Samsung’s most powerful and premium tablet to date–Galaxy Tab S3, has landed on Malaysian shores. Flanked by the versatile S Pen, it’s positioned as the ultimate productivity tool and entertainment device.
Unveiled at the Mobile World Congress (MWC17) in Barcelona earlier in the year, the Galaxy Tab 3 unabashedly takes a swing at Apple’s top-of-the-line iPad Pro. The tablet segment has seen a downtrend in recent times, but it hasn’t stopped device makers like Samsung, Apple and Huawei in pushing out devices, albeit on a more productivity-skewed approach.
The Galaxy Tab S3 builds upon the premium design of its predecessor, the Galaxy Tab S2. The value proposition of the premium tablet remains the same–Samsung wants you to be productive on the tablet, and also wants you to have the best multimedia experience when you’re up for some fun.
The design is minimalistic and refined, featuring a fusion of an aluminium frame and reinforced glass panels. At 434g, it’s pretty light and you’ll appreciate its super thin profile that maxes out at 6mm.
As expected, the device does not disappoint in the display department, boasting a 9.7-inch Super AMOLED QXGA (2048×1536 pixels) with HDR. It’s sharp, crisp and vibrant–perfect for watching 4K videos.
Under the hood, it’s powered by an octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 processor, mated to 4GB of RAM and 32GB of onboard storage. So, it’s pretty powerful. It also gets microSD support, with expansion of up to 256GB of additional storage.
Audio enthusiasts will love the quad stereo speakers that are tuned by AKG by Harman. They’re loud, crisp and feature “Auto Rotate Stereo” function that intelligently redirects sound based on the orientation of the tablet.
In case you need to take some high-resolution photos, there’s a 13MP rear shooter with autofocus, and a 5MP front camera for selfies and video chats.
The large 6,000mAh battery will keep you productive and entertained over long periods. Thanks to fast-charging, it will get juiced up quickly when you’re running low. It charges up via USB Type-C.
With 4G LTE Cat.6 support, you can plug in a data SIM for always-on internet access, but otherwise you can count on Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac.
The Galaxy Tab S3 runs Android 7.0 Nougat out-of-the-box.
It would be crazy to talk about the tablet without mentioning the brilliant S Pen. The enhanced stylus allows you to jot notes, doodle, draw and write. With a smaller 0.7mm tip and increased pressure sensitivity, it’s accurate and feels perfectly natural.
Handy features like Screen Off Memo, PDF Annotation and Advanced Drawing Tools make it a match-made in heaven.
Next, there’s a fingerprint scanner built into the Home button, which allows for secure biometric authentication.
For mobile warriors, the Galaxy Tab S3 supports Pogo keyboards, which require no charging or pairing. The dedicated Pogo pin-connected keyboard locks securely into place, so you can snap on and off quickly.
The Pogo Keyboard Cover comes in Gray colour and retails at MYR499.
You’ll want to protect the Galaxy Tab S3 with covers (assuming you don’t need a keyboard cover). You’re in luck because Samsung has soft-colours Book Covers which lets you use your tablet in Viewing Mode or Touch mode. Book Covers also allow you to magnetically attach the S Pen for quick access.
Available in Black, White and Green, Book Covers retail at MYR199.
Pricing and availability
The Galaxy Tab S3 is available starting 1 June 2017, at Samsung Experience Stores nationwide, Lazada and 11street, and Samsung authorized dealers.
Comes in Black and Silver colour options, and retails at MYR2,999 (incl. 6% GST).
Official photos
