Samsung Galaxy Tab S6: All Specifications, Availability & Alternatives

Last updated on

10/08/2019

Published on

July 31, 2019

Samsung announced the Galaxy Tab S5e mid-range tablet earlier this year leading us to believe the high-end model in the series will, in fact, be called the Galaxy Tab S5 which would succeed the outgoing Tab S4 (review). No confusion, right? But the South Korean company chose to give in to the naming conundrum and call it the Galaxy Tab S6 instead.

Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 on* Amazon

Nevertheless, the tablet went official earlier today after a series of leaks that left nearly nothing to the imagination. Jam-packed with features, the Samsung tab is yet another attempt at convincing you to give up your work laptop. Let’s see if this tablet has all the right features to persuade you to make the switch.

This is everything you need to know about the Samsung Galaxy Tab S6.

Highlights

10.5-inch QHD Super AMOLED display
Up to 8GB RAM and 256GB ROM
MicroSD card up to 1TB
Magnetically attached S Pen
Under-display fingerprint scanner
Optional 4G LTE
AKG-tuned four speakers
15 hours of video playback
Two rear-facing cameras
Improved DeX mode

Read: Our Recommendations: The Best Tablets In 2019

Samsung Galaxy Tab S6: The Basics

Starting from the design, the brand-new Galaxy Tab S6 is one of the thinnest tablets out there with a thickness of 5.7mm and a weight of 420 grams. The tablet will retail in three color options—Cloud Blue, Rose Blush, and Mountain Gray—for its metal build. The bundled S Pen has a dedicated spot on the device’s back in the form of an indent where it can magnetically attach and charge while it rests.

Inheriting its display from the Galaxy Tab S5e, the flagship model bears a 10.5-inch Super AMOLED screen with a resolution of 2560 x 1600 pixels. The bezels are minimal, which has resulted in the optical fingerprint scanner being placed under the display, unlike ultrasonic sensors used in the Galaxy S10 smartphone lineup. Android 9 Pie comes preloaded on the tablet with the support for an improved DeX mode, which we’ll talk more about in the next section.

The Galaxy Tab S6 is one of the few tablets to come with a dual-camera setup on the back—one of which is an ultra-wide camera. Performance on the device is handled by an octa-core Snapdragon 855 processor that can be paired with up to 8GB of RAM. You can opt for up to 256GB of onboard memory with an option to expand it by up to 1TB. A 7,040mAh battery is included inside the tablet that charges using a USB Type-C port.

In addition to all the latest connectivity options, the high-end tablet supports 4G LTE with ultra-fast theoretical connection speeds. Samsung’s ecosystem allows effortless sync between a Galaxy smartphone and the tablet possible. The slate lacks a 3.5mm headphone jack but it does come with a quad-speaker arrangement for stereo output. These speakers are tuned by Samsung’s in-house AKG and are enabled for Dolby Atmos.

A Workaholic Tablet

Over these years, Samsung DeX has evolved to offer a desktop-esque experience right on the tablet screen and this Galaxy Tab S6 is no different. Fn + DeX keyboard shortcut has been introduced to quickly switch on the DeX mode and the new software enables seamless transition between DeX and normal mode. When working from your desk, a simple HDMI cable can even extend the DeX experience to a bigger monitor.

The compatible BookCover Keyboard from Samsung is that one accessory that completes this productivity tablet. It attaches magnetically to the Galaxy Tab S6 via pogo pins and doesn’t get you in the hassle of charging the keyboard as well. The best part about it is the included trackpad which brings the experience closer to a PC.

Read: The Best Tablets With Keyboard In 2019

Samsung’s S Pen is a prominent part of this productivity equation and it now supports 4096 pressure levels to draw that precise stroke in your art class. It allows controlling certain tablet features over Bluetooth. Plus, the back-cover wraps around the S Pen on the tablet’s back to keep it safe. The said cover also has a kickstand which is akin to the Surface tablets, albeit it isn’t made of metal.

Full Specifications

Tablet	Samsung Galaxy Tab S6
Operating system	Android 9 Pie (One UI)
Display	10.5-inch Super AMOLED with 2560 x 1600
Processor	Octa-core Snapdragon 855
Storage	128GB/256GB
Expandable	MicroSD up to 1TB
RAM	6GB/8GB
Main camera	13 Megapixels + 5 Megapixels
Front camera	8 Megapixels
Connectivity	Wi-Fi 802.11 ac, Bluetooth 5.0, optional 4G LTE
Ports	USB Type-C
Battery	7040mAh, up to 15 hours
Security	Fingerprint scanner, face recognition using front camera
Dimensions	244.5 x 159.5 x 5.7mm
Weight	420g

Read: These Are The Best Samsung Tablets In 2019

Pricing & Availability

Samsung shared some sparse details about the tablet’s availability in certain markets and its retail price. As per the available information, Samsung will begin taking preorders for the device starting August 23 and will then ship it from September 6. It is priced starting 649 USD for the 6GB RAM variant with the 8GB RAM model costing 729 USD. Their corresponding European pricing is 699 euros and 779 euros, respectively.

Those buying the tablet before September 22 will be entitled to a 50-percent discount on the keyboard case which bears a price tag of 179 USD. In addition to this, Samsung is also offering a 3-month subscription of Spotify Premium and 4-month of YouTube Premium in select markets.

Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Alternatives

There aren’t many tablets to rival the premium Samsung tablet, at least considering its specifications alone. The Apple iPad Pro series (review) from 2018 comes the closest in terms of the superior features and build quality. If all you need is a large screen to watch Netflix or do some light browsing, then you are better off with the lower-priced Galaxy Tab S5e (review).

Huawei recently announced its MediaPad M6 10 tablet which offers a productivity suite like Samsung DeX and has support for an external keyboard and a stylus. On the Windows side, you will find the Microsoft Surface Pro 6 (review) to be an excellent alternative with all the leading features it comes with and the full desktop experience it provides with Windows 10.

Read: All The Leading Android Tablets We Suggest In 2019

Samsung Galaxy Tab S6

Topping all other tablets from Samsung, the Galaxy Tab S6 offers the best of everything the maker has to offer currently. That AMOLED display stays unrivaled while Samsung has refined the DeX software and the accompanying accessories to improve the productivity experience. The S Pen now has a more convenient magnetic spot and the back now houses two cameras. Four speakers complement that display when watching movies.