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Galaxy Tab S2 to be an aggressive rival to the Apple iPad Air 2: thinner and with a metal frame

posted by Chris P. / Feb 16, 2015, 7:47 AM

Galaxy Tab S2 to be an aggressive rival to the Apple iPad Air 2: thinner and with a metal frame

At 0.24 inches (6.1 mm), the Apple iPad Air 2 is one of the thinnest tablets on the planet – challenged only by the Dell Venue 8, which comes in at a similar depth. Samsung, however, may be looking to break up the party according to sources for SamMobile, for the company is prepping an even thinner new Galaxy Tab S2 slate.

The new gadget from the South Korean maker won't only rival Apple in terms of thinness, though – apparently, the company is switching away from the 8.4-inch and 10.5-inch models from the current Tab S generation to an 8.0-inch/9.7-inch split that will closely resemble what Apple has in store with the iPad mini 3/iPad Air 2 respectively. Not only that, but both displays will now also offer a boxier, 4:3 aspect ratio, again in line with what Apple has been doing for a while. If that wasn't enough, then the claim that Samsung is also going for a metal frame for the rumored Tab S2 should drive the point home – the company is gunning for Apple's iPads.

Check out our review of the Apple iPad Air 2 here. If you're thinking of a high-end Android tablet, then Samsung's aforementioned Tab S 8.4 and Tab S 10.5 are both great alternatives.

Apple iPad Air 2

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Samsung Galaxy Tab S 10.5

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source: SamMobile

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PhoneArena Rating:

9.0

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User Rating:

9.0

Based on 4 Reviews

Display 9.7" 1536 x 2048 pixels

Camera 8 MP / 1.2 MP front

Processor Apple A8X, Triple-core, 1500 MHz

Storage 128 GB

Battery 7340 mAh

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27 Comments

1. Neros

Posts: 1016; Member since: Dec 19, 2014

Tab s is amazing.

posted on Feb 16, 2015, 7:52 AM 3

16. SuperMaoriBro

Posts: 533; Member since: Jun 23, 2012

Im using a tab s 8.4 right now. I was really impressed with it but after owning it for 4months im realising its flaws. Screen is awesome, performance not so great. For an octocore with 3gb ram it lags, stutters, and locks up way more than it should. Metal is nice but sammy please get rid of touchwiz and bloat.

posted on Feb 16, 2015, 11:58 AM 0

21. joey_sfb

Posts: 6794; Member since: Mar 29, 2012

I using a tab s 8.4 too! I have no problem with performance. There no slight hint of stutters not to mention lag. The trick is simple before using any android device, go into setting-> application. Scan thru list of in ALL processes-> you will notice a lot of junk processes by third parity services. I disable this list of junks; ANT Radio Service -> third parity fitness device I don't own ANT+ Plugins BlurbCheckout Bubbles Business card recognition BusinessWeek+ ChocoEUKor Cisco WebEx Meetings com.monotype.andriod font.cooljazz com.monotype.android.font.rosemary Dual clock (digital) Gmail -> I use the default email client which support multiple email accounts. Google Play Books -> not interested Google Play Music -> I use Samsung default music player for my Gear control. Google Play Newsstand -> not interested Google Text to speech engine -> using a better third parties voice quality one. Google+ -> not interested Hancom Office Viewers -> disable the viewer as I install the full Hancom HP Print Service Plugin -> don't own HP printer LINE - wow! people still using it? MobilePrintSvc_CUPS - not doing printing yet MobilePrintSvc_CUPS_Backend - "" NNLTM - Fingerprint Passport - don't I want my biodata captured. NYTimes Phase beam Photo Screensavers Print Spooler Samsung Galaxy Samsung Print Service Plugin SamsungSans SapaMonitor Shot & more Studio Talkback Travel Wallpaper That about 38 odd services disabled. Samsung is really a bloatware device. I only getting it for its hardware specification and if a better alternative present itself I will switch.

posted on Feb 16, 2015, 6:02 PM 0

2. joey_sfb

Posts: 6794; Member since: Mar 29, 2012

I thought there is a real Tab S2. Why called it Tab S2 while Samsung called it Tab S 10.5 and Tab S 8.4.

posted on Feb 16, 2015, 7:53 AM 0

3. wando77

Posts: 1168; Member since: Aug 23, 2012

If they reduce the screen size and switch to 4:3 then I won't be trading in my tab s 10.5. Metal frame is a nice touch although the plastic around the tab s bronze is VERY convincing fake metal. Much better than on the phones

posted on Feb 16, 2015, 7:58 AM 2

4. tiara6918

Posts: 2263; Member since: Apr 26, 2012

that aspect ratio is just terrible, how are we supposed to enjoy watching now on the screen

posted on Feb 16, 2015, 8:00 AM 4

22. medtxa

Posts: 1655; Member since: Jun 02, 2014

it's better for browsing though.

posted on Feb 16, 2015, 6:27 PM 0

5. UglyFrank

Posts: 2194; Member since: Jan 23, 2014

This would be genuine copying, nobody could say it wasn't.

posted on Feb 16, 2015, 8:06 AM 0

6. EcoCare

Posts: 444; Member since: Jul 30, 2014

Why, because Apple 'patents' 9.7 inch? Get real.

posted on Feb 16, 2015, 8:27 AM 2

8. Iodine

Posts: 1497; Member since: Jun 19, 2014

But... iPad mini is just 7,85 inches, not 8 so it isn't that much of a blatant ripoff. But you know, just as samsung has been talking about how incredibly innovative was the tab S for film viewers, they will soon talk about how the new, incredibly innovative and industry leading and worlds first super amoled tablets with a 4:3 aspect ratio are great for the photographers.

posted on Feb 16, 2015, 8:34 AM 1

14. kevin91202

Posts: 642; Member since: Jun 08, 2014

Look up "genuine" and "copying" and get back to us.

posted on Feb 16, 2015, 11:20 AM 1

7. etron

Posts: 30; Member since: Sep 12, 2014

They both copy look at new iPhone looks more like a Samsung phone and now the new s6 is trying to copy elements of the iPhone plus there is no copyright on 4:3 ratio or round corners is there it is called competition

posted on Feb 16, 2015, 8:28 AM 0

9. medicci37

Posts: 1361; Member since: Nov 19, 2011

If I was Samsung I wouldn't worry about the tab being thinner than the ipad air. I have the air & really no need to be thinner. I'd focus on increasing get power like Tegra & longer battery life.

posted on Feb 16, 2015, 9:17 AM 1

10. androiphone20

Posts: 1654; Member since: Jul 10, 2013

Yea, turns out battery life on the iPad is insanely good

posted on Feb 16, 2015, 9:43 AM 0

11. Mhunt190

Posts: 18; Member since: Jan 07, 2015

I'm happy with my iPad air 2 it has enough power with the A8X chip which is more powerful then the Tegra K1 and long battery life which last me a day and a half under very heavy usage.

posted on Feb 16, 2015, 10:08 AM 0

19. vincelongman

Posts: 5745; Member since: Feb 10, 2013

Thermals is where Samsung should look to improve The Air 2 throttles after about 15 mins Much better than the Nexus 9 which throttles after about 5 mins This is an area where the all OEMs should look to improve Also if Samsung want to compete with the high end tablets they should make a Exynos with a T760 MP16, so the GPU is as powerful as the one in the A8X and K1

posted on Feb 16, 2015, 3:53 PM 0

12. ThePython

Posts: 902; Member since: May 08, 2013

Thinness and metal: Two of the most overrated elements of the tech world.

posted on Feb 16, 2015, 10:21 AM 6

13. TheWeasel

Posts: 403; Member since: Dec 26, 2014

Unfortunately, it seems to be what the masses want, especially with Apple propagating the idea that these are major advantages with their latest phone and tablet offerings. In order to tap into this seemingly large demographic, it looks like Samsung aims to give the people what they think they want.

posted on Feb 16, 2015, 10:56 AM 0

17. 14545

Posts: 1835; Member since: Nov 22, 2011

Agreed. I don't get why they are heading this way. It's terrible. Apple is rich because of marketing, not because they actually have a better product. It would be nice if people actually realized that.

posted on Feb 16, 2015, 12:07 PM 0

27. nenadmitrovic

Posts: 64; Member since: Aug 01, 2014

I like metal, but like battery power more than thinness

posted on Feb 17, 2015, 9:45 AM 0

15. j2001m

Posts: 3061; Member since: Apr 28, 2014

Sorry I was not going to post about this but I hope after my ver true posts about brick dev phones for 810 you take note of this post, Samsung are not copying Apple with 4:3, this is a spec change added by google with the nexus 9 and is to make it better for app makers to easy transfer there apps over with Easy for iPads as they have no need to recode the images and firms and soon, so pleas cut all the Samsung copy please it's just not on

posted on Feb 16, 2015, 11:55 AM 0

18. KashunatoR

Posts: 47; Member since: Jul 21, 2014

Very bad move. They had a winning design with the tab s 10.5. I was hoping they could reduce bezels and slightly increase screen size within the same overall dimensions. Slight improvement in display and sound + faster SOC would mean instant buy for me. I will never buy other than 16/10 format tablet. Let's hope they are keeping this aspect ratio for the 12.2 version, otherwise I will be stuck with the tab s for a long time.

posted on Feb 16, 2015, 1:03 PM 1

20. darkkjedii

Posts: 31529; Member since: Feb 05, 2011

Men lie, women lie, numbers don't. Jigga

posted on Feb 16, 2015, 5:02 PM 0

25. iushnt

Posts: 3138; Member since: Feb 06, 2013

And those numbers are brought up by either men or women :)

posted on Feb 17, 2015, 1:08 AM 0

23. leonmbj

Posts: 45; Member since: Jun 05, 2014

I think if you have an system A on phone, there is no sense to have the same system A on tablet my opinion, my taste

posted on Feb 16, 2015, 10:54 PM 0

24. valneja

Posts: 32; Member since: Dec 21, 2014

we dont need metal...we need a tablet that doesnt lag

posted on Feb 17, 2015, 12:20 AM 0

26. yoosufmuneer

Posts: 1518; Member since: Feb 14, 2015

Good Move on metal but if they could make the battery longer lasting and use a better Processor and GPU and improve the stability of the TW. More devs should make tablet optimized apps, thats the problem with android tablets compared to ipads. If everything in the above is done,That would be the best android tablet of 2015 for me.

posted on Feb 17, 2015, 1:22 AM 0

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