At Samsung's pre-CES 2016 press conference, the company unveiled the Galaxy TabPro S. The tablet is a significant device as, instead of being powered by Android, it runs Windows 10 as the result of a partnership between Samsung and Microsoft.
The tablet is capable of running full versions of either Windows 10 Home or Window 10 Pro. How does it stack up against the latest Windows 10 tablet by Microsoft itself, the Surface Pro 4?
Dimensions
Samsung's Windows 10 tablet measures 11.5 inches x 7.8 inches x 0.24 inches, and weighs just 1.5 pounds. The Surface Pro 4, already a very slim and light device, measures 11.5 inches x 7.93 inches x 0.33 inches and weighs 1.73 pounds.
Yes, the Galaxy TabPro S is slimmer and lighter than the Surface Pro 4.
Display
The Galaxy TabPro S features a bright 12-inch Super AMOLED display with 2,160 x 1,440 resolution. Samsung claims that the tablet is the first Windows device with a Super AMOLED display, which is a feature that has been present in Galaxy smartphones and tablets over the past few years.
In comparison, the Surface Pro 4 has a 12.3-inch PixelSense display with a slightly higher resolution of 2,736 x 1,824.
Processor And Memory
The Galaxy TabPro S will be powered by a sixth-generation Intel Core M3-6Y30 processor, which is dual-core and clocks in at 2.2 GHz. The tablet packs 4 GB of RAM, and will give customers the option of either 128 GB or 256 GB SSD storage.
The Surface Pro 4, on the other hand, comes in three options of sixth-generation Intel Core processors, with customers able to choose between M3, i5 or i7. The tablet comes with a RAM of either 4 GB, 8 GB or 16 GB, and SSD storage options of either 128 GB, 256 GB, 512 GB or 1 TB.
Battery
The Galaxy TabPro S is powered by a 5,200 mAh battery that promises 10.5 hours of usage, with the battery able to be charged up in 2.5 hours through the tablet's USB Type-C port. In comparison, the Surface Pro 4 is capable of 9 hours of usage.
Cameras
The cameras of the Galaxy TabPro S are a 5MP front-facing camera and a 5MP rear-facing camera with autofocus. The cameras of the Surface Pro 4, meanwhile, are a 5MP front-facing camera and an 8MP rear-facing camera, also with autofocus.
Accessories
Customers that would purchase the Galaxy TabPro S will also receive a keyboard case that connects to the tablet through its magnetic rear.
The inclusion of the keyboard cover is a plus for Samsung, as the keyboard for the Surface Pro 4 is sold separately.
Availability and Price
The Galaxy TabPro S will be available in February, though the price of the tablet has not yet been announced.
The Surface Pro 4 is currently available on the market, with the cheapest option at 128 GB of internal storage with an Intel Core M3 processor and 4 GB of RAM selling for $899. The most expensive option of 256 GB in internal storage with an Intel Core i7 processor with 16 GB of RAM carries a price tag of $1,799.
Verdict
It would be difficult to judge which between Samsung's Galaxy TabPro S and Microsoft's Surface Pro 4 is a better buy with the price of the former still unannounced, but in terms of specifications, the Surface Pro 4 is a more powerful device with more options for the user.
The Galaxy TabPro S has some advantages though, primarily the inclusion of a keyboard cover as an accessory upon purchase of the tablet, its Super AMOLED display and its slimmer and lighter body compared to the Surface Pro 4.
