Samsung Flags Are Set Up At The Main Entrance To The Berlin Fair Ground
Samsung flags are set up at the main entrance to the Berlin fair ground before the IFA consumer electronics fair in Berlin in this August 28, 2012 file photo. Samsung Electronics Co Ltd is emerging as a major player in its local debt market, buying more South Korean-issued bonds as it juggles a $60 billion cash pile. Samsung's push into private bank debt and government bonds underscores the challenges faced by the electronics giant in managing its massive cash holdings, with local banks reluctant to overload on short-term deposits from Samsung. REUTERS

Samsung launched two variants of Galaxy Tab S tablet in an event organized in New York on June 12, 2014. The new Galaxy Tab S tablets feature 8.4 inches and 10.5 inches display. Both the variants pack killer features and impressive hardware/software specifications that can give all other high-end tablets a run for their money. Here is a specification, feature and price comparison between the recently launched Samsung Galaxy Tab S (8.4 inches) and the ubiquitous Apple iPad Mini 2 (2013 Model).

Display, Exterior and Size

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S features an 8.4 inches Super AMOLED display with a whopping 2,560 x 1,600 pixel screen resolution. The Apple iPad Mini 2, on the other hand, comes with a 7.9 inches IPS LCD display with a relatively lesser 1,536 x 2,048 pixels screen resolution. Also, the pixel strength of Galaxy Tab S stands at 359 ppi, while the Apple iPad Mini 2 comes with 324 ppi of pixel density. With impressive pixel strengths, both the tablets present sharper and vivid images and videos. Nevertheless, the Tab S stands-out because of the killer screen resolution.

With Galaxy Tab S, Samsung has brought the Super AMOLED display technology to tablets. The WQXGA (2,560 x 1,600) Super AMOLED display has the capability to present more than 90% of Adobe RGB colour coverage. The contrast ratio of Galaxy Tab S stands at a striking 100,000:1 ratio. Therefore, the viewing experience stands-out in the latest Galaxy series of tablets.

The exterior of the Galaxy Tab S is similar to the flagship Galaxy S5 smartphone with a perforated textured rear. The Apple iPad Mini 2, on the other hand, sports the famous high-resolution Retina display with an aluminum chassis. This makes the iPad look premium over the polycarbonate chassis of the Galaxy Tab S 8.4.

The Galaxy Tab S comes with a thickness and weight of 0.26 inches and 294 g respectively. Whereas the Apple iPad Mini 2 is 0.30 inches thick and weighs 331g. Hence the Galaxy Tab S is much thinner and lighter than the Apple iPad Mini 2.

Hardware and Software

The non-LTE version of Samsung Galaxy Tab S is powered by a superior octa-core (Exynos 5) processor clocked at (1.9 GHz quad-core and 1.3 GHz quad-core), and it houses a solid 3 GB of RAM. In addition, the LTE version of Galaxy Tab S is powered by a quad-core (Qualcomm Snapdragon 800) processor clocked at 2.3 GHz. The Apple iPad Mini 2, on the other hand, is powered by a relatively inferior dual-core Cyclone (Apple A7) ARM v8-based processor clocked at 1.3 GHz and it comes with only 1 GB of RAM.

The Galaxy Tab S runs on the latest Android v4.4 KitKat OS with Samsung's Magazine UI on top of it, while the Apple iPad Mini 2 runs on iOS 7, which is upgradable to iOS 7.1.1. In addition, the Mini 2 can also be upgraded to iOS 8 in future.

Memory

The Samsung tablet comes with 16 GB and 32 GB of internal storage, while the iPad Mini 2 houses 16 GB, 32 GB, 64 GB and 128 GB of internal storage capacity. In addition, the Galaxy Tab S supports microSD card for expansion up to 128 GB, while the Apple iPad Mini 2 doesn't.

Camera

The Apple iPad Mini 2 houses a 5 MP rear-facing camera without flash and a 1.2 MP front-facing camera unit. While the Galaxy Tab S comes with a much-better 8 MP rear-facing camera with LED flash and a 2.1 MP front-facing camera unit.

Battery

The Galaxy Tab S houses a whopping 4900 mAh battery unit with Ultra Power Saving mode. The Apple iPad Mini 2, meanwhile, comes with a Li-Po 23.8 Wh battery unit. Also, both the phones house non-removable battery units. While the battery charge sustainability detail pertaining to the Tab S is not known currently, the iPad Mini 2 can provide up to 10 hours of web surfing charge.

Colour

The Apple iPad Mini 2 comes in space gray/black and silver/white colour combinations, whereas the Samsung Galaxy Tab S comes in titanium bronze and dazzling white shades.

Misc

1. Both the tablets come in LTE and non-LTE (or Wi-Fi only) variants.

2. The Galaxy Tab S is a killer tablet for the ones addicted to multi-tasking. In addition, the tablet can be used as a Remote PC.

3. Also, the latest Galaxy Tab S houses fingerprint scanner, while the iPad Mini 2 doesn't.

Price and Release Date

The Apple iPad Mini 2 (16 GB, Wi-Fi only variant) is priced at AU$459.95, while the Samsung Galaxy Tab S (8.4 inches) is priced at US$399 (roughly translates to AU$424) and the Galaxy Tab S (10.5 inches) variant will be priced at US$499 (roughly translates to AU$531). The Samsung Galaxy Tab S will be released in selected markets starting July, 2014.