Samsung Galaxy Tab S2 (9.7", Wi-Fi) Black

Product Information

The Galaxy Tab S2’s 8in 2,048 x 1,536, 320 ppi, Super AMOLED touchscreen is one of its biggest selling points. The Samsung once again trailed the iPad Air 2 in the graphics department, scoring 19,724 on 3DMark Ice Storm Unlimited. That's much higher than the first-gen Tab S (13,481), but the iPad hit 21,660. The Dell Venue 10 7000 also scored a higher 21,192.

Galaxy Tab S2 (9.7, 4G) | Samsung Support UK Galaxy Tab S2 (9.7, 4G) | Samsung Support UK

Below, we take you through what you can expect to pay for a Samsung Galaxy tablet, and reveal the top scorers. We'll see new tablets from Samsung and Apple in 2023. It's been a few years since an iPad Mini revamp, so that's a likely candidate and we may see a refresh of some of Samsung's cheaper A range tablets. In comparison, the iPad Air 2 lasted 9 hours and 20 minutes, and the Surface 3 endured for 8:01. The tablet category average is 9 hours. The previous Galaxy Tab S lasted 8:57. At least the Tab S2 beats the Dell Venue 10 7000 (6:55). Of course, 7.5 hours isn't bad, but other tablets with the same size display last 9 hours or longer on a charge. That includes the iPad Air 2, which also benefits from a richer selection of tablet-optimized apps. Although it's great that Microsoft Office is on board the Tab S2, the Surface 3 is a better work partner because it runs full Windows, although the Tab S2 does have a keyboard option.The TV connectivity works in the other direction, too. Say you want to watch the last few moments of the big game in the kitchen or out by the grill. You can stream content directly from your TV to the Galaxy Tab S2. Or, you could finish up that Netflix binge session on the slate -- without even installing the Netflix app. I’ve always been big fan of Samsung smartphone and tablets’ screens, feeling their use of Super AMOLED technology puts them a cut above many competing devices. Tablets don't get updates forever, though, and depending on the brand, the length of support period can be anywhere from one to six years or more. The Galaxy Tab S2 runs on Android Lollipop 5.1 with Samsung's TouchWiz overlay. If you've used a Samsung tablet or phone before, it'll look familiar. There aren't any dramatic changes to the UI, however the Flipboard-esque Magazine feature that was premiered on last year's Tab S is notably absent. Considering there's already an app that closely resembles the reading-aggregator function, this isn't a big loss. Measuring in at 135 x 199 x 5.6mm and weighing 265g (Wi-Fi-only), the tablet is comfortable to hold and small and light enough to be carried around in a satche.

Samsung Galaxy Tab S2 9.7 - Full tablet specifications

If you're interested in seeing which Apple iPads did best in our tests, head to the best iPads for 2023 The Tab S2's screen is brighter than the iPad Air 2's and the Surface 3's (450 nits versus 345 nits and 407 nits, respectively), but Apple's tablet offers more accurate colors. On the Delta-E test, where a score close to 0 is best, Samsung's slate registered 4.07, compared to a near-perfect 0.9 for the iPad and 3.1 for the Surface 3. The Venue 10 7000 (249 nits, 10.2 Delta-E) wasn't even close in those two categories. The only consideration you should make is whether you’ll prefer a tablet running the Android operating system instead of Apple iOS. If you have an iPhone, for example, you might find an iPad more useful. iPads and iPhones work together, letting you keep your apps, files and messages synchronised across devices.My only slight disappointment with the Galaxy Tab S2’s screen stems from its use of Samsung’s hit-and-miss Adaptive Display tech. Adaptive Display technology aims to let the Galaxy Tab S2 automatically optimise the tablet’s display to perform better in specific lighting, or when displaying certain types of content. While this sounds great, its attempts at optimisation are hit and miss. During my tests, the feature did little more than needlessly adjust the screen’s RGB level and brightness.