14 DAY TRIAL // Samsung has recently unveiled the Galaxy Tab S lineup, which consists of 8.4-inch and 10.5-inch models. Obviously, it makes sense to assume that Samsung has created the 8.4-incher so that it can compete head-to-head with Apple’s popular iPad mini with Retina display.
Surely, the two slates boast equally capable screens, but if you were to choose between the two, which one would be the better option? Keep reading and maybe you’ll be able to make up your mind.
The display difference
The Samsung Galaxy Tab screen is a tad larger, coming with a 8.4-inch Super AMOLED display capable of delivering 2560 x 1600 resolution, while the iPad mini arrives with 7.9-inch panel that brings about 2048 x 1535 pixels to the table.
So the 8.4-inch Galaxy Tab will deliver sharper images, also by virtue of its 359 ppi, compared to the iPad’s 304ppi.
Feel and look
As we mentioned when the Samsung Galaxy Tab S was unveiled, the Korean tech giant has managed to make the tablet sleeker and lighter than its Apple counterpart.
The Galaxy Tab S arrives with 212.8 x 125.6 x 6.6mm / 8.3 x 4.9 x 0.25 inches and weighs 294 g / 0.6 lbs, while the iPad mini has 200 x 134.7 x 7.4 mm / 7.8 x 5.2 x 0.29 inches and is 331 g / 0.72 lbs.
Furthermore, the Galaxy Tab S brings about a fingerprint sensor, a tech that Samsung borrowed from the flagship Galaxy S5. On the other hand, Apple’s iPad mini doesn't have the TouchID finger print sensor that the company planted on the iPhone 5S.
Cameras
The Galaxy Tab S comes with an 8MP rear camera with LED flash and a 2.1MP frontal camera, while the iPad mini only brings 5MP on the back (no flash) and 1.2MP in the front.
Surely, tablet photography isn't exactly popular, but since these tablets are of a smaller variety, the cameras could come in handy.
Performance
The iPad mini takes advantage of Apple’s in-house A7 processor with 64-bit architecture and M7 motion co-processor, bringing a lot of horse power to the device.
Samsung makes use of its own chips with the new Galaxy Tab S, which rely on an Exynos octa-core made up of 1.9GHz quad-core processor and 1.3GHz quad-core unit fitted with 3GB of RAM.
The Galaxy Tab S has a 4900mAh battery working in concert with Ultra Power Saving Mode, so the device should be delivering a comparable life span to the iPad mini.
Operating system
Samsung’s tablet runs Android’s latest KitKat 4.4 software out of the box, while the Apple iPad mini obviously runs the latest iOS. So in this department, it all boils down to personal taste, as both OSes have their advantages and disadvantages.
Pricing
None of the two devices is going to come cheap, as they are both flagship products. The price of the iPad mini with Retina display (Wi-Fi model) with 16GB of RAM starts at $399 / €294, but a 64GB model can go as high as $559 / €412.
The Samsung Galaxy Tab S with 16GB of RAM and Wi-Fi is also up for pre-order for $399 / €294 in the US.