too. The power of a full PC in the form factor of a tablet/ultrabook/tent/etc...
Why on earth would you force a $199/$299 casual audience into that segment? Because you're too ignorant to understand the different market segments and factors of each, and every time you make a post stating the same thing over and over again you show everyone how foolish you are.
LOL.
Now, back to these points that you keep running away from:
- Have you used a hybrid yourself?
- Explain why the hybrid market is so successful with dozens of new models being introduced every month.
- Explain the different market segments and the target for each
- Give SPECIFICS (instead your ignorant "simple as that" exclamations) of why Windows 8 Pro hybrids are "POOR", in your own words.
- Explain the rising popularity of hybrids right here @ anandtech.com and in general (personally, I think the trend is all ultrabooks will be hybrids as processes mature and prices continue to drop).
darkich - Thursday, March 27, 2014 - link
Of course I DO UNDERSTAND that one can technically do more on a hybrid with windows than on a typical tablet.That was never the question..what I responded to was your claim that windows hybrids are making those tablets useless and obsolete.
And reality is completely defying that statement.
People who need windows hybrids will buy windows hybrids, people who need tablets will keep buying Android tablets and iPads.
First group are tiny minority and second group is huge majority.
R. Hunt - Monday, March 24, 2014 - link
13.3 inch vs 9.7 inch1.4 kg vs 0.5 kg
19:9 landscape vs 4:3 portrait
Seems to me you're comparing two vastly different things. There's plenty of use cases where the iPad Air form factor is simply superior (and the market keeps reflecting that, by the way).
darkich - Tuesday, March 25, 2014 - link
Not just the form factor but the OS also.There is simply no comparison in the number of touch oriented apps between iOS and Windows
darkich - Thursday, March 27, 2014 - link
Average tablet use case(in the overwhelming majority of the cases)..picking one up while sitting back on the couch after work, or laying down in bed before sleep, or after waking up.Checking the Internet, posting, commenting, watching YouTube, playing candy crush or Clash of Clans (heres a fun piece of info for you..that single game earned more than billion $ last year(!!)..and of course, you can't play it on windows at all, like hundreds of thousands of other casual touchscreen games)..and that is pretty much all people are using tablets for.
Overwhelming majority of people that buy tablets DO NOT NEED, do not care, or even know about things like special features of ms office, and they wouldn't ever trying to bother with playing a pc game, let alone trying to play it in such convoluted way.
And you call me narrow minded..damn.
The mere example alone that tablet gaming is a business of billions of dollars while gaming on laptops is an exotic activity (huge majority of gaming happens on consoles and desktop) ..that fact alone perfectly reflects just how beyond clueless you are in actual understanding of the market and products.