Buy a Galaxy Tab S 8.4 now, or wait?

[Washoe]

Hi everyone, I had a chance to spend about an hour playing around with the Galaxy Tab S 8.4, with the Exynos 5 processor. It seems to me that this is the best android tablet around, at least for under $400, and in the 7-8 inch "mini-tablet" category. I owned a Nexus 7 which was great, but it's broken and now looking to replace/upgrade.

My question - is now a good time to purchase that Tab S 8.4? Or is there something better just around the corner?

 

[lopri]

Not a good time, IMO, especially for a high-end SKU like Tab S. Transition to 64-bit and 4:3 screen is on the way this year.

 

[luv2liv]

i saw this tablet yesterday at Staples and the screen is still the best i've ever seen on anything! and the price still hasnt changed at $400. 4 months from now, a new tablet from samsung will come out. can you wait for it then? i will wait just for the price on the current to drop down n then buy

 

[you2]

The screen is fantastic but the soc is old - they resued in the one in the 8.4 pro. Also the battery life is so so. My 8 inch tablet is dying after 2.5 years and so I wnt to replace it but I rather wait for what comes after the tab s; though I've been thinking about the dell. I'm not that hot about 4:3 screen but I do want better battery life and a faster cpu.

 

[jacktesterson]

The screen is fantastic but the soc is old - they resued in the one in the 8.4 pro. Also the battery life is so so. My 8 inch tablet is dying after 2.5 years and so I wnt to replace it but I rather wait for what comes after the tab s; though I've been thinking about the dell. I'm not that hot about 4:3 screen but I do want better battery life and a faster cpu.

I wish they had reused the one from the 8.4 Pro. The 8.4 Pro had the Snapdraggon 800. The 8.4 S has the Exynos 5 octacore.

The GPU on the S800 is much better.

I own both a Tab S 8.4 and a Nexus 9 and I use the Nexus 9 way more.

Don't get the me wrong the Tab S 8.4 performance is still solid, just not as good as other tablets in same price range.

I also much prefer the 4:3 aspect ratio of the Nexus 9 over the 16:10 of the Tab S 8.4.

 

[Oyeve]

I love my tab pro 8.4. I just wish samsung would send out an update already for lollipop. Seems like they've abandoned the pro and S line.

 

[Ravynmagi]

Samsung's tablet release cycle is erratic and I'm not sure anything new is coming soon (nothing announced at CES or MWC).

Sony announced the Xperia Z4, but it's 10.1 inch. Looks nice if you are wanting a bigger tablet.

ASUS is only making cheap lower quality tablets now. Though they are pretty decent for their price.

Nexus 9 has great specs, but not so great build quality (at least when when they first came out). And I felt the Nexus 9 was bulky feeling and awkward with it's thick squared edges. I love Nexus tablets, but this one really disappointed me.

I think it's mostly between a Tab Pro 8.4, if you can still find one at a good price (Amazon has refurbished Tab Pro 8.4 on sale for $220) or a Tab S 8.4. Tab Pro you get better performance and a better price. Tab S you get a little less performance (neither of these are speed demons like the Nexus 9 by the way), but a much better AMOLED display. Tab S is a tad more compact and lighter too if I remember correctly.

 

[jacktesterson]

Tab S 2 is Rumored for Summer Release

http://www.techradar.com/news/mobil...y-tab-s2-release-date-news-and-rumors-1288195