You’d forgive us all for thinking Android tablets were dead. We’ve seen few released recently, and far fewer that were any good.
However, it seems someone forgot to tell Samsung. Overnight, Samsung released a tablet that looks the goods – something no other manufacturer has been able to do for a long time.
Samsung has announced the Galaxy Tab S5e, a new slimmer, lighter, high-end tablet with new smart features built in. The tablet has been redesigned to be sleeker while still maintaining practicality. It has a thin 5.5mm body (245.0 x 160.0 x 5.5 mm) and weighs just 400gm. Even though the size and weight seem impossibly small, the tablet promises to deliver “up to” 14.5 hours of battery life.
Not surprisingly Bixby 2.0 makes an appearance allowing you to control your smart home devices from the tablet. There is also a keyboard (sold seperately of course) that connects to the tablet via POGO pins. Couple this with Samsung DeX, and you’ve got the promise of a desktop-like experience.
For users who want intelligence that keeps them connected so they can get more done—as well as a big, beautiful screen for a rich, premium entertainment experience—the Tab S5e delivers.DJ Koh, President and CEO of IT & Mobile, Samsung
The display on the Galaxy Tab S5e is a vivid 10.5 inch WQXGA SuperAMOLED display (2560 x 1600 pixels and 287ppi). There is both a front and rear camera of 8MP and 13MP respectively but let’s face it, aside from video calls, who really takes photos with a giant 10.5 inch tablet. Media consumption is aided by the four speakers which use stereo technology and include Dolby Atmos integration and are tuned by AKG.
Powering the tablet is an octa-core processor that varies by region- we expect to get an Exynos version here in Australia. Connectivity includes Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac 2.4G+5GHz, and Bluetooth v5.0 with GPS, Glonass etc built in.
On the software side the tablet will be running the latest Android 9.0 out of the box with Samsung’s new OneUI on top. The UI is designed to minimise clutter by giving you content that is most relevant to you.
The Galaxy Tab S5e will be available in Silver, Black and Gold colours and is expected to launch in the second quarter of this year.
Of Australian availability a Samsung Australia spokesperson said:
Ahead of its global UNPACKED media event in San Francisco next week, Samsung Electronics has revealed the Galaxy Tab S5e. Samsung Electronics Australia can confirm that the new tablet will be available in Australia, with local pricing and availability to be confirmed closer to local launch.
There is little doubt Samsung will have this at MWC for us to get a look at and I for one am really looking forward to it. I thought Android tablets were dead.
Maybe not.
I loved my TAB 2016 10.1, I now love my TAB S4 10.5, I have no desire to “upgrade” to this tablet except for Android 9.0. But I’m a tech nerd as most people would be on this website, the average buyer probably wouldn’t know/care what Android 9.0 is. As for thin tablets I don’t need that, I would prefer it to be fatter and increase the battery life. I keep my tablet in a flip case so it would become difficult to appreciate a thin tablet anyhow.
I look at this, an in one critical area for me, this would be an immediate downgrade from my current Samsung Galaxy Tab A 10.1 (2016) 4G with S Pen. This new tablet has no S Pen support. As for taking photos with a tablet, I do that regularly. Looking at Samsung’s page for this tablet, it doesn’t look like it can be used as a phone in its own right. Rather it does call and text syncing with certain models of Samsung phones, letting you take calls and read and answer texts from the phone, on the tablet. My… Read more »
Sorry My Tab S 10.5 Still going and Still good!
Why move
The S5e specs are actually lower than the S4, including the CPU, camera and lack of stylus support. Regardless of the name this is clearly a sub-S4 model to fill the mid-premium tablet space. If it works out to be less than $600AUD as other articles are suggesting, it could be the best value android tablet on the market.
Though the Tab S4 is barely 6 months old, so this might be effectively follow-up from that rather than a new thing…but then why the number increment…but also it’s basically the same specs as the S4 *confused*
that would make sense but that would make them have to make the tablet 1mm thicker! OH NO!!!
That would make for a double ‘Oh no’, Scott. There would be even less excuses then, for their not including a Real Headphone socket in the tablet.
If we don’t get the SD 670 SoC my likelihood of buying this drops like rock.
Also the thin dimensions make me question it’s strength, iPad pro android variant?
exactly my thoughts.
Was hoping for an 8 inch version. Oh well.
now that would be nice. I ended up buying a Surface Go … gave up on Android tablets as an ereader etc. The SGo is great for reading but a great working device too- something Android isn’t very good at
It looks so so so very much like the iPad Pro…. argh!
does this surprise you? 😀
Does this have S Pen support guys?
unknown at this stage…
https://www.samsung.com/global/galaxy/galaxy-tab-s5e/
To be honest , I’d be happy with the S4 model , and the S5e looks good too .
One thing that does gripe me though , is this compulsion of some to want devices to be so thin they are like a sheet of A4 .
I just don’t see it ?
Obviously no one wants a brick , but something a bit substantial in the hand to hang on to 🙄 , a bit of substance , 7 or 8 or even 9 mm seems fine to me .
An i wrong to think le this ?
Aw, my Tab S4 superseded already!
I’ve also got the Tab S4, from when it was released – and I’ve gotta say it’s absolutely great! This new one looks like just minor incremental upgrades
Agreed. If I were to find out the S5e’s keyboard is better, that would upset me, but otherwise I’m certainly not feeling any need to upgrade. Phew!