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Samsung Galaxy Tab S3 9.7
Samsung Galaxy Tab S3 9.7
Samsung Galaxy Tab S3 9.7
Samsung Galaxy Tab S3 9.7
...


7.5/10
Informr score
The Samsung Galaxy Tab S3 9.7 currently has an Informr score of 7.5 out of 10. This score is based on our evaluation of 39 sources including reviews from users and the web's most trusted critics.

What's good

  • Bright, vivid display
  • Sturdy, lightweight design
  • microSD support
  • S Pen included

What's bad

  • Limited internal storage options
  • So-so camera

Taking aim at the iPad, Samsung’s latest tablet claims to offer the best of a laptop and tablet in one. But few Android tablets have yet to compete in the market against the iPad and with the bounty of affordable options out there, does a premium tablet make it worth the investment?

Reviews are rolling in for Samsung’s new flagship tablet and we’ve scoured them all to bring you this summary!

Let’s see what they’re saying…

If you’re expecting a larger version of Samsung’s Galaxy S8, the design of the Galaxy Tab S3 9.7 might disappoint. It sticks to the 7-series design aesthetic with chunky bezels and physical buttons along the bottom of the display.

That said, while reviewers weren’t hugely impressed by the design of the tablet, they loved its lightweight and how the glass back felt in their hands. Unfortunately, they also found that the glass back was horrible for fingerprints.

Heading around front, the reviews get better. The 9.7-inch 1536-by-2048 AMOLED screen impressed most reviewers. While the display is HDR-ready, reviewers had trouble sourcing HDR content. And the 4:3 screen ratio means you’ll be dealing with black bars when watching video.

However, this is balanced by ultra-rich colors and a display that looks good both in dim lighting or broad daylight. Pocket Lint summed up opinions well, saying, “... the point to take away from the S3's screen is that it's as good as any competitor. It's resolute, plenty bright and images really seem to pop from its surface.”

The design isn’t the only thing borrowed from a past release—the 2.15Ghz octa-core Snapdragon 820 processor is from last year’s flagship line as well. Fortunately, when paired with 4GB of RAM, no one complained about performance.

The tablet’s four speakers lead to high marks for gaming and media viewing while the included S Pen earned praise on the productivity front. While the tablet might not be a complete laptop replacement, reviews show it’s flexible.

Storage space is a mixed bag. While the tablet offers 32GB of storage, nearly 10GB is reserved for the system files. If you need more space, you'll need a microSD card.

The tablet runs Android 7.0 Nougat. Reviews on Samsung’s TouchWiz were mixed. While most felt it was simple enough to use, many questioned why they didn’t use their newer interface and found the duplicated apps frustrating.

If you’re hoping to use your tablet for video chat, the front-facing 7MP camera was a hit. However, the 13MP camera didn’t fare as well. Most reviewers had issues getting clear shots in anything other than bright daylight.

While many reviewers questioned the 6,000mAh battery included in the tablet, no one complained about battery life. TechRadar put it through its paces and said, “Samsung says the Tab S3 has enough juice for 12 hours of video playback, and that claim is just about backed up by our testing, with 30 minutes difference between what we saw and the official estimate.”

Overall, reviews are positive. While the tablet includes the updated S Pen, it doesn’t include a keyboard. So if you’re planning serious productivity work, expect to shell out more than the sticker price. However, outside of price, there was little to find fault with. TechRadar summarized thoughts well, saying, “It’s the best Android tablet today, but just be aware that its solid entertainment value leans more heavily on the tablet side of its 2-in-1 classification, at the expense of your productivity efforts.”


Android
Operating system
Operating system
Android
2.15 GHz
Processor
Processor
2.15 GHz
9.7"
Screen Size
Screen Size
9.7"
13+ MP, f/1.9
Camera
Camera
13+ MP, f/1.9
6000 mAh
Battery


What the Critics Are Saying...


Gadgets 360
Gadgets 360

The Galaxy Tab S3 is light and easy to carry around, and could be a fun travel companion or a way to get some work done. It's much less expensive than a 10.5-inch iPad Pro with cellular data plus an Apple Pencil, but the iOS ecosystem is still more tablet-friendly. Plus, the usage experience is more...

- Jamshed Avari, Gadgets 360
What Hi-Fi
What Hi-Fi

For all its faults, the Samsung Galaxy Tab S3 is probably the best Android tablet on the market at the moment. If you’re already deep in Google’s ecosystem and have the money to spend, then this is the tablet to go for. If not, you might want to consider the other options available.

- What Hi-Fi
The Wirecutter
The Wirecutter

The Galaxy Tab S3 has an amazing Super AMOLED screen with HDR and an included active stylus. It's expensive, but this is the best Android tablet available.

- Ryan Whitwam, The Wirecutter
finder.com.au
finder.com.au

The Galaxy Tab S3 is a great tablet for entertainment purposes and passable for productivity, but Apple's iPad Pro remains the pro tablet to buy if you're happy working with iOS.

- Alex Kidman, finder.com.au
The Gadgeteer
The Gadgeteer

This is a worthy upgrade from the Galaxy S2 model and is hands-down the leading Android tablet out there. And that is not solely because most of the competitors (including Google) seemed to have left the market. On its own merit, the S3 is a great device. At $650 (what I paid new for the LTE version...

- David Ferreira, The Gadgeteer


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Quick view

Screen Size
9.7"

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S3 9.7's screen size is 9.7 inches with 1536 x 2048 pixels resolution.

Processor
2.15 GHz

There is a Qualcomm MSM8996 Snapdragon 820 Quad core 2.15 GHz processor (CPU).

OS

The tablet runs on the Android 7.0 Nougat (Update Available: 8.0 Oreo) operating system (OS).

Camera
13+ MP
You can take photos with the phone's onboard 13+ MP, f/1.9 camera. There is also a secondary front facing camera with 5+ megapixels resolution.
Storage
32 GB

Internal memory is 32 GB. An external, MicroSD, MicroSDHC, microSDXC (up to 256 GB) expansion slot is available for increased storage capacity.

Battery
6000mAh

The tablet is powered by a Lithium Polymer (Li-Pol), 6000 mAh battery. Samsung's performance ratings are 8 hours Wi-Fi surfing.

Galaxy Tab S3 9.7 Specs

Overview
Release Date March 24, 2017
Regions Available USA, Canada, United Kingdom
Operating System Android 7.0 Nougat (Update Available: 8.0 Oreo)

Compare Android Smartphones

Processor Qualcomm MSM8996 Snapdragon 820 Quad core 2.15 GHz
Internal Storage 32 GB
RAM 4 GB
Hearing Aid Compatible No
TTY/TDD No
SAR Body: 1.09 W/kg
Manufacturer Warranty 1 Year
Accessories Included USB Power Adapter, Manual, Data Cable, Stylus
Cellular
Networks
No
Mobile / Cellular Data
No (Option available)
Wi-Fi Calling No
Voice over LTE (VoLTE) Unknown
SIM card size
No
variations
Dual SIM No
Connectivity
USB USB Type-C
USB OTG Support Yes
GPS Type A-GPS
Infrared No
Bluetooth 4.2
Bluetooth Profiles A2DP, AVRCP, OPP/FTP, HFP, HSP
Bluetooth Audio Codecs SBC
Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n
Memory Expansion Slot Yes
Expansion Slot Info MicroSD, MicroSDHC, microSDXC (up to 256 GB)
NFC No
Camera
Main Camera
Resolution / Aperture
13+ Megapixels, f/1.9
Zoom
Yes
Flash
Yes (LED)
Additional Main Camera Info
Auto focus, Effects, Geotagging, ISO, Multi-shot, Panorama, Self-timer, Hyperlapse, HDR
Video Recording Formats
3GP / 3GPP, H.264 / AVC, MPEG-4, WMV
Video Recording Parameters
Ultra HD (3840 x 2160 pixels), 30 fps
Front Camera
Resolution / Aperture
5+ Megapixels
Additional Front Camera Info
No
Video Recording Parameters
Display / Screen
Type Color
Technology AMOLED
Colors 16.7 million
Resolution 1536 x 2048 pixels
Pixel density 265 pixels
Size 9.7 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 6000 mAh
Removable Battery No
Wireless Charging No
Fast Charging Yes
Battery Charge Time 3 hours
Video Playback Time Up to 12 hours
Internet Use (Wi-Fi) Up to 8 hours
Internet Use (Cellular) Up to 8 hours
Standby Time Unknown
Mixed Usage
Physical Characteristics
Material Plastic
Colors Black, White, Silver
Dimensions [H x W x D] 23.7 x 16.9 x 0.6 cm (9.3 x 6.7 x 0.2 in)
Weight 429 grams
Water Resistant / Waterproof No
Rugged design No
IP Rating No
Headset Jack 3.5mm
External Speakers Yes
Input / Navigation
Touchscreen Yes
Sleep / Wake Key Yes
Home Key No
Physical keyboard No
Text-to-Speech Yes
Screen Reader No
Keypad/Screen Lock Yes
External Volume Control Yes
Fingerprint Sensor Yes
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Additional Information Other Names (AKA):
Related Links Manual (PDF)
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