You’d forgive us all for thinking Android tablets were dead. We’ve seen few released recently, and far fewer that were any good.
However, it seems someone forgot to tell Samsung. Overnight, Samsung released a tablet that looks the goods – something no other manufacturer has been able to do for a long time.
Samsung has announced the Galaxy Tab S5e, a new slimmer, lighter, high-end tablet with new smart features built in. The tablet has been redesigned to be sleeker while still maintaining practicality. It has a thin 5.5mm body (245.0 x 160.0 x 5.5 mm) and weighs just 400gm. Even though the size and weight seem impossibly small, the tablet promises to deliver “up to” 14.5 hours of battery life.
Not surprisingly Bixby 2.0 makes an appearance allowing you to control your smart home devices from the tablet. There is also a keyboard (sold seperately of course) that connects to the tablet via POGO pins. Couple this with Samsung DeX, and you’ve got the promise of a desktop-like experience.
For users who want intelligence that keeps them connected so they can get more done—as well as a big, beautiful screen for a rich, premium entertainment experience—the Tab S5e delivers.DJ Koh, President and CEO of IT & Mobile, Samsung
https://youtu.be/M1YXDvb6P0M
The display on the Galaxy Tab S5e is a vivid 10.5 inch WQXGA SuperAMOLED display (2560 x 1600 pixels and 287ppi). There is both a front and rear camera of 8MP and 13MP respectively but let’s face it, aside from video calls, who really takes photos with a giant 10.5 inch tablet. Media consumption is aided by the four speakers which use stereo technology and include Dolby Atmos integration and are tuned by AKG.
Powering the tablet is an octa-core processor that varies by region- we expect to get an Exynos version here in Australia. Connectivity includes Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac 2.4G+5GHz, and Bluetooth v5.0 with GPS, Glonass etc built in.
On the software side the tablet will be running the latest Android 9.0 out of the box with Samsung’s new OneUI on top. The UI is designed to minimise clutter by giving you content that is most relevant to you.
The Galaxy Tab S5e will be available in Silver, Black and Gold colours and is expected to launch in the second quarter of this year.
Of Australian availability a Samsung Australia spokesperson said:
Ahead of its global UNPACKED media event in San Francisco next week, Samsung Electronics has revealed the Galaxy Tab S5e. Samsung Electronics Australia can confirm that the new tablet will be available in Australia, with local pricing and availability to be confirmed closer to local launch.
There is little doubt Samsung will have this at MWC for us to get a look at and I for one am really looking forward to it. I thought Android tablets were dead.
Maybe not.
