Samsung Galaxy Tab S 10.5 and 8.4 hands on: First look

Samsung Galaxy Tab S 10.5 hands-on

Samsung Galaxy Tab S 10.5 is the larger of the two newly announced slates and it comes with the largest SuperAMOLED panel we've seen on a mobile device. The extra punchiness of the technology is looking as impressive as we've ever seen it on a screen this big.

Samsung is still providing several screen color modes to match the particular needs of different user groups. No matter which mode you choose, it's really hard to describe how impressive the 10.5" WQHD panel actually is before you see it in real life.

Samsung Galaxy Tab S 10.5 in Dazzling White

The contrast is as great as we've come to expect from the AMOLED technology, viewing angles are so wide that everything appears as if it's printed on the front glass. There was no sun at the event venue, but the low reflectivity of the panel also bodes well for its legibility when taken outside.

Samsung Galaxy Tab S 10.5 in Titanium Bronze

Despite being the first tablet in the Samsung lineup to sport a perforated faux-leather back, the design of the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.5 is instantly recognizable and to a large extent familiar. This is of course due to its strong resemblance to the Galaxy S5 flagship smartphone that already passed the 10 million sales mark. We do find the material very suitable here as it greatly improves grip and it actually looks even better on the larger slate than it did on the handset.

The ultra slim waistline adds even more to the looks as it really benefits the high-end vibe that is so crucial for tablets looking to position themselves as premium. As you might know AMOLED panels are generally slimmer than their LCD rivals, meaning that Samsung could afford to reach a 6.6mm profile, while still fitting a 7,900mAh battery inside the Galaxy Tab S 10.5. The only mainstream tablet to go slimmer than that is the Xperia Z2 Tablet (6.4mm), but that one has a notably smaller 6,000 mAh battery.

The ultra slim waistline really adds to the great looks

As far as the performance is concerned, the Samsung Galaxy Tab S 10.5 hardly brings any news. It's just as great performer as the recently announced Galaxy Tab Pro and Galaxy Note slates, and its interface is largely unchanged compared to its siblings, too. There's a twist here, though - the fingerprint sensor embedded in the home button enables some cool functionality such as protecting images in the gallery from unauthorized eyes and making quick and secure PayPal payments.

Samsung also released a bunch of cool accessories for its new Galaxy Tab S 10.5 slate. The two that got our attention are the magnetic attachable covers, which use the built-in magnets to grip the slate tightly and protect it from damage, and the keyboard dock.

The dock itself is pretty slim and features a finish similar to the slate itself. Its keyboard is reasonably comfortable to type on and featuring a shortcut for the multi-window mode can turn the tablet in a proper productivity monster.

The keyboard dock

We'll now have a look at the other member of the new hot duo - the Galaxy Tab 8.4. We'll be right back with the 10.5" slate on page 4 however, where you would find its hand-on video, complete with a short UI walkthrough.