Samsung Galaxy Tab S2 8

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S2 models are the successors to 2014’s original Galaxy Tab S range, which featured the S 8.4 and the S 10.5. We thought they were the firm’s best tablets, so we had been looking forward to the arrival of the second generation. We’re pleased to say that they don’t disappoint.

Design

There are two sizes of the Galaxy Tab S2 available, in a similar move to Apple’s iPad range. Here, we’re talking about the smaller 8in model, but there’s also a 9.7in option if you want a larger tablet. If you’re an Apple fan, those sizes might sound familiar, as the iPad mini 4 is 7.9in, while the iPad Air 2 is 9.7in.

We’ll talk a bit more about the screen in a moment, but first let’s explore the design and build of the Galaxy Tab S2 8, which is a delight to hold and felt on par with the iPad mini (page 50) in terms of quality and comfort. It’s just 5.6mm thick, which is a whole millimetre thinner than its predecessor, and also thinner than the 6.1mm mini 4 and lighter, too. It weighs only weighs 265g – Apple’s tablet weighs 299g.

Our review unit of the Tab S2 8 was white, but we’ve also spent some time with the black model, both of which are gorgeous. The back of the tablet is made with plastic, though it manages to look more premium thanks to the metal edges and completely glass front.

Display

The screen sizes of the two Tab S models are smaller than their predecessors, a move that’s opposite to the way smartphones are heading where bigger seems to be better. With the decrease in size comes a reduction in pixels, as can be expected. Both have the same resolution, though, down from 2560x1600 to 2048x1536. For the 8in model, that means a pixel density of 320ppi.

That display is Super AMOLED, as can be expected from Samsung, and the company has said that they deliver 94 percent of the Adobe RGB standard. There are also two display features to make it look even better: Adaptive Display, which can automatically adjust gamma, saturation and sharpness; and Reading Mode for the perfect brightness for your eyes.

The screen is stunningly good – it’s bright and crisp, and the colours pop, making a great experience if you plan on using your Tab S2 for watching videos and playing games.

Hardware

Inside the Tab S2 8 is an Exynos 5433 Octa-core processor and Mali T760MP6 for graphics, as well as 3GB RAM, which makes for a smooth and speedy little tablet. We didn’t experience any lag, even when playing graphics-intensive games and switching between apps.

In our benchmark tests, the