Galaxy TabPro S’s specs
The Samsung Galaxy TabPro S is not represented in a single variant. I'm talking about the specs, not just a color. Thus, I got a younger version labeled SM-W700. More advanced variants offer twice more capacious SSD, as well as the ability to work in the LTE-networks with the support of the standards up to LTE Cat.6.
As you can see, the mentioned versions of the tablet are not much better than that I had to deal with. In terms of speed, they are identical, though the 256GB SSD is still more pleasant, especially in Windows 10. At the same time the amount of RAM is fixed – the 8GB version is unavailable, although the Surface Pro 4 can be bought with even a 16 GB RAM (!).
The Galaxy TabPro S has got an Intel Core m3 Dual-Core 2.2Ghz 6th generation processor, which has two full 64-bit Skylake x86-cores working at 0.9 GHz, and accelerating up to 2.2 GHz. At the same time, there is support of the Hyper-Threading technology, so that the chip can execute up to four threads simultaneously. The processor is manufactured on 14 nm process technology, and has TDP of 4.5 watts.
Perhaps, it is necessary to explain all this "explosion of terms" in a simple language. Compared to the typical Android- and iOS-tablets, which use a variety of ARM-based processors and inexpensive Intel Atom, a full-fledged, though low-frequency Core m3 still works a lot better. Theoretically, it could exceed any chip like this, including Apple A9X, which can be found in the iPad Pro. I will say more – the Core M is installed in the 12-inch Apple MacBook laptops! The funniest thing here is that the Core m3 can also be used in the Surface Pro 4, but Microsoft is giving preference to more powerful modifications Core i5 and even Core i7. No wonder the Microsoft Surface is much thicker and heavier – it is designed for much stronger processors.
Now, Intel HD Graphics 515. Compared to the average laptop graphics card, it is certainly weak, but for a tablet, this is not a bad option. Its performance is somewhere on the level of the average mobile accelerator 2012, for example, AMD Radeon 7570M. Inside HD Graphics 515 has got 24 executive units, working at a frequency of 300 to 850 MHz, depending on the load. It supports graphics API OpenGL 4.4 and DirectX 12. There is also support of 4K-resolution with a vertical frequency up to 60 Hz. The interfaces have compatibility with the DisplayPort 1.2 and HDMI 1.4.
As for RAM, everything is not so cool as it could be theoretically. It has 4 GB, and no other options there. Basically, that's enough for relatively simple operations, for which the plate is created, but, I should remember, the Surface Pro 4 can be purchased in versions 8 and 16 GB of RAM. In addition, the Core m3 processor can support up to 16 GB of RAM. By the way, it has two memory channels that turned out to be involved, which is nice. However, Samsung installed DDR3-800 modules, though the same processor pulls their frequency to 1866 MHz. Perhaps, this is made because of energy considerations, rather than for the sake penny savings.
SSD 128 GB is not so good as it may seem. Of course, it is a lot for Android-devices, but for full-fledged Windows 10 the situation is different, especially if you use the Galaxy TabPro S as a particularly compact variant of the laptop. Programs can quickly take the entire place available, and if movies are added... In general, 256 GB will be really much of use, trust me. Again, we remember the Surface Pro 4, which may provide up to 1 TB of free space, and there is support of memory cards!
Communication abilities look typical. There is support of Wi-Fi 802.11ac standard, which is the fastest one, along with Bluetooth 4.1. The surprise was the presence of the NFC-module - someone will find it useful. In addition, interfaces can be expanded by the USB port, if you connect it to the USB-hub, or through the purchase of the device version with 4G-module.
In general, the characteristics of the Samsung Galaxy TabPro S look much simpler, compared to the Surface Pro 4, although it exceeds low-cost Windows-tablets. It's more like a low-power laptop - obviously, it is positioned in this category.
Performance testing
To measure the performance of the tablet Samsung Galaxy TabPro S, I got one of its main competitors – the Microsoft Surface Pro 4. Actually, you should not be a genius to guess who will win. But it is interesting to figure out how much is the gap between the devices.
You know, the difference is not very big. The Microsoft tablet had an Intel Core i5-6300U processor, which was supposed to be much faster, but there was not serious leading in the system-wide test PCMark 8.
While measuring "pure" processing power, the Galaxy TabPro S appeared to be unexpectedly much behind even the iPad Pro with its ARM-chip A9X. Apparently, it is caused by the low frequency of the Core m3-6Y30. Though it is able to accelerate to 2.2 GHz, but only temporarily, if there is an external power supply, and if it is not very hot. Overall, the nominal frequency of the processor is only 0.9 GHz.
The graphic component of the tablet Samsung is good, but still rather weak taking into account its de facto laptop processor Core i5. Though they have the same number of pipelines, but the operating frequency of the GPU is lower. On the other hand, the typical games that are available on Android, the Galaxy TabPro S will manage easily. But there is one detail - the tablet runs on ordinary Windows 10, where games require a much more powerful graphics card, and generally are not focused on the touch-sensitive controls. It should be understood that you can play only simple casual games on the Windows-based tablet, which run with no issue here.
But here is the back side of the less powerful processor - good autonomy. Of course, it is much behind the Android-plates, but still noticeably better than in the Surface Pro 4. At the same time, I recall that the Samsung device is thinner and lighter.
Subjectively, the performance of the Samsung Galaxy TabPro S is sufficient. If you consider it as a special version of the ultra-compact laptop, which does not have to deal with serious computation, then you will not feel any discomfort while working with the tablet. And I should remember, there is a bonus of better autonomy, which compensates in some way a relatively low operating speed.
