Samsung's Galaxy Tab S4 successfully juggles play and productivity with its special DeX mode, but the cost for the convenience is steep.

DeX mode is actually usable for doing real work; Top-notch display; Long battery life; Comes with S Pen

Book Cover Keyboard costs extra; Not many DeX-optimized apps; Fragile glass back

While other Android tablet makers are starting to embrace Chrome OS, the 10.5-inch Samsung Galaxy Tab S4 (starting at $649) is going in a different direction. With Samsung's DeX- mode software, this slate places an emphasis on productivity, which gives the Tab S4 a desktop-like user interface, and...

After checking it out briefly when it first announced , I was prepared to hate the Samsung Galaxy Tab S4. Sporting outdated specs similar to last year's Galaxy Note 8 (except with 2GB less of RAM and worse cameras), no fingerprint reader, and a price tag of $650 (and that's not including its $150...

Gorgeous screen; solid build; big battery Dated specs; no fingerprint reader; optional keyboard cover isn't really optional and lacks a touch pad; and it's too expensive

Dated specs; no fingerprint reader; optional keyboard cover isn't really optional and lacks a touch pad; and it's too expensive

A 10.5-inch tablet with a focus on mobile productivity

Gorgeous screen; solid build; big battery

Last week Samsung showed me the Galaxy Tab S4 . I was apprehensive at first because I wasn't a fan of the previous Tab S3 , but Samsung assured me the new S4 added some new functionality that would change my mind on the whole system. I wanted to like this tablet.

In some ways, the Samsung Galaxy Tab S4 feels like it has a bit of an identity problem. It offers a fantastic multimedia experience with its sharp screen and great audio, but if you want a tablet just for entertainment, the $329 iPad has similar features and even more apps for half the price.

Sleek build; Gorgeous display; Loud speakers; Great stylus for drawing and note-taking; Excellent Wi-Fi connectivity; Dex brings desktop-like experience

Expensive; Keyboard accessory costs extra; Mediocre camera; Android-powered tablets still can't do everything Windows tablets can

There was a time when tablets were ten a penny. Pretty much every manufacturer offered a range of tablets looking to entertain you with a bigger screen than that phone in your pocket.

DeX makes productivity work in Android form; Fantastic display; Great battery life; Great keyboard experience (if you buy it; S Pen stylus included

Expensive; Keyboard costs extra; 4G costs extra; Android isn't great for tablet apps; Not all apps work with DeX

Tablets never killed the PC, but they did change how we look at laptops - between keyboard add-ons and styluses, a modern 2-in-1 is an alleged Swiss knife of productivity. The Samsung Galaxy Tab S4 10.5 is bundled with an S Pen and you can get a Book Cover keyboard if you type more often than you...

There's no second chance to make a first impression. Samsung knows this well and has trimmed the Galaxy Tab S4 down to a stylish look that impresses at first sight. And the performance is also convincing.

Love or hate them, it's hard to deny that tablets have been stuck in something of a rut for a few years now, Android tablets especially.

Slick software; Big battery

DeX still doesn't deliver; Not as feature rich as the Note