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Consumers eyeing one of Samsung’s two new Galaxy Tab S tablets can now preorder their chosen model through AT&T.
As of Wednesday, both the Samsung Galaxy Tab S 10.5 and the Galaxy Tab S 8.4 are available for preorder through AT&T’s website as well as the carrier’s retail stores. Preordered units will start shipping around September 23, according to AT&T, while actual sales will start on September 26.
The new tablets are the Korean electronics giant’s latest attempt to outshine Apple’s iPad. A July report from research firm IDC showed the iPad still firmly in the lead of the tablet market with the highest market share and shipments. Samsung and Apple both showed a drop in market share. However, Apple lost ground in the number of tablets shipped, while Samsung had a small increase. Apple is expected to unveil its new iPad Air and iPad Mini sometime in October.
Buyers of either Tab S can choose from a variety of payment plans from AT&T.
Opt for the installment plan route, and the Galaxy Tab S 10.5 will cost you $31.50 per month for 20 months. Go for the standard two-year agreement, and you’ll pay $529. Choose no annual contract or commitment, and the tablet will run you the full retail price of $629. Similarly, the Galaxy Tab S 8.4 will cost you $26.50 per month for 20 months on the installment plan, $429 with a two-year agreement, or $529 with no annual contract.
In a special promotion while supplies last, AT&T customers who buy either tablet can save 50 percent off the Samsung Tab S keyboard.
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Painted in Charcoal Gray, both tablets are equipped with an Exynos 5 Octa Core processor, 3GB of RAM, and a Super AMOLED screen. The Tab S 10.5 display offers a 2,560×1,600-pixel resolution with 359 pixels per inch, while the Tab S 8.4 comes very close with a 2,460×1,600-pixel resolution and the same pixel density of 359 pixels per inch.
The tablets are also light and thin as the Tab S 10.5 weighs 1.03 pounds, while the Tab S 8.4 weighs just 0.45 pounds. Both models are around a quarter of an inch thick.
Several other key features round out the tablets. A multiple user mode lets you set up a different profile for each user. A finger scanner allows each user to unlock the tablet with his or her own unique fingerprint. And the Multi Window feature lets you view and work with more than one app at the same time.
