Samsung Galaxy Tab S Review (10.5 & 8.4-inch)
by Anand Lal Shimpi on June 24, 2014 9:00 AM EST- Posted in
- Tablets
- Samsung
- Mobile
- Galaxy Tab S
Performance
The WiFi only variants of the Galaxy Tab S all feature Samsung’s own Exynos 5 Octa (5420). Internally we’re dealing with four ARM Cortex A15s and four ARM Cortex A7s in a big.LITTLE configuration, with a maximum of four cores of the same type being active at any given moment. The Cortex A7 cluster can run at up to 1.3GHz while the Cortex A15 cluster maxes out at 1.9GHz.
CPU performance is reasonable but definitely behind Apple’s Cyclone cores in A7 and even Intel’s value Bay Trail offerings that are cropping up in tablets like ASUS’ Memo Pad 7. The problem with the latter is that those devices end up being substantially cheaper what Samsung is asking for with the Galaxy Tab S.
GPU Performance
The bigger problem really seems to be GPU performance. The Exynos 5420 integrates ARM’s Mali-T628MP6 GPU, which just isn’t competitive with Apple’s PowerVR Series 6 implementations. The bigger problem is that the GPU doesn’t seem quite cut out to driving the high resolution display. UI frame rates are typically smooth but I definitely noticed some dropped frames. The device is by no means unusable, I’m just spoiled by how good everything is at the high end of mobile that even mild deviations are noticeable.
Internal NAND Storage Performance
Storage performance is pretty solid. Both read and write performance are good given what we’re seeing from most players today. I’d always like more but there’s not a ton to complain about here.
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darwinosx - Friday, June 27, 2014 - link
More derivative cheap junk from Samsung. Ugh. I can't stand their products.bigboxes - Saturday, June 28, 2014 - link
Based on your screen name you couldn't be biased. Nah. You can keep your overpriced, underspeced Apple crap. I don't think you read the review at all. You saw Android and Samsung and copy/pasted your reply. You fanbois get old. Grow up.zodiacfml - Friday, June 27, 2014 - link
sigh, if only I have money to burn for that great screen.dusk007 - Sunday, June 29, 2014 - link
The display analysis here makes no mention as to what AMOLED Photo is supposed to be. It is calibrated to AdobeRGB but the article makes it out like it is only some other kind of oversaturated eye catching AMOLED setting.Anybody that wants to read more about the main interesting feature of this tablet which sets it apart should check out the display review on displaymate.com .
http://www.displaymate.com/OLED_Tablet_ShootOut_1....
It is an astounding display and especially stands out in metrics that the human sight apparatus values far more than color accuracy. Color accuracy is useful for content producers but also the one thing that our brain automatically corrects for and one of the last that a normal unbiased person would pick as the primary quality indication (unless it is really significantly off). Still it is one of the most accurate displays out there. I feel Anandtech is a bit too obsessed with color accuracy. It isn't unimportant but anybody coming from the eye related medical profession would say there is more to a display and its subjective impact.
marytattoo - Sunday, June 29, 2014 - link
i'd hoped to see a review of this tablet vs the 8.4 pro. besides the screen, i'm not sure of the difference. is it huge?DiHydro - Wednesday, September 3, 2014 - link
"Both tablets feature IR transceivers and stereo speakers." Are these really transceivers, or are they just transmitters? If they are transceivers, that opens up a lot more possibility using IR to learn remote codes, and to talk to other tablets and IrDA devices.jh20001 - Tuesday, November 25, 2014 - link
I have been looking for a tablet to kick around the house that not only let me read all my favorite books on my downtime, but also controlled things around the house like light switches and the TVs. I have been in this home automation kick as of late, so that of course was a must have feature. I was reading around and almost bought a Nexus until I read in one mag that the new Samsung destroyed it in performance. After reading a few more online (ie, here on anandtech, or http://pocinc.net/blog/product-reviews/review-sams... or the one at Cnet), I wound up getting sold on it. Let me tell you…..yeah baby! This thing rocks my world. I even take it to work with me when possible. It’s like my new best friend }:) Also good with games and Netflix....oh I needs me my Netflix!Bpositive - Sunday, March 22, 2015 - link
I just bought the tab s 10.5 and generally very happy with it, however I am quite disappointed that the screen shows quite a lot chromatic aberration (color fringing). Have others the same problem or do I have a faulty unit?