Samsung Galaxy TabPro S review: Super screen, but it’s no Surface Pro

The Microsoft Surface was revolutionary when it first debuted four years ago. The idea of a wraparound keyboard case on a tablet that ran Windows meant that – in theory at least – you could forgo the laptop for a lighter, much more portable device.

If imitation is the most sincere form of flattery, then it’s a testament to Microsoft that the design is now commonplace, and no longer limited to Windows devices. With the iPad Pro, Apple has at last conceded that a keyboard and stylus is sometimes handy, and now here is Samsung’s alternative. Running Windows 10, it’s a direct competitor to the Microsoft Surface Pro 4 and HP Spectre x2. So how does it do?

Samsung Galaxy TabPro S: Appearance

Retailing at £850, the Galaxy TabPro S is expensive for a tablet, even a 12in one such as this, so it’s just as well it looks the part. The detachable tablet is curved on the edges and flat on the back – like someone took a rolling pin to the Galaxy S7 in the best possible sense. It doesn’t have any physical home button, unlike a phone, and the bezel is perhaps a little thicker than I’d like, but it still looks the part.

Unlike some of its rivals, it’s also pretty cleanly designed, having as it does a single USB Type-C port, used for data connections and charging. This presents its own problems, but in terms of appearance, it keeps things streamlined and minimalist.[gallery:5]

Add the faux-leather keyboard case that comes bundled with it and things look, if anything, more stylish. Just as with Microsoft’s Surface series of tablets, the keyboard sits completely flush against the table when it’s folded up and adds barely any heft at all to the machine as you carry it around.

Samsung Galaxy TabPro S: Screen

The main selling point of the Galaxy TabPro S is its stunning AMOLED screen, and it’s the main reason you might consider buying one ahead of its rivals. Anyone who has used a recent Samsung Galaxy S phone will know what to expect here: perfect contrast with true black, impeccable colour accuracy, and sharp, vibrant image quality.

The Galaxy TabPro delivers. At 12in across the diagonal, it’s around four times the size of your average smartphone with the same resolution (2,160 x 1,400); the pixel density is a little lower, but bear in mind that it’s still a higher resolution than the majority of televisions. In other words, it’s sharp enough for most people’s needs, and just as adding 4K to a smartphone screen is just plain silly, it would be overkill here as well.[gallery:3]

So, onto the numbers. In our tests, we registered a top brightness of 363cd/m2, which is extremely high for any laptop screen, and it covers 99.9% of the sRGB gamut. Being AMOLED, its contrast ratio is perfect too. In other words, you’d be hard pushed to find a better display on a device this size, be it a tablet, laptop or convertible.

It’s also stylus-compatible, just like the Surface Pro 4 and HP Spectre x2, although Samsung’s Bluetooth C-Pen stylus isn’t included in the box, which is disappointing.  

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Samsung Galaxy TabPro S: Performance

Powering the Samsung Galaxy TabPro S is a dual-core Intel Core m3 CPU, backed up by 4GB of RAM and a 128GB SSD. That’s the same CPU you’ll find within the HP Spectre x2 and entry-level Surface Pro 4, so we’re on a reasonably level playing field here.

What this translates to in terms of day-to-day performance is a hybrid that will cope fine with word processing, web browsing and media consumption, but which might struggle to keep up with anything more complex. Although this is a Windows system, intensive gaming is pretty much out, given that Intel’s HD Graphics 515 chip isn’t the most powerful around.

In our demanding image, video and multitasking benchmark tests, the TabPro S gained an overall score of 32. That’s ahead of the HP Spectre x2, which only achieved 23, but some way behind the Core i5 Surface Pro 4 reviewed earlier, which scored 44.

You might have thought the AMOLED screen would cause a dip in battery life, but that doesn’t seem to be the case. The Samsung Galaxy TabPro S lasted a thoroughly respectable 6hrs 53mins before shutting down and requiring a recharge. With screen brightness set to 170cd/m2 to ensure parity, the TabPro S lasted a whole hour longer than the Spectre x2, although it lagged an hour behind the Surface Pro 4.[gallery:2]

One final positive and negative about the battery: the Galaxy TabPro is powered by a USB Type-C charging cable. The plus side of this is that the whole thing charges from flat to full in a mere two-and-a-half hours. The negative is that this kind of cable still isn’t commonplace, and Samsung hasn’t thrown any kind of adapter in the box.

Samsung Galaxy TabPro S: Keyboard cover

Another negative comes in the form of the keyboard cover, which despite the huge bonus of being included in the box, is far from the best I’ve used. Samsung has managed to get full-sized keys in place (including a full compliment of F-keys), but with virtually no space between them, typos are frequent, and the whole thing feels a little claustrophobic.

The trackpad isn’t much better. I’m still yet to use a trackpad as good as an Apple MacBook’s on a Windows laptop, and this one changes nothing. It feels smooth under the finger, but its heavy, mechanical click and tiny dimensions mean accidental clicks, drags and moves are a frequent and irritating occurrence.[gallery:1]

The case isn’t as adaptable as its HP or Microsoft rivals, with only two typing positions on offer: an upright position for on-desk use, and a more shallow angle for when you want to work on your lap. The TabPro S’ quality and broad viewing angles ensure this isn’t a deal-breaker, though.

The worst thing about the design of the keyboard case, however, is the way it attaches to the rear of the tablet. Fail to clip it on perfectly and you run the risk of the two parting company in a sudden, and potentially catastrophic manner.

Samsung Galaxy TabPro S: Verdict

The Samsung Galaxy TabPro S is a confident first step in the space for Samsung, and it gets a huge amount right, not least the quality of the screen, which is top-class, but also for the fact that it includes a keyboard in the box where its main rivals charge extra.

But that keyboard cover – a critical part in the design of any 2-in-1 device – falls a long way short. Typing the entirety of the review on this has left me really missing a full-sized chunky keyboard.[gallery:8]

As an alternative to the Surface Pro 4 and HP Spectre x2, it’s in a tough place. It’s a better performer than the HP, but it’s much more expensive and doesn’t come with a stylus. It’s slightly cheaper than the equivalent spec of Surface Pro 4 once you factor in the cost of the Surface’s Type Cover, but once you factor in the cost of that stylus, which is included with the Microsoft device, it’s actually a touch pricier.  

Ultimately, your love for the Samsung Galaxy TabPro S will depend a lot on how you plan to use it. The screen quality means that people who use it a lot as a tablet will find it a wonderful companion, but those who do serious word processing would probably be better off with a laptop, or a hybrid with a stronger keyboard. The battle for the best hybrid, then, remains a face-off between Apple and Microsoft.

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