The quick take The Galaxy Tab S3 is a solid Android tablet with a high definition 9.7-inch display, a stylish metal-and-glass body, and a robust pressure-sensitive stylus that proves — yet again — what a fantastic piece of technology the S Pen really is. If only its battery life were a bit better for those of you planning to multitask the heck out of life with this tablet device in tow. The Good A bevy of multitasking software features

The S Pen is everything

Stylish hardware

Available with an optional, comfortable keyboard The Bad Battery life is fine when the screen isn't on

No water resistance

It's not a replacement for a laptop See at Best Buy

Tablets are making a comeback Galaxy Tab S3 Full review

Android tablets aren't really a thing anymore, and though some manufacturers have produced devices worth owning over the years, there hasn't been a particular Android-powered tablet that's managed to move the needle in the industry. Frankly, this is why the Galaxy Tab S3 stands out in the first place. Despite the fact that it looks so much like its predecessor, it's equipped with enough added oomph, more than we've seen from any Android tablet in a long time, that makes it just as worthy of fanfare as its competition — namely the Microsoft Surface and Apple iPad Pro. Verizon is offering the Pixel 4a for just $10/mo on new Unlimited lines

The Galaxy Tab S3 is a fantastic package. It's equipped with a capable processor, a vivid Super AMOLED display, and a few other subtle hardware features that add to the Tab S3's premium tablet experience. The best part of the tablet is its included accessory, however: the patented S Pen. This pressure sensitive stylus proves again why it was a major selling point for the Galaxy Note series. If you've always wanted the Note functionality on a larger screen, now is your chance, as long as you're willing to drop $600 for the Galaxy Tab S3.

About this review I (Florence Ion) am writing this review after four days using the Samsung Galaxy Tab S3. The tablet arrived with Android 7.0 and was not updated during the course of review. The Tab S3 was provided by Samsung for review by Android Central.

Come at me pro All the specs Category Spec Operating System Android 7.0 Nougat Display 9.7-inch Super AMOLED, 2048x1536 Processor Snapdragon 820

Quad Core 2.15GHz + 1.6GHz Storage 32GB (U.S.) Expandable microSD card RAM 4GB Rear Camera 13MP, Auto-focus, Flash Front Camera 5MP Connectivity Wi-Fi 802.11ac dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, USB Type-C 3.1, GPS

LTE (optional) Charging USB-C Battery 6000mAh

Fast charging Water resistance No Input S Pen

4096-level pressure sensitivity Security One-touch fingerprint sensor Dimensions 237.3 x 169 x 6 mm Weight 429g (Wi-Fi)

434g (LTE) Colors Silver, black Metal and glass Galaxy Tab S3 Hardware It's a though Samsung took the Galaxy S7 and flattened it out with a mallet. The Galaxy Tab S3 is ostensibly the premium evolution of its predecessor, the Galaxy Tab S2, which debuted nearly two-years-ago and was covered in plastic. Like the rest of Samsung's device family, the Tab S3 follows along with the company's overall design paradigm. So much so, that it's as if Samsung took the Galaxy S7 and flattened it out with a mallet. And while the Tab S3's metal-and-class chassis exudes a poshness of its own, it's a fingerprint magnet — one you'll find yourself constant cleaning. The Tab S3 sports a power button and volume rocker on its right side; a fingerprint sensor slash home button on the front; and it charges by USB Type-C. I've been able to charge my Pixel, my Chromebook, and the Tab S3 all with the same power adapter and really appreciate the convenience. The tablet also has four self-orienting stereo speakers placed around the chassis. They adjust as you rotate the tablet, and while the sound output is decidedly boomier with the Tab S3 in landscape mode, you'll hardly notice any difference unless the volume is turned all the way up.

I've always thought that Samsung's pressure-sensitive S Pen would be better suited for a tablet. The 9.7-inch Galaxy Tab S3 is HDR-ready, which means its Snapdragon 820 processor and 4:3 aspect ratio Quad HD Super AMOLED display have been souped up to display compatible content, though there aren't too many HDR titles to brag about just yet. The Tab S3's display is certainly TV-like — the blacks are black, the whites are bright, and the blues and red are depicted deeper than they were on the Tab S2 — but that Quad HD display takes quite a bit of energy to power up. Though the Tab S3 is carrying a 6000 mAh battery, it's not enough to make it through an entire day of full usage without requiring a charge. At the very least, it employs Quick Charge 3.0, so you won't have to wait too long by the outlet.

The best part Galaxy Tab S3 S Pen As much as I've lauded the Galaxy Note phone series and its companion S Pen, and often as I've implied its usefulness to other people, I've always thought that Samsung's pressure-sensitive stylus would be better suited for a tablet device — especially considering that we're at the age where a stylus is often the only reason to buy a tablet. The Galaxy Tab S3's S Pen is certainly reason enough. Like the Galaxy Note 7 (RIP), the S Pen is equipped with an easy-to-press shortcut button that brings up the Air Command menu. From here, you can choose from several oft-used actions, whatever those might mean for you. There's even a feature that lets you easily make animated GIFs from any video on the screen—a remnant of the Galaxy Note 7.

Using the S Pen is a pleasant experience. It's like an extension of your finger, if it had a 0.7mm tip and 4,096 points of pressure sensitivity. The stylus is compatible with a variety of apps, too, including Samsung's own S Note app, and Microsoft OneNote. And though I'm not much of an artist, I am a fervent note taker, and S Pen felt just as natural to use as a BIC ballpoint pen to a piece of paper. Perhaps the S Pen's only flaw in this particular case is that it doesn't physically attach to the Galaxy Tab S3. You will need a pencil pouch to keep tabs on the stylus, or you'll need to get into the habit of clipping it onto your shirt. Like the old days.

Much improved Galaxy Tab S3 Software If you aren't a fan of Samsung's take on Android, then I've got some bad news for you: the Galaxy Tab S3 is all about it. The good news is that this isn't the Samsung interface you're used to. It's cleaner, brighter, and easier to navigate. It's packed with features you'll actually find helpful, including multi-window capabilities and a blue light filter that's accessible from the notification shade.

This isn't the (bad) Samsung interface you're used to. It's cleaner, brighter, and easier to navigate.

There's also Samsung Flow, which enables ease of access between the Tab S3 and your Samsung smartphone, as well as the debut of Samsung's Game Tools on a tablet, which enable you to record gameplay or amp up the processing on the device's Qualcomm Snapdragon 820. In the Android world, a third-party version of Android typically fares better on the tablet, anyway, since stock Android isn't exactly the poster child for tablet interfaces.