Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 and Galaxy Tab S7 Plus Review

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2 minute review

With the Galaxy Tab S7 range, Samsung is looking to challenge the current king of tablets: the iPad Pro. We see both here: the larger Tab S7 Plus, as well as the slightly smaller Tab S7. Both are terrific tablets in their own right, though the Tab S7 Plus's gorgeous 7-inch OLED panel will clearly wow the Tab S7's LED panel. With a XNUMX x XNUMX resolution on the Tab SXNUMX Plus and a XNUMXHz refresh rate, it's absolutely stunning and the best display we've seen on an Android tablet.

• Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 Plus (128GB black) at Amazon for € 759.95

The screen has a 16:10 aspect ratio, making the overall shape of the tablet taller and narrower than an iPad, and it's also thinner and lighter than the iPad Pro 7. Build quality is top-notch, and both tablets look very sleek and premium, without a trace of flex. Samsung hasn't skimped on the rest of the specs either. The Galaxy Tab S7 Plus and Tab S6 run on Qualcomm Snapdragon 7 Plus, which is the fastest processor available today for the Android platform. Samsung includes the S Pen stylus with the slate, so you won't have to pay extra for it. The S Pen is more responsive than the stylus that came with the Galaxy Tab S7 and snaps magnetically to the back of the tablet where it charges wirelessly. Where most Android tablets struggle with apps: Android developers aren't as interested in optimizing apps for a tablet interface as those developing for iOS seem to be. Most Android tablet apps look like an enlarged version of the phone app, rather than being rebuilt for a larger screen. While the software offering isn't as powerful as what you get on an iPad, there's a lot to like about the Galaxy Tab SXNUMX line, the most important being the Tab SXNUMX Plus' display. Samsung isn't just looking to claim the title of Best Android Tablet here, it's also aiming for the iPad Pro XNUMX and Best Crown Tablet.

Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 / Tab S7 Plus cost and release date

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 and Galaxy Tab S7 Plus are now available in the US, UK and Australia. The cost of the Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 Plus starts at €6 / €128 / AU €5 for the 4GB RAM and XNUMXGB storage variant, which is not surprising given the flagship tablets it competes with. This is a Wi-Fi-only variation, and you can also pick up a XNUMXG-capable version of the tablet. Certain markets also have access to a XNUMXG version, but it's not for sale in the US.
There is also an 7 GB RAM version with 6 GB storage in certain markets. The basic Samsung Galaxy Tab S128 comes with 5GB of RAM and 7GB of storage, and starts at €7 / €XNUMX / AU$XNUMX. In the UK, you can get a Wi-Fi-only variation of the tablet, but in the US you'll only be able to pick up a XNUMXG-compatible one. In the UAE, Samsung has set the cost of the Galaxy Tab SXNUMX Plus at AED XNUMX. This gives you a XNUMXGB drive with XNUMXGB of RAM plus no LTE. To sweeten the deal, Samsung is offering a free book cover to anyone who pre-orders one. For the Galaxy Tab SXNUMX, the cost is AED XNUMX for the Wi-Fi only model and AED XNUMX for the LTE version, both with XNUMXGB of storage.

Galaxy Tab S7 Plus (L) vs iPad Pro (R) (Image credit: Future)

Integrated

When you think of a high-end tablet, the design that immediately comes to mind is the iPad Pro with its large screen, thin edges, and flat sides. The Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 series has it all, and manages to up the game by being thinner and lighter than the 7-inch iPad. At 7g for the Tab SXNUMX Plus and XNUMXg for the Tab SXNUMX, it's reasonably light, but you'll still want to hold it in two hands. It's also impressively slim at just XNUMXmm, making it the thinnest tablet we've ever used. Being thin and light does not mean that the tablet is affordable, quite the opposite. There's no flex to the tablet and it's extremely premium, especially with the brushed metal sides somewhat reminiscent of the Galaxy Note XNUMX.

(Image credit: Avenir) The back of the tablet is a fingerprint magnet and we started to see smudges easily on the Mystic Black color we used. You will also get 2 additional colors; Mystic Silver and Mystic Bronze. Galaxy Tab S7/S7 Plus Specifications Weight: 498g/575g
Dimensions: 253,8 x 165,3 x 6,3 / 285 x 185 x 5,7 mm
Screen size: 11 inch / 12,4 inch
Screen type: LTPS IPS LCD / Super AMOLED
Resolution: 2560 x 1600/2800 x 1752
Refresh rate: 120 Hz
Chipset: Snapdragon 865 Plus
RAM: 6 GB / 8 GB
Storage: 128GB / 256GB
Operating system: Android 10
Rear camera: 13MP + 5MP
Front camera: 8 MP
Battery: 8000 mAh / 10,090 mAh There is a glass strip at the top of the back of the tablet, which acts as a magnet to attach the S-Pen. Interestingly, the S Pen only charges when the tip of the stylus is pointed in the direction of the camera. The magnet isn't the strongest and the fact that it's behind the whiteboard made us worry about inadvertently losing the stylus because it's out of sight. However, Samsung has a smart design solution with the cover and we'll get to that shortly. The camera modules are also placed inside this glass strip with a small bulge around it. This means that the tablet is not exactly level when you place it on a table. The Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 series has only one USB 3.2 Type-C port, located on the right, which can charge or provide a data connection. This also means that there is no headphone jack available on the slate. You'll need to check if your USB-C headset is compatible, because when we tested a particular headset, the tablet showed it as an unrecognized USB device. There are plenty of docks and dongles available that can extend the functionality of this port, but two ports are always better than one, and that's something we would have liked to see here if Samsung really wants this to be a productivity machine. There's a smart connector at the bottom, to which the Samsung Keyboard Cover magnetically attaches. Button-wise, you get a power button and volume keys, as well as a SIM slot on top.

(Image credit: Avenir)

Monitor

If a tablet were to be judged solely on its screen, the Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 Plus would be one of the best. The gorgeous 12,4-inch Super AMOLED display has a 2800 x 1752 resolution and supports a fast 120Hz refresh rate, making it easy to use. The Tab S7 has an LTPS IPS LCD screen, with a resolution of 2560 x 1600 pixels, but it keeps the same 120Hz refresh rate. The difference between the OLED display on the Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 Plus and other IPS tablets like the iPad Pro or Huawei MatePad is that IPS displays look dull after using OLED.

(Image credit: Avenir) The screen's 16:10 aspect ratio is a good compromise between entertainment and productivity. Most streaming content is done in a 16:9 aspect ratio, so you lose very little screen area when watching Netflix or YouTube compared to an iPad that has a 4:3 aspect ratio. On the flip side, you don't have as much vertical space for apps, web browsing, or email, but that's not a big deal. There are very narrow bezels around the tablet and Samsung has improved its prevention of accidental touches, but that's not perfect. You need to make sure that the S Pen touches the screen before the palm of your hand; otherwise, you'll start to see app windows resize or fly off the screen. The Galaxy Tab S7 Plus has an in-display fingerprint sensor. It's not as fast as we've seen on some smartphones, but it works pretty well. On the Tab S7, the fingerprint reader resides in the power button, which is just as quick to unlock the device when you need it.

(Image credit: Avenir)

The accessories

Although the Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 series can be purchased as a stand-alone tablet, its productivity levels are increased tenfold when used with accessories. The S Pen is already included in the box, which is much better than the extra you'd have to spend if you were to buy an Apple Pencil for the iPad. Like the Apple Pencil on the iPad Pro, you can attach the S Pen magnetically to the back of the Galaxy Tab S7 for storage and wireless charging. Samsung has improved the latency of the S Pen and added Air Gestures to the Tab S7 Plus, similar to what you'll see on the new Galaxy Note 20. In addition to the S Pen, you can optionally purchase the Book Cover and Tablet Cover Keyboard. book for the Galaxy Tab S7 Plus. The book cover magnetically attaches to the back of the tab and adds a kickstand that allows you to lift the tablet up—handy if you're about to watch a movie. Please note that with these two accessories, the weight of the tablet increases significantly.

(Image credit: Avenir) The top of the book cover has a small dent where the S Pen is, and you can flip the top of the cover over to access the stylus. We strongly recommend that you use the book cover as it provides excellent protection against losing your S Pen. The Book Cover Keyboard snaps into place via the smart connector to give you a keyboard and trackpad, allowing you to use the tablet in the same way as the Microsoft Surface Pro 7. There is a little wobble when using the tablet with the keyboard on your lap: It's convenient, but not as sturdy as the Surface. The keys are large and well spaced with decent range, though they're not backlit, making it difficult to type in the dark. You get the full set of keys, as well as number and function keys for shortcuts for changing volume and brightness levels, as well as navigating Android. The trackpad is a decent size, too, and slightly larger than what's found on the iPad Pro's keyboard casing. It seemed a bit edgy like some of the Windows laptops, though. It supports 3 finger gestures that allow exactly the same functionality as Android navigation gestures. For anyone who prefers to tap rather than press, the right side of the trackpad acts as a right-click when pressed.

(Image credit: Avenir)

Specifications, performance and camera

The Samsung...