Galaxy Tab S vs. iPad Air: How Samsung’s latest tablet stacks up

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The Samsung Galaxy Tab S
Sarah Tew/CNET

Samsung has announced the Galaxy Tab S, and it’s poised to take on Apple’s iPad.

On paper, the Galaxy Tab S beats the iPad in just about every way: a higher resolution, support for up to 128GB of expandable storage and faster wireless connectivity are packed into a body that’s just 6mm (0.23 inches) thick.

Samsung introduces the Galaxy Tab S (pictures)

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The new Galaxy Tab S also borrows a few features from Samsung’s smartphones, like the ability to open two apps at the same time. You’ll be able to use SideSync to pair the Galaxy Tab S with supported devices like the Galaxy S5 . Once the devices are connected to one another via Wi-Fi, you can transfer files between them, or even make calls from your tablet. A tablet-optimized version of Samsung’s Milk Music service will also be available.

The Galaxy Tab S will be available with an 8.4-inch and a 10.5-inch display, though the specs will remain the same across both models. Check our chart below for all of the details.

Samsung Galaxy Tab S vs. the iPad Air

Galaxy Tab S iPad Air
Price $499/£399/AU$599 (10.5 inches), $399/£319/AU$479 (8.4 inches) $499/£399/AU$598 (16GB)
Storage 16GB Up to 128GB
Thickness 0.23 inches / 6.6mm 0.29 inches / 7.5mm
Weight 1 pound (454g) at 10.5 inches; 10 ounces (283g) at 8.4 inches 1 pound (454g)
OS Android 4.4 KitKat iOS 7
CPU 1.9GHz Exynos S Octa CPU Apple A7 chip
Display 2,560×1,600 pixels 2,048×1,536 pixels
RAM 3GB 1GB
Expansion slot Up to 128GB microSD No
Connectivity 802.11ac, LTE 802.11n, LTE
Battery 11 hours of video Up to 10 hours
Camera 8 megapixels with flash; 2.1-megapixels front-facing 5 megapixels; 1.2-megapixel front-facing

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