Samsung Galaxy Tab S3 review: Perfect entertainment... for a price

As Android tablets go, the Samsung Galaxy Tab S3 can't be bettered. It certainly gives the iPad Pro a run for its money.

AMOLED screen packs in resolution and HDR (high dynamic range) brightness; Great S Pen stylus included; Slim and light design that looks great;

Expensive; No keyboard included for the price; Slippy rear glass; Limited use for HDR content right now; Multi-tasking not as deft as laptop/phone setup;

Samsung Galaxy Tab S3 Review

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S3 (32GB), the world's most powerful Android slate, is a perfect example of the "pro tablet" dilemma. Much like Apple's 9.7-inch iPad Pro, this is a tablet that's priced like a laptop, but its mobile operating system holds it back when it comes to productivity. Its saving grace is the S Pen, making the Tab S3 brilliant for sketching and note-taking—but that may not be worth $599.99. We've been down this road before. Android- and iOS-powered tablets make terrific media consumption gadgets, and their respective styli let them dip into productivity. Apps that look and feel like Adobe Photoshop, Microsoft Office, and other high-end creator titles appear on the Apple and Google Play app stores. But they lack the full functionality you get from Windows. That's fine when you're paying less than you would for a similar Windows tablet, but once you get into the $600-$800 range, you don't want to have to make compromises. Physical Design The Galaxy Tab S3 is a big, ...

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S3 is the most powerful Android tablet available, but it's very pricey for the functionality you get.

Responsive S Pen; Gorgeous AMOLED screen; Very good battery life; Excellent Wi-Fi performance

Expensive; Android doesn't match Windows on productivity; Camera isn't great

Samsung Galaxy Tab S3 review

Android tablets do not offer a different experience from Android smartphones. It’s part of the reason why the iPad is the most popular tablet, because it provides “tablet-optimized apps” that make use of the screen’s real estate. Google made an attempt to go in this direction years ago with Android 3.0 Honeycomb, but the company has largely backed off since. As such, app developers have found little encouragement to make a tablet version of their app on the OS. Samsung’s trying to bring interest back with the Galaxy Tab S3. It’s a successor to the Galaxy Tab S2 –a product we score at 4.5 out of 5 because it was the only Android tablet that could go toe-to-toe with Apple’s iPad. Now the climate has changed. Windows 2-in-1 tablet/laptops are rising in popularity, and so are Chromebooks, which are more ergonomic and typically affordable. Smartphones are also bigger than ever, so there’s not much of a reason to buy a tablet that offers the same experience. While the Galaxy Tab S3 may be th...

Fantastic 9.7-inch screen; Good battery life; S Pen features are useful; Solid performance; UI doesn’t feel cluttered;

Boring design, odd button placement; Poor palm rejection capability; Fingerprint sensor often doesn’t work;

Samsung Galaxy Tab S3 review review

Stunning screen with HDR support; Plenty of power for apps and games; Keyboard and stylus are great for productivity;

Android still isn’t ideally suited to tablets; Expensive; Won’t replace your laptop;