Manufacturer: Samsung
What is the Samsung Galaxy Tab PRO 8.4?
The Samsung Galaxy Tab PRO 8.4 is a part of Samsung’s new
business-orientated tablet line and a direct rival to the iPad mini 2. With a
stunning 2560 x 1600 pixel resolution display, the smallest of the three new
Tab PRO models pairs its premium specs sheet with the company’s new Magazine UX
interface. The tablet is also available in 10.1 and 12.2-inch forms. Finalised
pricing is yet to be announced, but a Samsung Galaxy Tab PRO 8.4 release date
has been set for the latter part of Q1 2014.
Samsung Galaxy Tab PRO 8.4: Design
Cut from the same mould as Samsung’s recent tablet efforts,
the Samsung Galaxy Tab PRO 8.4 is a plastic clad unit, with the cheaper
construction materials again giving the device a less premium feel and
appearance than some of its rivals.
The 8.4-inch body measures in at just 7.2mm thick and 21.9cm
wide, meaning it is slim enough to be held, comfortably, in a single hand.
What’s more, the streamlined 336g weight is evenly distributed across the
tablet’s full form, giving it a comfortably balance when held single-handed.
Although the leather-effect rear, similar to that found on
the Samsung Galaxy Note 3, is again a disappointingly tacky addition, the
tablet’s plastic body is less flimsy than its larger siblings. Thanks to its
compact nature the Tab PRO 8.4 suffers from only minor bending when put under
pressure. In contrast, the 12.2-inch model suffers from frankly ridiculous
levels of unwanted flexing.
Set to be made available in both black and white colour
schemes, the Samsung Galaxy Tab PRO 8.4 features the usual Android touch
buttons and benefits from a relatively streamlined bezel that further enhances
the already impressive display.
Samsung Galaxy Tab PRO 8.4: Screen
Undoubtedly, the tablet’s biggest talking point, the Samsung
Galaxy Tab PRO 8.4 screen is, in short, stunning. With a 2560 x 1600 pixel
resolution, the WXQGA LCD panel offers beautifully sharp, vibrant images that
suffer from no pixilation or graining issues.
As tends to be the case on Samsung’s mobile products, the
Tab PRO 8.4’s colour gamut, on first impressions at least, appeared a little
warm and over saturated. Text is pin-sharp, however, and images impressively
detailed and immersive.
The tablet’s 16:9 aspect ratio makes it ideal for multimedia
consumption, with early video playback tests blowing us away thanks to smooth
flowing, crisp visual content and half-decent inbuilt audio.
Responsive to the touch, the Samsung Galaxy Tab PRO 8.4’s
screen was able to tackle all manner of multi-finger gesture controls without
the slightest hint of fuss. Strangely, for such a business-themed tablet,
Samsung has not bestowed the Tab PRO 8.4 with an integrated stylus, instead
saving its S-Pen add-on for the larger Note PRO 12.2 offering.
Samsung Galaxy Tab PRO 8.4:Software and Performance
The new Magazine UX is one of the Samsung Galaxy TabPRO
8.4’s main talking points and one which, based on first impressions, looks set
to make the tablet a far more engaging device than past Samsung offerings.
Gone is the traditional point-and-shoot icon-based TouchWiz
UI, in is a more immersive software overlay, bringing more detail direct to the
user. Removing the need to jump in and out of multiple applications to get to
desired information, the Magazine UX is something of a halfway house between
Android and Windows 8.
Powered by a 2.3GHz quad-core Snapdragon 800 processor and
2GB of RAM, the tablet is speedy from the off, showing no signs of lagging or
slow boot times during early use. Further testing will be required before final
judgement can be passed on the tablet’s performance.
Aiding its business ilk, the Tab PRO 8.4 comes with a range
of software pre-installed, from Samsung’s own word processing and presentation
software to Easilydo Pro and Remote PC capabilities.
Sadly, due to the tablet’s compact size, the Tab PRO 8.4
does not offer enough on-screen real estate to display a full digital keyboard
such as that introduced on the Samsung Galaxy Note PRO 12.2. Instead the
standard, reduced tablet offering is present, limiting the device’s
laptop-replacing credentials.
Samsung Galaxy Tab PRO 8.4: Features
As you would expect from a modern tablet, the Samsung Galaxy
Tab PRO 8.4 throws its business credentials up in the air to make room for
integrated cameras front and rear. While the 2-megapixel forward-facing snapper
can be utilised for video calls, the 8-megapixel camera is more for
entertainment purposes.
Based on early use in less than ideal lighting conditions,
this camera collection is distinctly average, offering largely flat, stilted
images that failed to capture the atmosphere of the pictures. Although colours
were washy and shots grainy, we will need to further test the cameras in our
upcoming Samsung Galaxy Tab PRO 8.4 review before damming them completely.
Set to launch in both 16GB and 32GB storage options, the
Samsung Galaxy Tab PRO 8.4’s capacity can be expanded by microSD up to 64GB.
With a 4800mAh Lithium-Ion battery under the hood, a full
day’s use should be within reach, although further testing is required in this
area.
First Impressions
While Samsung’s current trend is to make things bigger, the
peewee Samsung Galaxy Tab PRO 8.4 is the most enticing of the company’s new
‘PRO’ branded tablets. With a more solid feel and slightly more appealing
aesthetics than the larger options, the Tab PRO 8.4 is the closest the
manufacturer has come to a true iPad rival.
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