Tablet computers Samsung Galaxy Tab S2 8.0. Samsung Galaxy Tab S2: the thinnest flagship tablet in the world. The SIM card is used in mobile devices to store data that certifies the authenticity of mobile service subscribers

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 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 fancy elements, which, in my opinion, is a plus.

In terms of appearance, the iPad mini has a slight advantage, 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 included in 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 ones allows you to increase the usable screen area, and on the other hand, when using the tablet in 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.

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 get into the display comparison, I would like to point out to you, dear readers, that these are two tablets with the best screens on the market, so when I say one of them wins/loses in any respect, 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 the white color display on the Tab S2 is better than the iPad mini 4. In a direct comparison, you can see that the mini 4 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 iPad screen The mini 4 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 value its customization and replacement capabilities standard applications. I will not deny that the possibilities of working with file system in Android much 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 unpretentious 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 toys on them. And it just so happens that we have parity on all three devices. However, there is one “but”: at the 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 (an hour and a half 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 at the same level as the iPhone 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 version of Bluetooth, USB support OTG, 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

U Samsung Galaxy Tab S2 8.0 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 are more productive toys for it, the aluminum case can also be an advantage for someone. 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.

Information about the make, model, and alternative names of the specific device, if available.

Design

Information about the dimensions and weight of the device, presented in different units of measurement. Materials used, colors offered, certificates.

Width Width information - refers to the horizontal side of the device in its standard orientation during use.	198.6 mm (millimeters) 19.86 cm (centimeters) 0.65 ft (feet) 7.82 in (inches)
Height Height information - refers to the vertical side of the device in its standard orientation during use.	134.8 mm (millimeters) 13.48 cm (centimeters) 0.44 ft (feet) 5.31 in (inches)
Thickness Information about the thickness of the device in different units measurements.	5.6 mm (millimeters) 0.56 cm (centimeters) 0.02 ft (feet) 0.22 in (inches)
Weight Information about the weight of the device in different units of measurement.	272 g (grams) 0.6 lbs (pounds) 9.59 oz (ounces)
Volume The approximate volume of the device, calculated based on the dimensions provided by the manufacturer. Refers to devices with the shape of a rectangular parallelepiped.	149.92 cm³ (cubic centimeters) 9.1in³ (cubic inches)
Colors Information about the colors in which this device is offered for sale.	Black White
Materials for making the case Materials used to make the device body.	Metal Plastic

SIM card

The SIM card is used in mobile devices to store data that certifies the authenticity of mobile service subscribers.

Mobile networks

A mobile network is a radio system that allows multiple mobile devices to communicate with each other.

GSM GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications) is designed to replace the analogue mobile network (1G). For this reason, GSM is often called a 2G mobile network. It is improved by the addition of GPRS (General Packet Radio Services), and later EDGE (Enhanced Data rates for GSM Evolution) technologies.	GSM 850 MHz GSM 900 MHz GSM 1800 MHz GSM 1900 MHz
UMTS UMTS is an abbreviation for Universal Mobile Telecommunications System. It is based on GSM standard and applies to 3G mobile networks. Developed by 3GPP and its biggest advantage is providing greater speed and spectral efficiency thanks to W-CDMA technology.	UMTS 850 MHz UMTS 900 MHz UMTS 1900 MHz UMTS 2100 MHz
LTE LTE (Long Term Evolution) is defined as a technology fourth generation(4G). It is developed by 3GPP based on GSM/EDGE and UMTS/HSPA to increase the capacity and speed of wireless mobile networks. The subsequent technology development is called LTE Advanced.	LTE 800 MHz LTE 850 MHz LTE 900 MHz LTE 1800 MHz LTE 1900 MHz LTE 2100 MHz LTE 2600 MHz LTE 700 MHz

Mobile communication technologies and data transfer speeds

Communication between devices on mobile networks is carried out using technologies that provide different data transfer rates.

Operating system

An operating system is a system software that manages and coordinates the operation of hardware components in a device.

SoC (System on Chip)

A system on a chip (SoC) includes all the most important hardware components of a mobile device on a single chip.

SoC (System on Chip) A system on a chip (SoC) integrates various hardware components, such as a processor, graphics processor, memory, peripherals, interfaces, etc., as well as the software necessary for their operation.	Samsung Exynos 5 Octa 5433
Process Information about technological process, on which the chip is made. Nanometers measure half the distance between elements in the processor.	20 nm (nanometers)
Processor (CPU) The primary function of a mobile device's processor (CPU) is to interpret and execute instructions contained in software applications.	4x 1.9 GHz ARM Cortex-A57, 4x 1.3 GHz ARM Cortex-A53
Processor size The size (in bits) of a processor is determined by the size (in bits) of the registers, address buses, and data buses. 64-bit processors have more high performance compared to 32-bit processors, which for their part are more productive than 16-bit processors.	64 bit
Instruction Set Architecture Instructions are commands with which the software sets/controls the operation of the processor. Information about the instruction set (ISA) that the processor can execute.	ARMv8-A
Level 1 cache (L1) Cache memory is used by the processor to reduce access time to more frequently used data and instructions. L1 (level 1) cache is small in size and works much faster as system memory, and other levels of cache memory. If the processor does not find the requested data in L1, it continues to look for it in the L2 cache. On some processors, this search is performed simultaneously in L1 and L2.	32 kB + 32 kB (kilobytes)
Level 2 cache (L2) L2 (level 2) cache memory is slower than L1, but in return it has a higher capacity, allowing caching more data. It, like L1, is much faster than system memory (RAM). If the processor does not find the requested data in L2, it continues to look for it in the L3 cache (if available) or in RAM memory.	2048 kB (kilobytes) 2 MB (megabytes)
Number of processor cores The processor core executes software instructions. There are processors with one, two or more cores. Having more cores increases performance by allowing multiple instructions to be executed in parallel.	8
CPU clock speed The clock speed of a processor describes its speed in terms of cycles per second. It is measured in megahertz (MHz) or gigahertz (GHz).	1900 MHz (megahertz)
Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) Graphics processing unit (GPU) handles calculations for various 2D/3D graphic applications. IN mobile devices it is used most often by games, consumer interface, video applications, etc.	ARM Mali-T760 MP6
Number of cores GPU Like a CPU, a GPU is made up of several working parts called cores. They handle graphics calculations for various applications.	6
GPU clock speed Speed ​​of work is clock frequency GPU speed, which is measured in megahertz (MHz) or gigahertz (GHz).	700 MHz (megahertz)
Volume RAM(RAM) Random access memory (RAM) is used by the operating system and all installed applications. Data stored in RAM is lost after the device is turned off or restarted.	3 GB (gigabytes)
Type of random access memory (RAM) Information about the type of random access memory (RAM) used by the device.	LPDDR3
Number of RAM channels Information about the number of RAM channels that are integrated into the SoC. More channels mean higher data rates.	Dual channel
RAM frequency The frequency of RAM determines its operating speed, more specifically, the speed of reading/writing data.	825 MHz (megahertz)

Built-in memory

Each mobile device has built-in (non-removable) memory with a fixed capacity.

Memory cards

Memory cards are used in mobile devices to increase the storage capacity for storing data.

Screen

The screen of a mobile device is characterized by its technology, resolution, pixel density, diagonal length, color depth, etc.

Type/technology One of the main characteristics of the screen is the technology by which it is made and on which the quality of the information image directly depends.	Super AMOLED
Diagonal For mobile devices, screen size is expressed by the length of its diagonal, measured in inches.	8 in (inches) 203.2 mm (millimeters) 20.32 cm (centimeters)
Width Approximate screen width	6.4 in (inches) 162.56 mm (millimeters) 16.26 cm (centimeters)
Height Approximate screen height	4.8 in (inches) 121.92 mm (millimeters) 12.19 cm (centimeters)
Aspect Ratio The ratio of the dimensions of the long side of the screen to its short side	1.333:1 4:3
Permission Screen resolution shows the number of pixels vertically and horizontally on the screen. Higher resolution means clearer image detail.	2048 x 1536 pixels
Pixel Density Information about the number of pixels per centimeter or inch of the screen. Higher density allows information to be displayed on screen with clearer detail.	320 ppi (pixels per inch) 125ppcm (pixels per centimeter)
Color depth Screen color depth reflects the total number of bits used for color components in one pixel. Information about the maximum number of colors the screen can display.	24 bit 16777216 flowers
Screen area Approximate percentage of screen area occupied by the screen on the front of the device.	74.27% (percentage)
Other characteristics Information about other screen features and characteristics.	Capacitive Multi-touch

Sensors

Different sensors perform different quantitative measurements and convert physical indicators into signals that a mobile device can recognize.

Rear camera

The main camera of a mobile device is usually located on its back panel and may be combined with one or more secondary cameras.

Sensor model	Samsung S5K4H5
Sensor type Information about the camera sensor type. Some of the most widely used types of sensors in mobile device cameras are CMOS, BSI, ISOCELL, etc.	CMOS BSI (backside illumination)
Sensor size	3.6 x 2.7 mm (millimeters) 0.18 in (inches)
Pixel size	1.103 µm (micrometers) 0.001103 mm (millimeters)
Crop factor	9.61
Svetlosila	f/1.9
Focal length	3.23 mm (millimeters) 31.02 mm (millimeters) *(35 mm / full frame)
Image Resolution	3264 x 2448 pixels 7.99 MP (megapixels)
Video resolution	2560 x 1440 pixels 3.69 MP (megapixels)
Video recording speed (frame rate) Information about maximum speed recording (frames per second, fps) supported by the camera at maximum resolution. Some of the most basic video recording speeds are 24 fps, 25 fps, 30 fps, 60 fps.	30fps (frames per second)
Characteristics Information about additional software and hardware features of the rear (rear) camera.	Autofocus Digital zoom Self-timer Scene Selection Mode

Front camera

Smartphones have one or more front cameras of various designs - a pop-up camera, a rotating camera, a cutout or hole in the display, an under-display camera.

Sensor model Information about the manufacturer and model of the sensor used by the camera.	Samsung S5K6B2
Sensor size Information about the dimensions of the photosensor used in the device. Typically, cameras with larger sensors and lower pixel densities offer higher image quality despite the lower resolution.	2.4 x 1.8 mm (millimeters) 0.12 in (inches)
Pixel size Pixels are usually measured in microns. Larger pixels are able to capture more light and therefore provide better low-light photography and wider dynamic range than smaller pixels. On the other hand, smaller pixels allow for higher resolution while maintaining the same sensor size.	1.25 µm (micrometers) 0.001250 mm (millimeters)
Crop factor The crop factor is the ratio between the dimensions of the full-frame sensor (36 x 24 mm, equivalent to a frame of standard 35 mm film) and the dimensions of the device's photosensor. The indicated number represents the ratio of the diagonals of the full-frame sensor (43.3 mm) and the photosensor specific device.	14.42
Svetlosila F-stop (also known as aperture, aperture, or f-number) is a measure of the size of a lens's aperture, which determines the amount of light entering the sensor. The lower the f-number, the larger the aperture and the more light reaches the sensor. Typically the f-number is specified to correspond to the maximum possible aperture of the aperture.	f/2.2
Focal length Focal length indicates the distance in millimeters from the sensor to the optical center of the lens. Equivalent focal length (35mm) is the focal length of a mobile device camera equal to the focal length of a 35mm full-frame sensor, which will achieve the same viewing angle. It is calculated by multiplying the actual focal length of a mobile device's camera by the crop factor of its sensor. Crop factor can be defined as the ratio between the diagonals of a 35 mm full-frame sensor and the sensor of a mobile device.	1.87 mm (millimeters) 26.97 mm (millimeters) *(35 mm / full frame)
Image Resolution One of the main characteristics of cameras is resolution. It represents the number of horizontal and vertical pixels in an image. For convenience, smartphone manufacturers often list resolution in megapixels, indicating the approximate number of pixels in millions.	1920 x 1080 pixels 2.07 MP (megapixels)
Video resolution Information about the maximum video resolution that the camera can record.	1920 x 1080 pixels 2.07 MP (megapixels)

Audio

Information about the type of speakers and audio technologies supported by the device.

Radio

The radio of the mobile device is a built-in FM receiver.

Location determination

Information about the navigation and location technologies supported by your device.

WiFi

Wi-Fi is a technology that provides wireless communication for transmitting data over close distances between various devices.

Bluetooth

Bluetooth is a standard for secure wireless data transfer between various devices of different types over short distances.

USB

USB (Universal Serial Bus) is an industry standard that allows different electronic devices to exchange data.

Headphone jack

This is an audio connector, also called an audio jack. The most widely used standard in mobile devices is the 3.5mm headphone jack.

Connecting devices

Information about other important connection technologies supported by your device.

Browser

A web browser is a software application for accessing and viewing information on the Internet.

Video file formats/codecs

Mobile devices support different video file formats and codecs, which respectively store and encode/decode digital video data.

Battery

Mobile device batteries differ from each other in their capacity and technology. They provide the electrical charge necessary for their functioning.

Specific Absorption Rate (SAR)

The SAR level refers to the amount of electromagnetic radiation absorbed by the human body while using a mobile device.

SAR level for head (EU) The SAR level indicates the maximum amount electromagnetic radiation to which the human body is exposed when holding a mobile device next to the ear in a conversation position. In Europe, the maximum permissible SAR value for mobile devices is limited to 2 W/kg per 10 grams of human tissue. This standard has been established by CENELEC in accordance with IEC standards, subject to the guidelines of ICNIRP 1998.	0.345 W/kg (Watt per kilogram)
Body SAR level (EU) The SAR level indicates the maximum amount of electromagnetic radiation to which the human body is exposed when holding a mobile device at hip level. The maximum permissible SAR value for mobile devices in Europe is 2 W/kg per 10 grams of human tissue. This standard has been established by the CENELEC Committee in compliance with the ICNIRP 1998 guidelines and IEC standards.	0.472 W/kg (Watt per kilogram)
Head SAR level (US) The SAR level indicates the maximum amount of electromagnetic radiation that the human body is exposed to when holding a mobile device near the ear. The maximum value used in the USA is 1.6 W/kg per 1 gram of human tissue. Mobile devices in the US are regulated by the CTIA, and the FCC conducts tests and sets their SAR values.	0.957 W/kg (Watt per kilogram)
Body SAR level (US) The SAR level indicates the maximum amount of electromagnetic radiation to which the human body is exposed when holding a mobile device at hip level. The highest permissible SAR value in the USA is 1.6 W/kg per 1 gram of human tissue. This value is set by the FCC, and the CTIA monitors mobile devices' compliance with this standard.	1.593 W/kg (Watt per kilogram)

Scope 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 4000 mAh battery, 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 time work.

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 a camera without regard to its cost, then the Galaxy Tab S2 will probably be among the 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, the 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 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 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 trick, 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 quickly becomes covered with 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 screen in 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 by saying that during these weeks I often flew on DJI quadcopter Phantom 3, 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 the Galaxy Tab S2. A little trick, you need to set it in the settings automatic adjustment brightness, then the maximum backlight brightness will increase twice compared to the standard one when the tablet realizes that it is outdoors. 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 quality screen is, and therefore continue to consider the faded iPad screen to be 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) 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 operation. 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 of mobile devices too quickly, although it is 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 nice thing is that you can set this mode to automatically turn on 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. Cumulative over time work Tab S2 is optimal 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 the 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 with a capacity of up to 128 GB, there is almost no difference in access speed, so applications stored on the card will work just as quickly. 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 an infrared port to 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. Likewise, the tablet has lost 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 of Samsung tablets remain here: the Wi-Fi antenna is dual-band, works at 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. Front camera has become faster, as has 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 store 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 you can rotate as you like, export it 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 a 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 you 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 via a computer, here 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 it could be speakerphone in the car. Then, when connected to such a device, the tablet will remain unlocked. At home I set it up in this quality wireless speaker, and there is no need to put your 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, bringing convenient features, there are many of them here.

Accessories for Tab S2

The tablet is available with a standard set of accessories, 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 only suitable 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, which 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.

Impressions

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, your battery will last 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 track, 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 - less internal memory (16 GB versus 32 GB), old version OS, without updating to 5.1.1 in the near future, slightly worse screen with fewer operating modes. The operating time of the first Tab S is a little lower, but noticeably higher than that of 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.

U Apple There are no direct competitors to the Tab S2 yet, new model didn’t come out, so we’ll have to compare it with the best offer that exists now, which 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. Choosing 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, great time work, the ability to make and receive calls, SMS support and full LTE in any country in the world. The price is steep, but it’s even more attractive previous generation devices. This is a flagship without any discounts, we just have to wait until 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 more RAM, fundamental differences no need to wait. This means that the Tab S2 will remain the most interesting device in terms of the combination of characteristics 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.

Korean Samsung company is in constant search 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, the flagship model, which, as planned, was supposed to be the very best. For example, the thinnest in its class, the thickness of the tablet is less than six millimeters. Combined with narrow bezels around the display, the result is 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 the iPad mini3 by 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 and mini-jack ports, as well as two speakers.

Screen

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S2 8 0 has a 7.9” display with 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

A high-performance eight-core Exynos 5433 processor, as well as 3 gigabytes of RAM, 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 microSD card 128 gigabytes, as well as OneDrive cloud 100 gigabytes, 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 equipment on the tablet includes an LTE network module, just install a SIM card in the receiver, pay for the service, and you have a constant high-speed connection on your tablet with global network. 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. The front camera here 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.