In Barcelona, instead of the usual announcement of a Galaxy S phone, we have instead been treaeted with the follow up to the Galaxy S tablet line with Samsung unveiling the Galaxy Tab S3.
Samsung has recently launched their two Chromebooks which readily convert between laptops and tablets running Android apps, but it seems there’s still a market for a straight tablet which is where the high end Galaxy Tab S3 comes in. Samsung says that the Tab S3 is for digital content enthusiasts, with the tablet also able to switch into productivity mode thanks to an optional keyboard cover which attaches via POGO pins on one side.
Samsung is also including their much vaunted S Pen with the Tab S3 which they hope to also push as an additional productivity device. The S Pen has a fine, 0.7mm tip with an industry-leading sensitivity which can recognise 4,096 levels of pressure. The S Pen is designed to mimic a pen and at just over 9mm thick it certainly fits the bill making for what Samsung says is a ‘more natural handwriting experience’. The S Pen also supports Screen-off Memos, Samsung Notes and Air Command, all apps installed on the Tab S3.
For a tablet that’s being marketed as a high-end entertainment machine, the Tab S3 is running a slightly older processor with the older, yet tried and tested Snapdragon 820 processor, though it’s been paired with 4GB of RAM and comes with 32GB of storage though that can be bolstered by adding a microSD card to the tablet. Gaming is also a consideration on the Tab S3 graphics optimised for the Vulkan API.
A large 9.7″ 2048×1536 resolution AMOLED display and quad-stereo speakers tuned by AKG by HARMAN should make for great multimedia viewing with the Tab S3 also capable of viewing 4K video. Samsung has also partnered with Amazon to deliver HDR videos to really show off that display.
Full Specs include:
- 9.7” Super AMOLED QXGA (2048×1536) Display
- Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ 820 – Quad Core 2.15GHz + 1.6GHz
- 4GB RAM
- 32GB with micro SD up to 256GB
- 13MP rear camera with AF and Flash + 5.0MP front-facing camera
- Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, 2X2 MIMO, Wi-Fi Direct, Bluetooth 4.2, GPS + GLONASS, BEIDOU, GALILEO
- Accelerometer, Hall Sensor, RGB Sensor, Finger print Sensor, Gyro Sensor, Geometric Sensor
- USB 3.1(Type-C)
- Android 7.0
- 6,000mAh Battery with Fast Charging
- 237.3 x 169.0 x 6.0mm 429g(Wi-Fi) / 434g(LTE)
- LTE Model available with Cat.6 (300Mbps) LTE
Samsung has not yet announced pricing or availability for the tablet but we expect to get more information on both in the coming days.
Update:
Richard Fink, Vice President, IT & Mobile Division – Samsung Electronics Australia has announced that the Tab S3 will be coming to Australia announcing:
We’re thrilled to announce that the Galaxy Tab S3 will be launched in Australia later in 2017.
I wonder when we’ll be able to pick up a Tab S2 at bargain prices? Still $500+ in most shops.
Looks interesting, supporting HDR. Would have liked slim bezels though. And the Staedler S-Pen sounds interesting. But maybe I’ll have something to replace my Air2 with.
Well it’s a start – doesn’t have freakin’ lasers or anything but it has 4 gig RAM
To be honest doesn’t seem to be much of an upgrade from the current model. Not sure I’m tempted to updated despite the addition of the S-pen.
much better SoC though even though I feel it’s most likely because of Note 7 surplus
Still bummed at no 8″ version.
Aren’t we all. Long live the rumour of the new Nexus tablet, hope it’s 8″
Hear hear, but aren’t all the rumours for a new N7 pointing to a 7″ screen? Personally I like smaller devices but with the ridiculously big size of Android phones these days there seems little reason to choose to use a 7″ tablet instead of just continuing to use your phone with its only slightly smaller screen.
I agree that the phones are getting so big, what’s the point of 7″ Tablet.. What I had hoped for is a 5″ screen in a 4.5″phone body, and a 7-8″ Tablet to go with it.
Like you say tho, smallest Mini-bezel phone will be 5.7″ so no point in tablet and phone.
Pity!
Completely agree 🙂 I’m still rocking a Z3 compact tablet and phone. The 8″ tablet is probably marginally to big. It fits in my back jeans pocket but struggles to fit in some coats inner breast pockets. My ideal devices would be a newer 8″ tablet with slightly narrower body to fit in pockets better although I am perfectly happy with my current tablet and have no plans to upgrade it. I’d love a new phone and would have settled for a 5″ mini bezel phone but the only small options I’ve managed to find are the iPhone SE, X… Read more »
I have the current Tab s2 8.0 and would love a Tab s3 with S pen.
I’m not a fan of larger tablets