Samsung Galaxy Tab S3

Today is the official launch day for the Samsung Galaxy Tab S3, which is the company’s latest 9.7-inch high-end Android tablet. officialy launched a trailer for the tablet on its YouTube channel.

Samsung’s new Android-powered Galaxy Tab S3. Available March 24 for $599, the Tab S3 is designed to let you use basic productivity tools like Microsoft’s (MSFT) Office suite, edit photos using Photoshop Express, draw directly on the device’s display using the included S Pen stylus and, of course, watch movies and browse the web.

But the S3 has stiff competition in the Pro. And while the S3 bests the iPad Pro with its stunning display, comfortable keyboard and included stylus, it falls short in others like battery life and audio. And its hefty price tag doesn’t help.

An entertainment powerhouse

The Tab S3’s design is attractive but derivative, hewing closely to the look of the company’s Galaxy S7 smartphone from its aluminum edges to its glass-coated rear panel. The slate is roughly the same size as Apple’s iPad Pro, save for a tenth of an inch or so here or there.

The most important part of any tablet, though, is its display, and that’s where the S3 shines. The Tab’s 9.7-inch, Super AMOLED screen, as all similar Samsung panels, produces vibrant colors and when you add in its HDR (high dynamic range) compatibility, which increases a display’s contrast ratio so you can see a wider range of hues, images practically jump off the screen.

Everything from app icons and text to movies and photos look absolutely stunning. Next to the iPad Pro, the Tab S3 offers brighter, more vivid colors and more detailed images. The difference between the tablets’ panels is so striking that similar photos look completely different on the S3 and iPad.

Samsung has also made a lot of noise about the Galaxy Tab S3’s surround sound speakers. Tuned by AKG by Harman, the speakers produce loud, clear, crisp audio. Whether you’re watching a movie or listening to your favorite guilty pleasure (late ’00s pop-punk), the S3 offers excellent audio quality.

The iPad Pro, though, is just a bit better. Bass drums hit harder, high notes sound higher and vocals come through cleaner. If your main concern is listening to music with your tablet, the iPad Pro is the easy choice. For most people, though, the Tab S3’s display quality will trump the iPad’s audio.

Productivity at a price

To ensure the Tab S3 isn’t just another entertainment tablet, Samsung added a magnetic keyboard cover to the mix. That keyboard, however, isn’t included with the price of the tablet, so you’ll have to shell out an extra $129 if you want to get the full experience. That’s a pricey proposition for something that adds basic typing functionality. Of course, Apple charges $149 for its Smart Keyboard cover, which is also a lot to ask of customers.

That said, Samsung’s keyboard is surprisingly well built. Keys are nicely spaced and offer plenty of travel. Touch typists used to hammering out emails on their laptops will probably find the keyboard a bit cramped, though. I often found myself having to readjust my hands, but the experience is worlds better than using the mushy keys on Apple’s Smart Keyboard.

Power and more power

Samsung’s Tab S3 is powered by quad-core Qualcomm processor that provides more than enough oomph to handle all of your daily tasks. I noticed a bit of slowdown when I was typing in the Microsoft Office app, but beyond that I didn’t see any issues while using the S3. Apple’s iPad Pro, meanwhile, is smooth as silk all the way through.

When it comes to battery life the Tab S3 should last you plenty of time. I’ve been using the S3 for about a week and I saw the battery life trickle away faster when I pumped the display brightness all the way and was streaming Netflix. Doing the same on the iPad Pro didn’t impact the battery life nearly as much. Overall, the Pro’s battery is certainly stronger than the Tab S3’s, but Samsung’s slate is no slouch.

specs

Operating System	Android 7.0 Nougat
Display	9.7-inch Super AMOLED, 2048x1536
Processor	Snapdragon 820 Quad Core 2.15GHz + 1.6GHz
Storage	32GB (U.S.)
Expandable	microSD card
RAM	4GB
Rear Camera	13MP, Auto-focus, Flash
Front Camera	5MP
Connectivity	Wi-Fi 802.11ac dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, USB Type-C 3.1, GPS LTE (optional)
Charging	USB-C
Battery	6000mAh Fast charging
Water resistance	No
Input	S Pen 4096-level pressure sensitivity
Security	One-touch fingerprint sensor
Dimensions	237.3 x 169 x 6 mm
Weight	429g (Wi-Fi) 434g (LTE)
Colors	Silver, black