Samsung officially announces Galaxy Tab S tablets with Super AMOLED displays

Chance Miller | Jun 12 2014 - 4:20 pm PT

Just as we expected, Samsung has announced its new line of tablets. Dubbed the Samsung Galaxy Tab S, the line features two devices, one with an 8.4-inch display and another with a 10.5-inch screen. DJ Lee, head of sales and marketing for Samsung’s mobile business, announced the two devices on stage at the company’s “Tab Into Color” event just moments ago.

Both tablets feature a 2560×1600 Super AMOLED display, as expected. Samsung claims that these tablets offer 90% more color than any other tablet. Samsung also says the tablets are their “thinnest and lightest” tablets they’ve shipped, coming in at 6.6mm thin. That’s still a tad thicker than Sony’s Xperia Z2 tablet, though. The 10.4-inch variant comes in at 465 grams, while the 8.4-inch model weighs just 294 grams.

One notable feature is Sidesync. Sidesync allows users to pair their tablet with their smartphone and receive calls, texts, and more right on their tablets. This is eerily similar to Apple’s recently announced continuity features. Another new feature of the Galaxy Tab S is its fingerprint scanner. You can create up to 8 user profiles with the device, each activated with your unique fingerprint. Both WiFi variants of the Galaxy Tab S tablets are powered by an Exynos 5 Octa processor. The LTE models are powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 2.3GHz quad core chip.

Samsung also introduced a new Content Home feature that allows users to easily switch between a variety of predetermined modes. This includes modes such as working, consuming news, watching Netflix, and several others. Netflix will be supported in 1080p, as will YouTube streaming. Samsung’s PaperGarden service will offer a selection of magazines optimized exclusively in the 16:10 form factor of the Galaxy Tab S. Samsung has patterned with National Geographic, Conde Nast, and Marvel to bring Super AMOLED optimized magazines to the devices.

Galaxy Tab S devices will also come with a variety of “Galaxy Gifts.” The gifts include a variety of free trials and credits. The Wall Street Journal, New York Times, Washington Post, and Economist have all signed up to offer free trials of their content. You’ll also get 90 days free of Google Play All Access and a free download of Gravity. To go along with the Galaxy Tab S, Samsung unveiled a new Book Cover case, in addition to a new Simple Cover.

Both tablets will be available in Titanium Bronze and Dazzling White, as well. Samsung touts that these tablets offer 11 hours of battery life, based on you watching 1080p video content for that entire time. The 8.4-inch WiFi variant will run $399 when released, while the 10.5-inch model will cost $499. Both will be available this July in the United States. Pre-orders in the United States will start on June 13th. View the full press release and a gallery of images below:

Galaxy Tab S Available for Pre-Order Starting Tomorrow in the U.S. Market

Stunning Display Combined with Premium Design Delivers the Most Entertaining Tablet Experience

New York, June 12, 2014 –Samsung Electronics America today introduced the first tablets in its new flagship Galaxy Tab S line. In both 8.4- and 10.5-inch versions, the Galaxy Tab S offers the ultimate viewing experience with the world’s first high-resolution Super AMOLED display. Galaxy Tab S combines Samsung’s thinnest and lightest tablet design with the most advanced WQXGA Super AMOLED display to launch Samsung’s most premium line of tablets ever.

The Wi-Fi versions of the Tab S 8.4 will be available for $399.99, while the Tab S 10.5 will be $499.99. Pre-orders for Wi-Fi devices begin June 13 at 12:01 a.m. ET at http://Samsung.com. The Tab S will be available for purchase in July at http://Samsung.com, Amazon, Best Buy, Fry’s, Office Depot, Office Max, PC Richard & Son, Sears, Tiger Direct and http://Walmart.com. Later this year, the Galaxy Tab S will come to AT&T with LTE, Sprint (10.5) with Sprint Spark™, T-Mobile (10.5) with LTE and Verizon Wireless (8.4 and 10.5) with LTE.

“Building on the heritage of the Galaxy S smartphone line, the Galaxy Tab S line delivers on our commitment to bring meaningful innovation that our customers care most about,” said Gregory Lee, president and CEO of Samsung Telecommunications America and Samsung Electronics North America Headquarters. “We know consumers want the best screen when purchasing a tablet, and as an undisputed leader in display technology, we’ve brought our industry-leading Super AMOLED screen to the Tab S for an unrivaled viewing experience in both connected and Wi-Fi options.”

The Galaxy Tab S Makes Viewing Better

Display is a key purchase driver for tablets, and the Galaxy Tab S was designed with screen quality and style in mind, to bring users the most immersive viewing experience. The Tab S delivers an unprecedented viewing experience with a WQXGA Super AMOLED display offering a wider color range, deeper contrast, truer blacks and our own adaptive display technology to provide an improved viewing experience in any environment. The Galaxy Tab S is one of the select few Android devices in the U.S. to offer Netflix HD content viewing.

Samsung’s lightest, thinnest tablet is even easier to take with you wherever you go. With both tablets measuring just 6.6mm thin and Tab S 8.4 weighing less than one pound, the Galaxy Tab S was designed for portability and provides a more comfortable experience over long periods of usage.

Meaningful Groundbreaking Features

The Galaxy Tab S offers customizable settings and privacy features for sharing with family members of all ages. Kids Mode offers easy access to kid-friendly content, and gives parents the ability to control the content that kids access, as well as length of play. The Galaxy Tab S features a built-in fingerprint sensor, making multi-user access easy and secure. In Multi-User Mode, the fingerprint scanner allows for access to individual, customized user profiles.

Galaxy Tab S also offers more apps compatible with Multi Window, allowing users to open up to two windows at once. The latest version of SideSync allows you to make and receive calls from your tablet via the connection to your phone, as well as drag and drop files from your phone to your Galaxy Tab S.

Packed with Premium Content

The Galaxy Tab S includes premium content and services that are part of the integrated Galaxy ecosystem, which makes sharing, watching, collaborating, and working on multiple devices more seamless than ever. With WatchON™ users can access the program guide directly from the Tab S, or use Tab S as a remote control. The service provides Video on Demand so users can find their favorite movies and TV shows with ease. The Galaxy Tab S is the first tablet compatible with Milk Music™ powered by Slacker, a free and ad-free radio service, offering an effortless and entertaining way to enjoy the music you love and discover unexpected music. Milk is designed with an elegant, easy-to-use interface and more than 200 stations that offer a fully customizable experience to your personal taste.

Samsung continues to partner with leading entertainment, productivity and news providers through Galaxy Gifts. On Tab S, Galaxy Gifts includes one-year free of Gogo In-flight Wi-Fi access (up to 36 segments), a 12-month subscription to Bloomberg BusinessWeek, 6-month trial subscription to The Wall Street Journal and The Washington Post, 3-month subscription to The New York Times, 3 months free Sirius XM Radio, and 3 months free subscription to Audible.

Samsung Papergarden debuts on Tab S and includes popular magazine titles, like Cosmopolitan, Elle, Elle Décor, HGTV Magazine, Vogue, Architectural Digest, GQ, Rolling Stone and US Weekly and more optimized exclusively on Tab S for a rich, immersive reading experience. Papergarden is offering all single issues free of charge through July 31st, 2014. Also included are National Geographic’s 50 Greatest Photos and a 3-month free trial of Marvel Unlimited.

The Tab S line also offers all the features today’s professionals demand, with the freedom to work wherever, whenever. Tab S is compatible with office documents, and is enabled for e-meetings with multiple devices. Remote PC allows for quick access to the office from anywhere. Quickly share content between devices with Quick Connect, which identifies the best way to share content with nearby people and devices. Quick Connect also allows screen-sharing and device control with Wi-Fi direct.

Tab S will launch with a variety of accessories including Bluetooth keyboard book covers, standalone Bluetooth keyboard, flip covers, book covers, S Action Mouse, USB LAN Hub, power saving cable and portable battery packs.

For more information, please visit http://www.samsungmobileuspress.com.

About Samsung Electronics America

Headquartered in Ridgefield Park, NJ, Samsung Electronics America, Inc. (SEA), is a recognized innovation leader in consumer electronics design and technology. A wholly owned subsidiary of Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., SEA delivers a broad range of digital consumer electronics, IT and home appliance products. Samsung is the market leader for HDTVs in the U.S. and America’s fastest growing home appliance brand. To discover more, please visit http://www.samsung.com.

About Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.

Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. is a global leader in technology, opening new possibilities for people everywhere. Through relentless innovation and discovery, we are transforming the worlds of TVs, smartphones, tablets, PCs, cameras, home appliances, printers, LTE systems, medical devices, semiconductors and LED solutions. We employ 286,000 people across 80 countries with annual sales of US$216.7 billion. To discover more, please visit http://www.samsung.com.

Galaxy Tab S 10.5 Product Specifications