Samsung has unveiled the Galaxy Tab S4, and with upgraded power, looks, and a much larger screen, it looks set to prove that Android tablets are back in a big way. But before it can take on the iPad it needs to cut its teeth on its stablemate. Can the Tab S4 beat last year’s Galaxy Tab S3?
Hear the word tablet, and you’ll probably think of Apple’s iPad. Android tablets are few and far between these days, and companies like Huawei and Samsung are among the few that consistently release high-end models. The problem stems largely from Google not encouraging developers to create tablet-friendly apps, so Samsung took things into its own hands with its latest tablet, the Galaxy Tab S4. Samsung has built in its DeX interface into the Tab S4, so whenever you connect the tablet to a keyboard, the Android desktop mode will launch. It’s makes the device much more productivity friendly.
But before we start comparing the Tab S4 to competitors like the iPad Pro, how does it stack up against its predecessor? We pit Galaxy Tab S4 vs. Galaxy Tab S3 to find out.
The Galaxy Tab S3’s performance was one of its stronger points, with the Snapdragon 820 processor easily handling most of the tasks we threw at it. That chip was a generation behind when the Tab S3 launched, and it’s a similar story with the Tab S4, which will launch with the Snapdragon 835 processor. It’s the same processor that ran the last generation of smartphones, like the LG V30 and the Samsung Galaxy S8. It’s still a great chip though, and we naturally expect stronger performance from the Tab S4 over the Tab S3 as a result.
Both devices come with 4GB of RAM and the option to expand storage by MicroSD. The Tab S4 has also seen an upgrade in storage, with 64GB available in the base model, and 256GB of storage available for an extra $100.
The Tab S4 is also packing a larger 7,300mAh battery. The Tab S3’s 6,000mAh battery held up well, lasting over 10 hours in our moderate to high use testing. Expect the extra capacity on the Tab S4 to last even longer, with Samsung touting 16 hours of video playback. Neither tablet supports wireless charging, but both have Samsung’s fast charging built in.
There’s an obvious winner here — the Galaxy Tab S4 is a clear upgrade.
Winner: Samsung Galaxy Tab S4
The Tab S3 had a boring, barely-changed design, and a glass back that didn’t win it any durability favors. While the glass is apparently here to stay, there are quite a few design changes on the Tab S4. Samsung has shrunk down the bezels on the newer tablet, refreshing the look and giving us something that isn’t just an enlarged Galaxy S5. Despite the larger 10.5-inch display, the Tab S4 is nearly the same size as the Tab S3. Samsung has also removed the home button — there’s just a power button and volume rocker at the top — and that also means there is no fingerprint sensor. The Samsung logo has gone with it too, giving the front of the tablet a cleaner look.
The lack of a fingerprint sensor is a step back, as it will make the user experience a little more frustrating in tablet mode. Both are similar durability-wise, with glass you’ll want to avoid smashing, and zero water resistance.
The Tab S4’s refreshed design wins this round, and while the Tab S3 had a fingerprint sensor, we encountered a few problems with it in our review.
Winner: Samsung Galaxy Tab S4
Samsung is known for producing some of the best screens, and both the Tab S3 and Tab S4 uphold Samsung’s strong reputation. The Tab S3 has a 9.7-inch Super AMOLED display running a 2,048 x 1,536 resolution, while the Tab S4 goes in for a larger 10.5-inch Super AMOLED display, with a 2,560 x 1,600 resolution. Both displays are similarly sharp, and the OLED technology means they both show deep blacks and vibrant colors.
Because the bezels have been slimmed down, the bigger screen on the Tab S4 doesn’t mean the tablet is bigger than the Tab S3 — they’re similar in size. That’s a win-win in our book, and the Tab S4 takes the win.
Winner: Samsung Galaxy Tab S4
Camera technology isn’t really worth all that much in tablets, but it’s nice to have the option to take snaps (we recommend not taking photos with your tablet outside). You’ll find similar 13-megapixel lenses around the back of both devices,and both can capture video at 4K resolutions.
The Tab S4 picks up some extra points with improvements to the front-facing camera — upping the lens to 8-megapixels from the meager 5-megapixel lens on the Tab S3. Since you’re more likely to use the front-facing camera on such a device, it wins the Tab S4 the round here.
Winner: Samsung Galaxy Tab S4
You’ll find Android 8.0 Oreo on the Tab S3, and Android 8.1 Oreo on the Tab S4 — 8.1 brings a few additional improvements to the operating system.
But the biggest difference between the two tablets in terms of software is that when you connect the Tab S4 to the keyboard cover, Samsung’s DeX mode will launch. It’s basically a desktop Android mode, with support for multiple app windows, Bluetooth mouse support, resizing app windows, right-click functionality, drag-and-drop, and more. It elevates the Tab S4 into a true productivity machine, making it a more viable laptop replacement.
In terms of OS updates, it’s likely the Tab S4 will get upgraded to Android P first, but the Tab S3 should eventually receive the upgrade as well. The Tab S4 will likely be updated for a longer time than the Tab S3 at this point.
The Tab S4 wins this round solely for its DeX interface.
Winner: Samsung Galaxy Tab S4
The Tab S3 had good speakers for a tablet, with audio tuned by Samsung-owned audio company AKG. That same partnership continues on the Tab S4, with Samsung making even bigger improvements to the overall audio quality with Dolby Atmos Sound support. In our brief tests, the keyboard cover muffles the sound, but it sounds solid otherwise.
You’ll also find similar S Pen support on both models, though the Tab S4’s S Pen has some upgrades, including some of the Note 8’s best features. You can create Live Messages, where you can draw on photos and turn them into animated GIFs; hover over text to translate them; and take notes with the screen off.
The Tab S4 simply has more features, so it takes the cake.
Winner: Samsung Galaxy Tab S4
You can grab the Tab S3 right now from Amazon, with prices starting at $550 for the Wi-Fi only model.
