This tablet is the first to add dual monitor support to Samsung DeX. What this means is you can hook up an external monitor over HDMI and use both it and the tablet's own screen. This way you get not only a larger screen, but two screens to spread your work.
When you're on the go, the Book Cover keyboard is a great option to boost your typing speed. The keys have been refined and magnets keep the tablet secure in both the "closed" and "laptop" positions.
It's not all work and no play either, the Galaxy Tab S4 10.5 has a 16:10 Super AMOLED screen and quad speakers tuned by AKG and with Dolby Atmos support to boot. Here's a quick overview of the rest of the specs:
Samsung Galaxy Tab S4 10.5 at a glance:
• Body: Metal frame, glass front and back
• Screen: 10.5" Super AMOLED, 2,560 x 1,600px, 16:10
• Add-ons: S Pen included, DeX dock and Book Cover keyboard sold separately
• Chipset: Snapdragon 835 chipset
• Memory: 4GB of RAM, 64GB storage, microSD card slot
• Software: Android 8.1 Oreo, Samsung Experience, Microsoft apps pre-loaded
• Audio: Quad speakers tuned by AKG, Dolby Atmos support
• Camera: 13MP / 4K on the back, 8MP / 1080p on the front
• Connectivity: Optional LTE Cat. 16, Wi-Fi a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 5.0, USB-C 3.1
• Battery: 7,300mAh, fast charging (9V at 1.67A or 5V at 2A)
• Misc: Iris scanner, pogo pins, global positioning
Analysts got it wrong with their post-PC predictions - instead of moving to a one "do-it-all" device, consumers just bought several devices. A smartphone, tablet and smartwatch each has its own duties, the key is that they talk to each other.
For example, with Samsung Flow you can check the notifications from your phone on the Tab S4 and even use the phone's data connection (in case you didn't get the LTE model).
As its name suggests, the Galaxy Tab S4 10.5 comes with a 10.5" screen. Samsung kept a minimal amount of bezels for those times when you use the tablet handheld (i.e. not in the keyboard dock). It's about the size of a notebook you may carry in your backpack.
The Tab S4 is the first tablet with an Iris scanner, which replaces the fingerprint reader of the Tab S3. The scanner is positioned near the selfie camera, which means that it's on the left side when you hold the tablet in landscape orientation. We suggest you unlock it in portrait, however, as otherwise you run the risk of covering the sensor with your hand. When the tablet is docked, there's no such issue.
At 7.1mm, it's easy to slip into a protective sleeve and at 482g the weight feels balanced.
The keyboard cover makes it thicker, but that's actually a good thing - the keys have good travel and the keyboard is rigid enough not to flex as you type.
On the outside, the keyboard cover has a texture that feels halfway between cloth and rubber. Its grippy and it can take a beating. The inside has a soft touch finish that will guard the tablet's glass back from scratches.
The cover has a magnet that snaps the tablet to the pogo pins (there are notches to help guide it to the right place). There's another magnet to hold the keyboard closed so it won't flip open when you pick it up. The cover extends slightly beyond the tablet itself, giving you enough room to put your thumb there and push the cover open.
The ergonomics of the S Pen are pretty great and it's all due to its size - it looks and feels like a regular pen. We would have liked a grippy texture at the bottom, but it's not a huge deal.
The bad news is that unlike the Galaxy Note stylus, this S Pen cannot slot into the tablet, so you have to carry it separately. There's a "pen cap" attached to the keyboard though, that will certainly reduce the chance of you losing the stylus.
The Galaxy Tab S4 10.5 can operate as a regular Android tablet, but the second you connect it to the DeX dock or even the keyboard cover, it launches the DeX mode. There the stylus is central to the experience.
When using the tablet in DeX mode you need to get out of the Android headspace. Running apps are accessed from the bar at the bottom, the regular app switcher is still available but requires an extra tap.
Overall, The Galaxy Tab S4 10.5 is best when space is at a premium. That is both space in your luggage, but also space to work - it's tiny enough to fit even on an airplane tray or just to sit on your lap. Its selection of docks and the keyboard cover help it scale up to a full desktop and down to just a note-taking tool.
0 Comments