Samsung plans to take on the iPad Air with its latest flagship tablet, the Samsung Galaxy Tab S, which comes with a Super AMOLED display, new productivity options and content agreements for movies, books and comics.
The Korean manufacturer claims the device is its thinnest and lightest tablet yet, and will be available in 10.5-inch and 8.4 inch variations. Both are just 6.6mm thick while the former weighs 465g and the latter weighs 294g.
The device runs Android 4.4 Kit Kat, is powered by 3GB of RAM and an Exynos 5 octa-core processor, or 2.3 GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 chip in some markets. The Tab S will be available with either 16GB or 32GB of storage, but this can be expanded by up to 128GB through a MicroSD card slot, while there will be Wi-Fi and Wi-Fi + 4G models when it hits the shelves in July in bronze or “dazzling white” variations.
The display adapts to different light conditions and can be used outdoors, with different settings available for photo and video. Samsung also says the screen uses less power than similar LCD displays and results an improved battery life that can be lengthened even further with the ultra-power saving mode featured on the Samsung Galaxy S5.
The company claims the display offers an “unrivalled” entertainment experience and Samsung is banking on this to be a key differentiator in its bid to break Apple’s stranglehold on the market. Users will receive free and exclusive content through Galaxy Gifts and Google Play, while a three month subscription to Marvel Unlimited will allow them to access a library of 15,000 comics.
There is a sports data app called Kick and a magazine application called Papergarden, while there is a customised version of the Amazon Kindle application which will feature a free book every month.
“The tablet is becoming a popular personal viewing device for enjoying content, which makes the quality of the display a critical feature,” says JK Shin, CEO and President of Samsung’s mobile division. “With the launch of the Galaxy Tab S, Samsung is setting the industry bar higher for the entire mobile industry.
“It will provide consumers with a visual and entertainment experience that brings colours to life, beautifully packaged in a sleek and ultra-portable mobile device.”
Samsung is also targeting the business market with productivity features, such as enhanced multitasking support and connectivity options which allow users to make and receive calls directly on the tablet if it is connected to a smartphone.
The company hopes to increase its share of the enterprise mobility market to offset any fears or consumer smartphone saturation and recently announced version 2.0 of the Samsung Knox mobile device management (MDM) platform.
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