Samsung Galaxy TabPro S: Microsoft Surface Pro 4 And iPad Pro Meet Their Match
The two most talked about high-end tablets right now are the Microsoft Surface Pro 4 and the iPad Pro. However, both tablets may soon have competition as Samsung prepares to release its Galaxy TabPro S. The Verge describes Samsung’s latest device as “like an Android tablet running Windows 10” and, overall, is thrilled about the tablet, especially its display.
“But the star of the show is unsurprisingly Samsung’s Super AMOLED display, which measures 12 inches diagonally and has a 2160 x 1440 pixel resolution. Its bright, colorful, and has great viewing angles, which will come as no surprise anyone that’s used a recent Samsung smartphone.”
The review goes on to note that Samsung claims that its power-efficient display helps the device last 10.5-hours on a single charge — something that hasn’t been tested yet. In addition, Samsung has made software that allows TabPro S owners to link their Galaxy phones to the tablet and use them for fingerprint authentication.
“Like the Tab S2 and Samsung’s other Android tablets, the front of the TabPro S is quite glossy and pretty thanks to its vibrant 12-inch, 2,560-by-1,440 Super AMOLED display. We love Samsung’s Super AMOLED tablet displays, which make the competition look rather dull.”
The review praises Samsung’s USB-C port for charging, even though USB-C isn’t quite the universal standard yet. CNET describes the TabPro S as a “striking machine.”
“But the Galaxy TabPro S definitely feels like a striking machine — and the most striking thing about it is that it’s running Windows on a bright, beautiful 12-inch Super AMOLED screen,” says reviewer Sean Hollister.
Like others, he says it’s the same screen on Samsung’s smartphones that amazes consumers — but a much bigger one. It’s one of the first Super AMOLED screens to be included on a Windows 10 laptop product.
Despite what some may have you believe, the TabPro S isn’t Samsung’s first attempt at a Windows tablet. In early 2013, Samsung earned rave reviews for the ATIV SmartPC Pro 700T, an 11.6-inch Windows 8 tablet/laptop hybrid that came out right before the very first Surface Pro. PCMag gave the device four stars.
The review noted that Samsung’s device impressively combined tablet convenience and laptop productivity. The SmartPC Pro, which included an S-Pen digital stylus, also included an Intel Core i5 processor — something not common for Windows tablets at the time. However, the review didn’t like that an adapter was required for HDMI use and that the keyboard, which came with the device unlike the Surface Pro, didn’t have its own battery.
Samsung failed to entice the tablet marketplace in 2013, but it had more to do with the fact that people didn’t like Windows 8 than it did with Samsung’s hardware. Now, things have changed. Windows 10, though not perfect, has been proven productive for both tablet and laptop. The fact that Microsoft’s Surface Pro 4 has been so well received proves that the marketplace is open to Windows 10 tablets.
The Galaxy TabPro S may have one issue that prevents people from buying it: It only runs a mobile processor (Intel Core M), but it may be perfect for those who want a less expensive tablet/laptop hybrid than the Surface Pro 4. An Intel Core M processor is perfect for those who want to do office work on the run. Are you interested in the Samsung TabPro S? Let us know in the comments section.
[Photo by John Locher/AP Images]
