We are still waiting for the promised debut of the new Galaxy Tab S3 but in the meantime Samsung continues to expand its line of mid-range tablets with a model that, it must be said, is already quite close to the high-end: the new Galaxy Tab A (2016) S Pen. What are the improvements that this new model introduces over the one that was presented last year for fans of the stylus? We review point by point the Technical specifications of both in this comparative to help you decide if you should take advantage of the last opportunities to get the cheapest old model or wait for the arrival of the new one in stores.
Integrated
Despite the fact that they are two models of the same line, it must be said that there are a few important changes in the design section, even if the materials and general aesthetics are maintained, and it is that the new A Galaxy Tab has abandoned the iPad format and now we have a longer screen, although still in combination with a theoretical orientation to use in portrait mode (due to the location of the home button and the front camera) that may be strange but has an interesting consequence that is that we will have more grip surface when we hold it in landscape mode. And, of course, in both cases it is necessary to mention its star feature: arriving with the stylus of Samsung included.
Dimensions
Although we do not have confirmed all the measurements of the new model, it seems that they are the same as those of the one that was launched without the S Pen, which means a larger device than last year but, above all, as we said before, more elongated (25,42x15,53 inch against 24,25x16,68 inch). It is also a little thicker (8,2 mm against 7,4 mm) and heavier (525 grams against 487 grams).
Screen
We have already mentioned that there is a radical change in terms of the format (16:10, optimized for video playback, compared to 4: 3, optimized for reading), but it must be borne in mind that this brings with it a small change in size (10.1 inches against 9.7 inches). In addition, the new model substantially improves the resolution of the previous one (1920 x 1200 against 1280 x 720).
Performance
There is also a substantial evolution in the performance section, since the new A Galaxy Tab comes with a more powerful processor (Exynos 7870 eight-core and 1,6 GHz of maximum frequency versus a quad-core processor and 1,2 GHz maximum frequency) and also has more RAM memory (3 GB against 2 GB), in addition, of course, to arrive already with Android Marshmallow.
Storage capacity
Another of the sections where we are going to notice a significant advance is the storage capacity section, since the new model doubles the internal memory of last year (32 GB against 16 GB), although the fact that in both we can use cards micro-SD to a certain extent it alleviates the difference.
Cameras
We always insist on not paying too much attention to the cameras section unless we are very clear that we are really going to make use of them with frequencies, but in this case there has not been a too important evolution, although it is true that it is there: the front camera is in both cases 2 MP, but the main one is 8 MP on this year's model and 5 MP in last year's.
Autonomy
With the increase in size of the device, in compensation, we also have a substantial increase in battery capacity, going from 6000 mAh a 7300 mAh, which should be enough to cover the difference in consumption that a slightly larger screen with a higher resolution may make.
Price
As we have seen, the new model arrives with a few changes, some of which represent clear improvements, but it seems that the price will also go up: at the moment we only have the launch data in Korea and the price translation is rarely exact, but we would be talking about almost $400 To the change. Last year's model, on the other hand, can now be found at some dealers for around $250.
One question, does it have a usb-c connector? , greetings thank you .
A question has already come out! to the market?