Mobile Technology

Samsung Galaxy TabPro S vs. Microsoft Surface Pro 4

Samsung Galaxy TabPro S vs. Microsoft Surface Pro 4
Gizmag compares the specs and features of the (nearly-identical looking without their keyboards) Samsung Galaxy TabPro S (left) and Microsoft Surface Pro 4
Gizmag compares the specs and features of the (nearly-identical looking without their keyboards) Samsung Galaxy TabPro S (left) and Microsoft Surface Pro 4
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Battery
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Battery
Build
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Build
Camera megapixels
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Camera megapixels
Color options
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Color options
Processor
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Processor
Desktop apps
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Desktop apps
Dimensions
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Dimensions
Display resolution
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Display resolution
Display size
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Display size
Display type
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Display type
Graphics
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Graphics
Gizmag compares the specs and features of the (nearly-identical looking without their keyboards) Samsung Galaxy TabPro S (left) and Microsoft Surface Pro 4
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Gizmag compares the specs and features of the (nearly-identical looking without their keyboards) Samsung Galaxy TabPro S (left) and Microsoft Surface Pro 4
Keyboard
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Keyboard
Kickstand
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Kickstand
LTE option
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LTE option
MicroSD card slot
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MicroSD card slot
Starting price
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Starting price
RAM
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RAM
Release
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Release
Software
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Software
Standalone charging port
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Standalone charging port
Storage
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Storage
Stylus
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Stylus
USB ports
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USB ports
Video out
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Video out
Weight
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Weight
View gallery - 26 images

From a distance, you'd be forgiven for thinking Samsung's new Galaxy TabPro S is a Surface Pro 4. Let's see how much the two do (and don't) have in common, as we compare their features and specs.

Size

Dimensions
Dimensions

Looking from the front, the Samsung Galaxy TabPro S is only slightly smaller than the Surface Pro 4, but the biggest difference is that Samsung's 2-in-1 is 26 percent thinner. It feels incredibly thin for a full-blown Windows PC.

Weight

Weight
Weight

The TabPro S also feels noticeably lighter in hand. Comparing the lighter versions of each device, the TabPro is 10 percent lighter.

Build

Build
Build

Part of that, unfortunately, comes from the fact that Samsung used a plastic back on the Galaxy Tab (though it does have a magnesium alloy frame). The Surface feels higher-end, with its entire body – back included – being made of magnesium.

Keyboard accessory

Keyboard
Keyboard

Both tablets have snap-on keyboard accessories, but the Surface's is more versatile (see the next category) ...

Kickstand

Kickstand
Kickstand

The Galaxy TabPro S relies on the keyboard to prop up the tablet in laptop mode, and can only be positioned in two or three (if we remember correctly from our demo) fixed positions. The Surface has a built-in kickstand which you can position dynamically to find just the right angle.

Colors

Color options
Color options

Samsung will be selling the TabPro S in white and black options, while the Surface only ships in a silver (with black front) hue.

Display size

Display size
Display size

The Surface Pro 4's screen is 5 percent bigger. If you've ever used a Surface Pro 3, that's the same screen size/ratio you'll get from the TabPro S.

Display resolution

Display resolution
Display resolution

The Surface has a big resolution advantage, with a 24 percent sharper pixel density. The TabPro will look great in laptop mode, but once you pull it closer for tablet use you're more likely to notice pixels.

Display type

Display type
Display type

This year at CES we saw several Windows-running laptops or 2-in-1s with AMOLED screens, but Samsung is saying the TabPro S will be the first to market. You can expect a higher-contrast, deeper-blacked presentation than you're used to seeing on these kinds of devices.

Stylus

Stylus
Stylus

The Surface Pro 4 includes Microsoft's excellent Surface Pen. Samsung says the TabPro S will have a pen accessory as well, but we haven't yet seen it (and it sounds like it will be sold separately).

Processor

Processor
Processor

Once you get past the entry-level model, the Surface Pro 4 has a big raw horsepower advantage. The entry-level Surface joins the TabPro S in using a lower-powered Core M chip.

Both of those models are also fanless, while the Core i5 and i7 Surfaces have fans.

Graphics

Graphics
Graphics

The Galaxy TabPro should have the same integrated graphics as the entry-level Surface Pro 4. Go up a notch higher, though, and the Surface beats it.

RAM

RAM
RAM

RAM is tied up until you get to the $1,300 (third-tier) Surface Pro 4, which jumps up to a more generous 8 GB. If you throw down $1,800 or more you can get a Surface Pro 4 with 16 GB of RAM.

Storage

Storage
Storage

We see a similar theme with storage, as the TabPro S has a lower ceiling than the more expensive Surface models.

MicroSD

MicroSD card slot
MicroSD card slot

The Surface Pro 4 has a microSD card slot. If you want to expand the TabPro S' storage, you'll need to use an external hard drive.

USB

USB ports
USB ports

The Galaxy TabPro S has a more future-proofed, but less supported right now, USB Type C port. Though the Surface Pro 4 has a lone USB 3.0 port, you'll want to keep the next category in mind ...

Standalone charging port

Standalone charging port
Standalone charging port

Like Apple's 12-inch MacBook, the TabPro S also relies on that USB-C port for charging, meaning you'll need to buy an adapter if you want to charge and use a USB accessory at the same time.

The Surface has a separate charging port, letting charging and data transfer remain independent from one another, no adapters required.

Video out

Video out
Video out

The Surface also has a separate port for video out. You can add video out to the laundry list of tasks Samsung is pinning on that lone USB-C port.

Dear Samsung: why not add a second USB-C port to give the device some versatility without using adapters? Just because Apple did it doesn't mean it was a good idea.

Battery

Battery
Battery

The TabPro has a slightly higher-capacity battery, but we'll have to wait for a full review to test its actual uptimes.

Camera megapixels

Camera megapixels
Camera megapixels

Though the Surface has a higher-res rear camera, we can't think of one time we felt the need to use an enormous tablet as a camera (apart from testing for reviews).

LTE option

LTE option
LTE option

Microsoft has yet to release an LTE-enabled Surface Pro model. You will, however, be able to buy a cellular version of the Galaxy Tab.

Software

Software
Software

Both 2-in-1s are Windows 10 devices: Windows 10 Pro for the Surface and either Windows 10 Home or Pro for the TabPro (Samsung hasn't specified what will determine which version you get ... perhaps the higher storage tier will run Pro?).

Desktop apps

Desktop apps
Desktop apps

That means that, unlike the iPad Pro and Google Pixel C, both of these 2-in-1s have desktop operating systems, including desktop apps, file system access, non-sandboxed apps and advanced ("real") multitasking.

Release

Release
Release

Samsung is saying the TabPro S will launch globally in February. The Surface went on sale this past October.

Starting price

Starting price
Starting price

This is the big mystery with the Galaxy TabPro S, as Samsung has been silent on pricing – making it hard to put everything in perspective. We do know that, unlike the Surface, the TabPro's keyboard will be included in the box. Then again, its pen will likely be sold separately, while the Surface's is included in its box.

If total prices for tablet, keyboard and pen end up around the same (a big "if"), then the TabPro looks like a solid alternative to the entry-level Surface Pro 4. If you want more power, though, the more expensive Surface models will quickly take the lead over the Galaxy Tab. And no matter which model you choose, the Surface will have a slightly bigger and noticeably sharper screen.

For more, you can read Gizmag's CES hands-on with the Galaxy TabPro S and our full review of the Surface Pro 4.

View gallery - 26 images
4 comments
4 comments
Username
And the feature Gizmag seems to find irrelevent: The Samsung has GPS, the Surface does not.
zr2s10
"Though the Surface has a higher-res rear camera, we can't think of one time we felt the need to use a Surface as a camera (apart from testing for reviews)." I actually use the camera on my Note 10.1 quite a bit. I take a pic of something I want to get dimensions from, import it into S-Note or Papyrus, and mark it up. I don't think the resolution needs to be overly high, but the option is nice. If I could afford one of these newer tablets, I would be buying the Surface Pro 4.
Demigod79
I was excited about the TabPro S when I first heard about it, but after seeing a side-by-side comparison I'll stick with my Surface Pro 4. For me, the deal breaker is the solitary USB-C port, since one of the things I really dislike about mobile devices is the lack of ports (although Apple relishes simplicity I don't see why Samsung has to follow suit). The TabPro S seems like just a crippled versions of the Surface Pro 4.
RalphAllenBienBequillo
i thought surface book is only a surface which storage is up to 1TB
sorry for bad English...