Samsung Galaxy Tab S2 review

This ultra-light Android tablet is a budget iPad challenger

Samsung Galaxy Tab S2 review
Samsung Galaxy Tab S2 review

Why you can trust TechRadar We spend hours testing every product or service we review, so you can be sure you’re buying the best. Find out more about how we test.

Verdict

Was the Samsung Galaxy Tab S2 enough of an upgrade over the company's 2014 tablet? It had a new shape and was thinner, and in some ways mimicked the iPad Air 2 but probably not quite in enough areas.

Samsung Galaxy Tab S2 review

Samsung Galaxy Tab S2

We liked

Samsung's thinnest and lightest tablet when it launched, the Galaxy Tab S2 is easy to tote around. Its 9.7-inch model's weight fits in between the 2018 iPad and the iPad mini 4, and the 8-inch tablet is even lighter. Yet it offers a metal frame upgrade, keeps the microSD card slot and uses a more comfortable, soft touch plastic back.

To Samsung's credit, the TouchWiz software doesn't get in the way of Android too much, and includes a few useful extra features. The Tab S2 is not as powerful as it could be or as long lasting, but it's enough for a consumer tablet.

Samsung Galaxy Tab S2 review

Samsung Galaxy Tab S2

We disliked

Besides the svelte design and slight specs upgrade, the Samsung Galaxy Tab S2 isn't always better as much as it's different from the Galaxy Tab S1. The tablet is less powerful than today's iPads, and even struggled against the iPads of 2015.

It's not best for movies, either, with its more boxy 4:3 screen, instead of a wide-screen-friendly 16:9 aspect ratio. That makes it a matter of taste, but no one will like the fact that Samsung backed off the pixel count in the transition to the new screen shape.

Samsung Galaxy Tab S2 review

Samsung Galaxy Tab S2

Final verdict

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S2 is a lightweight tablet that's a svelte upgrade over the 2014 Galaxy Tab S. Beyond those year-on-year improvements though, it struggled to keep up with the iPads of 2015, and has since got more dated.

If you're just reading and web surfing, the Galaxy Tab S2 will do the job. The screen aspect ratio isn't the best for video, but it can just about do that too.

When it first came out, the Galaxy Tab S2 was undoubtedly one of the best Android tablets you could buy. It has of course become more outdated since then, but if you can find it at a decent price then it might still be worth a look.

How does the Galaxy Tab S2 look compared to the rest of the market? Here are some other choices you may prefer to Samsung's 2015 slate.

iPad (2018)

iPad (2018)

iPad (2018)

It's hard to make the case for splashing a few hundred dollars (or pounds) on the Samsung Galaxy Tab S2 when you can pay a little bit more and get a brand new iPad.

The iPad is more powerful, more stable to use, and only costs a little bit more. Unless you really need Android or love Samsung devices, this is probably a better option for you than the Samsung Galaxy Tab S2.

Samsung Galaxy Tab S4

Samsung Galaxy Tab S4

Samsung Galaxy Tab S4

If you want the latest, 2018 version of the Galaxy Tab S2, the the Galaxy Tab S4 from 2018 is it. Better components, Android 8.1 Oreo and a gorgeous-looking 10.5-inch screen make this a much more appealing option.

Obviously you're going to have to spend more – maybe as much as twice as much – but we reckon it's worth the upgrade at this stage. The Samsung Galaxy Tab S4 is still fighting the good fight against the iPads.

Pixel Slate

Pixel Slate

Pixel Slate

The tablet scene has changed a lot since the Galaxy Tab S2 made its debut: we've seen a lot more 2-in-1 devices appear on the scene, for example, and Chrome OS has added support for Android apps.

With that in mind, the Pixel Slate is a viable competitor to the Galaxy Tab S2. You get the full Chrome experience, plus the Google Play Store, plus an easy way to enter text (if you splash out on the keyboard attachment).

TOPICS
Matt Swider
Latest in Tablets
iPad Air M3 11-inch and 13-inch on an orange background next to TechRadar deals price cut badge
Wait, what? The brand-new iPad Air just launched and it's already on sale on Amazon
Amazon Fire 7 tablet
Need a super-cheap tablet? The Amazon Fire 7 has dropped to $44.99
Three photos of the iPad Air M3 and its camera
iPad Air M3 review roundup – should you buy Apple's new mid-range tablet?
iPad Pro 13-inch 2024 on a table
The OLED iPad Pro is reportedly less popular than expected – and that could mean these changes to Apple's OLED iPad plans
Apple iPad Air 11-inch M3 (2025) Review
I tested the 11-inch iPad Air with M3 for five days, and it stretches the value even further with more power for the same price
The Honor Pad V9 on a bronze table.
The Honor Pad V9 is the mid-range, Android-powered iPad rival you've been looking for
Latest in Reviews
MacBook Air 15-inch with M4 chip on a creative's desk with screen open
I've reviewed the Apple MacBook Air 15-inch (M4) - and it remains the best 15-inch laptop I'd recommend for most people
Samsung Music Frame on a table beside some books and a vase
I spent six weeks listening to the Samsung Music Frame and it kept missing the beat
GlocalMe KeyTracker
When I tested this global tracker, it trounced the Apple AirTag in so many ways
An AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D on its retail packaging
I've reviewed three generations of 3D V-cache processors, and the AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D is the best there is
Mac Studio on a desk
Apple Mac Studio (M3 Ultra): the ultimate creative workstation
Apple iPad Air 11-inch M3 (2025) Review
I tested the 11-inch iPad Air with M3 for five days, and it stretches the value even further with more power for the same price