Dubai: Samsung has entered the ring for the Windows two-in-one (tablet/laptop) hybrid device with its Galaxy TabPro S, as competition for this segment is heating up with the launch of Microsoft’s Surface and Apple’s iPad Pro.
The Korean company’s first device offers sharp design and solid performance.
The 12-inch super AMOLED display with 2160 x 1440 resolution is powered by Intel Core M3 dual-core 2.2GHz processor and coupled with 4GB of RAM and 128GB solid state drive.
The tablet is extremely thin at 0.63mm and is thinner than the rival devices in the market (Surface Pro 4 at 8.45mm and the iPad Pro at 6.9 mm). The sad part is it does not have the same magnesium unibody design as its Tab S2. The TabPro S has a plastic back with a magnesium frame. It weighs 693 grams, versus 766 grams for the Surface Pro 4 and 713 grams for iPad Pro.
The TabPro S is not as powerful as iPad Pro or Surface Pro 4 but Samsung has blended strong elements from these devices for a solid machine for both business and home users.
The detachable Bluetooth keyboard cover, made of a leather-like material, wraps around both sides to give a better protection than other devices. The case connects the tablet using magnets and a set of pins on the bottom side. The keyboard cover also acts as a kickstand.
The Korean company has added an NFC reader into the keyboard in a bid to pair smartphones with the device to share the handset’s data connection over Bluetooth or use fingerprint reader on the phone to unlock the device using its “Samsung Flow” feature.
The keyboard adds a centimetre of bulk and bumps up the weight to a 1.09kg, but it’s still lighter than most ultrabooks in the market.
The keys are slightly bigger and spacious than those on island-style keyboards.
But the keyboard base is too flimsy and the tablet can either be held at 115 or 155 degree standing positions. Tilting the screen beyond these angles will force the back cover to slip out of alignment easily, causing the tablet to tumble onto its back, which is annoying.
Another issue is that the device falls asleep when the keyboard is flipped behind the screen to use it as a tablet due to the magnet build into the lowest part covering the back of the tablet. To use it as a tablet, the only option is to detach the tablet from the keyboard.
The keyboard lies only flat and does not have the option to have a slight incline for more comfortable typing, like other devices have.
The plastic trackpad, though small, offers precise movement and scrolling.
The device easily handles the stress of a full day’s work but won’t be able to do gaming much and start to slow down when working in multiple browser windows or have several programs operating simultaneously. It is more than adequate for playing simpler titles and the device has the ability to stream Xbox One games.
The stereo speakers are placed on the sides and they project clear and loud audio for music and videos.
Even though Samsung did not come out with USB Type-C port on its new Galaxy S7 devices, the TabPro has a new USB Type-C port, similar to Apple’s MacBook for charging and data transfer, with speeds of up to 10Gbps.
But the down side is that it has only one port and Samsung did not include the USB Type A-to-USB Type C dongle in the box. Once another USB device is plugged in, you will not be able to charge the device. It also houses the headphone jack.
On the back and front are 5MP cameras. The rear takes clear decent pictures in sufficient light while the front is good for selfies and video calls.
TabPro S does not have Intel’s RealSense camera for using “Windows Hello” feature to log in with your face but Samsung has added “Samsung Flow” to unlock the tablet using its Galaxy phones. Unlocking the phone will also unlock the tablet using Bluetooth.
Samsung has added some software like “Samsung Recovery” for data backup and factory-restore options; “Samsung Update” to download software updates from the company and “Samsung Flow”
Regarding connectivity, it has NFC, Bluetooth 4.0, 802.11a/b/g/n/ac WiFi
The 5,200mAh battery gives close to 10 hours of video streaming while the Surface Pro 4 gives around seven hours and iPad Pro around nine hours. The full charge takes just under two-and-a-half hours due to fast charging technology.
Including the keyboard case, the WiFi version is priced at Dh3,899, while the 4G LTE version is priced at Dh3,999.
Pros
• Extremely thin
• Excellent battery life
• Cheaper than rivals
• Bundled keyboard cover
• Galaxy smartphone integration
Cons
• Flimsy keyboard case
• Single USB Type-C port
• No USB Type A-to-USB Type C dongle
• Lacks expansion slots
• Limited screen angles with keyboard cover
