First impressions of Samsung Galaxy Tab S2 8.0 – the incredibly thin Samsung frontrunner

LaptopMedia.com Points forts First impressions of Samsung Galaxy Tab S2 8.0 – the incredibly thin Samsung frontrunner

De: Hristiyan Tsutsev 18 Août 2015 / 12:49 0

SM-T710NZKEXNZ-65-0

The new Galaxy Tab S2 8.0 of Samsung is already in our hands, which means that we can begin conducting our tests. The results will be revealed in the upcoming review, but for now, we’re ready to share our first impressions of the model.

Check the current price of Samsung Galaxy Tab S2 8.0 here: http://amzn.to/1WBXRYH

The first thing that grabs your attention has to be the stylish design. The thin metal frame envelops the model, in a manner similar to Galaxy A series models. The dimensions of the tablet are even more impressive. It’s only 5.6 mm thick, which is even less than the super thin Xperia Z3 and Z4 tablets. The weight is only 265 grams, which once again, is a really low value, considering that we’re talking about an 8-inch tablet with metal elements. The microSD slot, which supports memory cards with capacity of up to 128 GBs, can be accessed with the help of a pin, and it is placed on the right side, where apart from it, you can find the slim (but convenient) volume regulating buttons and the Power button. You’ll quickly realize that you’re dealing with a high-end tablet.

The special magnetic case is especially practical. Besides protecting the device from damage, it serves as a universal stand that can be used in three different positions. Moreover, the case itself looks really stylish and elegant.

Beneath that thin and beautiful chassis lies solid hardware. The featured SoC is Exynos Octa 5433, and it has 8 cores. The first 4 are Cortex-A53, operating at 1.3GHz, and they will be the ones running most of the time when the tasks aren’t very demanding, in order to save battery. The second set of four are Cortex-A57. Their base frequency goes up to 1.9 GHz. The same mobile chip is placed in Galaxy Note 4, so we’re expecting high results in our benchmark tests. There is also a Mali-T760 graphics controller and 3GBs of RAM, which should be enough to provide smooth operation and gameplay without lag or delays. Based on the short period we’ve used the device, we can confirm this.

The battery seems like another strong feature of Galaxy Tab S2 8.0. Its capacity is 4000 mAh, which should be sufficient, despite the big 8-inch screen and 8-core processor. According to Samsung, it will provide over 10 hours of Wi-Fi surfing on a single charge. Our battery tests are not done just yet, so that’s all we can say for now.

Of course, Samsung wouldn’t let their tablet fall behind software-wise. It runs Android 5.0 Lollipop with some pre-installed applications and small games. You’ll even find a folder with Microsoft applications like Word, Excel, Skype, etc. The settings menu offers some gesture based functionality. The popular Ultra power saving mode is available as well, and there is a finger print scanner in the Home button.

We’re also looking forward to testing the Super AMOLED display. It has a diagonal of 8 inches and resolution of 2048 x 1536 pixels. The deep and contrasting colors, detailed images and wide visibility angles are apparent even to the naked eye. Is it eye-friendly, though? We’ll find out in the upcoming review. Although we’re talking about a tablet, its 8MP camera is worth mentioning. We were impressed with the many modes and the option to film QHD video (2560 x 1440). The camera will also be tested in detail, so stay tuned for the results!

Specs sheet

OS	Android 5.0.2 (Lollipop)
CPU	Exynos Octa 5433 (8-core, 4 x 1.30GHz Cortex-A53 + 4 x 1.90GHz Cortex-A57)
RAM	3GB
Internal memory	16GB
GPU	Mali-T760
Display	8-inch Super AMOLED display with resolution of 1536 x 2048 pixels
Connectivity	Bluetooth v4.1, Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, hotspot
Cameras	8-MP with autofocus (rear), 2.1-MP (front)
Additional features	fingerprint scanner microSD memory card slot (up to 128GB) microUSB port 3.5 mm audio jack accelerometer proximity sensor
Battery	4000 mAh
Dimensions	198.6 x 134.8 x 5.6 mm
Weight	256 grams