Samsung Galaxy Tab S2: the thinnest flagship tablet in the world. Samsung Galaxy Tab S2: the thinnest flagship tablet in the world Galaxy tab s2 8.0 tablet computer

The Korean company Samsung is constantly searching for new forms, new solutions, experimenting with the formats of its devices. Now we have a small Samsung review Galaxy Tab S2 8 0 sm t719 lte 32gb, flagship model, which, according to the plan, was supposed to become the very best. For example, the thinnest in its class, the thickness of the tablet is less than six millimeters. Combined with narrow frames around the display, it turns out to be the world's most compact tablet for its diagonal size. This one can easily fit even in a small women’s handbag, and it won’t put much of a burden on your jacket pocket.

Design, ergonomics

Of course, many users involuntarily have associations with the compact iPad; well, the dimensions are similar, but the Koreans turned out to be much thinner. And this despite the fact that they are no longer competing in millimeters, but in tenths, and in terms of weight the Tab S2 also overtakes iPad mini 3 is almost 70 grams, it weighs only 272 grams. The case is plastic with a metal frame around the perimeter. The metal is processed with high quality, does not scratch or chip.

Assembly performed on high level, a combination of such thinness and strength can hardly be found anywhere, including the famous iPad, which is made entirely of aluminum. The back of the lid has a Soft-touch coating, no scratches, no fingerprints, no abrasions. On the bottom edge there are USB ports and a mini-jack, as well as two speakers.

Screen

U Samsung Galaxy Tab S2 8 0 display with a diagonal of 7.9”, a very high-quality Super-AMOLED matrix, which allows for much greater saturation than conventional TFT, as well as a hundredfold superiority in contrast. For a tablet, the pixel density is quite high - 326 ppi, with a resolution of 2048x1536. In terms of aspect ratio, the Korean manufacturer deviated from its principles, and left its wide-format matrices for later to make it like on the iPad. In addition, tablets are now used not so much for watching movies, but for Internet surfing. An oleophobic coating is present; in terms of viewing angles, brightness and other characteristics, we can simply remind you that AMOLED, that is, everything is at the highest level.

Filling and working time

High-performance processor with eight Exynos 5433 cores, as well as 3 gigabytes random access memory make the tablet's performance capable of solving any task, both everyday and complex three-dimensional graphics. The drive has a capacity of 32 gigabytes, but you can add a 128 gigabyte microSD card, as well as a 100 gigabyte OneDrive cloud, and you get a very spacious device. Even synthetic tests show decent results, as befits flagship solutions. The tablet is the most powerful in the world in its class.

The list of tablet equipment includes a module LTE networks, simply install a SIM card into the receiver, pay for the service, and you have a constant high-speed connection to the global network on your tablet. Of course, if it's windy outside, Samsung tablets galaxy tab s2 8 0 can be used as a cover while calling friends. From wireless technologies The tablet has all the standard features.

Media

The sound on the tablet is very high quality, especially with headphones, although hardly anyone will buy a tablet for this purpose. But for watching videos this device is very good. Two clear, deep and loud speakers that support both stereo and surround sound. In addition, the tablet behaves well as a navigator; it sees everything and finds satellites quickly.

Camera

The main camera is 8 megapixels and takes quite high-quality pictures in good lighting. Indoors or on a cloudy day, everything is not so good, noise appears, clarity is a little lost. Front-camera This is purely for video calls; taking selfies with a 2 megapixel sensor is, to say the least, pointless.

Autonomy

It’s unclear how they fit a 4000 mAh battery into such an ultra-thin case, but it’s a fact. When loaded, the charge lasts for four hours to play and seven hours to watch videos. If used in mixed mode, the tablet lasts all day. There is an economical mode in which the Internet and social network applications work.

This is the flagship tablet of the Korean company. Compared to its older brother Galaxy Tab S2 9.7, the screen diagonal is reduced here, but the “filling” of the device remains the same. So this is an ideal option for those who want a premium tablet with a compact screen.

The fingerprint scanner will not only allow you to unlock the device is lightweight touch, but also protect it. Using your fingerprint, you can even restrict access to individual applications and accounts, thereby increasing the security of your personal data.


Enjoy the image on Samsung Galaxy Tab S2 8.0 SM-T710N 32Gb Wi-Fi Black A rich and bright 8-inch Super AMOLED screen will allow you. It has a QXGA resolution, that is, 2048 x 1536 pixels. The ratio of height and width of the display is 4 to 3, together with light and slim body, allows you to carry your tablet with you wherever you go. And thanks to the improved multitasking mode, you no longer have to constantly minimize applications. You can use the browser and work with text files at the same time, simply by dividing the screen into two parts, and you determine the size of these parts yourself.


With 3 GB of RAM, paired with an eight-core processor, four high-performance cores operating at 1.9 GHz and four at 1.3 GHz, you don’t have to worry about the smooth operation of the interface and applications. During daily tasks maximum performance are not used, allowing you to use battery power more economically, which, with a capacity of 4000 mAh, allows you to work on the Internet for up to 9 hours in a row. And you can watch videos for up to 14 hours straight without recharging. The built-in memory capacity is 32 GB, of which the user can use 25.2 GB for data storage, expandable with MicroSD cards up to 128 GB.


To tablet computer Samsung Galaxy Tab S2 8.0 SM-T710N 32Gb Wi-Fi Black supports the following data transfer methods - Wi-Fi (standards a/b/g/n) with support for Wi-Fi Direct and Bluetooth version 4.1. Thanks to support for GPS and GLONASS, the device can be used as a navigator, and the size of the display will allow you to not have to look closely to see the desired route.


The main camera with a resolution of 8 megapixels with a fast lens provides decent quality photos and makes it possible to record video in a resolution of 2560 x 1440, even in low light conditions. And for making video calls, the 2.1 megapixel front camera is perfect.

At the beginning of 2017, Samsung showed the third updated version of the Galaxy Tab 3 line of tablets. Its main competitor was and remains the previous generation model. And this is not a problem for the company, but for the entire tablet market. Therefore, Samsung Galaxy Tab S2 8.0 SM-T719 LTE ​​32GB is still an excellent choice in as Android devices and the main one, which is in many ways superior to its analogue Apple iPad.

The S line is considered the flagship for smartphones and tablets Samsung. Therefore, even outdated components after two years do not affect the performance of the devices. Central and GPUs, which were installed in top smartphones and tablets two or three years ago, are enough even for complex modern programs.

Appearance

The Tab S2 looks standard by Samsung standards and not bad compared to other tablets on the market. It has narrow frames on the sides, and wide enough at the top and bottom to make it comfortable to hold while watching a movie or playing games.

At the bottom there is a hardware “home” button, a touch “back” button, and a “list of recent applications”. Obviously, they migrated from smartphones, but on such a wide body I would like to have more noticeable indents.

The back of the tablet is made of soft-touch plastic. This is done for ease of grip. At the top is the main camera, which protrudes slightly above the body. When using a cover, this is completely compensated for. Closer to right side two small holes that are used for proprietary protection.

Dimensions are almost standard: 134.8 x 198.6 x 5.6 mm. Weighs 272 grams. So thin and light it is almost not felt when worn.

On the bottom edge there are two speakers hidden behind grilles, micro-USB, and a microphone. On the right is the power button, volume rocker, nano-SIM and memory card slot.

Sold in the usual black and white colors.

Performance

Some versions of this model used a processor from Samsung - Exynos 5433, but it was the SM-T719 that installed the Qualcomm MSM8976 chip - Snapdragon 652. For the average user, these names mean little. But both options will confidently run games, work with several processes simultaneously, and play 4K video. Moreover, the tablet still 3 GB RAM.

Antutu shows 47000 points. Although the figure may vary slightly.

As the name suggests, here 32 GB internal memory . The user has access to 24, but you can install memory cards up to 128. Since the tablet was updated to 6th Android versions , it will be used as a system partition, including for installing applications.

Display

The screen of the Samsung Galaxy Tab S2 tablet was the best on the market at the time of its release. Two years later, it will give odds to most tablets, second only to new models from the same company.

Display with 7.9 inches diagonal made using SuperAMOLED technology. Resolution – 2048x1536 pixels. This gives 326 ppi, high for tablets. Aspect ratio – 4:3.

The device has automatic brightness adjustment. The sensor helps in bright sunshine. Installed system utility to change the screen mode. It can be used to increase saturation when watching movies, games, or, conversely, to decrease it if AMOLED colors are off-putting.

Battery

The battery capacity is surprising - only 4000 mAh. But it’s worth remembering about the energy-efficient chipset and AMOLED, which greatly saves battery by turning off unnecessary pixels.

If cellular communication If you don’t use it and turn on the Internet only via Wi-Fi, then with an average load it will last for a day. If you insert a SIM card, then the operating time will noticeably decrease, and the screen will last for 2-3 hours.

There is an extreme power saving mode in which the background turns black. This means that most of the screen is turned off. Data transfer is limited. When fully charged in this mode, the tablet will last 4-5 days.

Wireless interfaces

This tablet model supports latest versions Wi-Fi, LTE. Bluetooth 4.1. Navigation using GPS, GLONASS.

The lack of infrared ports, NFC and, accordingly, the lack of Samsung Pay. The tablet doesn’t really need them, but given its positioning as a flagship, this fact is frustrating. After all, Samsung made a thin device that you can always carry with you, but they did not provide modern features such as contactless payments.

Camera

Samsung is doing wisely in this direction. Their smartphones have some of the best cameras on the market, and in tablets - those that can be useful on a device 20 cm long. However, they are still the best among tablets.

In Tab S2 8 megapixel main, 2.1 megapixel front. There are no flashes.

There are plenty of possibilities for shooting if necessary, for photographing documents and selfies, especially in good weather conditions.

The program has seven modes at once:

  • auto;
  • panorama;
  • virtual shooting;
  • rich tones (HDR);
  • post effect;
  • dual camera.

Three deserve special attention.

In mode virtual shooting the user can, by moving around an object, create a full 3D model of it.

Although HDR makes pictures brighter and more saturated, the process is done in software, so it’s especially High Quality It's not worth the wait.

The post effect allows you to change some photo settings after shooting. Dual camera creates 2 photos from the main and front cameras in one image at once.

operating system

Initially, the Galaxy Tab S2 ran on Android 5.0, but over time it was updated to version 6. On top is the usual TouchWiz. Unfortunately, it's still quite modified from stock Android. Not everyone will like or suit such an overly bright design, but in terms of functionality there are no problems. All built-in programs voice control– at a very high level.

As always, Samsung offers its users many different gifts: internal storage in OneDrive, subscription to Bookmate, Amediateka.

The hardware button has a fingerprint sensor for unlocking using a fingerprint.

Advantages and disadvantages

pros

  • display;
  • new OS version;
  • Samsung partner offers;
  • dimensions.

Minuses

  • battery.

Conclusion

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S2 8.0 review demonstrates that this is an excellent continuation of the line, which replaced the previous generation and can become an alternative to the next one.

It has one of the best screens, decent camera characteristics, and a high-quality body. The battery is one of the main drawbacks. It may be enough for movies, but in games and programs the tablet will run out quickly.

The most disappointing thing is the price. Although Samsung has not added all the features of truly flagship devices to the tablet, as it does with smartphones, the price has been set at the top. Paying for an imperfect tablet more than $500 It's only worth it if you like a specific manufacturer. And given the noticeably decreased attention of users to this category of devices, it is surprising that even with such a high price, it sells very well.

Contents of delivery:

  • Tablet
  • Charger with USB cable
  • Instructions

Specifications

  • Android 5.0.2, update to 5.1.1 soon, TouchWiz shell, like on Samsung Galaxy S6/Note 5
  • Screen 7.9 inches, SuperAMOLED, 2048x1536 pixels (326 ppi), 4:3 geometry, automatic backlight adjustment, maximum brightness outdoors for text readability (auto mode), additional screen adjustment modes;
  • Chipset Exynos 5433 (as in Note 4), 8 cores up to 1.9 GHz, MALI T760
  • 3 GB RAM, 16 GB internal memory, memory cards up to 128 GB
  • Bluetooth 4.1, Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band
  • LTE support
  • Fingerprint sensor
  • GPS/GLONASS
  • Li-Ion battery 4000 mAh, HD video playback time up to 12 hours (maximum brightness), gaming about 6 hours
  • Weight – 265/272 grams (Wi-Fi/LTE), dimensions – 134.8 x 198.6 x 5.6 mm

Positioning

The Tab S line is the flagships from Samsung, which were created to directly compete with the iPad, the company never hid this, moreover, when introducing the first generation of Tab S in the USA, they presented the iPad so that anyone could compare the quality of the screens and their differences. It is clear that the screen is not the only parameter for choosing such a device, but they differ like heaven and earth, the difference is visible to the naked eye, we even had detailed analysis differences between these devices and their screens.

Samsung's ideology has always been to give an iPad for the price more technology and possibilities, to present the most technologically rich device. Not forgetting its convenience. In the Tab S2, the story is completely repeated with one difference - the tablet market has dropped significantly over the past year, and this applies to all major manufacturers, including Apple. Therefore, Samsung focused on updating the line without introducing any new, sensational features. The goal was to make flagship tablets that would be convenient for daily use, become the most powerful devices on the market in terms of performance (in the Android segment at least), and at the same time offer quality cameras plus good working hours.

The positioning of this device is typical for flagships - everything is without compromise, it contains the best components, the most productive solutions. For geeks, it’s a shame that the tablet is built on the same platform as the Note 4; with some stretch, they can be called twin brothers. But we must remember that Note 4, which appeared almost a year ago, was 1.5-2 years ahead of the market. Even today, there are no similar solutions from other companies, which makes this device the best in its segment. In short, if you are looking for the most powerful tablet, with the best screen and camera, without regard to its cost, then the Galaxy Tab S2 will certainly be among your options. And this will be one of the priority options.

Design, dimensions, control elements

Externally, the tablet turned out to be different from the first Tab S. The screen geometry is different, the frame, like in Note 4, around the body, it is made of metal, with a polished edge. Moreover, the edge is only on the front surface, and the back is plastic - the tablet is comfortable to hold in your hands, it does not slip.




For most consumers, a flagship must be made of metal, although this is not always convenient or correct. When struck, the metal hits the glass that protects the screen, but the plastic does not deform the body in this way. The question of what a manufacturer should use, plastic or metal, has long turned into a philosophical one. But in practice, the difference is noticeable with constant use of the devices - for example, the Tab S2 weighs only 272 grams (for the LTE version, the version with Wi-Fi weighs even less - 265 grams), while the iPad Mini weighs 341 grams. Minimal difference? How to look. If you pick up the tablet from time to time, you won’t see any differences. But if you play or watch a movie, then the Tab S2 will be more comfortable; it does not pull on your hand and does not feel in it. A child can easily hold it.



The thickness of the device is a parameter in which every manufacturer exercises, in Tab S2 the thickness is 5.6 mm (iPad 7.5 mm). It is very thin, but this parameter does not affect the characteristics in any way. Thin and delicate, after all, thinness is visually pleasing, in the hands it does not make a big difference. The dimensions of 134.8 x 198.6 x 5.6 mm are excellent for this type of device.

On the trip I got so used to it that tablet light and a small one that was addicted to carrying it in the side pocket of his shorts, where he was not felt at all. An attempt to put the iPad there failed; it was noticeably heavier and hit my leg when moving.



The back wall is made of soft-touch plastic, it hardly gets dirty, does not scratch, and is pleasant. The camera lens protrudes, but this is normal for such models. There are two “buttons” on the case for installing a branded case, some may find them superfluous, like me, I don’t wear cases on tablets, preferring to wear them that way.


At the bottom end you can see two speakers, this is not a scam, there are physically two of them, and they sound quite loud. The location of the speakers on one side of the body is not indisputable; I would like to see them spaced apart. But the sound does not suffer in most situations; it is impossible to cover both speakers with your hand. In terms of volume, the tablet clearly outperforms the iPad, however, the sound quality is higher.


At the same end there is a microUSB connector, as well as a microphone. The tablet has two microphones, they are needed for the noise reduction system to work. Let me remind you that the tablet can be used like a regular phone, with or without a headset.

On the left side there is a paired volume key, a power button, just below there is a slot for a nanoSIM card (the choice of this card format is surprising and questionable), as well as a slot for memory cards.


On the front panel, under the screen, there is a physical key exactly in the middle, and two touch keys on the sides. Due to the size, it is convenient to work with the keys, no problems arise.


The build quality of the device is a plus, there are no problems. The downside is that due to the thickness of the model, it was necessary to sacrifice the usual Corning Gorilla Glass 4 coating; here there is a “light” version with a thinner outer layer. As a result, the screen becomes covered quite quickly small scratches. You can only see them when they are turned off; it is, of course, impossible to feel them with your fingers.


The tablet can be bought in black or white, below you can see what the white device looks like, it is no less interesting than the black one that I reviewed.


Screen

In order to understand how high-quality the screen is on the Tab S2, you need to look at it in real life. This is perhaps the best tablet screen that exists today. Here are its technical characteristics - 7.9 inches, SuperAMOLED, 2048x1536 pixels (326 ppi), 4:3 geometry. Now let's talk about what he can do in practice.




Let me start with the fact that these weeks I often flew a DJI Phantom 3 quadcopter, and in order to watch video from it in real time (transmits at a distance of up to 2 kilometers in HD quality), I installed a Galaxy Tab S2. A little trick, in the settings you need to set automatic brightness adjustment, then the maximum backlight brightness will increase twice as much as the standard one when the tablet realizes that it is outside. In direct sunlight, the picture remained fully readable; there was no need to look for a shadow. The photograph does not convey this; it seems that the screen has faded, but in real life it is readable.




Now let's talk about why SuperAMOLED is criticized for having too bright colors. In the settings, you can choose one of five operating modes (adaptive is the default, Movie AMOLED, Photo AMOLED, basic, for reading).


In principle, it’s worth choosing the adaptive mode; it perfectly adjusts the picture to the displayed content, plus it processes external lighting conditions. That is, the adaptive mode itself will turn on the reading settings, realizing that you are reading a book or page in the browser.

But if you don’t want to trust this mode, you can customize everything for yourself. And then the colors will not be so aggressive or become muted, it all depends on you. Other tablets do not have such technologies or they are in their infancy; the iPad, for example, only recently became able to adjust the font size, and nothing similar to the technology described simply does not exist. You can't choose the screen color temperature on the iPad. Some may quite rightly say that this is not necessary on the iPad. This may be true for you. Most likely, you simply have not seen what a high-quality screen is, and therefore continue to consider it faded iPad screen acceptable. He is not bad in his class, but has long become average, nothing more.

I repeat that if the display was excellent in the Tab S, then in the second version it became amazing. Good, clear picture, high brightness in the sun, pleasant viewing of photos and videos.

The screen geometry has become the same as in the iPad - 4:3. I like it less than 16:10, because I like to watch videos on my tablet. There are still black bars, just like on the iPad. But on the other hand, the picture quality overshadows everything. This is a tablet with the best screen on the market, as even ardent critics of all Samsung products admit (reluctantly or through gritted teeth).

Battery

The built-in Li-Ion battery has a capacity of 4000 mAh. At first glance, this is not much for a tablet; we are used to seeing batteries with a capacity of 5000-6000 mAh in such devices. But given the fact that it uses an energy-efficient chipset and a new screen option that consumes less than in previous models, the operating time in different modes has increased.

For example, when playing video in HD resolution (MX Player, hardware acceleration, AVI, maximum brightness), the operating time is about 12 hours. If you turn on automatic backlight adjustment or reduce the brightness, the operating time will increase to 13-14 hours. This is noticeably more than any tablet in this class. And if you take into account the weight and dimensions of the tablet, it can be considered a kind of record.


When using a SIM card in a tablet, when you make calls and write SMS, everything is not so rosy. It will work for a day or more with an average load (2 hours of screen, about an hour of calls). The cellular module eats up the battery quite quickly. If we limit ourselves only to data transfer, then everything will be typical for such devices, comparable to the same iPad - about 7-8 hours of work. Here, for example, is how long my device worked when watching three episodes of a series (2 hours 15 minutes), working in other applications (half backlight brightness, automatic mode).









In games, you can achieve a maximum of 7-7.5 hours of work, which depends on the screen settings. But in games, the maximum number of cores is used, which negatively affects the operating time, the tablet noticeably warms up.

If you want maximum battery life, don't use Chrome; Samsung's browser is much more energy efficient. The difference in operating time will be almost double! As for me, Google urgently needs to do something about the energy efficiency of Chrome, it eats up the battery too quickly mobile devices, although convenient in other aspects.

Traditionally, there is a power saving mode when you can limit processor performance, remove the backlight of touch keys, degrade animation, and so on. Unfortunately, in this mode you cannot select individual items, you can only enable them all at once. The best part is that you can install automatic switching on this mode when the battery is discharged to a certain level (5, 15, 20, 50%).




In maximum power saving mode, the display turns gray and background data transfer is limited. This mode has no analogues from other companies and is directly related to the capabilities of the display.


Full battery charging time is about 3.5 hours (2A), mode fast charging, unlike Note 4, is not supported. Overall, the Tab S2 is optimal in terms of operating time, if you remember its capabilities and performance.

Memory, memory cards, performance

The tablet uses the same processor that we saw in the Note 4 - Exynos 5433. This processor was way ahead of its time and offered a very high performance bar, it remains one of the best on the market. They don’t look for good from good, and for a tablet whose screen resolution is lower than that of Note 4, they decided to use it. Many expected that this would be a new generation of processor, but there was simply no need for it - it could only be needed when using high-resolution screens. Specifications The processors are as follows - 4 cores with a frequency of up to 1.3 GHz, 4 cores up to 1.9 GHz. Fast RAM (1066 MHz). However, look at the results of synthetic tests.


























The built-in memory is 32 GB, you have about 24 GB of space available for your programs and data. You can install a memory card up to 128 GB, there is almost no difference in access speed, so applications stored on the card will work just as fast. There are versions of the tablet with 64 GB of internal memory, but they will not be supplied to Russia.

The amount of RAM is 3 GB, which is quite enough for any task. In the interface, the device works very quickly, there are simply no slowdowns.

Communication capabilities

Samsung is consistently refusing to use the infrared port for control household appliances, it was installed on most top models in 2014, including it can be found on the Tab S, but it is not here. Just like I lost my tablet NFC support, which is doubly offensive, since for most, the presence of this technology makes using the device more convenient (quick pairing with other phones or tablets with one touch).

Surprisingly, the Tab S2 will lack support for Samsung Pay (there is no separate chip for crypto-protection of transactions), but there is no point in worrying about this, since the technology is aimed only at the US market in 2015. You can only use a tablet for payments in the absence of NFC the old fashioned way.

Other strengths Samsung tablets remained here, the Wi-Fi antenna is dual-band, works in 2.4/5 GHz, 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, traditionally there is Wi-Fi Direct. Bluetooth version 4.1.

GPS/GLONASS support is implemented well; the tablet turned out to be successful as a navigation device. BMW chose it as a standard navigator for its 7 Series model.

The radio module supports the following frequencies:

  • LTE: 700/ 800/ 850/ 900/ 1800/ 1900/ 2100/ 2600
  • 3G: 850/ 900/ 1900/ 2100
  • 2G: 850/ 900/ 1800/ 1900

Here is a device that will easily work in LTE around the world.

Camera

If we approach it formally, the cameras have not changed in any way compared to the Tab S; the front one also has a resolution of 2.1 megapixels, the main one has 8 megapixels. But unlike the Tab S, the main camera doesn't have an LED flash. The front camera has become faster, as well as the main camera (f=1.9 versus 2.4 in the Tab S).








Look at sample images and the camera interface. I think you can see the similarities with the Galaxy S6. Photos look great on a tablet screen, noticeably better than their actual quality on a PC screen. The reason is the outstanding characteristics of the display, but not the camera; it is quite ordinary and inferior to most top-end smartphones on the market. On the other hand, this camera is one of the best for tablets, as you can easily see by looking at the comparison with the iPad Mini (right).

And this is how the tablet films in the evening and during the day, and also records video. It won’t be able to replace a top-end smartphone, but it’s quite good for everyday tasks.

Photo examples

Now I want to dwell on one of the features directly related to the camera and tablet performance. In the shop Samsung applications There is a 3D Capture program, it allows you to obtain three-dimensional images of objects. You press shoot, slowly walk around a stationary object, preferably at the same distance, and in a minute you have a model in front of you that can be rotated as you please, exported to other programs for editing three-dimensional images (file format .OBJ and also .MTL). The built-in editor allows you to clean up the image, remove the background, highlight individual zones, and it is quite advanced, covering all the possibilities that are needed. For most, this program will become a kind of toy, but someone will find the right use for it.

I was able to make a three-dimensional picture of the bread on a plate with my hands, it was like some kind of miracle. I immediately rotated the picture and showed my friends what happened. I tried to position the tablet motionless and rotate the plate, but no shooting happened - the tablet requires that it be rotated around the object.















I have always been amazed by technologies that become commonplace - ten years ago it was impossible to imagine that something like this would be in a mass device. This is what can be called high technology, and it is becoming publicly available. This tablet is a cheap way to produce 3D models. Of course, this raises the question of their detailing and quality. But for the mass consumer, this will definitely be the first encounter with such technology and the opportunity to use it.

Under no circumstances should you assume that 3D photography will be a feature that will attract attention to this product. It’s hard to believe, but this feature is unique, and other companies don’t have it (I haven’t seen it in any product). Of course, there are a dozen programs for iPad and Android that make 3D objects in .OBJ, but none of them are popular (maybe they are all niche?), and according to the description, the quality of the resulting files is not very good. I don’t presume to judge this; there will probably be those among the readers who have played with such programs and can evaluate their quality better.

Software Features

The model comes with Android 5.0.2, with an update to 5.1.1 coming soon. Inside is a lightweight TouchWiz that is completely or almost identical to what we see on the Galaxy S6. In the review of this phone, I examined in great detail all the pros and cons of this solution, focusing on all the little things. You can read about this in the review text.

Or watch a video using the Galaxy S6 as an example.

Just like with other flagship devices, you are offered free services and applications, for example, OneDrive from Microsoft gives 100 GB upon registration cloud storage. You can get a free subscription to various magazines, navigation and the like.


The multimedia capabilities of the tablet are excellent, it is omnivorous and digests most video formats (AC3 out of the box is not supported due to patent disputes, just install MX Player and everything will work).







I like the fact that you can download any files onto this tablet and immediately start watching and listening to them. As usual, maximum omnivorousness, no need to convert or download anything through a computer, everything is done from the device, it is completely independent.

IN file manager Bookmarks have appeared, you can open different pages and copy files from one page to another.



The fingerprint sensor works by touch, no problems.

Among the interesting features, I note that when working with Bluetooth, you can add “trusted devices” to the list. For example, this could be a speakerphone in a car. Then, when connected to such a device, the tablet will remain unlocked. At home, I set up a wireless speaker as such, and there is no need to put my finger on the sensor every time, the tablet is open.


There are quite a lot of such small features in the system, each of them means nothing, but together they make the device convenient. The LTE version supports nanoSIM and voice calls, as well as SMS, unlike the iPad, where a SIM card is needed only for data transfer.















You can love or hate TouchWiz, but the shell is very complementary standard Android, introducing convenient features, there are many of them here.






















Accessories for Tab S2

There is a standard set of accessories available for the tablet, including various wired and wireless headsets, but I would like to draw your attention to three accessories that are different from other models and are suitable only for this tablet.

Let's start with the Keyboard Cover, this is the cover in which the keyboard is built in, it is attached to magnets on the back surface. This accessory is not available for the 8-inch model, only for a tablet with a large diagonal, which may seem to some to be a sufficient reason to choose it.


At the same time, you can simply choose Book Cover, this is a regular cover that allows you to place a tablet to watch videos.


Finally, you can purchase the MT800 docking station, which has remained unchanged since the first generation of tablets and is familiar to us. This station has an HDMI connector with support for 4K video, two full-fledged USB connectors, microUSB, Ethernet - you can turn your tablet into a full-fledged computer.


Impression

I didn’t like the Tab S2 at all; it seemed like the tablet didn’t bring anything new, and its thinness was a tribute to fashion. In life, I changed my opinion to the opposite - it’s convenient to work with, and the screen is excellent, no one else has anything like it. I was especially pleased with the work outdoors, however, the ultra-bright backlight eats up the battery quickly, but on the same DJI quadcopter you can fly even on a summer afternoon, when the sun burns everything around and nothing is visible on the screens of other devices.

Even if you watch movies all day, you will have enough battery power until the evening; in my normal mode, the tablet worked for about 2 days, which is not bad (the iPad runs out in a day). In a word, I liked the device, but not its price. It is clear that we need to stay on course, but still the flagship turned out to be expensive and not accessible to everyone - but should flagships be accessible to many? Question.

The Tab S2's competitor in Russia is the first generation of this tablet, primarily due to the fact that its old prices remain the same. However, let's compare. The price for the Wi-Fi version is about 21 thousand rubles, for the LTE version – about 23,000 rubles. Of the minuses - a smaller amount of internal memory (16 GB versus 32 GB), an old version of the OS, no update to 5.1.1 in the near future, a little worse screen with fewer operating modes. Opening hours in first Tab S is a little lower, but noticeably higher than all devices in this class. This line has become a kind of record holder for survivability thanks to the technical solutions used by the manufacturer.


The price for the Wi-Fi version of the 32 GB Tab S2 (SM-T710) is 31,990 rubles, for the 32 GB LTE version (SM-T715) – 35,990 rubles. The difference is simply radical, and the appeal of the first generation Tab S is greater from all points of view. You lose almost nothing by purchasing the previous model, but the savings are noticeable, enough for one or two more devices of a lower class.

Apple has no direct competitors to the Tab S2 yet. new model didn't come out, so you'll have to compare it with best offer, which we have now, is the iPad Mini 3. It would have to be compared with the Tab S, they are classmates, but let's compare it with the Tab S2. The initial memory configuration for the iPad is 16 GB, it costs 26,990 and 35,990 rubles (Wi-Fi/LTE) in the official store. There is no 32 GB version, so it’s not possible to compare directly; the next 64 GB version costs 33,490 and 42,490 rubles. It turns out to be quite an interesting picture, if the LTE versions cost the same, but the Tab S2 has twice as much memory, plus there are memory cards, then Wi-Fi looks a little more expensive. The quality of the screens is incomparable; the Samsung model is a big winner. As well as in terms of operating time, weight and size, but many may like the fact that the iPad body is made of metal. As an owner of an iPad Mini, I can note that the Tab S2 is noticeably more convenient to use. Everyday life, he wins in all respects. Anticipating the question of why I didn’t choose it or its predecessor - I’m not so wasteful as to change tablets every year, the old one does the job quite well. But the battery is starting to die a little, it’s possible that I’ll replace the old one with a new one in the coming months. When choosing a new tablet today, I would definitely compare the iPad Mini 3 and Tab S2, and then focus on the amount that I have.


In real life, the Tab S2 and iPad Mini 3 are completely different; they differ radically from each other. The aesthetics, the feel in the hand, the way you use these devices. In a word, look for yourself and decide what you like; no one can be your advisor here. An attempt to compare the Tab S2 with Android flagships from other companies is obviously doomed to failure. What other companies call flagships does not in any way technically correspond to this name - the models are weaker, just look at their screens and performance, they play in a different league. However, here it is quite fair to ask the question whether you need everything that the Tab S2 offers, or is it better to save money and buy something simpler rather than a flagship, but the answer to this question is again up to you.

I especially highlighted the review of the 8- and 9.7-inch model in different materials, as I said above. The difference between these models is fundamental: one is mobile and always accompanies you, the second is suitable for those who spend more time at home or carry a bag with them that can accommodate a folder for papers and, accordingly, the Tab S2 9.7. Functionally, these models are identical, only their perception, price and positioning differ, we’ll talk about this in the review of the older device. As for me, Samsung has turned out to be an excellent model, which has, perhaps, everything you expect from a flagship - the best screen on the market, excellent operating time, the ability to make and receive calls, SMS support and full-fledged LTE in any country in the world. The price is steep, but the previous generation of the device is even more attractive. This is a flagship without any discounts, we just have to wait for the fall and the next iPad Mini to see what Apple can do with this device. I'm afraid that the answer will only be iOS9 and an increase in RAM; there are no fundamental differences to be expected. This means that Tab S2 will remain the most interesting device by the totality of characteristics that it has. But here the question is how committed you are to this or that platform, and this can be argued for a long time and without much result.

I remember very well the birth of the compact Android tablet segment: the first Galaxy Tab, HTC Flyer and a bunch of Chinese with terrible screens and build. And yet, the potential buyer had no choice, because Steve Jobs didn’t even want to look in the direction of compact tablets. After the release of the first iPad with a Retina display, I could only once again lament the lack of a compact version with the same wonderful display. But when Apple finally decided to release the first iPad mini, my disappointment knew no bounds, because the company installed a display with a resolution of 1024x768 pixels! Of course, the situation was corrected next year and I still consider the iPad mini 2 to be one of the most successful models. The third generation, in my opinion, is passable; it could easily be called the iPad mini 2s, but the latest iPad mini 4 is miraculously good. But the Android tablet market also did not stand still: screen resolutions, battery life, speed and stability of firmware grew, in general, now the choice between an Android tablet and iOS is no longer as obvious as it was two or three years ago. It will be all the more interesting to compare the two best compact tablets of the end of 2015.

Appearance, body materials

Let's start with the design of the iPad mini 4. The user has three different body colors available to the user: silver, dark gray and gold, I personally recommend the silver model to everyone, it reminds me of the company's MacBooks and looks the best. However, lovers of traditional strictly black will appreciate the dark gray case. You can’t say much about the design of tablets in general; most of them have rounded edges, most of the front side is occupied by the display, so manufacturers can only “play with appearance” back cover. Apple traditionally uses aluminum for its manufacture: it’s practical and looks cool, and it’s not for nothing that some companies copy this approach.


The body of the Galaxy Tab S2 8.0 is made of matte plastic with a soft-touch coating. Unlike most devices that use similar plastic, the body of the S2 8.0 does not get dirty as much, and fingerprints themselves are less noticeable. I had a black model in my hands; it has a calm design without any pretentious elements, which, in my opinion, is a plus.



From point of view appearance A slight advantage is on the side of the iPad mini, and aluminum is still more practical than plastic with a soft-touch coating, but this does not mean that the Tab S2 is significantly worse in materials or design.


Sound

Both devices are equipped with high-quality stereo speakers with excellent volume headroom. In my opinion, the iPad mini 4 puts more emphasis on the performer’s voice, while the Tab S2 puts more emphasis on the instrumental part.



Control elements

Now I won’t look at the power buttons and volume rockers, but will focus only on the central button under the screen (and the two touch buttons next to it in the Tab S2). On both tablets, fingerprint scanners are integrated into the central button, operating at +/- the same speed. A small advantage of the iPad mini scanner is its integration into the system and the ability to gain access to it third party applications, this is very convenient for 1Password; unfortunately, this control has not yet been unified in Android.


In the Galaxy Tab S2, two keys are located on either side of the central key. touch buttons: “recent apps” and “back”. This is a double-edged sword. On the one hand, abandoning on-screen buttons in favor of touch buttons allows you to increase the usable screen area, and on the other hand, when using the tablet in a horizontal orientation, you will touch the touch buttons with your thumb, and this is a big disadvantage that Samsung does not pay attention to year after year attention.


In the iPad mini 4, the absence of touch keys allows you to hold it in any orientation without any problems; the chance of accidentally pressing a physical button is much lower than a touch button.

Dimensions

As you can see from the plate above, in terms of size and weight we have a clear leader - the Galaxy Tab S2, the tablet is a little thinner and lighter. In everyday use, the difference is almost unnoticeable, but if you take both tablets in your hands, you immediately feel that the S2 is, albeit a little, lighter.










Screen

Before we move on to comparing displays, I would like to draw your attention, dear readers, to the fact that we have two tablets with the best screens in the market, so when I say that one of them wins/loses in any quality, it is important to understand that we are talking about a 5-10% loss, and not a twofold difference. For comparison, I used Adaptive mode on the Tab S2.

SuperAMOLED matrices are usually criticized for poor white color reproduction, well, that’s where we’ll start our comparison. I was surprised to find that even White color The Tab S2's display renders better than the iPad mini 4. In a direct comparison, you can see that the mini 4's screen is a little yellow and not as bright.



When displaying black, iPad mini 4 shows very good results for an IPS matrix, however, with this color the advantage is traditionally on the side of SuperAMOLED. If you open a completely black picture, you get the feeling that the display is completely turned off, while on the mini 4 the image looks like a dark, dark gray screen.


Galaxy Tab S2 on the left, iPad mini 4 on the right

If we talk about the color image, then the difference when comparing identical photos was minimal, but still the advantage is also on the side of the Tab S2, the colors on it look a little brighter, a little richer.



Galaxy Tab S2 on the left, iPad mini 4 on the right

The viewing angles of both tablets are close to the maximum, and the Tab S2 also wins in terms of brightness: both the maximum and minimum brightness are adjustable over a larger range.



Galaxy Tab S2 on the left, iPad mini 4 on the right

Another small advantage of the screen in the S2 over the mini 4 is a separate reading mode, which can be turned on in the settings or directly from the notification line.

Theoretically, the iPad mini 4's screen should have won when comparing small text, due to the PenTile in SuperAMOLED matrices, but even with very small font, I could not see the characteristic red halos on the S2.


In defense of the mini 4, I will say that although the screen in it is inferior in all respects to the S2, it is still very good, and if it were not for a direct comparison, I would not even notice that this display is bad in any way .

operating system

I could compare every little thing in Android 5.1 with TouchWiz installed and iOS 9.2, but I won’t do this, since it’s unlikely to help you make a choice, so I’ll tell you about my general impressions.

In my opinion, Android is suitable for more advanced users who understand what they want from a tablet and appreciate its ability to customize and replace standard applications. I will not deny that the possibilities of working with file system V Android where higher than in iOS. Plus, there are now many good apps specifically for Android tablets and the difference between it and iOS is no longer so noticeable.

On the other hand, iPad mini 4 and iOS 9.x are a solution for unassuming users who will work with the tablet out of the box and are unlikely to notice any restrictions from Apple.

It is also worth taking into account your previous user experience; of course, it will be easier for an iPhone owner to get used to an iPad, and an Android user to get used to a Galaxy Tab S2.

Performance

There are three parameters by which I evaluate the performance of devices: the speed of desktops and settings menus; browser speed and work with the most productive games.

I specifically simultaneously flipped through the desktops on the devices, launched various pages in the browser and played the most powerful games on them. And it just so happens that we have parity on all three devices. However, there is one “but”: this moment There are more beautiful and powerful toys for iOS, more to come.

Autonomous operation

Capacity Galaxy battery Tab S2 is 4000 mAh, iPad mini 4 is 5124 mAh. The difference of 25% in capacity is clearly visible during everyday use: for example, the Tab S2 discharges in about two to three days during everyday use (one and a half hours of active screen per day at automatic brightness), and the iPad mini 4 under the same conditions - in three. four days. But everything changes when we compare the operating time in video mode, here the Tab S2 lasted 12 hours versus 7 hours for the iPad mini 4.

Camera

I believe that tablets are filmed much less frequently than smartphones, but when traveling I increasingly see tourists with iPads or the same Galaxy Tab, so I asked Roman Belykh to give a short comment on the quality of filming


The quality of the photos is approximately the same if we are talking about detail. The main difference is noise. Due to its high-aperture optics (F1.9 aperture), the Galaxy Tab S2 produces a relatively clear image compared to the iPad mini 4 (F2.4 aperture). The viewing angle is wider in Samsung camera. In general, for Galaxy tablet The Tab S2 module and optics are very good, and the iPad mini shoots on iPhone level 4.

iPad mini 4 Galaxy Tab S2
Yes, version 4.0 LE, all popular profiles are supported, incl. A2DP GPS Cold start takes about five seconds Mobile data GSM/3G/LTE, voice calls GSM/3G/LTE USB On-The-Go Eat No

As you can see, the Galaxy Tab S2 has a more recent bluetooth version, USB OTG support, and of course the presence of voice calls. You can argue for a long time about the need or unnecessaryness of phone calls from a tablet, but the fact remains: with the Tab S2 you can call if something happens, but with the iPad mini 4 you can’t.

Also, just for fun, I compared the speed of both tablets in LTE mode, using the same SIM card, measurements were taken from the same place.

Conclusion

First, let's look at the prices of the tablets: The iPad mini 4 is sold in six different variants: 16, 64 and 128 GB with LTE and Wi-Fi Only:

  • 16 GB Wi-Fi - 33,000 rubles
  • 64 GB Wi-Fi - 41,000 rubles
  • 128 GB Wi-Fi - 49,000 rubles
  • 16 GB Wi-Fi+LTE - 43,000 rubles
  • 64 GB Wi-Fi+ LTE - 51,000 rubles
  • 128 GB Wi-Fi+LTE - 59,000 rubles

Samsung Galaxy Tab S2 8.0 has only two versions:

  • 32 GB Wi-Fi - 32,000 rubles
  • 32 GB Wi-Fi+LTE - 36,000 rubles

First of all, I would like to note that we have two excellent tablets; personally, I could easily use any of them as my main one without any problems. Therefore, some specifics play a role, for example, the Apple iPad mini 4 has a more interesting design, there is large quantity performance toys, the aluminum body may also be an advantage for some. The Tab S2 has a slightly better display, significantly longer battery life in video mode, has support for voice calls and is cheaper with more memory, plus let's not forget about the slot for a microSD card, because now there are already 200 GB cards.

I admit honestly, I am a loyal user of Apple technology, but if in direct comparison with the Tab S2 the tablets are +/- similar, then you expect a similar pricing policy, but in reality we see that iPad version 64 GB with Wi-Fi costs 9,000 more than the 32 GB version of S2, and for the modification with LTE you will have to overpay 15,000 rubles. Unfortunately, the restrictive pricing policy makes Apple technology less attractive to the mass user; it remains the lot of wealthy buyers who love the company's products, but this is a much smaller niche of consumers. Of course, the Tab S2 is also more expensive than last year’s generation, but the increase in the price tag in the case of this model is not so radical, and the high prices for the iPad make this model one of the best among compact tablets for reasonable money.