Galaxy Tab S6 is Samsung’s latest shot at taking on the iPad Pro 

Well what do you know, Samsung just announced yet another high-end Android tablet. The tablet in question, called the Galaxy Tab S6, is Samsung’s latest shot at taking on the iPad Pro. It helps that Samsung is the only one doing compelling Android tablets still, but this might just be the first time an Android tablet could trouble the tried and tested iPad Pro – going by what’s in store here. 

The Galaxy Tab S6 follows close on the heels of the mid-tier Galaxy Tab S5e. In fact, some would say, it’s only a stripped-down take on the Galaxy Tab S6 - even though it was launched before, for some unknown reason. 

The most striking aspect of the Galaxy Tab S6 – like the Galaxy Tab S5e – is its design. The Galaxy Tab S6 isn’t the thinnest and lightest tablet in Samsung’s portfolio – that will be the Galaxy Tab S5e – but it gets very close. The design, in fact, is very similar – the Galaxy Tab S6 has an all-metal unibody chassis, and it has a near all-screen display. The tablet will be available in Mountain Gray, Cloud Blue and Rose Blush colour options. 

There are a few changes though. The Galaxy Tab S6 does not have a conventional fingerprint scanner – instead Samsung has opted for an optical in-display fingerprint scanner here. There are dual 13MP+5MP cameras on the back. And there’s a pen-shaped indentation below this module – to magnetically attach the bundled S-Pen stylus (Samsung will be bundling one in the box). Weird, but it’s there.

That S-Pen has been revamped too. Samsung is using the same Bluetooth tech inside it as the S-Pen with the Galaxy Note 9 so you’ll be able to use it as a remote control to shuffle music, take photos, so on and so forth. When attached, the tablet will wirelessly charge the thing in just 10 minutes. As for the Galaxy Tab S6, it has the same sized battery as the Galaxy Tab S5e – which is a 7,040mAh pack with USB Type-C fast charging support built-in. 

The Galaxy Tab S6 also has the same screen – size and resolution – as the Galaxy Tab S5e, which means it also has a 10.5-inch Super AMOLED display with a 2560x1600 pixel resolution and 16:10 aspect ratio. 

What really sets it apart is what’s on the inside though. The Galaxy Tab S6 is powered by Qualcomm’s flagship Snapdragon 855 processor paired with up to 8GB RAM and up to 256GB storage which is also expandable.  

The software inside is One UI and there’s also DeX support that provides a secure desktop-like experience on Android-based Samsung devices.  

Samsung is also launching a new keyboard folio for the Galaxy Tab S6 which could be its biggest headlining feature. Not only does it have function keys, there’s also a trackpad included – both of which were missing out on the last-generation version. The smart keyboard will be sold separately. 

Lastly, the Galaxy Tab S6 also retains the Galaxy Tab S4 and Galaxy Tab S5e’s AKG-tuned quad speaker setup and Dolby Atmos support – completing the whole package.  

Samsung has launched the Wi-Fi only variant of the Galaxy Tab S6 in the US at a starting price of $649 (roughly Rs 45,000) going all the way to $729 (roughly Rs 50,000). An LTE variant should be coming later.   

Also Read:  Samsung Galaxy Tab S5e Review: Fighting The Good Fight To Keep The Android Tablet Alive