Note: We may earn commissions (at no cost to you) if you buy through links on our site. Learn more.
Samsung Galaxy Tab S2 9.7
Samsung Galaxy Tab S2 9.7
Samsung Galaxy Tab S2 9.7
Samsung Galaxy Tab S2 9.7
...


8.2/10
Informr score
The Samsung Galaxy Tab S2 9.7 currently has an Informr score of 8.2 out of 10. This score is based on our evaluation of 18 sources including reviews from users and the web's most trusted critics.

What's good

  • Vibrant, punchy colors and excellent contrast
  • Smooth performance
  • Incredibly thin and light for better ease of use and comfort

What's bad

  • Mediocre battery life
  • 4:3 aspect ratio not great for movie viewing
  • Some flexing when twisted

A year after the Galaxy Tab 2 10.5, Samsung released the Tab S2 9.7 – an updated and redesigned version of the popular tablet and direct rival to Apples iPad Air 2. It is actually both thinner (0.22 inches) and lighter (390 grams) than the iPad Air 2. Like other Samsung devices, it comes with a matte, plastic back and a metal trim. For the most part experts call the overall look and design "professional" though they add the build quality leaves much to be desired as they noticed some flex when applying pressure or twisting. Still, they add they'd rather have it thin and compact as it improves comfort and overall ease of use.

The 9.7 part of the Tab S2 comes from the 9.7-inch, Super AMOLED display. The 2048 x 1,536 resolution only works out to around 264ppi due to its large size. While not as sharp as its predecessor, critics still described it as very crisp and clear. Like other Samsung products, the AMOLED screen on the Tab S2 9.7 provided experts with vivid albeit oversaturated colors, excellent contrast and dark, inky blacks. They also were impressed with the screen brightness with Stuff.TV states, "…you can reach eye-searing levels, bright enough for outdoor reading on a sunny day." Perhaps the biggest change is in the aspect ratio from 16:10 to 4:3. This means the screen is squarer, which experts preferred as it made it easier for them to browse the web and improved their experience with productivity tasks like spreadsheet work. Still, they found movie viewing experience better on a 16:10 as this size matches most TV screens.

Samsung equipped the S2 9.7 with an octa-core processor – four cores run at 1.3GHz for battery saving and the other four run at 1.9GHz for enhanced performance – and 3GB of RAM. While not as fast as the iPad Air 2 during benchmark tests, experts found it to be incredibly fast during real life tests as it provided smooth performance handling any tasks they threw at it. Multi-tasking was a breeze for them and it played even the most graphics intensive games without stutters or frame rate drops. The biggest issue is battery life. The 5,870mAh battery lasted critics around a day of moderate use, which is average at best. With that said, they were hoping for a little more, especially since Samsung touts this as a multitasking tablet.

Tablet cameras aren't a major selling point for most people, but Samsung manages to provide what reviewers consider a serviceable 8MP shooter. They were able to take decently detailed pictures in bright light settings though they did notice colors were not always accurate and moving objects often became just a blur. Indoor pictures surprised experts as they were able to produce pictures with only minimal noise. Besides the main camera, it also comes with a 2MP front camera for selfies and video calls.

Despite some qualms with the battery life, most reviewers highly recommend the Galaxy Tab S2 9.7. PC Mag states, "The Samsung Galaxy Tab S2 9.7 is one of the best Android tablets on the market." Expert Reviews add, "It's slim, light and has a generally excellent screen…It wins a Recommended awards."


Android
Operating system
Operating system
Android
1.9 GHz
Processor
Processor
1.9 GHz
9.7"
Screen Size
Screen Size
9.7"
8+ MP
Camera
Camera
8+ MP
5870 mAh
Battery


What the Critics Are Saying...


Gadgets 360
Gadgets 360

After spending close to a week with the Samsung Galaxy Tab S2 9.7, one thing's certain - this tablet is an excellent choice for those who want to travel light. Samsung has reduced the weight and size of the new tablet without compromising on build or rigidity, which is commendable. The 4:3 aspect ra...

- Roydon Cerejo, Gadgets 360
Beta News
Beta News

With the 32GB Wi-Fi only version costing £399 direct from Samsung, the Galaxy Tab S2 9.7 is priced on a par with the 16GB 9.7-inch iPad Air 2. It has the same screen resolution in a lighter and thinner package, and of course more storage, so it’s clear to see what the target is here. The...

- Ian Barker, Beta News
Softpedia
Softpedia

If you already own an older Samsung tablet, there are plenty of reasons to upgrade to Galaxy Tab S2 9.7. It's one of the best-looking tablets available on the market and it offers more than decent features.It's a lightweight tablet that's very easy to carry around. Due to its size and shape, it is p...

- Cosmin Vasile, Softpedia
The Indian Express
The Indian Express

If you’re bored of the iPad and want a stunning Android tablet and money is no bar, the Tab S2 is no doubt the tablet for you. It looks good, offers a stunning display and has no performance issues. But tablets by nature have a limited purpose and unless you are sure you will use a tablet to c...

- Shruti Dhapola, The Indian Express
APC
APC

Though it’s perhaps a little disappointing that the Galaxy Tab S2 doesn’t pack Samsung’s latest Exynos CPU, it’s by far the most attractive tablet the company has ever made, and also the most pleasurable to use. It feels as though Samsung’s finally nailed its iPad compe...

- Stephen Lambrechts, APC


Prices (Where to Buy)




Ask the Community



Resources


Manuals / User Guides Helpful Links Share / Embed

Maybe one of your friends will find this review helpful? Please help us spread the word.


Quick view

Screen Size
9.7"

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S2 9.7's screen size is 9.7 inches with 1536 x 2048 pixels resolution.

Processor
1.9 GHz

There is a Samsung Exynos 7420 Octa core 1.9 GHz processor (CPU).

OS

The tablet runs on the Android 5.0 Lollipop (Update Available: 7.0 Nougat) operating system (OS).

Camera
8+ MP
You can take photos with the phone's onboard 8+ MP camera. There is also a secondary front facing camera with 2+ megapixels resolution.
Storage
32/64 GB

Internal memory is 32/64 GB. An external, MicroSD, MicroSDHC, microSDXC (up to 128 GB) expansion slot is available for increased storage capacity.

Battery
5870mAh

The tablet is powered by a Lithium Polymer (Li-Pol), 5870 mAh battery. Samsung's performance ratings are 8 hours Wi-Fi surfing.

Galaxy Tab S2 9.7 Specs

Overview
Release Date August 31, 2015
Regions Available USA, Canada, United Kingdom
Operating System Android 5.0 Lollipop (Update Available: 7.0 Nougat)

Compare Android Smartphones

Processor Samsung Exynos 7420 Octa core 1.9 GHz
Internal Storage 32/64 GB
RAM 3 GB
Hearing Aid Compatible No
TTY/TDD No
SAR Body: 1.1 W/kg
Manufacturer Warranty 1 Year
Accessories Included AC Charger, Manual
Cellular
Networks
No
Mobile / Cellular Data
No (Option available)
Wi-Fi Calling Unknown
Voice over LTE (VoLTE) Unknown
SIM card size
No
variations
Dual SIM No
Connectivity
USB Micro-USB 2.0
USB OTG Support No
GPS Type A-GPS
Infrared No
Bluetooth 4.1
Bluetooth Profiles A2DP, AVRCP, OPP/FTP, HFP, HSP
Bluetooth Audio Codecs SBC, aptX
Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n
Memory Expansion Slot Yes
Expansion Slot Info MicroSD, MicroSDHC, microSDXC (up to 128 GB)
NFC No
Camera
Main Camera
Resolution / Aperture
8+ Megapixels
Zoom
Yes
Flash
No
Additional Main Camera Info
Auto focus, Effects, Face detection, Geotagging, Multi-shot, Panorama, Self-timer, HDR
Video Recording Formats
3GP / 3GPP, H.264 / AVC, MPEG-4, WMV
Video Recording Parameters
Front Camera
Resolution / Aperture
2+ Megapixels
Additional Front Camera Info
No
Video Recording Parameters
Display / Screen
Type Color
Technology Super AMOLED
Colors 16.7 million
Resolution 1536 x 2048 pixels
Pixel density 264 pixels
Size 9.7 inches
Sensors Ambient Light, Proximity, Motion / Accelerometer, Gyroscope
Backlit Illumination Yes
Zoom / Magnification Yes
Screen Orientation Lock Yes
Multi-Touch Yes
Fingerprint-Resistant Coating No
Additional Display Features Capacitive touch screen
Power & Battery
Type Lithium Polymer (Li-Pol)
Battery Capacity 5870 mAh
Removable Battery No
Wireless Charging No
Fast Charging No
Battery Charge Time 4 hours
Video Playback Time Up to 12 hours
Internet Use (Wi-Fi) Up to 8 hours
Internet Use (Cellular) Up to 8 hours
Standby Time Up to 23 days
Mixed Usage
Physical Characteristics
Material Aluminium
Colors Black, White
Dimensions [H x W x D] 23.7 x 16.9 x 0.6 cm (9.3 x 6.7 x 0.2 in)
Weight 389 grams
Water Resistant / Waterproof Unknown
Rugged design No
IP Rating No
Headset Jack 3.5mm
External Speakers Yes
Input / Navigation
Touchscreen Yes
Sleep / Wake Key Yes
Home Key Yes
Physical keyboard No
Text-to-Speech Yes
Screen Reader No
Keypad/Screen Lock Yes
External Volume Control Yes
Fingerprint Sensor No
More
Additional Information Other Names (AKA):

Built-in Fingerprint Sensor

Related Links Manual (PDF)
Samsung Galaxy Tab S2 9.7 Reviews
Where to buy Samsung Galaxy Tab S2 9.7
Suggest a correction