Galaxy Tab S vs iPad Air spec by spec
Samsung
has described its new Galaxy Tab S, unveiled in New York earlier in
June, as "industry-leading" when it comes to specifications. In light of
the fact this was probably a dig at Apple's iPad Air, we've pitted the
two tablets head to head on paper, to see which one offers the best
features.
Dimensions
iPad Air: 240x169.5x7.5mm, 478g
Galaxy Tab S: 213x177x6.6mm, 465g
When Apple first unveiled the iPad Air, it was keen to boast that it was – at 7.5mm thick – the thinnest tablet available on the market. But Samsung has stolen the crown, with the Galaxy Tab S measuring a mere 6.6mm. Samsung's latest tablet, despite its larger screen size, is slightly lighter too, with the 3G and 4G versions tipping the scales at 465g and 467g, respectively.
Display
iPad Air: 9.7in, 2048x1536, 264ppi LED-backlit in-plane switching (IPS) screen
Galaxy Tab S: 10.5in, 2560x1600, 288ppi Super Amoled screen
The iPad's screen – since the release of the third-generation model at least – has long been heralded as one of the best, with its Retina display boasting 2048x1536 resolution.
Samsung, however, has once again toppled Apple's flagship device, with its 10.5in Galaxy Tab S boasting a higher, "industry-leading" 2560x1600 touchscreen display. The screen also has Samsung's Super Amoled technology and a 100,000:1 contrast ratio, which should make for deep blacks and bright whites.
However, given that the screen on the Galaxy Tab S is larger than Apple's 9.7in, it remains to be seen which comes out on top in terms of quality.
It's worth noting that the Samsung Galaxy Tab S is also available in an 8.4in model with the same 2560x1600 resolution, pitting it against Apple's latest iPad Mini tablet.
Software
iPad Air: iOS 7
Galaxy Tab S: Android 4.4 KitKat, custom UI
It's always hard to judge a winner in the software category when comparing an Apple and a Samsung device, as most people already know whether they prefer iOS or Android.
The iPad Air runs Apple's latest iOS 7 release, and will be promptly updated to iOS 8 once this is released later in the year. Samsung’s Galaxy Tab S runs the newest version of Google's Android 4.4 KitKat mobile operating system, which it has heavily customised in its own user interface (UI).
Fans of the vanilla version of Android might not be too keen, as Samsung's custom UI sees the tablet's 10.5in screen stuffed full of widgets, custom applications and features. However, some of these will likely come in handy, such as Samsung's S Note app, the ability to answer a call through the tablet and its support for the tablet's on-board fingerprint scanner, adding an extra layer of security to the device.
Despite appearing on the flagship iPhone 5S, the iPad Air doesn't come with a Touch ID sensor.
Dimensions
iPad Air: 240x169.5x7.5mm, 478g
Galaxy Tab S: 213x177x6.6mm, 465g
When Apple first unveiled the iPad Air, it was keen to boast that it was – at 7.5mm thick – the thinnest tablet available on the market. But Samsung has stolen the crown, with the Galaxy Tab S measuring a mere 6.6mm. Samsung's latest tablet, despite its larger screen size, is slightly lighter too, with the 3G and 4G versions tipping the scales at 465g and 467g, respectively.
Display
iPad Air: 9.7in, 2048x1536, 264ppi LED-backlit in-plane switching (IPS) screen
Galaxy Tab S: 10.5in, 2560x1600, 288ppi Super Amoled screen
The iPad's screen – since the release of the third-generation model at least – has long been heralded as one of the best, with its Retina display boasting 2048x1536 resolution.
Samsung, however, has once again toppled Apple's flagship device, with its 10.5in Galaxy Tab S boasting a higher, "industry-leading" 2560x1600 touchscreen display. The screen also has Samsung's Super Amoled technology and a 100,000:1 contrast ratio, which should make for deep blacks and bright whites.
However, given that the screen on the Galaxy Tab S is larger than Apple's 9.7in, it remains to be seen which comes out on top in terms of quality.
It's worth noting that the Samsung Galaxy Tab S is also available in an 8.4in model with the same 2560x1600 resolution, pitting it against Apple's latest iPad Mini tablet.
Software
iPad Air: iOS 7
Galaxy Tab S: Android 4.4 KitKat, custom UI
It's always hard to judge a winner in the software category when comparing an Apple and a Samsung device, as most people already know whether they prefer iOS or Android.
The iPad Air runs Apple's latest iOS 7 release, and will be promptly updated to iOS 8 once this is released later in the year. Samsung’s Galaxy Tab S runs the newest version of Google's Android 4.4 KitKat mobile operating system, which it has heavily customised in its own user interface (UI).
Fans of the vanilla version of Android might not be too keen, as Samsung's custom UI sees the tablet's 10.5in screen stuffed full of widgets, custom applications and features. However, some of these will likely come in handy, such as Samsung's S Note app, the ability to answer a call through the tablet and its support for the tablet's on-board fingerprint scanner, adding an extra layer of security to the device.
Despite appearing on the flagship iPhone 5S, the iPad Air doesn't come with a Touch ID sensor.
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