Samsung Tab Pro S

[lamtw22]

Must admit, the OLED display is really nice but not that much better than the best quality IPS panels to justify the price hike. It just isn't good value for money for the specs you are getting.

The SP4 is better value, and the Lenovo and Acer are even better yet.

I like the 3:2 ratio, nice compromise for media consumption and productivity. Personally, I feel 12" is a little too large for a tablet but just right for a laptop. I would have preferred 10" but I guess the tech isn't quite there yet to fit Core m chips into that size.

Think I'll wait for the Huawei Matebook as that is even more compact than this and hopefully should be cheaper and has more configurations. Unless the TabPro S becomes available for $300 less.

Street price for Samsung Android phones and tablets always around $200 cheaper than RRP but for some reason their Windows devices are never available from other sources.

The mobile phone shops are focusing on android & iOS devices and not windows. Hence, they may not carry this windows tablet. Also, for the free gifts that come bundled together now, I doubt these mobile phone shops will have it.

I got the 13.3 inch Samsung Notebook 9 from Amazon (all in about $1.5k including shipping & GST)and very happy with it because of its lightweight (840g), nice PLS screen with very good colours & contrast (ie. Samsung's IPS) and a very nice keyboard to type (but battery life is about 6 to 8 hours only).

 

[SZQddy]

The mobile phone shops are focusing on android & iOS devices and not windows. Hence, they may not carry this windows tablet. Also, for the free gifts that come bundled together now, I doubt these mobile phone shops will have it.

I got the 13.3 inch Samsung Notebook 9 from Amazon (all in about $1.5k including shipping & GST)and very happy with it because of its lightweight (840g), nice PLS screen with very good colours & contrast (ie. Samsung's IPS) and a very nice keyboard to type (but battery life is about 6 to 8 hours only).

Read about the Samsung Notebook 9. It's an incredible laptop. Almost perfect and unbelievably light. If I was after a laptop this would be it, no questions. It's a shame they stopped selling the laptops in Singapore.

Personally, I'm after a desktop+tablet replacement 2-in-1 as opposed to a laptop+tablet 2-in-1. I never do any work whilst travelling but need the mobility to take my system with me. When I'm actually travelling I need something good for videos, browsing, reading and emails.

 

[lamtw22]

Read about the Samsung Notebook 9. It's an incredible laptop. Almost perfect and unbelievably light. If I was after a laptop this would be it, no questions. It's a shame they stopped selling the laptops in Singapore.

Personally, I'm after a desktop+tablet replacement 2-in-1 as opposed to a laptop+tablet 2-in-1. I never do any work whilst travelling but need the mobility to take my system with me. When I'm actually travelling I need something good for videos, browsing, reading and emails.

If I understand you correctly, you mean you don't need to use it on your lap. If that is the case, if you don't mind the thickness, you can also consider the Surface Pro 4.

This Tab Pro S can be used on lap or table and the 60 degree angle take up very small table space but a bit too vertical for good viewing. The 30 degree angle (though not traditional) is still a quite comfortable view but will take up much more space on the table than probably the Surface Pro 4.

 

[SZQddy]

If I understand you correctly, you mean you don't need to use it on your lap. If that is the case, if you don't mind the thickness, you can also consider the Surface Pro 4.

This Tab Pro S can be used on lap or table and the 60 degree angle take up very small table space but a bit too vertical for good viewing. The 30 degree angle (though not traditional) is still a quite comfortable view but will take up much more space on the table than probably the Surface Pro 4.

Thanks for the info. Yes, you are correct. I don't need an actual laptop.

SP4 seemed to have a lot of issues since it came out but it sounds like a lot of them have been resolved. It's still an option.

What attracted me to the TabPro S is the more compact dimensions and lower weight, as well as the lovely OLED display. Makes for a nicer tablet experience.

Don't need to purchase just yet, can wait another month or two. So hopefully will see if the Huawei Matebook arrives here or any other alternative. TabPro S price may well come down. Maybe some rumours of SP5 will surface

 

[lamtw22]

Thanks for the info. Yes, you are correct. I don't need an actual laptop.

SP4 seemed to have a lot of issues since it came out but it sounds like a lot of them have been resolved. It's still an option.

What attracted me to the TabPro S is the more compact dimensions and lower weight, as well as the lovely OLED display. Makes for a nicer tablet experience.

Don't need to purchase just yet, can wait another month or two. So hopefully will see if the Huawei Matebook arrives here or any other alternative. TabPro S price may well come down. Maybe some rumours of SP5 will surface

Personally, I think from a ergonomic point of view, this Tab Pro S is more suited for leisure and tablet use. Firstly, I can imagine the 60 degree is more for a laid back (leaning back on chair) relaxed view so that you head is lower and your view is more perpendicular to the screen (rather than at sharp angle when you sit up straight). Secondly, the 30 degree is more of a sitting forward view eg. with elbow on table, hand supporting head kind of posture so that you don't get neck-ache. Thirdly, the keyboard height is much shorter than SP4 (allowing you to be closer to the screen), making it much more comfortable to use as a touch screen tablet without your hand/finger reaching too far.

I wonder if Samsung or any third party will come up with a keyboard with eg. 45 degree angle for more serious notebook work. Maybe just one 45 degree angle will do.

 

[jace88]

I tried the TabPro S at Challenger today in Changi Point. It wasn't set up properly with the display scaling set to 100% (i.e. everything super small) but from using the stand/keyboard, it's definitely not great. It really does not feel great to type on, something about the height of each row kept throwing me off. It also doesn't stand at a great angle if you actually intend to use it for work like a laptop. As someone else mentioned, it's more tablet than laptop.

In terms of physical size, it isn't as thin/light as I was expecting- maybe I thought it would be more iPad Air than Surface but it's definitely feeling thinner than Surface.

Only thing which I really wish my Surface Pro 4 had from TabPro S is the inbuilt LTE but whether I'd pay such a premium for it... don't think so.

 

[lamtw22]

I tried the TabPro S at Challenger today in Changi Point. It wasn't set up properly with the display scaling set to 100% (i.e. everything super small) but from using the stand/keyboard, it's definitely not great. It really does not feel great to type on, something about the height of each row kept throwing me off. It also doesn't stand at a great angle if you actually intend to use it for work like a laptop. As someone else mentioned, it's more tablet than laptop.

In terms of physical size, it isn't as thin/light as I was expecting- maybe I thought it would be more iPad Air than Surface but it's definitely feeling thinner than Surface.

Only thing which I really wish my Surface Pro 4 had from TabPro S is the inbuilt LTE but whether I'd pay such a premium for it... don't think so.

I tried and I think need to set scaling at 150% to see everything comfortably, even 120% is too small. Keyboard is actually ok for me. They have Function Key Lock so that you can use one finger to do page up, down, home and end and other adjustments.

 

[fortunecat]

Was looking at this but seem like have quite a bit of flaws. Hopefully the next version can improve much to challenge the SP.

Sent from Mars using GAGT

 

[tspurs]

Was looking at this but seem like have quite a bit of flaws. Hopefully the next version can improve much to challenge the SP.

Sent from Mars using GAGT

Not sure they're trying to challenge the SP. The design seems more inspired by their own Note Pro 12.2 and the Ipad Pro 12.9 tablets. I would actually have preferred to see the Tab S Pro running Android (and a pen that is available immediately!).

 

[fortunecat]

Not sure they're trying to challenge the SP. The design seems more inspired by their own Note Pro 12.2 and the Ipad Pro 12.9 tablets. I would actually have preferred to see the Tab S Pro running Android (and a pen that is available immediately!).

But can only choose Windows if I want a 2 in 1. iOS and Android just cannot replace your laptop no matter what apps they have.

Sent from Mars using GAGT

 

[tspurs]

But can only choose Windows if I want a 2 in 1. iOS and Android just cannot replace your laptop no matter what apps they have.

Sent from Mars using GAGT

That's the thing. The shallow keyboard, lack of ports, and the inability to go beyond two fixed screen positions are killers for laptop use. IMO, the Tab Pro S (much like the Ipad Pro) cannot fully replace a laptop.

Since it cannot fully replace the laptop, may as well try to make it a great tablet. That means Android. A good compromise would have been to make it a Windows-Android dual boot device, like some China tablets.

 

[fortunecat]

That's the thing. The shallow keyboard, lack of ports, and the inability to go beyond two fixed screen positions are killers for laptop use. IMO, the Tab Pro S (much like the Ipad Pro) cannot fully replace a laptop.

Since it cannot fully replace the laptop, may as well try to make it a great tablet. That means Android. A good compromise would have been to make it a Windows-Android dual boot device, like some China tablets.

Tablet wise believe they will have other models in Android ba.

This one should be squarely aimed at SP's market share, but not sure why Samsung created one that is only comparable to the lowest end SP4 in terms of specs.

Sent from Mars using GAGT

 

[lamtw22]

Tablet wise believe they will have other models in Android ba.

This one should be squarely aimed at SP's market share, but not sure why Samsung created one that is only comparable to the lowest end SP4 in terms of specs.

Sent from Mars using GAGT

I think because core i3, i5 and i7 all need internal cooling while m processor doesn't and therefore allows for super thin design. I thought Samsung was very smart to choose the much improved 6 gen m3 and attack Microsoft SP4 based on thin-ness.

 

[fortunecat]

Hopefully Samsung will improve mich on all the flaws that are pointed out in the many reviews. Really quite interested in this.

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[SZQddy]

Overpriced in my opinion. Not worth $300 more than the SP4 m3 model, even taking into account the LTE functionality.

With Huawei Matebook, Asus Transformer 3, and Acer Aspire Switch Alpha S all announced and launching soon, I would wait unless you need it immediately. Competition is good and will hopefully drive prices down... even in Singapore.

 

[lamtw22]

Overpriced in my opinion. Not worth $300 more than the SP4 m3 model, even taking into account the LTE functionality.

With Huawei Matebook, Asus Transformer 3, and Acer Aspire Switch Alpha S all announced and launching soon, I would wait unless you need it immediately. Competition is good and will hopefully drive prices down... even in Singapore.

The same configuration m3 SP4 ($1399) plus keyboard ($199) is $1598. Tabpro S is $100 more at ($1698) but you get free USB-C adapter & MS Office 365 subscription (about $200 value?). More importantly, you have a punchy OLED screen, thinner body, longer battery life and very light & small power adapter that is phone-charger like, although only 1 USB-C port.

 

[fortunecat]

Why is it so ex in Singapore store? Buy online on Amazon seem cheaper by almost 25% and comparable to the cheapest SP4 without the keyboard

Sent from Mars using GAGT

 

[SZQddy]

The same configuration m3 SP4 ($1399) plus keyboard ($199) is $1598. Tabpro S is $100 more at ($1698) but you get free USB-C adapter & MS Office 365 subscription (about $200 value?). More importantly, you have a punchy OLED screen, thinner body, longer battery life and very light & small power adapter that is phone-charger like, although only 1 USB-C port.

Yeah, I understand some of the advantages of the TabPro S over the SP4. It is much sleeker and lighter, and OLED is nice. To counter though, the SP4 comes with the pen, has a lot more ports built-in, higher res display, kickstand, and the keyboard is much much better than the TabPro S keyboard.

All things considered I think it should be the same price. Although I think both are overpriced even at S$1399.

Don't blame MS though as they did all the research and pretty much kick started this tablet/laptop 2-in-1 and there wasn't much competition in recent years.

Things are changing now though with more options available so I would still wait if you can. I'm going to wait for the Huawei, Acer, and Asus models to be reviewed before deciding.

 

[SZQddy]

Any good deals here for the TabPro S? It's received a hefty discount in the US, now only USD799 (~SGD1100)!

 

[metavolta]

Any good deals here for the TabPro S? It's received a hefty discount in the US, now only USD799 (~SGD1100)!

Did you check the new challenger sister company, Hatchi.Tech ... they are having a special promotion for Galaxy TabPro S which i thought is very worth it...

- $300 Cash Off when you key in the promo code "SM300"
- Free Samsung T3 Portable SSD 250GB
- Free Samsung Adapter Port

For me, i thought the freebies and the $300 cash back makes it very compelling...