Samsung Galaxy TabPro S first look: A serious competitor to Microsoft's Surface lineup

Samsung Galaxy TabPro S first look: A serious competitor to Microsoft's Surface lineup

We’ve seen a few tablets running Windows 10 announced in the past, but this one is sure to draw all the attention. Firstly, it is Samsung and Microsoft, rivals otherwise, coming together to show the best of both sides. A good looking hybrid with powerful OS. And, we got to spend some time with the device at the Samsung Forum 2016. Here’s our first impressions.

Design and display

At a glance, it seems to be competing with Microsoft’s own Surface lineup. Weighing 693g, it is 6.3mm thin, claiming to be the thinnest 2-in-1 tablet in the world. It is thinner and lighter than Apple’s iPad Pro. Compared to the hybrids around this size, the TabPro S seems to be sleek and light. The body is build up of magnesium alloy and the rear part is plastic. No, it doesn’t come across cheap or plasticky, rather looks very cool. The rounded edges also allow a comfortable grip.

Detaching it, in the tablet mode, you will find speaker grilles on both side .The edges also get a headphone jack, volume rocker, power button and USB Type C connector. You will also find 5MP rear and front-facing cameras. The lower edge of the tablet shows a connector for attaching the keyboard.

It sports a large 12-inch Super AMOLED display with 2160 x 1440 resolution, which means a pixel density of 216ppi. This means it lags behind the 264ppi pixel density offered by the iPad Pro.  But, there is not much to complain about the display. It looked vibrant and sharp.

Keyboard 

Samsung’s TabPro S will come bundled with the keyboard that also serves as a cover. This is a significant move as Microsoft has decided to charge you additional for its Type/Touch Cover keyboards. The keyboard cover seemed sturdy in our limited usage. We tried pulling it off and attaching again, it worked beautifully. The magnetic connector was quick to connect; however, the connector section on the keyboard is made of plastic, which could be detrimental to its build quality.

Typing on the keyboard was just about fine, and not one of the best we’ve seen out there. But it is nice to see Samsung include the keyboard in-the-box. The trackpad seemed fine in our limited usage. Personally, I’m not a trackpad user. Fortunately, and unlike Apple’s iPad Pro, the device supports a mouse.

Processor

Galaxy TabPro S is powered by Intel Core m processor clocked at 2.2GHz that should efficiently pull through basic tasks. However, do not expect a full fledged laptop performance. It’s said to be a fanless processor, so one can expect as low noise as possible. It is coupled with 4GB of RAM. This powerful combination is surely on the path to deliver a stutter-free performance.

OS

The device runs Windows 10, but company’s Hello feature won’t be accessible due to the lack of the fingerprint scanner. It runs Windows 10 Home Edition. The device will be able to run desktop versions of programs. This is unlike the iPad Pro that supports only mobile iOS apps.

Camera, Storage and connectivity

Most OEMs don’t give much thought into the camera. Though Samsung has included 5MP front and rear cameras, they appeared to be quite mediocre. We would also like to believe that most users usually use only the front camera for video cons and selfies.  On display, we got the unit equipped with 128GB SSD. It also features a SIM slot supporting 4G LTE Cat6. Samsung has also included support for Wi-Fi 802.11 ac. NFC and Bluetooth 4.1 to complete the package and ensure that the device is feature-packed when it comes to connectivity options.

Battery

The device comes with 5,200mAh battery promising 10 hours of battery life. It comes with a USB Type-C for faster charging that is capable of charging the tablet in just 2.5 hours. However, we can confirm the exact time the device lasts only upon a battery test.

Bottom line

The Galaxy Tab Pro S was one of the best mobile devices on display today. It is yet to be launched in India, and there is no word on when it is expected or the pricing. However, with this device, both companies reignite the hybrid segment that needs a highly portable yet powerful computer in your tablet. Having said that, the device won’t be able to handle too hefty programs.

Bundling the keyboard is a great move from Samsung, considering its competitors don’t. Though not the best, the keyboard functions fine. The price tag would play a big role and we are hoping it doesn’t come an outrageous one. All in all, looks like, Microsoft’s Surface lineup has some serious competition.