Samsung - Galaxy Tab S3 - 9.7" - 32GB - Black

I love this tablet. I use it every day for school, and it has been so useful. The S pen (which was included) writes beautifully, and never needs to charge! This device is perfect if you take a lot of notes like I do. Split-screen function works well, One Note, Word, and email are all seamless. I bought a bluetooth keyboard case online for mine and it is really useful for writing essays. Screen is beautiful, audio sounds good, battery life is good, and it charges quickly. My one complaint is that Excel for the tablet is weak. This is probably more an issue with the app than with the tablet itself, but I am not impressed with Excel functions for the tablet beyond very basic features. If you do a lot of data analysis and graphing, you'll want to have access to a laptop or desktop to get the full version. Other than that, I really love this tablet, and people ask me about it all the time in my classes. I always say I recommend it.

I'm an Apple fan but I decided to get this tablet because I wanted to have access to the Amazon Underground app store because you can get a discount on purchasing coins for app store purchases and in-app purchases. It's cheaper than the Google Play store or the Apple App store. I do have to say that I'm please with this tablet, aesthetically and functionally. It gets the job done and is less restrictive than the iPad, meaning files and downloads can be easily downloaded. The camera though is ok. I found that shots taken outside produce better results than indoor shots. Even though it's got a high megapixel, there's something about it that doesn't produce a clear picture when taking them indoors. It's very fuzzy and the videos are the same way. You can see this when zooming in on a picture. It must be because of the sensor and low light conditions don't help produce the best pictures. I feel like my old iPhone 4s took better quality pictures than this. Now I didn't get this tablet to take pictures, so I really don't care that much about it. It's nice that I can take a picture if I need to but it's more of a hassle with it being so big also. I would definitely reach for my phone before I reach for the tablet to take a picture, even if the quality was as good as my phone. I've included some shots taken outside. The pen is a real nice feature and if you like to draw then that's a plus since it's included. Other similar tablets don't include the pen and cost much more. This is something else I could use the tablet for since I like to draw on my spare time. The resolution and screen is really nice as well. The speakers are great and really loud, being that there's four of them I find myself keeping the volume in the lower half of the volume bar. The fingerprint scanner is great and sometimes does't want to read my finger but I found that if my entire finger covers the sensor, then I don't have a problem. I don't own any other Android device so I can't speak on the other features that utilize the other functions between the devices. Overall I would say I'm happy with my purchase and don't regret it one bit.

Pros Beautiful, vibrant screen Excellent daylight reading High quality build Rounded metal edges are comfortable to hold for long periods Four excellent speakers that are loud without distorting With four speakers you still have sound regardless of how it is held Glass build prevents speakers from vibrating tablet at loud volume Includes stylus giving it many of the features of the Note line Stylus is smooth and responsive Storage doubled to 32GB from previous generations Noticeable faster than previous generations and very smooth Includes Blue Light filter mode to make nighttime viewing better Good battery life Rear facing camera has a flash Photos are good quality for a tablet in good lighting Split screen functionality for better multitasking USB-C MicroSD card slot for storage expansion Includes an LTE model Fast charging Includes plenty of extra stylus tips More capable as a 2-in-1 than other Android tablets Weight feels very good Very thin Cons Launch price is expensive Glass back is likely more fragile Glass back is a fingerprint magnet Glass back makes the tablet feel more slippery 32GB is low for the price point Not waterproof or water resistant Stylus cannot be stored internally Stylus pressure sensitivity inconsistent with stock note app Fingerprint scanner use still not reliable Cameras poor quality in anything but good light Looks like a boring slate even though it is high quality For a long time Android slates have looked fairly similar. They have been overall good quality but not quite the premium feel of competitors. Samsung in their Galaxy tablets improved build quality and used more premium materials but they did not have stylus functionality. The Note tablets could use a stylus but possessed a lower end processor and screen. The Galaxy Tab S3 is set to merge the two lines into one and expand the overall functionality to more of a 2-in-1 device like what most people are looking for today. The Tab S3 uses the exact same dimensions as it’s predecessor with a 9.7 inch screen but now it has a glass and metal build reminiscent the Galaxy smartphones. This gives the Tab S3 a very premium feel. The metal edges are rounded enough to prevent cutting the hand but still provide good grip. The same cannot be said of the back glass. It feels nice in the hand and looks premium but the back glass is more slippery, more likely to be damaged, and is a fingerprint magnet. Some of this could be alleviated by use of a case. In fact if you are accident prone that is the first accessory you should get. The design, although premium, is also very understated to the point of looking a bit boring. There is a definite upside to the glass back and that’s when it comes to sound. Most tables with metal backs cause a reverberation in the metal causing sound to degrade and distort with volume. With the Tab S3, the glass seems to temper this vibration. Combine this with the new four speaker setup and you get very loud, clean sound in a small package. This is quite possible the best sound quality of any tablet. With four speakers, the added bonus is no matter how you hold it you are unlikely to cover all four meaning you still get good sound. The Tab S3 sports the traditional hardware button saddled by two capacitive buttons. The hardware button does have a fingerprint reader that just requires a tap, not a swipe like the first generation Tab S. Unfortunately during testing, use was still unreliable. Sensitivity was excellent so hopefully this just requires a software fix. As with nearly any Samsung product what stands out is the screen. The Tab S3 seems to have bumped up the game quite a bit. The screen is the first thing that strikes you and maybe it’s a good thing the tablet design is somewhat boring because it allows you to fully appreciate this screen. This is the first tablet, other than one with an e-ink screen, that has been readable in the sun. In fact it can get so bright that you could easily use the screen as a flashlight in a dark room. This is also useful because, unless you spend most of your time outside, the screen rarely needs to ramp up the brightness past roughly 30%. The screen ratio does mean you will have black bars on the top and bottom for watching movies but it also means it is comfortable in both landscape and portrait orientation. It does seem Samsung intends most usage to be in portrait as the buttons are configured for portrait use. A welcomed addition to the Galaxy Tab line is the inclusion of an S-Pen. The old Note tablets were nice but lacked a high resolution screen and of course the old Galaxy Tab line lacked stylus support. It seems Samsung decided to simplify and merge the line to the benefit of fans. In fact, they have simplified things so far as to have only one tablet in the series. I suspect this is because if you want more, Samsung wants you to upgrade to their new Galaxy Book line. Otherwise, you essentially have a Note tablet with the high resolution screen and higher specs of a Galaxy Tab. Functionality is very similar to the Note line of phones although not identical. The S-Pen is very responsive and has almost no lag. It is light in the hand and has a nice amount resistance across the screen. Just like other S-Pens, no battery is required. Pressure sensitivity and tilt are included but pressure sensitivity was a bit inconsistent in the stock apps. Unfortunately unlike the Note phones you won’t find an S-Pen slot in the tablet so you are going to have to find a way to carry it, such as a case with a pen slot or loop. Overall, the S-Pen experience is very solid for a new product. The Tab S3 is a solid performer with a Snapdragon 820 and 4GB of ram. It might not have the latest processor or the most memory but they definitely didn’t skimp on power. Unfortunately, the storage is only 32GB. Although it doubled previous models and includes expandable MicroSD card storage, a lot of apps refuse to install to the card. This means you have more breathing room but power users will still have to watch their storage usage. Overall, the processor and memory combination leads to a much more fluid experience than existed on previous Galaxy tablets. Even with mild multitasking this tablet doesn’t see to lag at all. Animations are very smooth and fast giving the Tab S3 a fluidity that is rare in Android tablets. If you are an Android fan who has looked at tablet or 2-in-1 offerings and wished that Android had something comparable, this might finally be the one. Although it still leans towards content consumption, it definitely improves things in the productivity front as well. In fact, if there were an option, the Tab S3 would be rated 4.5 stars. If there is any major sticking point, it would be the price. The issue is that even though the specs have been upgraded and S-Pen functionality is now included, the price point puts it right in line with some regular 2-in-1 PC devices which offer greater functionality and similar premium build. Reports have surfaced that Samsung has been including the keyboard case in preorders which definitely sweetens the deal. The suggested retail price at time of launch makes it a little hard to recommend compared to other offerings unless you are a hardcore Android fan wanting a premium Android tablet now. The good thing is Samsung has a track record of running sales and specials shortly after launch. If history holds true, Samsung will make the Tab S3 look even more attractive not very long after launch. Wait for a promotion if you can. If you can’t wait, you will likely still be very happy with your purchase. This entire review was written and posted solely using the Tab S3 with the keyboard case.

I use to have the Samsung Galaxy Note 8.0 and I loved it, but when my motherboard died I had to find an immediate replacement. Everything about this tablet feels better. The OLED screen provides brilliant contrast, the speakers are impressive, it feels very high end in the hand, as it is extremely thin... I mostly use it to draw and it's been involved in some of my best work. When drawing it blends the best of traditional media with digital. I am using it with the Straetler S-Pen Pencil because the original pen has a button on it that I often press while drawing-- which causes an annoying shortcut pop up menu. (That pop up is my only gripe, but the Straetler pencil fixes that issue.) As for the art feature, the things I enjoy about it most is the pressure sensitivity, the fact it can detect a difference between my pen and my hand so I can move the 'paper' without marking it. It feels natural, but also improved.

I am loving my new tablet. I already own a Galaxy S8 Plus, they work seamlessly together. I also bought it open box and paid about 485 dollars including the two year Warranty. Great bargain!

Many reviews of the tablet complained about the separate stylus. However, there seems to be a way to carry the stylus with the tablet more or less securely. The stylus has a metal clip, and the back of the tablet has magnetic areas. Slightly above the Samsung logo is an area with strong magnetic field. If you attach the stylus as shown in the picture, then it will be relatively secure in its place.

Calling all Gamers and Movie Watchers... this is the BEST Android tablet on the market as I type. It is the multimedia lovers tablet! I'm going to cover many of the things you want to know so you can build a case whether this is worth your hard earned money. -=The "Skinny" on Build Quality=- We all know the debacle that was Galaxy Note 7. I loved this phone and was sad to see the recall run its course. I was refreshed to see this tablet. It screams premium from the moment you open the box. It is packaged like a high class item in a sleeve that protects against scratches. This tablet oozes sophistication, style, and class like the Note 7 did. It follows the same Samsung design language found in their post 2015 flagship phones. You will hold this and know you have a great tablet. It doesn't feel cheap and "plasticky" with its glass front and back. The metal rim is slightly curved like the S7edge and Note 7 were and surrounds a USB type C connector. It also brings S Pen functionality much like the Note 7. The SPen is solid and build to last. You could say this is a Note 7 without the awesome camera and iris scanner. This S Pen is eerily similar in size to a normal ball point pen and the tip is .07mm like what most of us write with (see photo for comparison). It feels solidly built and comfortable to use. The best comparison is last year's Galaxy S2 Tab but build with upgraded materials and software/hardware. A+ for Samsung here. //CONS// This beautiful design is a fingerprint magnet and there is nowhere to put the SPen. So DON'T lose it or you can buy a case that has a place for it. The replacement cost is around $80 ouch! -=The Screen=- This screen is gorgeous! It uses a 9.7" Super AMOLED display with resolution of 2048x1536. This means the pixel density is right there with that if other major competitors on the market at 264ppi. The screen supports HDR which makes this tablet future-proof. Details are crisp and colors are accurate (when not in "Adaptive" mode). This makes the screen ideal for web browsing, studying, reading and streaming HD content. You need a tablet to use outside? This tablet has a peak brightness output of 465 nits, ensuring that clarity isn’t compromised when it’s used outdoors under direct light. It's screen color reproduction is most accurate using the "basic" color mode which is accurate to the sRGB gamut. //CONS// Not much is stated on what type of glass this is. I would expect Gorilla Glass is here somewhere, but it isn't clearly notated anywhere. Get a screen protector to be safe! -=Performance=- This is snappy quick like the processor it has. The Galaxy Tab S3 uses the same quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 processor with 4 GB of RAM found in the Note 7 and S7/edge. Before you get upset or disappointed, this is more than enough to handle anything you have to do on the tablet. It doesn't lag during applications. I wouldn't call this a laptop replacement, but it is definitely a nice tablet. Pro users will need to look elsewhere for something to replace the laptop. -=Battery Life=- I would say this is average. It has a 6,000 mAh cell that last anywhere from 6hr 45 mins to 8 hrs of heavy use. That encompasses It's enough to get through the day with heavy use but this is offset with the Quick Charge 3.0 technology. In my experience, I have fully recharged this tablet from 15% to 100% in roughly 1.5hrs to 1hr 45 mins. Now that is IMPRESSIVE! With light use, you may be able to charge every 2-3 days. //CONS// I wish the battery lasted longer, but this is offset with the Quick Charge 3.0. Standby time is decent as well. You be the judge... -=Hardware=- Camera's are decent. You get a front facing 5MP camera with an aperture of f/2.2. The rear shooter is 13MP with an aperture of f/1.9. These are NOT the awesome quality of photos we are used to with our cell phones so don't let the MPs fool you. They are however leaps and bounds over most other tablet cameras. In low light conditions it is average at best. The rear camera is capable of recording in 4K while the front camera only can record in 1080p. It has an LED flash on the back which is very nice. //CONS// These cameras could be the high quality found in our cell phones these days, but I see they cut cost to make a profit. Nothing wrong with that. Besides who is actually using their tablet to take photos when we all have cell phones :) This is just me being tough on them. They aren't the best in low light. The SPen comes bundled with the purchase unlike other tablet competitors make you shell out another $80-$100 for that functionality. It is roughly the size of a standard gel roller ball point pen. It has a .07mm tip with 4096 levels of sensitivity and writes so smoothly. The stylus is compatible with a variety of apps, too, including Samsung's own S Note app, and Microsoft OneNote. And though I'm not much of an artist, I am a fervent note taker, and SPen felt just as natural to use as a BIC ballpoint pen to a piece of paper. Perhaps the SPen's only flaw in this particular case is that it doesn't physically attach to the Galaxy Tab S3. You will need a pencil pouch to keep tabs on the stylus, or you'll need to get into the habit of clipping it onto your shirt. Like the old days. There is a few milliseconds of lag between you writing on the screen and actually seeing what you write. Not a big deal but worth nothing for those who will draw on this. It has all the same SPen features that were found on the Note 7. For more info, google Air Command tutorials. Did I mention there is no battery to recharge or replace? This is great! //CONS// Did I mention there isn't anywhere to put the pen? The fingerprint sensor is also a welcomed addition to this. I found it to be very finicky if it isn't clean. Nothing like the speed and reliability of the one found on the S7 series or Note 7. //CONS// In my experience, it takes a few times to get my fingerprint registered to unlock. I have tried to reregister my fingerprints to see if it helps, but only when the sensor is clean. The speakers BOOM with sound since there are 4 of them tuned by AKG. They employ the accelerometer to change the orientation of the sound to match how the screen faces. They sound louder with clear mids and highs, but lack heavily in the lows and bass areas. This will NOT be something you stream music from, I recommend pairing it with an external Bluetooth speaker. //CONS// Sounds like two cell phone quality speakers. Lacking in the low and bass departments. I recommend pairing with a Bluetooth speaker to make it a better experience. //VERDICT// The Galaxy Tab S3 is good enough that you could use it for working, gaming, reading, binge-watching, and almost everything else your little laptop can do. The only issue you might have getting used to multitasking on Android itself. Even with the Tab S3's native multi-window functionality, I'd much rather have the freedom of a laptop to spread out my work than be confined to a finicky task switcher. Also, there is no waterproofing which I would like to see, but I don't think there are any tablets that have this feature. Another huge gripe of mine is the fact there isn't a place to put the SPen. This means you can easily lose it. I find it hard to justify the price point of $599. It is clearly trying to take on the standard for tablets -which I will not mention- but it is a worthy competitor. There are many accessories that can make this better. To date, there is a keyboard that doubles as a case for protection. It does not use a battery or Bluetooth which is a plus. It simply plugs in to the pogo connectors on the tablet. Overall this is a great tablet. If you are looking for a future proof tablet and are deeply integrated into the Android platform this is for you. If not, wait for the price to drop and catch it on the Black Friday sale or something. -=Spec Sheet=- This is a spec list for my people who want to nerd out directly off the Samsung website: OS - Android 7.0 Processor - Snapdragon 820 Quad Core(2.15 GHz + 1.6 GHz Quad), Qualcomm APQ8096 Build Type - Wi-Fi Color -Black Size - Weight 0.95 lbs Dimensions (inches) 9.34" x 6.65" x 0.24" Camera - Front 5MP f/2.2 // Back 13MP AF with LED Flash f/1.9 Digital Optical Zoom x4 (Digital) Battery Type and Size - Li-Ion 6000mAh Memory Internal Memory 4GB(RAM) Storage - 32 GB External Memory Expandable with microSD™ capacity up to 256GB Connectivity USB Type-C (3.1) Bluetooth v4.2 Bluetooth Profiles - A2DP,AVRCP,DI,HFP,HID,HOGP,HSP,MAP,OPP,PAN,PBAP Earjack - 3.5mm Stereo Wi-Fi Direct Display Main Display Resolution 2048 x 1536 (QXGA) Main Display Size 9.7" Main Display Technology Super AMOLED S Pen Compatible Yes (Included in box) Audio Features Audio Streaming, Music Player Audio Playing Format MP3,M4A,3GA,AAC,OGG,OGA,WAV,WMA,AMR, AWB,FLAC,MID,MIDI,XMF,MXMF,IMY,RTTTL,RTX,OTA Speaker Quad Speakers (DSL Type 1709 3.0t) Video Features Video Streaming, Video Player Video Playing Format MP4,M4V,3GP,3G2,WMV,ASF,AVI,FLV,MKV,WEBM Sensor Types - Accelerometer,Fingerprint Sensor,Gyro Sensor,Geomagnetic Sensor,Hall Sensor,RGB Light Sensor What's Included in Box? Tab S3 9.7" S Pen Quick Start Guide Power Adapter USB Type-C cable

Best Android tablet! Love the redesigned speakers. Big plus! Screen is beautiful and so sharp with all my Netflix shows! Don't really use the pen but i like having the option. I had the tab s2. Was excited to get the s3 and it was worth the wait 100% It is very portable compared to the 11" tablet i had a few years ago-that i never took anywhere. Buy it!!! I have No Regrets! Expensive, yes. But you get what you pay for. Storage options are A+