Samsung will be bringing a new tablet to Mobile World Congress this year, the first update to the flagship Galaxy Tab S line in nearly 18 months.
One size fits all
With the Galaxy Tab S2, Samsung offered two sizes, an 8-inch model and a 9.7-inch one. According to a report from South Korea-based Naver News, the Tab S3 will reportedly narrow down those choices to just the bigger size, with a 9.6-inch, 2048×1536 display. And if you like the design of the S2, you’ll love the Tab S3. Based on the rendering that has been leaked on German-based WinFuture.de, the tablet looks to be nearly identical to the S2 it will replace, with a pill-shaped home button/fingerprint scanner flanked by a pair of standard navigation buttons. However, it is expected to be thinner than its predecessor, which is only 5.6mm thick, and come in black and silver, rather than the standard white.
WINFUTUREPower up
But while it might look like a Tab S2, the S3 will get a significant upgrade under the hood, as you’d expect from a tablet that hasn’t been updated in nearly a year and a half. It starts with the chip, and the new tablet is rumored to sport a Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 processor, a change from the Exynos chip that was used in the S2. Additionally, it will get 4GB of RAM (up from 3GB in the S2), as well as a 12MP rear camera and 5MP front camera (bumped from 8MP and 2MP, respectively). And as always, it will come in both Wi-Fi and LTE variations.
Additionally, the tablet will ship with Android 7.0 Nougat, though it’s unclear whether Samsung will bring any additional features for the larger screen. One of the biggest issues with Android tablets is their lack of larger-screen features and app support, so we’ll have to see what Samsung has cooked up to spice up the experience.
GALAXYCLUB.NLHave pen will travel
The most interesting addition to the year’s tablet, however, could be the inclusion of an S Pen. While it wouldn’t be the only Samsung tablet to ship with the stylus, it would be a first for the Galaxy Tab S line. Unfortunately, Sammobile has reported that there isn’t a Note-style slot for it on the device, but the tablet will ship with an S Pen in the box, which could mark a shift by Samsung to position the tablet as a more professional companion to the upcoming Galaxy S8.
A leaked user manual published by GalaxyClub.nl confirms the inclusion of an S Pen and a clip. It also reveals that Samsung will be bringing some Note 7-style features to the new tablet, including screen-off memos, the Air Command menu, and Secure Folders.
Price and availability
Samsung has announced that it will be unveiling its new device at Mobile World Congress on Feb. 26 at 7:00 pm CET (1 p.m. EST) at the Palau de Congressos de Catalunya in Barcelona, Spain. According to the Naver report, the tablet is expected to cost a bit more than the $500 S2, likely coming at $600. It’s not entirely clear from the rumors we’ve heard why Samsung would be charging more the S3, though the inclusion of the S Pen would certainly add to the cost.
