Samsung Galaxy Tab S4 10.5 tablet review - pros and cons

Samsung presented a new 4 Series tablet in early August 2018. The device is positioned as a multitasking device suitable for working with office programs, and for creativity, and even as a mini-cinema with surround sound.

The gadget received a large number of convenient options and a fairly powerful filling. Among the main competitors of the device are such reliable devices as the iPad Pro 10.5 from Apple and the Huawei MediaPad M5 Pro. A review of the Samsung Galaxy Tab S4 10.5 tablet, the advantages and disadvantages of which are discussed in detail in the article, will help you understand the features of the device and its functionality.

Main characteristics of the device

The novelty from Samsung received the following set of parameters:

The appearance of the tablet is presented and available for purchase in two colors - gray and black.

Dimensions

The thickness of the device is only 7.1 mm, due to which the device fits well in the hands. In general, its dimensions are quite compact. The device looks elegant with its dimensions of 249.3 x 164.3 mm.

Housing

The design of the device resembles top smartphones, which makes it stand out among the tablets. The back cover of the device is made of glass, not aluminum, like most devices. The bezels around the screen are small, so the display takes up almost the entire front panel. All padding is approximately the same width. This became available due to the fact that the manufacturer did not install the Home button on the bottom frame. There is no fingerprint scanner, as the device is protected by other means. They will be discussed in detail below.

The gadget has rounded metal edges. At the bottom is a USB-C port and a standard headphone jack. There are microphone inputs on the top and right. Also on the right side there is a power key and volume buttons. They are all made of metal. On the same side, the manufacturer has installed a slot for Micro-SIM and microSD cards.

The left side of the device is for connecting the keyboard. Here is a connector, consisting of 4 channels, and special connectors for secure fixation.

The speakers also act as a design element. They are built into the body by the grilles: two on the top and bottom edges. This arrangement allows you to create uniform and spacious stereo sound.

Display

The entire front of the device is made of glossy glass, which is resistant to scratches and damage. The 10.5-inch screen has a resolution of 2560 by 1600 pixels. Thus, the dot density is 288 ppi, which is higher than the competitors with the same display size.

The aspect ratio of the tablet is 16:10. This allows you to comfortably watch widescreen videos, work and surf the Internet. The Super AMOLED matrix is ​​responsible for the image.

The device gives a bright picture, the shades go more into a cold tone.The device has a good range for adjusting the brightness of the screen, and at maximum settings allows you to work comfortably even in the sun. It is possible to set the automatic selection of this parameter. Then the tablet will be guided by the light sensor readings.

The multi-touch display of this model has an oleophobic coating, which reduces the rate of formation of fingerprints on the surface and greatly facilitates their removal.

The viewing angles are good. Colors and brightness are not distorted when the screen is rotated. Also, the device has excellent color rendering: all colors are rich and juicy. If desired, all the described parameters can be adjusted to suit your own needs by choosing one of the offered profiles or manually adjust the indicators.

Camera parameters

Rear camera

The main module supports 13 megapixel photography. For its price category, the gadget has decent characteristics in terms of shooting parameters. With good lighting, you can get photos of decent quality, but with insufficient illumination of the scene, the frame is obtained with noise, and upon closer examination it loses its clarity. For the convenience of the user, autofocus is provided.

Front-camera

With the front module, you can also take good pictures, since the module has a resolution of 8 megapixels. This is enough for video communication and even selfies.

Shooting video

The device is capable of shooting videos in 4K resolution at 30 frames per second. Most flagship mobile devices now use these options. However, due to the lack of stabilization, the frame shakes quite a lot.

Tablet performance

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S4 10.5 is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 processor with 8 cores, 4 of which are clocked at 2.35 GHz and the rest at 1.9 GHz. For fast work and for active games, 4 GB of RAM is enough.

The manufacturer allocated 64 GB for data storage, but it is possible to expand it to 400 GB using a microSD card. Despite the fact that the filling of the device is not the strongest of the existing ones, this does not affect the operation of the device in any way. Users note that the device copes well with the load, even in multitasking mode.

The gadget performs well in game mode. The manufacturer has created a special option that allows you to completely disable notifications during the game. Also, with this function, you can record from the screen and from the front camera, which will be a plus for gamers.

Device autonomy

The capacity of the battery installed in the device is 7300 mAh. With medium screen brightness settings, the tablet can withstand up to 13 hours of high quality video viewing on a single charge and up to 5 hours of gaming.

These are not the highest figures for gadgets of this type, but it should be borne in mind that a sufficient amount of charge is spent on the AMOLED screen, especially if the display is dominated by white most of the time (for example, in reading mode). A plus for the Samsung Galaxy Tab S4 is support for fast charging.

Under heavy load, the tablet heats up in the upper part, but this temperature is acceptable, since it does not exceed the average for modern devices. You can fully charge your device on a standard trickle charge in 3 hours.

Sound quality

Samsung in the presentation of new items focused on AKG speakers, which should create powerful high quality sound. The sound of the device at midrange is excellent, but the bass is not heard enough. This will be very noticeable for those users who are used to listening to music with a predominance of low frequencies.

The drawdown is also noticeable when watching loud scenes in films, for example, during explosions and destruction. However, this sound quality is more than enough for listening to music in the background and watching videos on video hosting. In comparison with competitors, the device clearly wins in this parameter.

Interface and DeX Mode

A tablet from Samsung can easily replace a laptop, turning into a convenient mini-computer.DeX mode, which on phones only works with a special accessory, can be activated with a few taps on the Galaxy Tab S4.

With it, you can work in a windowed interface, which is familiar to active PC users. The mode also allows you to open any of the installed programs in full screen version. This allows you to work with multiple tasks at the same time.

Another feature of the novelty is the ability to connect to an external screen. So you can completely take out DeX on it, and work on the tablet screen on a regular Android system.

An optional physical keyboard in the form of a special cover that serves as a stand for the screen allows you to work with the device as with a full-fledged computer.

Interesting additional options

For protection, the manufacturer did not install a fingerprint scanner on the tablet case, but provided the device with a combined eye and face scanner. For this function to work, you need to register a user and scan the iris of his eyes.

The only drawback of this option is that recognition starts only after pressing the unlock key. After that, you should look at a special red light and only after that you can start working with the device. Some users have noticed that the scanner does not always recognize the person the first time, and it takes several attempts to unlock. For successful face recognition, keep the device clearly in front of your face with your hair tucked away.

Another feature of the gadget is the built-in LTE module, which allows you to use the tablet as a phone (the conversation can be conducted using a headset or speakerphone). Also, thanks to this option, the device maintains an Internet connection via a mobile network. The speed of receiving and transmitting data using a SIM card is quite high.

In addition, the tablet is equipped with the following sensors:

• accelerometer;
• gyroscope;
• light sensor;
• presence sensor.

Stylus package contents and capabilities

Together with the device, the user receives:

• 2A charger;
• USB type C cable;
• A paperclip to remove the card;
• stylus;
• documentation.

The stylus fits comfortably in the hand, practically does not differ from a ballpoint pen. It is convenient for them to draw, working out even the smallest strokes in detail. Pressing force can control the thickness of the line.

To work with the touch pen, the manufacturer has developed a special application - Samsung Notes. With it, you can create handwritten notes and create artistic masterpieces. And you can share your work on the original social network, where, in addition to this, you can chat with like-minded people and study articles on drawing.

You can make small notes with the stylus even when the screen is off. This option comes in handy when you need to write down someone's number or leave a reminder.

Attachable keyboard cover sold separately.

Price

According to online stores, the average price for this tablet model is 48,990 rubles (excluding shipping). The start of sales took place on August 24, 2018. The starting price at the time of the announcement was 52,990 rubles.

To create a full-fledged workstation, the user should immediately take care of purchasing a branded keyboard cover. By pre-order, this accessory was included as a gift, but now you need to buy it. Its average cost on the Internet is 8,990 rubles.

Outcome

Samsung Galaxy Tab S4 10.5 is a productive tablet that can compete with many famous and powerful devices. Users note that a lot of useful little things have been thought out in the gadget, which simplify the work and make the device more multifunctional. Among all the characteristics of the device, the following should be noted:

• good screen quality;
• stylish design;
• fresh version of Android OS;
• high performance;
• LTE support;
• small frames around the display;
• DeX mode;
• pen included.

The device has several minor drawbacks:

• the work of the scanner of the iris of the eye and face is not fully thought out;
• not the most affordable price.

The tablet will appeal to business and creative people who will appreciate the impressive capabilities of the device.