Galaxy Tab S3 vs Galaxy Tab S2: A definite upgrade over the predecessor

Samsung has finally unveiled its Galaxy Tab S3 during the MWC 2017 event in Barcelona, Spain. However, the smartphone maker is yet to announce the release date and price of the device. Tech experts believe that the device will be priced at around US$599 (AU$800), $100 more than the Galaxy Tab S2. The 8-inch model of the S2 can be purchased at US$350 (AU$470) and the 9.7-inch model costs US$500 (AU$670). It will be interesting to see how the just-released Galaxy Tab fares against its predecessor.

According to Tech Times, the most-striking feature of the Samsung Galaxy Tab S3 that sets it apart from the Galaxy S2 is definitely the inclusion of the stylus, the S Pen. The stylus comes in a bundle with the Galaxy Tab S3 and has been upgraded to have increased pressure sensitivity and a smaller tip (0.7mm). With it, the user can do professional level drawing with Advanced Drawing Tools, PDF Annotation and Screen Off Memo. As far as the operating system is concerned, the Galaxy Tab S3 comes preloaded with Android 7.0 Nougat.

The Galaxy S2 came with Android Lollipop on board. It was later updated to Android 6.0 Marshmallow and is now waiting for the Nougat update. In terms of battery, the two are more or less the same, with Samsung Galaxy Tab S3 packing a 6,000mAh battery compared to the 5,870mAh battery in Galaxy S2. The former also comes with fast charging. While Galaxy Tab S2 supports 30 hours of talktime on its 3G model, it is not known how much talktime the Galaxy Tab S3 will support in the wi-fi and LTE models.

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S2 comes in 64GB and 32GB storage variants, whereas, the Galaxy Tab S3 wi-fi and LTE variants have 32GB of onboard storage. Both tablets have microSD slots to expand storage up to 256GB. The latest Galaxy Tab is a sure-shot winner when it comes to processor power and speed. It uses a Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 processor, compared to Galaxy Tab S2’s Snapdragon 625 or an Exynos 5433 processor. Tab S2 comes with 3GB RAM, just 1GB lesser than the successor.

The Samsung Galaxy S3 is also well ahead in terms of camera configuration with a 13MP rear camera with autofocus and 8MP selfie camera with flash. The Galaxy Tab S2 has 8MP primary camera and 2.5MP secondary camera. HDR and 4K video playback are unique features of the Galaxy Tab S3.