<Sigh, choices> Samsung 32GB Tab S or Samsung Tab S LTE

[MaxDepth]

So I see activity ramping up on ebay for both models which suggests that these two units will be available soon everywhere. The 32GB model is only offered by Best Buy right now.

So I want a tablet...movie/tv viewing, reading and web surfing required in that order. I want something that won't be obsolete in 2015 either. I can afford the high range but want the best deal possible.

I've selected Android over Apple because of personal preference. I selected Samsung because of the screen and that I want the larger tablet, 10.1 than something smaller and I selected the Tab S because of KitKat being the most recent level of the OS.

So either 32GB with the older processor or LTE with a new processor?


Also, I have one of the few remaining unlimited data plans from Verizon. Do I have to switch the SIM back and forth between the tablet and the phone or can I clone the SIM and have the same account use both?

 

[Red Storm]

Why not just tether from your phone? No need to get the LTE version IMHO.

 

[MaxDepth]

Yeah, I don't mind tethering the phone for use outside of the house wifi area but I am interested in the LTE version because of reviews of "hesitations" people are seeing with the current 16GB versions. Reviewers are surmising it has to with the workload on the Exynos 5 Octa 5420.

The LTE will have the Qualcomm Snapdragon 800.

 

[paperwastage]

if you want good custom ROM support, then Qualcomm

If you don't care, I'd still wait for Qualcomm

people say you can move a (unlimited data) Sim from phone to tablet without any problems... but you can't clone the sim to use on multiple devices...

some Europe operators have "MultiSim" option, but this isn't available in America
http://translate.google.com/transla....t-mobile.de/multisim/0,21479,23885-_,00.html

EDIT1:
Tab pro 8.4 uses Snapdragon 800 and is better than the Exynos... Guess the Tab S LTE uses a Snapdragon 800 too


http://www.anandtech.com/show/8197/samsung-galaxy-tab-s-review-105-84inch/4

 

[bigboxes]

I've got the Tab S 10.5 16gb version with a 64gb miniSD card and it works just fine. Yeah, it's got the Exynos processor but it works well for me. I rooted my phone last week, installed a WiFi tether app and now can use my data network on my phone for my tablet. I'm using it in my car right now as I wait on a client. Pretty slick. Plan on rooting the tablet tonight so I can customize my tablet further.

 

[Red Storm]

Yeah, I don't mind tethering the phone for use outside of the house wifi area but I am interested in the LTE version because of reviews of "hesitations" people are seeing with the current 16GB versions. Reviewers are surmising it has to with the workload on the Exynos 5 Octa 5420.

The LTE will have the Qualcomm Snapdragon 800.

Then I guess it's up to you to decide whether the higher price tag of the LTE model is worth the hassle of taking the SIM out of your phone and putting it in the tablet (and vice versa) and also having Qualcomm on the inside.

 

[MaxDepth]

Thanks! But I want you to decide for meeeeeee! All these decisions!
#firstworldproblems

Then I guess it's up to you to decide whether the higher price tag of the LTE model is worth the hassle of taking the SIM out of your phone and putting it in the tablet (and vice versa) and also having Qualcomm on the inside.

 

[MaxDepth]

Bigboxes: What is your cellphone model, if I may ask?

I've got the Tab S 10.5 16gb version with a 64gb miniSD card and it works just fine. Yeah, it's got the Exynos processor but it works well for me. I rooted my phone last week, installed a WiFi tether app and now can use my data network on my phone for my tablet. I'm using it in my car right now as I wait on a client. Pretty slick. Plan on rooting the tablet tonight so I can customize my tablet further.

 

[bigboxes]

Samsung Galaxy Note 3 on Sprint.

 

[Ravynmagi]

Has anyone seen the price on the LTE models yet? Last I knew, Samsung still charge a significant premium for the LTE modem, like upwards to $150 more. I really wouldn't pay potentially $650 for a Tab S 10.5 LTE tablet, even with the 32GB and Snapdragon 800 bump.

You mentioned movies/TV as the first priority and a tablet that will last a while and is a good value. That sounds more like a Tegra Shield. That beast is coming out with the fastest ARM processor yet. Will be running stock Android. And it has great front facing speakers and side facing bass vents. The display isn't as good, but they did say the contrast and calibration was good, so I think it's still a good display, just not great.

 

[MaxDepth]

Well, I think the point may be moot now as I am seeing Europe and Asia talking about their LTE versions and it does not have the Snapdragon.

Could someone nudge Anand awake and ask him if the US LTE versions have decided to stay with the Exynos chipset?

 

[thecoolnessrune]

As far as I knew, AT&T has announced a Galaxy Tab S LTE, but it hasn't actually released yet. The worldwide Galaxy Tab S LTE does not include the 700Mhz spectrum coverage, which means massive gaps in coverage for AT&T and Verizon LTE networks. Just like when the Nexus 7 LTE model launched. You either got the US model, or the global model.

I'm waiting on the US Galaxy Tab S LTE (which is likely to have a Qualcomm SoC) to replace my Nexus 7 LTE with.

 

[Dari]

OP is nuts if he's going to be repeatedly taking his sim card out of his phone and putting it into his tablet. Just tether the thing and be done with it since your phone will always be with you and missing calls for the sake of browsing the internet is crazay.

 

[thecoolnessrune]

It costs just $10 a month for me to attach my tablet to my cell plan (less with corporate discount) and then I don't have to worry about any of that stuff.

 

[MaxDepth]

Well, yes, I am nuts!

Seriously though I was wondering if I could clone the SIMs instead of having to remove/plug in the SIMs to use either one. It is no biggie as I have a fabric APK that I can use to tether both either by cord or wireless. The side sync for the tablet and the Samsung S4 should work too.

Still, it goes back to having two different chipsets. I want to see a comparison of Qualcomm and the Samsung to see which one is better. This of course goes back to my assumption that the LTE will have Snapdragon.

OP is nuts if he's going to be repeatedly taking his sim card out of his phone and putting it into his tablet. Just tether the thing and be done with it since your phone will always be with you and missing calls for the sake of browsing the internet is crazay.

 

[paperwastage]

Well, yes, I am nuts!

Seriously though I was wondering if I could clone the SIMs instead of having to remove/plug in the SIMs to use either one. It is no biggie as I have a fabric APK that I can use to tether both either by cord or wireless. The side sync for the tablet and the Samsung S4 should work too.

Still, it goes back to having two different chipsets. I want to see a comparison of Qualcomm and the Samsung to see which one is better. This of course goes back to my assumption that the LTE will have Snapdragon.

http://www.qualcomm.com/snapdragon/tablets-pcs/samsung-galaxy-tab-s-105-lte

http://www.qualcomm.com/snapdragon/tablets-pcs/samsung-galaxy-tab-s-84-lte

if Qualcomm is featuring it, most likely it'll contain a qualcomm CPU ... (don't think they'll just be advertising a qualcomm modem and exynos CPU)

 

[thecoolnessrune]

Well, yes, I am nuts!

Seriously though I was wondering if I could clone the SIMs instead of having to remove/plug in the SIMs to use either one. It is no biggie as I have a fabric APK that I can use to tether both either by cord or wireless. The side sync for the tablet and the Samsung S4 should work too.

Cloning a SIM card is 100% illegal, not to mention modern version 3 cards have not been openly acknowledged by any credible group as crackable yet.