We go hands-on with Samsung’s Galaxy Tab S2!

Samsung surprised us last year with their awesome flagship, the Galaxy Tab S. The Tab S had a lot of things going for it, including an absolutely gorgeous 8.4-inch Super AMOLED display with a 16:9 aspect ratio. Samsung’s spiel last year was that the aspect ratio allowed people to fully enjoy movies without black bars underneath them, as the display allowed you to view movies in the same aspect ratio that the creators intended.

This year, things are quite different. Samsung now has ditched the 16:9 aspect ratio for a more conventional 4:3, which, by the way, is the same aspect ratio that Apple uses. We’re not sure why Samsung changed gears on the that – the company has, for the longest time, been making tablets in both 16:9 and 16:10 aspect ratios after all, trying to differentiate themselves from Apple’s offerings.

Samsung Galaxy Tab S2 specs

•  Octa-core Exynos 533 processor
• 3GB of RAM
• 8-inch,/9.7-inch QHD Super AMOLED display,  2048×1536 resolution
• 32GB of storage, expandable via microSD up to 128GB
• 8-megapixel rear camera
• 2.1-megapixel front camera
• 3G, LTE
• WiFi, Bluetooth, GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, fingerprint scanner
• 4,000mAh (8-inch), 5,870mAh (9.7-inch) battery

Initial impressions: thinner, faster, and more premium

This year’s offerings sport a thinner body compared to last year’s offering – a full millimeter in fact (6.6mm vs. 5.6mm) – and comes with a metal frame and a redesigned back. Gone is the dimpled, plastic back that made the Tab S2 look like a stretched out Galaxy S5, replaced by a metal frame and a soft, matte black silicone back. The Tab S2 is also lighter than the previous iteration (298 grams vs. 265 grams) which makes it easier to handle and store.

Just like last year, Samsung is also offering two versions of the Galaxy Tab S2, and both tablets will be available 8 and 9.7-inch variants. Aside from the screen size and battery capacity, both models are alike when it comes to hardware and software.

While thin gadgets are aesthetically appealing, there’s a real issue when it comes to long-term comfort when it comes to prolonged use. The Tab S2’s design is made in a such a way that you’re able to hold it for minutes or even hours on end without getting fatigued since the thing is so darn light.

People who abhor Samsung’s TouchWiz UI will be sad to know that the Galaxy Tab S2 still comes with it, though it follows the Galaxy S6’s lead in making the TouchWiz UI as low-key as possible. The Tab S2 still has many of the enhancements featured in the Tab S, which includes a fingerprint scanner and multi-window capability.

Powering the Galaxy Tab S2 is Samsung’s own octa-core Exynos 533 processor along with 3GB of RAM, and for the PH, 32GB of storage. The Tab S2 is also LTE capable, and is blisteringly fast during our time with it. It will also come with a free back cover when it starts selling on August 22, as well as a 6-month subscription to streaming site iFlix, and a free Smart LTE SIM with 5 hours of free data for six months.

The Galaxy Tab S2 also comes with a higher price tag than last year’s model – priced at Php 24,990 for the 8-inch version and 29,990 for the 9.7-inch version, Samsung’s latest tablets are not cheap. At those prices, they’re already competing with Apple’s newer iPad offerings, which may or may not work in Samsung’s favor.