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Samsung Galaxy Tab S2 8.0
Samsung Galaxy Tab S2 8.0
Samsung Galaxy Tab S2 8.0
Samsung Galaxy Tab S2 8.0
...


8.1/10
Informr score
The Samsung Galaxy Tab S2 8.0 currently has an Informr score of 8.1 out of 10. This score is based on our evaluation of 14 sources including reviews from users and the web's most trusted critics.

What's good

  • Colorful display with deep blacks and good sunlight legibility
  • Incredibly thin and light
  • Premium build quality

What's bad

  • Poor battery life
  • Mediocre camera
  • Adaptive Display technology adjust color and brightness unnecessarily

According to the International Data Corporation, tablet sales are on the decline for most manufacturers. Despite this, Samsung released the Galaxy Tab S2 8.0 – their answer to the iPad Mini 4. In order to lure consumers away from the ever growing phablet market, Samsung has added some key improvements over the Galaxy Tab S 8.4. One of the most noticeable changes is its size. It is incredibly thin at 0.22 inches and weighs a scant 264 grams making it lighter than the iPad Mini 4. The light weight is due in part to Samsung's use of a plastic back instead of aluminum. While some experts felt it led to a less than premium feel they all agree it was much better than the faux-leather texture of the Tab S 8.4. It isn't all plastic though as the sides are metal and a coating of Gorilla Glass protects the front. Critics were impressed with the sturdy build quality with Trusted Reviews stating, "During an accidental drop-test onto a carpeted floor, the Galaxy Tab S2 proved it's well built. It survived the experience scratch-, chip- and crack-free."

The Gorilla Glass protects the 8-inch, Super AMOLED display. With a resolution of 2,048 x 1,536 the Tab S2 8.0 provides a pixel density of 320ppi. While a slight drop from its predecessor, critics still call it "stunning" and could barely see any differences. They were mainly awed by the vivid and accurate colors, deep blacks and excellent contrast. In addition, they also found it to be very bright, making it easy for them to read outside on sunny days. The biggest change to the display is the new aspect ratio of 4:3. Most experts welcomed this change as it was easier for them to read books, play games and surf the web. The only issue some had with the screen was its Adaptive Display technology. This technology is supposed to automatically optimize the display for better performance in different lighting situations, but many reviewers found it often adjusted the color level and brightness unnecessarily. There is an option to turn this feature off but ultimately the presets they were left with – AMOLED Cinema, AMOLDED Photo, Basic and Reading – all looked far worse than the out-of-box settings.

The Tab S2 comes with an octa-core processor comprised of a 1.3GHz and 1.9GHz quad-core processor and 3GB of RAM. While it doesn't sport the fastest processor on the market, critics still describe its performance as "buttery smooth" with no stutters even when performing more demanding tasks. It also comes with up to 64GB of onboard storage which can be increased to 128GB via microSD. Battery life sadly did not last reviewers as long as they hoped, clocking in at under 10.

Although camera quality is not the biggest consideration when purchasing a tablet, Samsung still upgraded the Tab S2 to an 8MP main camera. Experts were surprised with the camera as it was able to take fairly detailed and color accurate photos in good lighting situations. Low light settings were noisy, which did not surprise experts as it there is no flash.

While not perfect, most reviewers recommend the Galaxy Tab S2 8.0 for people looking for a small and lightweight tablet. Laptop Mag states, "…the Tab S2 is an enjoyable Android tablet that's worth the investment." PC Mag adds, "If you're in the market for a smaller tablet, it should be at the top of your list."


Android
Operating system
Operating system
Android
1.9 GHz
Processor
Processor
1.9 GHz
8"
Screen Size
Screen Size
8"
8+ MP
Camera
Camera
8+ MP
4000 mAh
Battery


What the Critics Are Saying...


Android Community
Android Community

Samsung has done an admirable job with the Tab S2 8.0, hitting tons of big selling points for mid-sized tablets. It has a great screen for all kinds of tasks, is amazingly thin and light, and has really solid performance and battery life. The Tab S2 8.0 even has one advantage over non-Samsung tablet...

- Andrew Martonik, Android Community
TechRadar
TechRadar

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S2 is a lightweight tablet that's a lightweight upgrade over last year's Galaxy Tab S. Andbeyond the thinner and lighter design, it can't keep up with the iPad Air 2. There's still plenty of reason to invest in this reading and web surfing-friendly tablet. Its size and shape...

- Matt Swider, TechRadar
Tech Advisor
Tech Advisor

We loved the Galaxy Tab S2 since the very first time we got our hands on it back in August, and upon further investigation and after spending more time with it we just love it even more. It's a tablet well worth considering if you've been thinking about buying the iPad mini 4, as it can contend and...

- Ashleigh Allsopp, Tech Advisor
G Style Magazine
G Style Magazine

It’s a mixed bag with the Samsung Galaxy Tab S2. I think I may have gotten so used to the 16:9 aspect ratio and end to end stereo speakers of the original Tab S it is hard for me to adapt fully to the Tab S2. The Galaxy Tab S2 does excel though in its multitasking with split screen options, ex...

- Jason Million, G Style Magazine
TechSpot
TechSpot

So is the Galaxy Tab S2 worth it at its asking price? Probably not, considering the wider field of tablets available today, especially those from Apple. However, if you’re heavily invested in the Android ecosystem, and want a slick tablet that features (mostly) top-end hardware, the Galaxy Tab...

- Tim Schiesser, TechSpot


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Quick view

Screen Size
8"

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S2 8.0's screen size is 8 inches with 1536 x 2048 pixels resolution.

Processor
1.9 GHz

There is a Samsung Exynos 7420 Octa core 1.9 GHz processor (CPU).

OS

The tablet runs on the Android 5.0 Lollipop (Update Available: 7.0 Nougat) operating system (OS).

Camera
8+ MP
You can take photos with the phone's onboard 8+ MP camera. There is also a secondary front facing camera with 2+ megapixels resolution.
Storage
32/64 GB

Internal memory is 32/64 GB. An external, MicroSD, MicroSDHC, microSDXC (up to 128 GB) expansion slot is available for increased storage capacity.

Battery
4000mAh

The tablet is powered by a Lithium Polymer (Li-Pol), 4000 mAh battery. Samsung's performance ratings are 10 hours Wi-Fi surfing.

Galaxy Tab S2 8.0 Specs

Overview
Release Date August 31, 2015
Regions Available USA, Canada, United Kingdom
Operating System Android 5.0 Lollipop (Update Available: 7.0 Nougat)

Compare Android Smartphones

Processor Samsung Exynos 7420 Octa core 1.9 GHz
Internal Storage 32/64 GB
RAM 3 GB
Hearing Aid Compatible No
TTY/TDD No
SAR Body: 1.068 W/kg
Manufacturer Warranty 1 Year
Accessories Included USB Power Adapter, Manual, Data Cable
Cellular
Networks
No
Mobile / Cellular Data
No (Option available)
Wi-Fi Calling Unknown
Voice over LTE (VoLTE) Unknown
SIM card size
No
variations
Dual SIM No
Connectivity
USB Micro-USB 2.0
USB OTG Support No
GPS Type A-GPS
Infrared No
Bluetooth 4.1
Bluetooth Profiles A2DP, AVRCP, OPP/FTP, HFP, HSP
Bluetooth Audio Codecs SBC, aptX
Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n
Memory Expansion Slot Yes
Expansion Slot Info MicroSD, MicroSDHC, microSDXC (up to 128 GB)
NFC No
Camera
Main Camera
Resolution / Aperture
8+ Megapixels
Zoom
Yes
Flash
No
Additional Main Camera Info
Auto focus, Effects, Face detection, Geotagging, Panorama, Self-timer, HDR
Video Recording Formats
3GP / 3GPP, H.264 / AVC, MPEG-4, WMV
Video Recording Parameters
Front Camera
Resolution / Aperture
2+ Megapixels
Additional Front Camera Info
No
Video Recording Parameters
Display / Screen
Type Color
Technology Super AMOLED
Colors 16.7 million
Resolution 1536 x 2048 pixels
Pixel density 320 pixels
Size 8 inches
Sensors Ambient Light, Proximity, Motion / Accelerometer, Gyroscope
Backlit Illumination Yes
Zoom / Magnification Yes
Screen Orientation Lock Yes
Multi-Touch Yes
Fingerprint-Resistant Coating No
Additional Display Features Capacitive touch screen
Power & Battery
Type Lithium Polymer (Li-Pol)
Battery Capacity 4000 mAh
Removable Battery No
Wireless Charging No
Fast Charging No
Battery Charge Time 4 hours
Video Playback Time Up to 14 hours
Internet Use (Wi-Fi) Up to 10 hours
Internet Use (Cellular) Up to 9 hours
Standby Time Up to 23 days
Mixed Usage
Physical Characteristics
Material Aluminium
Colors Black, White
Dimensions [H x W x D] 19.9 x 13.5 x 0.6 cm (7.8 x 5.3 x 0.2 in)
Weight 265 grams
Water Resistant / Waterproof Unknown
Rugged design No
IP Rating No
Headset Jack 3.5mm
External Speakers Yes
Input / Navigation
Touchscreen Yes
Sleep / Wake Key Yes
Home Key Yes
Physical keyboard No
Text-to-Speech Yes
Screen Reader No
Keypad/Screen Lock Yes
External Volume Control Yes
Fingerprint Sensor No
More
Additional Information Other Names (AKA):

Built-in Fingerprint Sensor

Related Links Manual (PDF)
Samsung Galaxy Tab S2 8.0 Reviews
Where to buy Samsung Galaxy Tab S2 8.0
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