There may be 10 different Samsung tablets on sale right now—yes, 10, and that’s just in the U.S.—but I couldn’t really tell you what’s special about any. The company is hoping to change that with the all-new Galaxy Tab S. Just like with its flagship line of Galaxy S smartphones, the “S” in this tablet’s name is meant to signal that this is the company’s very best. (Fortunately, the best, in this case, won’t break the bank.)  It certainly has the best screen of any Samsung tablet—or of any tablet, period. Both the 8.4- and 10.5-inch versions of the Tab S have 2560 x 1600 resolution, Super AMOLED screens. That’s far more pixels than the iPad Air and the iPad Mini, and images and video on the display really do look gorgeous.  Some more about that screen: Samsung’s new adaptive display tech automatically adjusts the brightness and contrast of the display on the fly in specific apps. For example, in an e-reading app, the background will be softened and black text sharpened. Cinema Mode kicks in when you are watching a video, delivering a jaw-droppingly crisp picture, with deep blacks and vibrant colors.  The Tab S is also thinner, at 0.25 inches, than Apple ’s iPads, and lighter, too: The 8.4-incher weighs 10 ounces while its 10.5-inch sibling weighs just a pound. But while the matte plastic, Band-Aid-patterned back (the same as on the GS5) feels better than other Samsung tablets, it still doesn’t match the fit and finish of the iPads’ higher-quality aluminum build.  Like Samsung’s flagship smartphone, the Galaxy Tab S also has an octo-core processor and a fingerprint sensor, which the company promises will improve soon through software updates.  The Tab S shares software DNA with the GS5, too. You get Samsung’s usual Android 4.4 trimmings, including the tablet trick that lets you put two apps side by side. (Samsung will also sell a $99 Bluetooth keyboard dock to turn the tablet into a laptop.) However, the amount of preloaded third-party and Samsung apps littering the homescreen is reaching unbearable levels. In fact, Samsung tells me, there are even more preloaded apps on this device because of the added promotional deals with LinkedIn, Marvel, etc.  But Samsung’s new SideSync 3.0 app seems worth keeping—at least if you have a Galaxy S5 phone. When both devices are on the same Wi-Fi network, you can remotely navigate the phone via the tablet’s screen, transfer files between devices, access all your phone apps, and even text and talk on the phone. Yes, the Tab S is now Samsung’s largest phone, technically. Samsung says it plans to add support for other Galaxy phones soon. (See our review of Asus’ example of phone-tablet synergy here.)  Despite Samsung’s premium positioning, the tablets are priced competitively: Available for pre-order on Friday, the 8.4-inch Tab S starts at $399 and the 10.5-incher at $499. Both will ship in July. We’ll have a full review of the tablets closer to then, but for now, the gorgeous screen and slim design certainly elevate the Tab S above the sea of indistinguishable Samsung tablets sitting at Best Buy right now.
By giving its new Galaxy Tab S tablet a name that matches its flagship smartphone, Samsung is hoping to signal that when it comes to tablets, this is the company's very best.