Tablet Samsung Galaxy Tab S4 10.5 SM-T835 64Gb – advantages and disadvantages

In 2018, Samsung released the Samsung Galaxy Tab S4 to the public.

Samsung Electronics is a well-known company and therefore the popularity of its models is beyond doubt. She is constantly fighting in the ratings of high-quality and functional devices with Apple for the laurels of superiority. And, of course, these are the best electronics manufacturers and all their new products are popular models that are of great interest. The Galaxy Tab S4 10.5 SM-T835 64Gb is no exception, but has this device from Samsung been able to overtake the competition?

Equipment

The box contains the main set, the advantage of which is, like the Tab S3, the presence of a stylus, unlike Apple, where it must be purchased separately:

• tablet;
• cable (USB Type C), cord length - 120 cm;
• adaptive charger - 2 A;
• stylus;
• documentation.

For a fee, this set can be supplemented with a keyboard case and a stand case.

Appearance

At first glance, the Galaxy Tab S4 appears to be identical to the Galaxy Tab S3, but there are slight differences. The dimensions of the tablet have slightly increased and are 249 * 164 * 7.1. The weight of the device is 483 g.

The materials of which the case is made: on both sides - tempered glass, framed by an aluminum frame. The presence of such a fragile material on the back is not very clear, since there is no wireless charging. In addition, the assembly is not sealed and does not protect against moisture. So far, apparently, only Sony has mastered these defense skills. The tablet is presented in two colors: black and silver (almost white). Both options impress with their aesthetically pleasing design, display size, and solid build.

The device is easy to use, thanks to which phantom clicks are excluded. On the right are the power, lock and volume keys, a slot for nano SIM and memory cards. Not very good placement of the lock and volume keys. Some reviews claim that this combination takes some getting used to. On the left is a keyboard magnet. On the bottom are a Type C port and a 3.5mm headphone jack. At the top there is a hole for a microphone and a biometric system for scanning the iris of the eyes and face. Also, a pair of powerful speakers were symmetrically placed on both sides.

Specifications

Screen

The Super AMOLED display did not come as a surprise. It transmits a colorful and contrasting picture and has proven itself well, creating a clear view from any angle.

Unlike the previous model, the fingerprint scanner and touch navigation keys disappeared from the screen, which replaced the retinal and face recognition sensors located on the body. As a result, the frames have noticeably decreased on all sides and the diagonal of the multi-touch screen has increased to 10.5 inches.

Screen resolution 2560*1600 with 288 ppi and 219% sRGB. Such characteristics convey a clear picture detail, perfect for high-quality video viewing and active games.

The glass protects the screen, resisting scratches and scuffs, and a special oleophobic coating prevents greasy stains and prints, and is easy to clean. Plus, such protection does not create glare in the sun and the image remains clear even when looking against the light.

One of the differences between the AMOLED matrix is ​​the dependence of energy efficiency on the brightness of the display. The screen has many settings, from classic to full original design for yourself. The maximum brightness setting of 600 nits is only available in auto mode. There is a blocking of accidental touches and an unlocking of double tap.

The tablet is turned on by means of an iris scanner and face recognition. Such bio-identification creates information security. Although this system has not yet reached perfection, small glitches occasionally occur.

Additional sensors and functional applications:

• proximity sensor;
• light sensor;
• accelerometer;
• compass;
• gyroscope;
• Hall Sensor.

Operating system

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S4 is equipped with the Android 8.1 platform, supplemented by the proprietary Samsung Experiencem 9.5 shell, which is reminiscent of the S9 at first, but there are significant differences.

DeX mode

The main feature of this business device is the presence of DeX mode without additional docking stations and a monitor. With a keyboard and mouse, the tablet turns into almost a full-fledged computer with a desktop and multi-window mode. The DeX interface allows you to switch between applications and supports multitasking.

The Galaxy Tab S4 differs from the Galaxy S9 in the ability to open any application in full screen mode, not just games.

True, the screen in DeX mode does not rotate to a vertical orientation.

Several useful applications

Many useful applications contribute to a varied workflow.

Microsoft Office has improved significantly, although, of course, it still does not reach full-fledged work, but this option is most suitable for managers, top managers and those who do not need to process a lot of data.

Like the Galaxy Note, the Galaxy Tab S4 is powered by Samsung's KNOX mobile platform, creating a multi-layered, secure, single-access operating space for corporate and personal data.

There are also intelligent software features for creative people.

The SmartThings app lets you combine compatible appliances and control them remotely to create a smart home.

The presence of a children's mode allows parents to protect the child from negative information, also providing the ability to set up time intervals for training sessions or watching cartoons.

The Daily Board diary allows you to customize the display of your favorite photos on the screen even in sleep mode.

Stylus

Samsung continues to develop its devices with a stylus. Here it is improved and deserves all praise both in terms of performance and ergonomics. Ease of use and a tip reduced to 0.7 mm contribute to fruitful work and creative relaxation.

The S-Pen handles up to 4096 levels of pressure and tilt. Pictures are drawn like watercolors, you even need to take it away from the screen to renew the tone of the color, otherwise it will fade.

Using the stylus, you can take not only a screenshot of the full screen, but also individual fragments selected with it.

The screen sensors recognize both hand and stylus taps, but you can set "S-pen only".

Like the Galaxy Note, you can take notes when the screen is off and save them.

The company specifically installed the Pen.UP application and social network on its device to use the S-Pen, where you can upload painted pictures and create small animations.

One problem is that Android does not yet have enough software for drawing.

Keyboard

Separately, it must be said about the keyboard. It is not included in the kit and must be purchased separately, but its presence turns the tablet into a full-fledged laptop. The 64-key keyboard is integrated into the case. The keys on it are located at a remote distance from each other, so it is comfortable to use. The only thing that complicates the workflow is the dedicated button on the right for switching languages ​​(Lang).

DeX mode, stylus and keyboard create a powerful tool to work with.

Performance

In this model, Samsung did not install the new Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 processor, taking advantage of last year's 8-core 64-bit Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 with a Kryo 280 chip running at 2.35 GHz. But this smart and productive processor is not at all outdated, the tablet simply flies on it, and besides, it has many optimized applications. There were questions about its performance, but according to the manufacturer, thanks to the Cat 16 LTE modem, the speed is tripled.

The processor is equipped with a 670 MHz Adreno 540 graphics accelerator, the performance of which has increased by 30% compared to the previous Adreno 530.

RAM 4 GB, permanent - 64 GB. The memory is fast, clocked at 1.866 GHz.

Such functionality contributes to the fast operation of the system, applications and games, even such active ones as PUBG or Battlefield.

autonomy

The autonomy of the tablet Samsung Galaxy Tab S4 supports a lithium-polymer battery with a capacity of 7300 mAh. Fast charging with Quick Charge 2.0 technology fully charges the battery in 3 hours and lasts a long time.

The operating time on a full charge at moderate brightness, even with active use, reaches 16 hours, but since the screen is volatile on the brightness settings, at its maximum performance, the tablet's working time is halved.

cameras

Although the camera is not the main thing in this device, how it photographs is important.

Main camera

The rear camera is a single 13 MP, f / 1.9 aperture. The resolution of a frame with an aspect ratio of 4:3 is 4160*3120 pixels with a standard size of 1.12 microns. Shooting speed 30 frames / sec.

The characteristics of the camera are not to say that they are impressive, but they allow you to take high-quality pictures without dimming and reflection.

Thanks to the Sony Exmor RS IMX320 sensor, focusing allows you to capture high-quality images even of fast-moving subjects. Autofocus and LED flash improve image brightness and sharpness even in twilight.

The wide-angle lens increases the viewing angle by 76°.

Video resolution at 30 frames / sec - 4K UHD (3840 * 2160 pixels).

Additional features that improve functionality:

• continuous shooting;
• digital zoom;
• geotagging;
• HDR shooting;
• face recognition;
• ISO settings;
• scene selection mode;
• wide angle lens - 76 °;
• touch focus.

Front-camera

The front camera is 8-megapixel with f / 1.9 aperture, resolution 3264 * 2448 pixels. Photos are clear, with natural brightness and no blur effect. There is an opportunity to shoot not only ordinary self-portraits, but also wide-angle ones.

Video recording at 30fps in high quality Full HD. It is possible to speed up the video up to 32 times (Hyperlapse mode).

Video is saved in MP4 containers (AVC video, AAC audio).

Shooting has various modes, including professional.

The camera quality is typical and probably won't be able to compete with devices at the same price, but it's good enough for video calls and selfies.

Bix camera

Separately, it is worth paying attention to the Bixby camera. She determines what object has fallen into the camera lens and suggests stores for its purchase, she also determines where the attraction is located and translates information boards from foreign languages. The camera searches for goods in Yandex.Market.

Wireless interface

Access to the Internet via mobile networks is carried out by the built-in X16 LTE Cat.16 modem. The tablet supports GSM, HSPA+, UMTS, LTE (speed up to 1 Gbps). For real communication, the application "Phone" is provided. Navigation and positioning is done using GPS with support for A-GPS, GLONASS and BeiDou, as well as Galileo. The presence of Bluetooth 5.0 and dual-band Wi-Fi 802.11 a / b / g / n / ac (2.4 and 5 GHz) plus WiFi Hotspot allow wireless data exchange between devices. There is no radio, and the lack of wireless charging is a pity.

Sound

It should be noted the sound quality, which is responsible for 4 speakers pumped using AKG technology. When Dolby Atmos is activated, the sound becomes surround with high-quality stereo sound. Sound coming out of the speakers is loud enough to handle movie sound effects well.

Where is it profitable to buy?

If when buying a tablet, the selection criteria depend on how much the device costs, then the Samsung Galaxy Tab S4 is definitely not for you. It is not included in the category: inexpensive and budget tablets. Its average price is 50,000 rubles. You can buy it on the official website, other Internet resources and electronics stores.

Outcome

• reliable assembly;
• good color rendering;
• stereo sound;
• fast processor;
• the battery lasts a long time;
• DeX mode;
• Convenient stylus included.

• high price;
• not very convenient location of the buttons;
• not enough good software for S-Pen.

In general, the tablet is reliable and endowed with good functionality, although many of the characteristics correspond to a regular smartphone. The main feature is the DeX mode. Therefore, to the question: which tablet model and which company is better to choose? - everyone answers independently.