Rather than focusing on the ‘Play’ side of the tablet - like in previous versions of the device - the company has geared towards productivity and professional use. The Samsung Tab S4 is one of the best convertible Android tablet in the market right now, competing head-on with Apple’s new iPad Pro. However, it is a shame that this tablet barely comes close to the iPad’s easy-to-use UI and ram management. The Tab S4 seems to be an improvement for the Android tablet scene and Samsung should be commended for trying, but there is clearly room for improvement.
 

Display

We all know Samsung is the top dog when it comes to displays, and the Tab S4 surely doesn’t disappoint. With a 2560x1600 resolution 10.5 inch Super AMOLED display, the screen is crisp with high color accuracy. The wide 16:10 aspect ratio screen is amazing for content consumption, especially when watching videos with cinema mode activated.
The contrast ratio and viewing angles are also quite impressive.

 

 

Performance and Battery 

Sporting a Snapdragon 835 processor, 4GB RAM and 64/256GB ROM (with expandable Micro-SD card slot up-to 400GB), the device is snappy and fluid both as a tablet and in DeX mode. Powering all this is a large 7,300 mAh battery, possibly the most notable feature of this device. Users have reported getting screen-on-times of close to 9 hours with the screen at max brightness.  
 

Sound 

 

Operating System (OS) and User Experience 

With the device’s ability to seamlessly transition between the Samsung Experience 9.5 (Android Oreo) and the PC like interface through Samsung DeX along with external mouse and keyboard support, the device can replace and outperform most Chromebooks. The also device includes an S Pen, similar to the Note 9, but has been tweaked to serve for a more productive purpose. Samsung also offers a case with a built-in keyboard with a separate purchase, in order to make the experience more laptop-like. But in all honesty, the external keyboard (with no trackpad) that Samsung sells is not as amazing as it has mediocre keystroke responses and cramped, mushy keys with no backlight.      

 

Despite Samsung’s efforts, the software just doesn’t cut it to make this product come anywhere close to becoming a laptop replacement. The resizing of apps in Dex mode is not consistent, and various apps crash frequently. Many web apps seem distorted in this mode, and hence prompt to download their Android apps from the play store for better user experience. Plus navigating with your fingers or the S-pen in Dex sometimes can be a nightmare; having a Bluetooth mouse is a must.

 

Conclusion

The Tab S series needs a major uphaul for it to really become a laptop replacement or even a tablet competitor in today’s market. Though the Dex is a welcome concept, its execution very poor. We expect to see a more well-rounded product in the next edition of the Tab S convertible.