10 Features That Make Samsung’s Galaxy Tab S 10.5 a High-End Tablet

By Don Reisinger

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S comes in two fairly unusual sizes—8.4 and 10.5 inches. That makes the 10.5-inch model slightly larger than the iPad’s 9.7-inch screen and adds a little more dimension to the 10.1-inch displays typically found in larger tablets. According to Samsung, the bigger size makes for a better app and video experience.

Although Google already announced Android L, the Galaxy Tab S 10.5 comes with Android 4.4 (KitKat). While Samsung has said that the update to Android L won’t take long to make its way to the device, KitKat shouldn’t be ignored. Google has worked the kinks out of the operating system, and it is working well these days. It’s a nice option for customers.

Since the Galaxy Tab S 10.5 is designed for WiFi users, it should be noted that the device comes with the latest wireless technology. The Galaxy Tab S 10.5 comes with 802.11n and 802.11ac. Although AC-based devices have been slow to hit the market, they’re increasingly taking hold, and it shouldn’t be long before more routers support it, and the Galaxy Tab S will take advantage of its virtues.

The processor in the Galaxy Tab S 10.5 is impressive. The CPU is an Exynos 5 Octa, which means it includes both a 1.9GHz quad-core chip and a 1.3GHz quad-core processor. The dual processors act as a powerhouse for gaming and handling higher-end apps, and should play a crucial role for power users looking to do more than just play Threes.

Samsung has brought its Super AMOLED display to the Galaxy Tab S. According to the company, the screen’s resolution is 2,560 by 1,600 pixels, featuring 287 pixels per inch. Samsung claims the device’s screen has four times the pixels of an HDTV. Not bad.

Samsung’s TouchWiz platform will be running on the Galaxy Tab S 10.5. That means that customers who own Samsung devices already will find a familiar experience working their way around the operating system. That also means that the operating system will come with Samsung’s widgets and apps for enhanced usability.

Enterprise features have made an appearance in the Galaxy Tab S. The device includes support for corporate email, calendar and contacts, and has mobile device management built-in. There’s also On-Device Encryption and full integration with Samsung’s enterprise security suite Knox. The device even supports WebEx.

Can there ever be enough sensors in a device? Samsung doesn’t think so. The company has built in several sensors into the Galaxy Tab S, including a light sensor and a fingerprint sensor for additional security. There’s also an accelerometer and gyroscope to monitor and record movement.

There’s really no surprise on the pricing of the Galaxy Tab S. Samsung’s 10.5-inch tablet starts at $500 for 16GB WiFi-only models. That puts the tablet in direct competition with Apple’s own 16GB iPad Air, which also starts at the $500 mark. Getting a high-end experience will cost some cash.

Samsung, like several companies nowadays, is getting all color happy with the Galaxy Tab S. The Titanium Bronze color features a darker front that, not surprisingly, looks rather bronzed. The Dazzling White Model comes with a white face and a gold side and back. Either way, the devices look great and are nice additions to the Samsung product line.