Samsung’s first Windows 10-powered tablet, the Galaxy TabPro S, will be coming to Malaysia within the first quarter of the year. Announced just last month at CES 2016, the premium grade laptop will likely bring some competition to Microsoft’s Surface line.
That being said, the Galaxy TabPro S will not be suited for those looking for a full-fledged laptop. It is powered by an Intel Core m3 2.2GHz processor, which is sufficient for daily tasks but may prove inefficient for those demanding more power.
With a 128GB SSD and 4GB of RAM onboard, the TabPro S weighs only 693g and measures 6.3mm thin, making it the thinnest 2-in-1 tablet in the world. It’s worth noting that it is both thinner and lighter than both the Surface Pro 4 and the Apple iPad Pro, making the TabPro S one of the most compact computers around.
That’s not to say there’s not a lot of power on this machine. Underneath the magnesium alloy chassis, there is also a huge, fast charging 5,200mAh battery that’s charged via USB Type-C (instead of a proprietary port), WiFi MIMO, optional LTE SIM slot, 5MP front and rear cameras, and a gorgeous, gorgeous 12” 2160 x 1440 Super AMOLED touch display.
Samsung will also ship the keyboard cover with all Galaxy TabPro S sold here, which is a pretty significant boon considering Microsoft’s decision not to bundle its Touch or Type Cover keyboards with any Surface tablet. The TabPro S keyboard itself is decent, though it’s nothing to shout about.
The cover allows the Galaxy TabPro S to be positioned in two angles: an upright “laptop angle” and a slightly more relaxed angle suited for use when it’s on your lap. In both use modes the magnetic strip holds the keyboard well, but detaches easily when needed.
Unlike 2013’s Ativ Tab 3, which at the time was the lightest Windows 8 tablet in the world but suffered from severe performance issues, the Galaxy TabPro S comes at a time when Intel’s fanless processors are significantly better – and Windows 10 is more forgiving than Windows 8.
Samsung’s maturity in its new flagship devices also mean the TabPro S will likely stir quite a bit of interest when it arrives on our shores in the next couple of months. All that remains to be seen is how competitively it is priced.
The button on the left side is the regular power button, while the one at the top is actually the Windows Start button, with the volume keys next to it.
