Samsung’s Galaxy Tab S2 out in Singapore in August

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The Galaxy Tab S2, the update to Samsung’s high-end Android tablets this year, will go on sale in Singapore next month, as they buck the trend of ever-expanding screens in previous years.

The larger of the two new models comes with a 9.7-inch screen instead of the 10.5-incher of last year’s Galaxy Tab S, while the smaller one offers an 8-inch screen instead of 8.4 inches.

The smaller screen sizes seem to follow Apple’s iPads, which also sport a 4:3 aspect ratio that is more squarish than the longer 16:9 that many Android tablets have adopted.

However, both new Galaxy Tab S2s will still feature Super AMOLED displays that bring the Korean manufacturer’s trademark bright and vibrant colours, when they reach stores in Singapore from August 7.

The two tablets are also touted for their slim profile and light weight. Samsung claim they are the thinnest around now at 5.6mm, beating out even Sony’s Xperia Z4 tablet.

Tipping the scales at 389g for the larger version and 265g for the smaller one, the new Samsung tablets also feel very light in the hands. That’s what we felt when trying them out briefly at a Singapore launch this week.

The portability should be welcome at a time when fully loaded but still lightweight laptops are proving to be popular alternatives to tablets.

The new Samsung tablets seem to be competitively priced as well, especially when compared to Sony’s Xperia Z4, which costs closer to S$1,000.

Here are the prices for the various versions:

· Galaxy Tab S2 (9.7-inch) Wi-Fi: S$698

· Galaxy Tab S2 (9.7-inch) 4G+: S$798

· Galaxy Tab S2 (8-inch) Wi-Fi: S$598

· Galaxy Tab S2 (8-inch) 4G+: S$698