Samsung Galaxy Tab S3 review: A great tablet that should have been better - SamMobile

With the Galaxy Tab S3, Samsung completes a surprising merger of the Note series with its AMOLED brandish-toting Tab S lineup. The result is certainly a very premium-looking loftier-end device, with a unique combination of specs and features. However, the question remains whether all of this justifies its steep cost, and what audience Samsung is targeting. In this review, we answer these questions.

Design

If you lot put the Milky way Tab S3 adjacent to its predecessor, the Tab S2, and look at them from the front, you'll need a pair of eagle eyes to spot the differences. Still, once in hand, the difference becomes clear. The Tab S3 does abroad with the soft-touch plastic of the S2 and is at present fully wrapped in metal and glass. The device is very well crafted, with rounded corners and no sharp edges. The tablet feels like one solid slab of technology.

This time effectually, the frame houses four speakers, and so yous tin can enjoy stereo sound no matter how you're property the Tab S3. Simply like on the Galaxy S8, there is a 3.5 mm headphone jack, and a USB type-C connector, the placement of which will bug the hell out of anybody with even the slightest grade of OCD. That, even so, is non our main business here.

Evidently, the glass back is hyper sensitive to fingerprints, not to mention more fragile than any previously used soft-touch materials. This makes a adept protective encompass mandatory, and given the Milky way Tab S3's price, information technology would not have surprised anyone if at least a basic cover had been included in the packet. We tested our device with its 130-dollar keyboard encompass that is not, we repeat, not office of the package. What is more than, the lack of a cover is not the only missed gamble here.

In an age where Samsung has fabricated IP68 h2o resistance a standard feature of both its high-stop and mid-range lineup, the Galaxy Tab S3 should take gotten the same treatment. Once again, keeping an eye on the device's price tag, the lack of such a rating makes it harder to justify why the tablet costs equally much every bit information technology does.

Overall, there is no doubt that the Milky way Tab S3 looks and feels similar a premium device. Simply the overall experience would have been more convincing had it come with an IP68-rating and a bones encompass for protection of said premium materials.

Specs and performance

Jumping from the design to the inside of the Milky way Tab S3, nosotros discover a similarly paradoxical pocketbook of mixed emotions. Qualcomm'southward Snapdragon 820 was a very high-end SoC, with solid functioning and sufficient energy efficiency. Aye, was, since it is now 2017, and the 820 is simply non the all-time-in-class anymore. This is in and of itself not problematic, were it not for the premium price point Samsung has set for the Tab S3.

Practically, the Snapdragon 820 and its 4GB of RAM handle pretty much annihilation you lot tin throw at the Galaxy Tab S3. The device feels fast, and the interface is much smoother than that of the Tab S2.

On the one hand, the performance of the Galaxy Tab S3 leaves cypher to be desired, only on the other, for this price, nobody would have been shocked had the device been equipped with one of 2017's cut edge SoC's, or at least the Snapdragon 821.

Display

Now that nosotros've looked at the Galaxy Tab S3'south torso and innards, information technology is fourth dimension to switch to its most prominent feature: the Super AMOLED display, which is as stunning as nosotros've come to await from Samsung. With a ix.seven-inch diagonal, 4:3 display ratio, and 2048 x 1536-pixel resolution, it is ideal for reading and web browsing, and less ideal for watching video content. But for anyone familiar with AMOLED'due south deep contrasts and colour reproduction, there is no dubiety that Samsung at the moment has no contest in this department.

There is even more to (indirectly) praise about the cute screen of the Galaxy Tab S3, just we'll get to that later. For at present, there is 1 thing more to be said about the display. Because ironically, fifty-fifty this ultimately does not easily justify the high price of the device, for the simple reason you can become a tablet with an almost comparable screen display for much less. At least, equally long equally Samsung keeps selling the Tab S2.

That said, in that location'south no dubiety the display Milky way Tab S3 is absolutely top-notch, and consuming whatever blazon of content is a joy. Nosotros didn't get to try out HDR content, but the Tab S3 has full support for playing HDR videos, which makes this display even better.

Software

The Milky way Tab S3 was Samsung's commencement device to ship with Android vii.0 Nougat, even earlier the Galaxy S8. This means we'll detect a contempo iteration of Samsung's of Experience interface on the device, beefed up with a full set of S-Pen features.

The UX itself is every bit nosotros know it: fairly make clean looking, like shooting fish in a barrel to use, and a lot smoother than the previous version on the Tab S2. Multi Window works well on the large display, and there's the highly useful Private mode, that provides the possibility to ready an entirely protected environment for the user's sensitive content, apps, and accounts. The home button's congenital-in fingerprint scanner is just the thing yous need to make everything secure in a convenient way.

Unfortunately, just like its predecessor, the Galaxy Tab S3 has no access to Samsung'south theme shop. While Samsung'south own interface is no longer the over-colorful thing is used to be, no theme shop means you'll always be looking at the same pattern. This is non bad, simply it could be a bit tedious for some people.

As far every bit future proofing is concerned, the Tab S3 is likely to receive two major Android updates during its lifecycle, just similar all its predecessors. Security patches won't arrive on the device every unmarried month, but nosotros're expecting them to exist a more or less regular occurrence nonetheless.

S Pen

So far, the Milky way Tab S3 is pretty much what you'd expect information technology to be: a very loftier-end merely rather ho-hum tablet with a nice display. Thankfully, that is not the whole story, or the high toll would take been entirely unrealistic. Here to save the day is the famous S Pen stylus, well known from Samsung's Note series, and since last yr even part of the Tab A mid-range tablet lineup.

Of form, Samsung has had loftier-end tablets with an S Pen before – the Milky way Note x.1 and NotePRO 12.ii. If you liked those, you will love the Tab S3, as it is far superior to those in every aspect, as a tablet and as a stylus-equipped device.

Moreover, the Galaxy Tab S3 brings the unique combination of said S Pen with a big, cute AMOLED display. Writing and drawing feels very natural and responsive – think Galaxy Note vii, but a lot bigger.

Feature-wise, the Tab S3 comes with plenty of S Pen features as we know them from recent Note devices. There are Screen-off Memo, Air Command and all possibilities that come up with information technology. Install an awarding similar Autodesk's Sketchbook for Milky way, and you lot're all set for some serious creativity. Nosotros can't stress enough the pleasance of using this generation'southward Southward Pen on the big, ix.7-inch AMOLED display, with its deep blacks and fantastic color reproduction.

So, finally – finally! – we can say that, yes, this is the characteristic that makes the Galaxy Tab S3 worth all that money. The smooth writing and drawing on this astonishing screen is the best S Pen feel Samsung has ever delivered. Of course, yous could plow to a Milky way Book for a comparable experience powered by Windows ten, though yous'd be spending fifty-fifty more than money. From the perspective of the creative (if non professional) user, the Tab S3 actually packs merely the right combination of hardware and software.

But yous've probably thought information technology by now: many people don't want or need their tablet to fulfill their creative aspirations. They'll probably toss the S Pen somewhere into a drawer, never to pick it upward again. Queue Netflix and the Tab S3's greatest asset will never be used nor appreciated.

The likelihood of all that potential ever beingness discovered in one case the S Pen has been blimp abroad is literally zero since the Galaxy Tab S3 does not hold or store the stylus in whatever way. If you've spent some extra cash on a defended cover – which, as nosotros pointed out, you should – there is probably some type of South Pen holder attached. Out of the box, however, the stylus is that-thing-you-will-lose-on-mean solar day-one, if you're not conscientious.

Camera

Since nosotros cannot stop you from bringing your tablet to take pictures out in the globe, nosotros might as well tell you if the 12-megapixel is any skilful. And in fact, it is. Of course, you should non compare it to the camera of, say, the Galaxy S8. But the sensor can capture an acceptable dynamic range. The lack of stabilization, notwithstanding, means images practise non always come out every bit precipitous as possible. The 5-megapixel forepart photographic camera is sufficient for your run-of-the-mill video conversation, though.

Battery

The Galaxy Tab S3's thin body houses a six,000 mAh battery, which is only a fraction larger than that of its predecessor, but significantly smaller than that of some of its competitors. It left u.s. neither impressed nor disappointed with the device'south battery life. Battery life is more than than decent for anyone who is primarily watching video – you lot know, the type of user we described before as being the 1 that ignores what makes the Tab S3 truly wonderful.

With a usage blueprint that too includes gaming or running other heavy applications, the Tab S3's bombardment life quickly falls dorsum into the profoundly-average class of devices.

AKG-tuned

Before the launch of the Milky way S8 with its AKG-branded earphones, the Galaxy Tab S3 was, in fact, the first Galaxy that benefits from Samsung's contempo conquering of Harman. Of class, the device's loudspeakers are fine, and the fact that the sound is directed in the right direction depending on how you lot hold the Tab S3 is great, not to mention a noticeable improvement over the Tab S2.

Equally for the "Tuned by AKG" bit, let's just say our eyes noticed the logo more than our ears could tell the difference in sound quality. Again, the Tab S3 sounds fine with its quad speaker setup, simply as far every bit real sound quality is concerned, a handful of tiny speakers will never give y'all annihilation sounding premium – AKG or non.

And further…

When we pointed out no ane would have been surprised if the Galaxy Tab S3 had a more cutting edge SoC, nosotros also could have mentioned that nobody would have batted an center had in that location been 64 GB storage. However, there isn't, as Samsung decided 32 GB is merely fine. And in all likelihood, for most users, information technology is. For those who need more, there's always the choice to add up to 256-GB extra in the shape of an SD-bill of fare.

Conclusion

Okay, we're torn here. The Galaxy Tab S3 is a very premium looking and feeling device with smoothen performance, a brilliant display, mostly-sufficient bombardment life, and a total fix of stylus features. If you're looking for a premium tablet and your budget isn't constricted, by all ways, go one. You volition not regret it.

Besides, if you like to get creative with your tablet, the combination of the S Pen and the big beautiful AMOLED display is rather astonishing. The Tab S3 is all those things the older Annotation tablets never quite managed to be.

But and then, there are the downsides that are all the more important because of the Tab S3's high pricing. Terminal twelvemonth'southward SoC, no water resistance, just sufficient battery life, and non even a gratuitous cover to protect all that drinking glass and concord your S Pen – all these things would take made the package perfect. Perfect, as in, "ah, now I get why it'south more expensive than many other full-sized tablets".

So, there you take it. The Milky way Tab S3 is a great tablet, just for the boilerplate tablet user, in that location simply are cheaper options, some of which – the Tab S2, to be precise – offer a comparable viewing experience, even if not the same level of performance.

Pros	Cons
Very premium pattern	Too expensive
Excellent display	AKG tuning gimmicky
Smooth performance	Not IP68 h2o resistant
S Pen on an AMOLED tablet is wonderful	Non even a cheap encompass included

Source: https://www.sammobile.com/2017/06/02/samsung-galaxy-tab-s3-review

Posted by: bordelonfrong1941.blogspot.com

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