Despite a moribund tablet market, Samsung continues to release new models twice a year. In 2015, we were treated to a midrange tablet at the beginning of the year, with the Galaxy Tab A, while the end of the year – always more conducive to gift – an opportunity for Korean market its high-end tablet, the Galaxy Tab S2. A tablet that marks a certain rupture with what we saw last year, as it now sports a 4/3 and claims to be the thinnest tablet market and the finest in the world. A direct competitor of the iPad, so. And the best that you can find on Android? The answer in the test.
Data sheet
| Model | Samsung Galaxy S 9.7 | Samsung Galaxy S 10.5 |
|---|---|---|
| Android Version | Android 5.0.2 Lollipop | Android 4.4 KitKat |
| Screen | 9 , 7 inches | 10.5 inches |
| Definition | 2048 × 1536 (QXGA) | 2560 × 1600 pixels (WQXGA) |
| Technology | Super AMOLED | Super AMOLED |
| pixel density | 263.92 ppp | 288 PPP |
| Treatment against shocks & amp; stripes | CN | CN |
| SoC (System on a Chip) | Samsung Exynos 5433 | SM-T800 (Wi-Fi): Samsung Exynos 5420 SM-T805 (3G / 4G): Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 |
| Processor (CPU) | 4 x Cortex-A57 @ 4 x 1.9 GHz Cortex -A53 @ 1.3 GHz 64-bit ARMv8 | Four Cortex-A15 cores at 1.9 GHz Cortex-A7 + four cores to 1.3 GHz |
| graphics chipset (GPU) | Mali-T760MP6 @ 700 MHz | SM-T800 (Wi-Fi): Mali-T628 MP6 SM-T805 (3G / 4G ): Adreno 330 |
| Memory (RAM) | 3 GB | 3 GB |
| Memory | 32 or 64 GB | 16GB (Wi-Fi) 32GB ( 4G) |
| microSD-HC Support | Yes, up to 128 GB | Yes, up to 128 GB |
| APN / Camera | 8 megapixel camera with autofocus | 8MP |
| Webcam (front camera) | 2.1 megapixel | 2.1 megapixel |
| Video | qHD (2560×1440) @ 30fps | 1080p @ 30fps |
| Fingerprint sensor | Yes (on the Home button) | No |
| SIM Card | Micro-SIM on 4G Version | |
| WiFi | 802.11 a / b / g / n / ac MIMO (2.4GHz / 5GHz) | 802.11a / b / g / n 2×2 MIMO (2.4 and 5 GHz) |
| Bluetooth | Yes (4.1 LE) | Yes (4.0 LE) |
| NFC (Near Field Communication) | No | No |
| Compass / GPS | Yes | Yes |
| Accelerometer / Gyroscope | Yes | Yes |
| Light sensor | Yes | Yes |
| Output 3.5mm | Yes | Yes |
| Port microUSB / HDMI | Micro-USB 2.0 (host and client) supports MHL | Micro-USB 2.0 (host and client) supports MHL |
| FM Tuner (Radio) | No | No |
| | 5870 mAh | 7900 mAh |
| Dimensions | 169 × 237.3 × 5.6 mm | 247.3 x 177.3 x 6.6 mm |
| weight | 389 g (WiFi) / 392 g (LTE) | 465 g |
We have data sheets side by side of the Galaxy Tab S of last year and that the Galaxy Tab S2. Both tablets are theoretically what is best in large formats Android. There are high-end components, high definition screens (9.7 inches in our case) and a very large thin.
Read more: Testing the Samsung Galaxy S 10.5
In detail, it should be noted that the Galaxy Tab S2 has indeed many high-end specifications. It is extremely thin (less than 6 mm), has a Quad HD Super AMOLED screen and a processor from Samsung plants. This is a Exynos 5433, the same processor as one found last year on the Korean Galaxy Note 4. In short, the Galaxy Tab S2 is an upmarket of the Galaxy Tab S of last year, either in design or in terms of technical characteristics.
An impressive thinness, but questionable shell
Once is not custom, the design of the Galaxy Tab S2 divided writing. There is one side those who do not like each other and those who find it incredible on many aspects. Each of the camps have valid points. For the first, which is part of Vincent, the plastic that repels this tablet. I must say that for the back of the tablet, Samsung has not opted for coating “dressing” of last year, but for a smooth matt white plastic which is very touching toy.
The back plastic S2 of the Galaxy Tab is not very pleasant to the touch.
This plastic is nevertheless of good quality. It seems resistant to scratches and face does not catch fingerprints. But, combined with great finesse of the device as well as its light weight, it gives off an uncomfortable sensation tablet fragility. Maybe it’s because we’re still not used to having such light aircraft. In any case this sensation is somewhat disturbing trend early and make a little less premium tablet we imagined. It is difficult not to be disappointed finishes the back of the device. And I will not amuse the tablet to break down, “just to see”.
The back includes beveled edges that make pleasant grip.
The two gray notches on the right side, used to connect a keyboard. And it is not very aesthetic.
And then there’s the other side, more enthusiastic, myself included. If the plastic on the back of the tablet is actually debatable, I was clearly impressed by my first tablet grip. Fineness of 5.6 mm, is truly amazing. Its metal brackets make it a particularly pleasant device to handle that can be worn for long minutes at arm’s length without tiring. A good point
The fineness of the tablet is impressive.
The slices are metal.
Unlike the Galaxy Tab S of last year, Samsung has opted this year for a 4/3 format, ie an iPad format. The tablet is thus used more horizontally but vertically, given the location of the physical button on the front panel. A physical button that also acts as a fingerprint sensor. No unpleasant surprise about it, it is precise, reactive and unlocks the tablet in less than one second.
On the right edge are the settings of the volume buttons and ignition of the tablet while the low range hosts the micro-USB 2.0 port (and too bad for the USB Type-C) and two outputs for stereo speakers.
Screen: disappointing colors
The screen of the Galaxy Tab S2 has a Super AMOLED panel, characteristic of High-end devices from Samsung. It is also said a little higher, this is the second tablet Samsung Galaxy Tab A after the beginning of the year to have a 4/3 screen, as on the iPad. The screen display is also somewhat disturbing when one has been accustomed to the more conventional tablets ratios. The icons thus seem bigger than usual, so that one sometimes wonders if the display is of QXGA (2048 × 1536 pixels). In fact, this is the case, it’s just that the tablet requires a little time to adapt.
The screen itself is quite good, with a quite satisfactory brightness . We measured 360 cd / m² when the gauge is up, but auto brightness mode, when the tablet is exposed to bright light, it can go up to 455 cd / m². Super AMOLED forces, it is quite usable outdoors and in direct sunlight.
The screen turns blue when the tablet it looks.
There are still few annoying flaws. If it is for example possible to briefly set the screen mode (AMOLED Cinema, Photo AMOLED, Basic and reading), the basic mode, one that best seems to respect us the colors tend to show a relatively yellowish white. The mode “Cinema AMOLED” displays a white much more convincing, but saturates too red or yellow colors.
Another point of disappointment, the viewing angles are poor. Just lean slightly toward the tablet or down, for example, the screen turns blue rapidly. Compared to the great screen of the Galaxy Tab S of last year is a real step backwards.
Software: a giant Galaxy S6
No real surprises on the software part of the Galaxy Tab S2?. This is more or less the same version of TouchWiz as that found on the new Galaxy S6 / 5 Galaxy Note exits this year, much lighter than before. We regret a little thing though, by default, the tablet is installed on Android 5.0.2 and not 5.1.1 Android. A strange decision on the part of Samsung, which has the habit of leaving their high-end devices in the latest version of Android.
The launcher of the Galaxy Tab S2, very classic.
TouchWizz would obviously not TouchWiz if it had not its share of preinstalled applications. There are many applications from Samsung, namely a video player, an application to change the lighting time navigation buttons (Galaxy Button Lights), Side Sync to deport the tablet’s screen on a PC or yet Smart Manager, a utility to do the cleaning on the shelf.
Flipboard is also present.
Samsung also spent partnerships French actors. They are found World applications (two-month subscriptions are offered), Team or LeKiosk (online bookstore). As for the Galaxy S6, Microsoft applications are also installed. Applications such as Word, Excel or PowerPoint, perfectly find their place on an end oriented tablet to productivity.
The main features of TouchWizz are present: screen sharing and downsizing windows.
In the end, the software part of the Galaxy Tab S2 is very close to what we’ve seen on the Galaxy S6. We thus find a relatively light interface, the ability to share the screen among multiple applications or reduce the size of a window with a diagonal by making a swipe of a window. Only notable absentee, and that’s a shame there are not themes of shops, as on the Galaxy S6.
Performance: an Exynos the sentence
Within the S2 Galaxy Tab, Samsung has chosen – disappointing – integrate the Exynos 5433 (Exynos Octa 7) already insight Galaxy Note 4 Korean version unveiled in September 2014. A very strange choice for a high-end tablet of 2015. Let us then give that performance in practice.
| Benchmark / Device | Samsung Galaxy S2 | Sony Xperia Z4 Tablet | Samsung Galaxy S6 |
|---|---|---|---|
| PC Mark | 5311 items | 4488 items | 5000 items |
| GFXBench (Manhattan Offscreen) | 13 FPS | 24.6 FPS | 23.3 FPS |
| GFXBench (T-Rex Offscreen) | 33 FPS | 49.4 FPS | 47.1 FPS |
| 3DMark Ice Storm Unlimited Total | 14 825 dots | 24 210 dots | 22265 items |
| 3DMark Ice Storm Unlimited Graphics | 14 961 dots | 35 463 dots | 23630 items |
| 3DMark Ice Storm Unlimited Physics | 14 367 dots | 11 471 dots | 18,521 items |
| Real Racing 3 (Xtra High with GameBench) | 30 FPS | 30 FPS | 34 FPS |
If the processor point of view, the Tab S2 is not doing too badly (as evidenced by the PCMark and 3DMark scores Physics), one remains behind the Galaxy S6 with its Exynos 7420. But the worst comes to the graphics chip, the “old” Mali-T760 MP6 when the Exynos 7420 is passed MP8, with computing units Additional, and LPDDR4 for additional bandwidth, very important for videogame titles. As the graphics benchmarks, the Exynos 5433 is far behind the Exynos 7420 3D perspective.
In small 2D games or 3D-efficient visual effects – we particularly think of Candy Crush or Temple Run – S2 Galaxy Tab will fare well, as in all applications. In contrast, the strongest mobile players who swear by demanding titles – in the image of Real Racing 3, Vainglory, etc. – Will be disappointed by just correct performance of the tablet
We really seems pity that Samsung has not wanted to integrate its latest chip – the Exynos 7420 Galaxy S6 – in this high-end tablet. Indeed, it is more comfortable to play intensive games and advanced on a tablet than on a smartphone. Samsung would have had to use the same SoC (or even stronger) than on the Galaxy S6
.
Media
As the vast majority of tablets, the Galaxy Tab S2 does not really shines with his camera. The latter is based on a sensor 8 MP. Triggering is rather fast, but the overall quality of shots is frankly mediocre. The resolution is low, images lack detail and have a nasty tendency to drool. A camera that will fit the bill for photos “practical,” but we never used to have likes on Instagram.
No surprise with the photo sensor, it is very means.
Finally, because of its size and weight, the new Samsung tablet is very comfortable to use for watching movies. The tablet can be held long enough at arm’s length without much fatigue and additional features TouchWiz can separate the screen into two for example, a top view video while surfing the web in the lower part.
In landscape mode, the right hand mouth one of the two speakers.
Too bad the stereo speakers are located in the lower part of the unit. They clog too easily with his hands holding the tablet. Their quality is however not too bad. They are powerful (enough anyway for FrAndroid developers begin to sing Bohemian Rapsody while they are in the next room) and do not saturate too in the bass.
A surprising autonomy for such a small battery
For its Tab S2, Samsung has reduced battery capacity by Tab S compared to the last year. Our version of 9.7 inches embarks indeed a 5870 mAh battery 7900 mAh against the S Tab 10.5 inches. This is much less, while the size and resolution are almost unchanged.
What about every day? Well, it is rather convincing, although we have seen better elsewhere. Generally very intensive battery, a quarter of an hour of online card game Hearthstone has lowered the battery of a few percent while the game is rather greedy. After an hour of video on YouTube with its maximum and brightness set to 200 cd / m², the Tab S2 has lost only 10%. This is a very good score considering that the average is around 14%.
Last on the autonomy of the tablet, the Tab S2 has no faster reloading. It is certainly less critical than on a smartphone, but it’s a feature we would have liked to see on a tablet sold more than 500 euros.
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