Samsung Galaxy Tab S4 Overview

Samsung's Galaxy Tab S series has been providing a premium Android experience for several years. With the new Galaxy Tab S4, Samsung has updated its unique S Pen for improving productivity, as well as delivering a high-class work and entertainment suite.

Samsung DeX Mode

First seen in the Galaxy S8 smartphone range, Samsung DeX is a unique "Desktop Experience". Originally designed to be used with a dock that extended the display to a second screen, DeX is now built directly into Samsung's software for the Note9, Tab S4, and future high-end devices.

You can switch the Galaxy Tab S4 to DeX Mode via the on-screen Quick Panel. It will also activate automatically if you drop the tablet into the official Samsung Keyboard Dock (sold separately).

Once you enter DeX mode, a traditional desktop like interface is displayed. This has a taskbar at the bottom of the screen and windowed environment for compatible apps. Standard desktop features such as copy/paste and drag-and-drop between windows are allowed, as well as keyboard shortcuts for useful commands.

With the Samsung Tab S4 Keyboard Cover or your preferred Wireless Keyboard & Mouse set up, you can get on with some proper work, without the limitations of a normal mobile operating system environment.

Samsung Tab S4 keyboard & mouse sold separately

Connect to a Big Screen

DeX mode can also be used to extend your display to another screen. Using the official Samsung USB-C to HDMI adapter, it's a quick and easy connection to any HDMI-equipped monitor, TV or projector.

When connected to a 2nd screen, you can choose to keep the DeX display on the tablet (mirroring) or switch the tablet display off and use it as a large touchpanel for navigating or other interactions.

For instance, load up your favourite image editing suite, then use the included Samsung S Pen to highlight, move, draw, colour or paint. This mode can also be used for handwriting notes or making freehand selections of images or text.

Samsung USB-C to HDMI adapter required for Dex Big Screen connectivity

A full-screen experience in a compact body

At 10.5", the Galaxy Tab S4 has a fairly expansive display, while remaining slim and lightweight. The 16:10 display ratio is the perfect mix for both working or watching films, sports or TV at native resolutions without cropping the screen or losing too much to the 'black bars' top and bottom.

If you do want to catch up on TV or watch highlights of Saturday's big match on the go, you'll want the decent sound quality to go with the visuals. AKG and Dolby have continued their long-standing partnerships with Samsung. You'll find 4 speakers on the Tab S4, all perfectly tuned to deliver crisp, accurate sound from a hushed whisper at a tense moment in a film, to the roars of a Wembley crowd.

Finally, a binge-watching session on Netflix is no good if you're battery dies halfway through... The Tab S4 packs a huge 7,300 mAh battery. Coupled with the power efficient Snapdragon 835 processor and sAMOLED screen, this is rated for an average of 16 hours' video playback.

Write, highlight, draw and create with Galaxy S Pen

Commonly seen on Galaxy Note smartphones, Samsung introduced the S Pen to the Tab S range last year. This multifunctional tool has a super-fine 0.7mm tip with thousands of levels of pressure sensitivity.

The "Screen-Off Memo" app allows you to take notes on the Tab S4 screen without unlocking. Just start writing and you'll be prompted to save the results to the Notes app once finished.

Hover over the screen and press the command button on the S Pen to access "Air Commands". The on-screen results are context sensitive to the app you're in or other items displayed on the screen. So you can instantly send a handwritten note or sketch in the messages app, highlight & crop text or doodle over an existing image.

Air Command can even access a real-time translation tool for you. Capture foreign text on-screen and highlight a section with the S Pen. A translation will immediately appear. You can even save a preferred currency conversion for your travels!