Samsung Galaxy Tab S review: Best Android tablet on the market

This is a worthy competitor for Apple's iPad, which has dominated the tablet market since its launch four years ago.

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S starts at Dh1,699 for the 8.4 inch Wi-Fi only version. The National

Four years after the launch of the first iPad, Apple's dominance of the tablet market has given way to a wide range of affordable devices using Google's Android operating system.

Nevertheless the iPad remains in pole position when it comes to the premium segment, with high-end offerings of the likes of Samsung and Sony so far failing to significantly dent Apple's market share.

This may be set to change however, with the launch of Samsung’s Galaxy Tab S range, perhaps the first really viable high-end alternative to the iPad.

The model I tested features a 10.5 inch display (an 8.4 inch version is also available), compared with the iPad’s 9.7 inches. It’s a bit thinner and lighter, but not to the extent that you’d notice.

What you do notice however is the Tab S’s OLED display, which simply put is the best tablet screen I’ve ever encountered. Movie trailers, music videos and sports clips all look wonderful, with colours that, to my eyes at least, are brighter, deeper and crisper than the iPad’s much vaunted Retina display.

As an added bonus, the OLED display doesn’t require backlighting, which gives the Tab S very impressive battery life as well. Its 16GB in built memory is a touch on the skinny side, but its MicroSD slot means that, unlike an iPad, you can add additional memory to your heart’s content.

Such advantages won't persuade all Apple devotees to abandon their iPads. The Android tablet interface is not for everyone, and while the Tab S offers Android's standard selection of live widgets and greater customisation possibilities, the relative lack of dedicated tablet apps still puts it at a disadvantage to Apple's ecosystem.

And for this user in particular, the continued inability to buy music and movies from the Google Play store in the UAE remains extremely frustrating.

Such niggles aside, however, with its incredible display and brilliant battery life, the Samsung Galaxy Tab S is up there with the Sony Xperia Z2 as the best Android tablet on the market, and a serious alternative that all would be iPad buyers should consider.

Q&A

A bright and shiny screen is all very well, but what colours do the Galaxy Tab S range come in?

They’re available in two colours, which Samsung refers to as “Titanium Bronze” and “Dazzling White”. If neither of those appeal, there’s a wide range of covers available in different hues.

So it seems as if these tablets are more or less on a par with the iPad. How do they compare price wise?

Well, if you’re happy to just run your tablet on Wi-Fi, an 8.4 inch model will cost Dh1,699 (compared to Dh1,499 for a 7.9 inch iPad Mini), while the 10.5 inch model will set you back Dh2,099, compared with Dh1,899 for a 9.7 inch iPad Air.

And if I want to download content while I’m in the back of a cab on Sheikh Zayed Road?

Ah, you mean the LTE models. An 8.4 inch model will cost Dh2,099, compared with Dh1,999 for an iPad Mini, while the 10.5 inch model will set you back Dh2,599, compared with Dh2,399 for the equivalent iPad.

So the iPads are cheaper?

Yes, but not by much, and remember that you’re getting a larger screen. Perhaps more importantly, you can dramatically increase the internal storage at very little cost via a Micro SD card, whereas a larger memory iPad will set you back a lot more.

So should I buy one?

Up to you. If you love the iTunes ecosystem, stick with an iPad. If that’s not important, Galaxy Tab S is seriously worth considering.

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