Samsung Galaxy Tab S3 Stirs Up Tablet Talk at Mobile World Congress

Samsung shows it’s determined to remain a major force in the tablet market by introducing the Galaxy Tab S3 with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 CPU and a 9.7-inch display.

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S3 won’t run on Qualcomm’s latest Snapdragon processor, the 835, but the Snapdragon 820 it’s equipped with will provide plenty of power. The Snapdragon 820 was one of the better processors last year and still holds up well.

The Galaxy Tab S3’s display measures 9.7 inches and uses AMOLED technology, so its visual quality tops LCD alternatives. Samsung promises a 2,048-by-1,536-pixel resolution.

Samsung’s slate features two types of wireless connectivity. The WiFi supports 802.11ac, while LTE supports Cat 6 networks with maximum speeds of 300Mbps.

The Galaxy Tab S3 ships with a 6,000mAh battery that should last nearly all day on a single charge. It also comes with fast-charging capabilities, thanks to the device’s built-in USB 3.1 port.

Samsung is promising Android Nougat 7.0 in the tablet, not the updated 7.1 version. Hopefully the company will deliver an update soon after the tablet is released.

Samsung’s S Pen stylus is included with the Galaxy Tab S3. With the feature, users can digitally write on the screen and use the Air Command feature to control the operating system. S Pen-friendly apps such as Samsung Notes also are included.

The Galaxy Tab S3’s available storage is downright disappointing. The tablet will ship with 32GB of available storage and 4GB of RAM. Those who want additional storage can bundle a microSD card with up to 256GB of capacity.

Don’t expect a high-end camera in the Galaxy Tab S3. The rear-facing camera features a 13-megapixel sensor with auto-focus. On the front, the tablet has a standard 5-megapixel lens with a flash. That should suffice for most enterprise uses, but perhaps not for picture- and video-obsessed consumers.

Samsung offers several entertainment features in the Galaxy Tab S3, including support for 4K video playback and quad-stereo speakers that were tuned by AKG at Harman. In addition, Samsung partnered with Amazon to ensure support for HDR videos that deliver near-perfect color accuracy.

Samsung has not yet said when the Galaxy Tab S3 will hit store shelves and how much it’ll cost. However, the tablet is expected to be released in the coming weeks and rumors suggest a price close to the Galaxy Tab S2’s $500 price tag.