Launched in the middle of last month, Samsung’s Galaxy Tab S range has now landed down under.
Both the 10.4-inch and 8.4-inch tablets will be available soon, in white and bronze. Or, as Samsung is styling it, “dazzling white” and “titanium bronze”.
In the UK and the US, the tablets have been compared to the Apple iPad Air and iPad Mini with Retina. Not only because of size and screen resolution — the Galaxy offerings are actually thinner, lighter and packing more pixels — but also because Samsung has priced them similarly to the Apple devices.
The trend carried over to Australia, where the Tab S devices will match, or slightly undercut, the current Apple pricing on its similar products.
The full pricing list is:
- Galaxy Tab S 8.4-inch, Wi-Fi, 16GB: AU$479
- Galaxy Tab S 8.4-inch, Wi-Fi + 4G, 16GB: AU$629
- Galaxy Tab S 8.4-inch, Wi-Fi, 32GB: AU$579
- Galaxy Tab S 10.5-inch, Wi-Fi, 16GB: AU$599
- Galaxy Tab S 10.5-inch, Wi-Fi, 32GB: AU$699
- Galaxy Tab S 10.5-inch, Wi-Fi + 4G, 16GB: AU$749
While 16GB and 32GB seem on the low end of storage options from such a premium product, it’s worth remembering that the Tab S range have MicroSD slots and can be expanded by another 128GB.
The products will be available across all major telcos and retailers, along with the Samsung speciality shops and Samsung’s recently opened ecommerce store.
Initially, only the AU$599 Tab S 10.5 Wi-Fi 16GB will be available, starting July 14. The other models will follow “at a later date”. All models can be pre-ordered from July 7 at Samsung stores or online.
The tablets also have a suite of optional accessories: two covers and a Bluetooth keyboard. These are all anticipated for the local market, but Samsung has offered no pricing and has said the accessories won’t be available until later in the year.
Edit, Friday 9.35am AEST: Added information on accessories and clarification of model availability.