Samsung revealed its new Galaxy Tab S on Thursday. The tablet is thinner and lighter than its competitors as well as its predecessors, and boasts a high-definition Super AMOLED display.
The Super AMOLED screen on the Galaxy Tab S is its most prominent new feature. With a resolution of 2560x1600 and an impressive color range, the display is the more advanced than any other tablet on the market. Samsung has also included a technology it calls "adaptive display," which changes the screen's brightness and color settings to account for the brightness and color temperature of its environment.
"The tablet is becoming a popular personal viewing device for enjoying content, which makes the quality of the display a critical feature," said JK Shin, head of Samsung's mobile division in a statement. "With the launch of the Galaxy Tab S, Samsung is setting the industry bar higher for the entire mobile industry. It will provide consumers with a visual and entertainment experience that brings colors to life, beautifully packaged in a sleek and ultra-portable mobile device."
The Galaxy Tab S will have two versions upon launch, a 10.5 inch tablet and a 8.4 inch one. Both tablets measure only 6.6 mm thick, thinner than the 7.2 mm iPad Air. Although the 10.5 inch Galaxy Tab S is nearly a full inch larger than the iPad air, it weights the same one pound as its competitor. The smaller Samsung tablet weighs only 10 ounces.
New features on the Galaxy Tab S include a fingerprint reader built into the home button and enhanced connectivity between the tablet and Galaxy smartphones. With the Galaxy S5, users can drag and drop files from one device to the other, and use the phone's connection to make calls directly from the tablet. Despite the advances present in Samsung's latest tablet, however, it may have trouble finding a large consumer base.
"My main concern is that there are many tablets that have a good enough screen for a much lower price, including within the Samsung range," Carolina Milanesi, chief of research at Kantar Worldpanel, told PC World. "According to our data, consumers who do not have a tablet are unclear about their value add and unsure about the financial investment they require. They remain for most a nice-to-have, not a must-have."
Part of the iPad's continued dominance in the tablet market may be due to the simplicity of selecting from its available models. Apple produces only two tablets every year, the iPad and the iPad Mini. In contrast, Samsung has introduced twelve models this year when different screen sizes are taken into account. This provides a wide selection, but may also overwhelm buyers with options, especially those who are unclear on the differences between them. Samsung remains confident that it will overtake Apple as the leading company in the tablet market, but officials declined to give a timeline for the completion of this goal.
