The Samsung Galaxy Tab S3 is possibly the only realistic rival to the iPad when it comes to a high-end tablet. All the bells and whistles are here; there’s a Snapdragon 820 for processing power, while the 9.7-inch AMOLED display with HDR capabilities matches the iPad toe-to-toe for resolution and aspect ratio. The Tab S3 also features their latest S Pen, which has more pressure levels than the Pencil, needs no recharging and comes included in the package.
The Tab S3 looks and feels premium and is right up there with the iPad. HDR content might be a bit hard to come by, but even with regular videos, the viewing experience is certainly a notch above the ordinary, thanks in part to the quad-speaker setup as well, which has been tuned by AKG. The tablet works best as an entertainment tool, but of course, you can get work done on it with the right apps and the optional keyboard too. The one thing that it has over the iPad is the use of secure folders, which has already been implemented on its phones.
While the iPad usually shows off Apple’s most powerful chips in their mobile arsenal, the Tab S3 is using a slightly older processor. It’s still fine though – it’s got the necessary power to run all the most demanding applications and games, and they run smooth so far. And when you finally run out of juice after about a day of working on the tablet, the fast charging feature gets you back up to a full charge within three hours.
While Samsung has done as much as it can to create a good experience with its standout features, it’s slightly behind the game on the software ecosystem end, which is no fault of theirs. But if you see yourself happy with the Tab S3 as it is, then the Tab S3 is a real treat to have – albeit an expensive one.
Rating: 4/5
The pricey Samsung Galaxy Tab S3 is almost like a Galaxy Note that’s been supersized into a tablet. But with top dollar, comes all the top end features, a very capable stylus and gorgeous visuals. It’s best used as an entertainment device coupled with some note-taking or light work (with a keyboard).
Wi-Fi: S$898, Wi-Fi and LTE: S$1,098
www.samsung.com/sg
