2 in 1 is something that tablets have recently been striving for, with the best on the market being Microsoft with the Surface and Apple attempting it with the iPad Pro. Of course, the tablet also wants to act as a lovely but slightly bulky portable media device for you to enjoy everything you can. Samsung, with the Galaxy Tab S4, is looking to take on this challenge and make the first true Android 2 in 1 high-end tablet.
The thing about looking at the Galaxy Tab S4 is judging it both as a high-end tablet as well as the 2 in 1 functions. Also, looking at the competition. There’s little doubt that Apple are the market leaders for tablets and Microsoft have the best 2 in 1 device on the market. I have my reservations on the latter aim, but if anybody is likely to topple Apple on high-end Tablets, it’s Samsung. This is exactly what they’re aiming for with the Galaxy Tab S4.
The Beauty in Front of the Beast
Tablets will never be the most attractive things out there, no matter the model. Why? Well, they’re the phone’s larger relative. The mobile phone is Cinderella, the tablet is one of the sisters. That doesn’t mean that Samsung, and other companies, aren’t going to do their best at making them the best damn looking ugly-duckling they can.
In the case of the Galaxy Tab S4, Samsung has done a fantastic job and making it look good. Just how functional and safe this is, well that’s something to be left down to the user. In particular, I have huge fears of a recreation of my Samsung Galaxy S7 where, following an accident where somebody bumped into me and knocked the phone out of my hand, the glass on the rear was completely shattered. The Galaxy Tab S4 also has a full glass back. It looks fantastic but it’s fragile.
This is particularly a concern as, with all tablets, you require both hands to keep a firm hold on it. The glass back also comes with the other negative aspect of glass – it’s not the most textured of materials, it’s slippy and on a more aesthetic value – smudges are so clearly visible on it. I’ve found myself wiping the back of the tablet more than the front. Of course, that’s a minor concern, with the larger one being the fragility of glass. I found myself utterly terrified of it being broke on a recent holiday I took to Dubrovnik, where I wanted to test it on the road.
This is a test that the tab passed with flying colours. At least a test in how easy it was to see. The Galaxy Tab S4 is beautifully sleek with even smaller edges (bezels) than the Tab S3 – allowing the display to be increased from a 9.7 inch, 2048×1536 display, to a stunning 10.5 inch, 2560×1600 AMOLED display. As a result of this display, the contrast between colours is fantastic. This means playing any game, watching any video or even just generally using it is a charm.
Smooth and Simple: The Way it Should Be
The Galaxy Tab S4 has, arguably, the best display of any tablet on the market. While the resolution is lower than that of the iPad Pro range, it has a superior pixel per inch count of 286. The fidelity of the S4 shows no matter the conditions, be it on a plane, under the glaring sun or in a dark room, it consistently looks fantastic. The only downside I found is that the touch screen is a little too sensitive – a problem I never knew I’d encounter. Even the slightest touch from bed covers, clothing or a headset wire will interfere with video playback or more.
A minor issue really, compared to the good. Also, yes, you heard right – it has a headphone jack on top of the four speakers that offer fantastic audio quality. Another great thing for the tablet is that it lasts a long time. Coming with a 7300mAh battery, it is far superior to the S3. Charging is just as quick as you would also expect. Fast charging is able to fully charge the tablet in around three and a half hours, giving you a full day of usage. Of course, another huge boost is that Samsung includes this with the tablet rather than charging extra. Another major boost over the Cupertino-based rival.
Using the S Pen to write is also incredibly smooth and easy. You can keep everything handwritten or have the tablet translate your writing into text – incredibly useful if, say, you’re writing a review. You’ll be able to see my handwriting in the screenshot below, but just for clarity, I’ll also type it all down.
Writing notes for the review of the Samsung Galaxy Tab S4 using the tab itself, using the S Pen, is surprisingly easy and effective. Indeed, my writing here is actually neater and cleaner than my regular handwriting. The accuracy is fantastic, it’s easy to fix any mistakes and it also has multiple settings as well as a huge range of colour options. Another great feature with the pen is the ability to use it artistically, letting you draw freestyle, colour in other people’s artwork and more. I’m as far from an artist as you could imagine – struggling with stick figures – but I still found myself enjoying my time with it.
