Samsung unveils its new Galaxy Tab S tablet

Last night Samsung showed off its Galaxy Tab S tablet at a launch event in New York, and the specs are very similar to what we expected. The device will come in two sizes, 8.4 inch and 10.5 inch, both 6.6mm thick and available in white or bronze. It has a 2560 x 1600 pixel Super AMOLED screen with a contrast ratio of 100,000:1 – that’s 100 times better than an LCD screen with, Samsung claims, 20 percent more colour range, meaning it should stay clear even in bright sunlight.

There’s also an eight megapixel rear camera and a two megapixel front one, HD video recording, 3GB of RAM and either 16GB or 32GB of internal memory (plus the option to add an extra 128GB via a microSDXC slot). It’s powered by Samsung’s Exynos 5 processor, running Android 4.4 KitKat. Users will be able to make and receive calls directly from their phone to the tablet thanks to a new call forwarding feature. And of course, they’ll be able to view more than one application at a time. (Ahem, Apple.)

It will also come with some exclusive content. Samsung has partnered with a range of providers, including Amazon for Kindle for Samsung, a service that provides users with a free book every month. Other pre-loaded apps include Kick, which provides real-time football info, and Papergarden, a virtual newsagent.

In his speech, Samsung’s head of mobile JK Shin said: “With the launch of the Galaxy Tab S, Samsung is setting the industry bar higher for the entire mobile industry.” In the past, successful Android tablets have been entry-level models, but the S tab could be a serious competitor to the iPad – if it comes down in price.

It goes on sale in the UK next month priced at £449 for the 10.5 inch and £349 for the 8.4 inch. (New gadgets are what overdrafts were made for, right?)

Screenshot via Samsung.com.