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MagyarSamsung Galaxy Tab S6 Tablet Review: Top technology at a premium price
In the test, the Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 makes an impression with a tremendous performance and exciting features, but also with its ambitious price. Officially for 749 Euros (~$836; $649 in the US) for the version we tested, which is the most affordable model with 6 GB of RAM and 128 GB of storage space, it is one of the most expensive Android tablets that are currently available. For the LTE version SM-T865, you even have to pay at least 820 Euros (~$915).
What is so special about the new tablet flagship from Samsung? In the Galaxy Tab S6, a dual camera (13 + 5 MP) is used for the first time. In addition, the 10.5-inch Android device is run by the current Snapdragon 855 flagship SoC and also includes the Samsung S Pen input pen by default. With the 2560x1600 pixel resolution Super-AMOLED panel, the Galaxy Tab S6 uses the same display ingredients as the Galaxy Tab S5e, but combines this with an in-display fingerprint sensor. It is also equipped with four Dolby-Atmos speakers again.
Comparison Devices
Rating | Date | Model | Weight | Height | Size | Resolution | Best Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 87.8 % | 10/2019 | Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 SM-T860 SD 855, Adreno 640 | 420 g | 5.7 mm | 10.50" | 2560x1600 | |
| 85.4 % | 10/2019 | Apple iPad 7 2019 A10 Fusion, A10 Fusion GPU | 483 g | 7.5 mm | 10.20" | 2160x1620 | |
| 89.8 % | 11/2018 | Apple iPad Pro 11 2018 A12X Bionic, A12X Bionic GPU | 468 g | 5.9 mm | 11.00" | 2388x1668 | |
| 83.4 % | 04/2018 | Huawei MediaPad M5 10.8 Kirin 960s, Mali-G71 MP8 | 498 g | 7.3 mm | 10.80" | 2560x1600 | |
| 87.5 % | 08/2018 | Huawei MediaPad M5 10.8 Pro Kirin 960, Mali-G71 MP8 | 498 g | 7.3 mm | 10.80" | 2560x1600 | |
| 84.5 % | 05/2019 | Samsung Galaxy Tab S5e SM-T720 SD 670, Adreno 616 | 400 g | 5.5 mm | 10.50" | 2560x1600 |
Case - 5.7 mm slim Galaxy Tab S
With a thickness of 5.7 mm (~0.22 in), the Galaxy Tab S6 is one of the slimmest tablets currently available, which makes holding it in the hands very comfortable. What is also immediately apparent are the significantly slimmer display bezels compared to other Galaxy Tab models such as the Galaxy Tab S5e. These have now shrunk to barely 8 mm (~0.31 in) on all sides, which makes the 420-gram (~0.93 lb) tablet appear very elegant. The Galaxy Tab S6 does not have a fingerprint sensor that you can see. Unlike the Galaxy Tab S5e, Samsung did not place it in the Home button, but directly underneath the Super-AMOLED display.
The sides and back of the Galaxy Tab S6 are made from metal that has a silky matte shine – depending on the selected color, either in Mountain Grey like our test unit, or alternatively in Cloud Blue or Rose Blush. The two short sides show slim inserted plastic bands which hide the radio antennas. As in the Galaxy Tab S5e before, the Galaxy Tab S6 also has four speakers with Dolby-Atmos support that produce a powerful sound.
The included Samsung S Pen fits into a special slot on the back cover that was made for it. It is docked there magnetically and then also charged. According to Samsung, 10 minutes of charging is sufficient for 10 hours of runtime. The input pen does not sit very tightly in its slot, and as soon as it is touched only slightly from the sides, it comes loose from its fitting. When the pen is docked, the tablet does not sit flush on the table anymore.
Equipment - At least 6 GB of RAM and 128 GB of storage
The Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 high-end SoC and an Adreno 640 graphics unit form the hardware basis of the Galaxy Tab S6 and make it into a very powerful tablet. Like our test unit, the Wi-Fi version comes either with 6 GB of RAM and 128 GB of storage space, or as a 8/256-GB version. You can expand the internal storage by using a microSD card up to 1 TB that you can also use for storing apps.
The Samsung tablet does not support NFC, not even in the LTE version. The Galaxy Tab S6 also lacks an audio port. Instead, the sound output occurs via adapter through the USB-C port. Unfortunately, Samsung does not include the corresponding dongle. Considering the premium price, this should have been included, we think.
The Galaxy Tab S6 offers two physical connections: the USB-C port (USB 3.1 Gen. 1) at the bottom and four Pogo Pins on the left side of the case. The latter are meant for the optional book cover keyboard, which is docked there magnetically. This allows the tablet to change into the DeX mode via quick key press and then also mirror the display contents on an external monitor via USB-C-to-HDMI adapter.
Software - Android 9, Bixby, and DeX in the Samsung tablet
Samsung delivers the Galaxy Tab S6 with Android 9 and also plans to deliver an update for Android 10 soon. With the Android security patches from Sept. 1, our test unit was as current as possible.
As usual, Samsung combines the Android system with its own One UI user interface (here in version 1.5), which also includes the Bixby smart assistant. This is activated when you swipe to the right on the main screen or on a long-press of the function key. Samsung DeX is also on board as always, which is a desktop arrangement similar to Windows. In combination with the optional book cover keyboard, you can then use the tablet like a small notebook.
As well as the Google and Samsung apps, the preinstalled apps are limited to a few apps by Microsoft (Office Mobile, OneDrive, and Outlook) as well as Netflix and Spotify. In our 128-GB test unit, there were still 104 GB of free space available.
Communication and GPS - Very fast WLAN in the Samsung Galaxy Tab S6
The two wireless communication channels of the Samsung tablet are Bluetooth 5.0 and Wi-Fi 5 (WLAN 802.11ac). It does not have NFC. On the other hand, it communicates extraordinarily fast in the 2.5 and 5-GHz WLAN net, thanks to MU-MIMO support. In combination with our Linksys EA8500 reference router, it reaches 679 Mbps while receiving, and still a good 577 Mbps while sending. The connections are also stable, and the transfer rates only vary within a relatively limited range.
The Galaxy determines its location using GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, and Galileo. In the test, it succeeds within several seconds outdoors as well as indoors with an accuracy of 4 meters (~13 ft).
It also passes our practice test with flying colors – even if other than us, nobody would really want to try to use a tablet as a navigation device for the bike. But be that as it may, compared to the Garmin Edge 500 professional navigation device, the Galaxy Tab S6 directs us on the bike subjectively just as accurately and only shows some minimal inaccuracies. The Samsung tablet also provides apps with the exact position information.
Cameras - The first Samsung tablet with a dual camera
The Samsung Galaxy S6 is Samsung's first tablet where the main camera is a dual camera. It consists of a 13 MP ultra-wide-angle lens with a 123-degree viewing angle and a wide-angle lens with 5 MP sitting below that. With these, the tablet can handle portraits and close-ups just as well as landscape and group pictures.
Particularly for the latter two, the Live Focus mode, which is available for the main camera as well as the 8-MP selfie camera, is suited as if custom made. Optionally, this mode blurs the background and thus emphasizes the main object. In the Professional mode, you can manually adjust the length of exposure, the white balance, and the ISO value.
Other supporting photo features include an HDR mode, a scene optimization that optimizes the colors depending on the surroundings, various filter and Beauty effects, AR Emojis, as well as the Bixby Vision augmented reality app, among others. This is, for example, able to translate texts, search information on locations nearby, and search for images that resemble the photographed object.
The dual main camera is able to record videos at a maximum of 4K (3840x2160 pixels) at 30 frames per second. The selfie camera offers a maximum of Full-HD, also at 30 FPS.
During daylight conditions (Scenes 1 and 2), the Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 takes decent pictures. Considering that it is a tablet, they are even really good, especially because Samsung reaches deep into the color jars. This causes the pictures to look vibrant with a lot of dynamics, but they also look a little artificial. In addition, the tablet does not succeed in producing fine details particularly sharp, and some image noise can also show up quickly. With weak surrounding light, the Galaxy Tab S6 reaches the limits of its capabilities (Scene 3). You can only guess what is supposed to be displayed in our sample photo.
Accessories and Warranty - S Pen included
Unlike the Galaxy Tab S5e, the Galaxy Tab S6 already includes a digital input pen. In addition, there are a modular 15-watt charger (9V/1.67A, 5V/2.0A), a USB cable (Type A to Type C), a SIM tool, and a quick-start manual. Optionally, the book cover keyboard, which connects to the tablet via the Pogo Pins, is also available for about 130 Euros (~$145).
There is a 24-month warranty on the Galaxy Tab S6.
Input Devices and Operation- The Galaxy Tab S6 with an in-screen fingerprint reader
The super-AMOLED touchscreen of the Galaxy Tab S6 implements input commands without delay and responds to input anywhere very precisely. The optical fingerprint reader integrated into the display also works flawlessly.
The included Samsung S Pen can also be used for navigation. With its 4096 pressure levels, it also allows you to create very fine drawings and outlines. Via Bluetooth it can also be used to control content such as presentations or videos via gesture controls. It is also able to trigger app actions, such as taking a picture or turn the music volume up or down. You can set up the pen commands in the "S Pen Actions" menu item of the expanded Android settings (see screenshot).
What goes as the Power key in other tablets, Samsung calls the "Function key." Long-pressing it will bring up the Bixby smart assistant. You can bring up the Turn Off dialog by either long-pressing the Function and Decrease Volume keys or by tapping the Power symbol in the notification area.
Back to Bixby again: In combination with Samsung's SmartThings app, Samsung's AI assistant offers the option to control your networked home via voice input, such as turning on your TV or tell your robot vac to start cleaning, for example. This of course assumes SmartThings-compatible hardware, which is listed on Samsung's web site. You can always switch to the DeX desktop mode, but it only becomes really usable with the optional keyboard.
Display - A brillant Super-AMOLED panel in the Samsung Galaxy
The 10.5-inch Super-AMOLED display of the Galaxy Tab S6 has a resolution of 2560x1600 pixels, which corresponds to a high pixel density of 288 PPI.
With 445.4 cd/m² on average, the Samsung tablet achieves a slightly higher brightness than the Galaxy Tab S5e and scores with very good pre-adjustments of the image parameters – more on that in the next section.
The only negative point is that the AMOLED panel uses PWM to control brightness, which might be an obstacle for sensitive persons.
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Brightness Distribution: 86 %
Contrast: ∞:1 (Black: 0 cd/m²)
ΔE Color 2.7 | 0.55-29.43 Ø5.1
ΔE Greyscale 2.1 | 0.57-98 Ø5.4
98.4% sRGB (Calman 2D)
Gamma: 2.05
| Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 SM-T860 Super AMOLED, 2560x1600, 10.50 | Apple iPad 7 2019 IPS, 2160x1620, 10.20 | Apple iPad Pro 11 2018 IPS, 2388x1668, 11.00 | Huawei MediaPad M5 10.8 IPS, 2560x1600, 10.80 | Huawei MediaPad M5 10.8 Pro IPS, 2560x1600, 10.80 | Samsung Galaxy Tab S5e SM-T720 Super AMOLED, 2560x1600, 10.50 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Screen | 34% | 39% | -17% | -97% | 10% | |
| Brightness middle | 446 | 499 12% | 639 43% | 382 -14% | 384 -14% | 452 1% |
| Brightness | 445 | 470 6% | 591 33% | 378 -15% | 360 -19% | 453 2% |
| Brightness Distribution | 86 | 87 1% | 87 1% | 92 7% | 84 -2% | 90 5% |
| Black Level * | 0.49 | 0.45 | 0.24 | 0.8 | ||
| Colorchecker dE 2000 * | 2.7 | 0.97 64% | 0.92 66% | 2.8 -4% | 6.83 -153% | 1.7 37% |
| Colorchecker dE 2000 max. * | 5.4 | 1.98 63% | 2.59 52% | 6 -11% | 12.7 -135% | 3.7 31% |
| Greyscale dE 2000 * | 2.1 | 0.9 57% | 1.3 38% | 3.5 -67% | 7.5 -257% | 2.4 -14% |
| Gamma | 2.05 107% | 2.135 103% | 2.22 99% | 2.33 94% | 2.199 100% | 2.07 106% |
| CCT | 6468 100% | 6571 99% | 6656 98% | 6903 94% | 8544 76% | 6337 103% |
| Contrast | 1018 | 1420 | 1592 | 480 |
* ... smaller is better
Screen Flickering / PWM (Pulse-Width Modulation)
| Screen flickering / PWM detected | 242.7 Hz | ≤ 99 % brightness setting |  |
The display backlight flickers at 242.7 Hz (Likely utilizing PWM) Flickering detected at a brightness setting of 99 % and below. There should be no flickering or PWM above this brightness setting. The frequency of 242.7 Hz is relatively low, so sensitive users will likely notice flickering and experience eyestrain at the stated brightness setting and below. In comparison: 53 % of all tested devices do not use PWM to dim the display. If PWM was detected, an average of 19035 (minimum: 5 - maximum: 3846000) Hz was measured. | |||
The Samsung tablet offers the choice between two display modes: "Natural" is the default and "Lively" is the second option. The first corresponds to the character of its name: The "Natural" display mode scores with low Delta-E values, a good RGB balance, and a practically optimal color temperature. The "Lively" mode is more colorful and not quite as accurate, but it is still fairly close to the realistic color reproduction.
Display Response Times
| ↔ Response Time Black to White | ||
|---|---|---|
| 5.6 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined | ↗ 2.8 ms rise |  |
| ↘ 2.8 ms fall | ||
| The screen shows very fast response rates in our tests and should be very well suited for fast-paced gaming. In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.1 (minimum) to 240 (maximum) ms. » 10 % of all devices are better. This means that the measured response time is better than the average of all tested devices (22.3 ms). | ||
| ↔ Response Time 50% Grey to 80% Grey | ||
| 6 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined | ↗ 3.2 ms rise |  |
| ↘ 2.8 ms fall | ||
| The screen shows very fast response rates in our tests and should be very well suited for fast-paced gaming. In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.25 (minimum) to 636 (maximum) ms. » 10 % of all devices are better. This means that the measured response time is better than the average of all tested devices (35.1 ms). | ||
Due to their construction, OLED displays achieve a high viewing angle stability, and the Galaxy Tab S6 is no exception here. Outdoors, the tablet benefits from its high brightness. As long as you avoid direct sunlight on the display, the contents can be read easily.
Performance - Currently the fastest Android tablet
The Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 is currently probably the powerful Android tablet. Run by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 high-end SoC, the Adreno 640 graphics unit, and at least 6 GB of RAM, it clearly beats back competitors such as the Huawei MediaPad M5 10.8 Pro and also leaves no chance to its Galaxy Tab S5e sibling, which is by no means slow. However, the Apple tablets are again significantly faster in comparison.
| Geekbench 5.0 | |
| 5.0 Single-Core | |
| Apple iPad Pro 11 2018 | |
| Apple iPad 7 2019 | |
| Average of class Tablet (173 - 1547, n=3, last 2 years) | |
| Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 SM-T860 | |
| Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 (725 - 750, n=8) | |
| 5.0 Multi-Core | |
| Apple iPad Pro 11 2018 | |
| Average of class Tablet (920 - 7029, n=3, last 2 years) | |
| Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 (2441 - 2852, n=8) | |
| Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 SM-T860 | |
| Apple iPad 7 2019 | |
| OpenCL Score 5.0 | |
| Average of class Tablet (1346 - 10935, n=2, last 2 years) | |
| Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 SM-T860 | |
| Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 (2218 - 2395, n=7) | |
| Vulkan Score 5.0 | |
| Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 SM-T860 | |
| Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 (1849 - 2154, n=7) | |
| Average of class Tablet (76 - 1234, n=2, last 2 years) | |
| Metal Score 5.0 | |
| Apple iPad Pro 11 2018 | |
| Apple iPad 7 2019 | |
| PCMark for Android | |
| Work performance score | |
| Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 (10330 - 14439, n=19) | |
| Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 SM-T860 | |
| Samsung Galaxy Tab S5e SM-T720 | |
| Huawei MediaPad M5 10.8 Pro | |
| Huawei MediaPad M5 10.8 | |
| Work 2.0 performance score | |
| Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 (8342 - 11440, n=19) | |
| Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 SM-T860 | |
| Average of class Tablet (4895 - 11351, n=8, last 2 years) | |
| Samsung Galaxy Tab S5e SM-T720 | |
| Huawei MediaPad M5 10.8 Pro | |
| Huawei MediaPad M5 10.8 | |
| GFXBench (DX / GLBenchmark) 2.7 | |
| T-Rex Onscreen | |
| Apple iPad Pro 11 2018 | |
| Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 (59 - 91, n=20) | |
| Average of class Tablet (20 - 120, n=46, last 2 years) | |
| Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 SM-T860 | |
| Apple iPad 7 2019 | |
| Huawei MediaPad M5 10.8 Pro | |
| Huawei MediaPad M5 10.8 | |
| Samsung Galaxy Tab S5e SM-T720 | |
| 1920x1080 T-Rex Offscreen | |
| Apple iPad Pro 11 2018 | |
| Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 SM-T860 | |
| Average of class Tablet (15 - 873, n=46, last 2 years) | |
| Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 (85 - 167, n=20) | |
| Apple iPad 7 2019 | |
| Huawei MediaPad M5 10.8 | |
| Huawei MediaPad M5 10.8 Pro | |
| Samsung Galaxy Tab S5e SM-T720 | |
| GFXBench 3.0 | |
| on screen Manhattan Onscreen OGL | |
| Apple iPad Pro 11 2018 | |
| Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 (46 - 85, n=20) | |
| Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 SM-T860 | |
| Average of class Tablet (12 - 120, n=46, last 2 years) | |
| Apple iPad 7 2019 | |
| Huawei MediaPad M5 10.8 Pro | |
| Huawei MediaPad M5 10.8 | |
| Samsung Galaxy Tab S5e SM-T720 | |
| 1920x1080 1080p Manhattan Offscreen | |
| Apple iPad Pro 11 2018 | |
| Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 SM-T860 | |
| Average of class Tablet (7.3 - 494, n=46, last 2 years) | |
| Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 (50 - 102, n=20) | |
| Apple iPad 7 2019 | |
| Huawei MediaPad M5 10.8 | |
| Huawei MediaPad M5 10.8 Pro | |
| Samsung Galaxy Tab S5e SM-T720 | |
| GFXBench 3.1 | |
| on screen Manhattan ES 3.1 Onscreen | |
| Apple iPad Pro 11 2018 | |
| Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 (27 - 58, n=20) | |
| Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 SM-T860 | |
| Average of class Tablet (6.3 - 118.3, n=46, last 2 years) | |
| Apple iPad 7 2019 | |
| Huawei MediaPad M5 10.8 Pro | |
| Huawei MediaPad M5 10.8 | |
| Samsung Galaxy Tab S5e SM-T720 | |
| 1920x1080 Manhattan ES 3.1 Offscreen | |
| Apple iPad Pro 11 2018 | |
| Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 SM-T860 | |
| Average of class Tablet (5 - 340, n=46, last 2 years) | |
| Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 (35 - 71, n=20) | |
| Apple iPad 7 2019 | |
| Huawei MediaPad M5 10.8 Pro | |
| Samsung Galaxy Tab S5e SM-T720 | |
| Huawei MediaPad M5 10.8 | |
| AnTuTu v7 - Total Score | |
| Apple iPad Pro 11 2018 | |
| Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 SM-T860 | |
| Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 (217967 - 398720, n=16) | |
| Apple iPad 7 2019 | |
| Huawei MediaPad M5 10.8 Pro | |
| Samsung Galaxy Tab S5e SM-T720 | |
| Huawei MediaPad M5 10.8 | |
The browser performance shows similar results: Apple wins, followed by the Galaxy Tab S6 as the fastest Android tablet. Subjectively, the experience of surfing on the Samsung is absolutely smooth. Web sites are rendered extremely fast, and during loading, there are neither stutters nor any other delays.
| Jetstream 2 - Total Score | |
| Average of class Tablet (17 - 236, n=45, last 2 years) | |
| Apple iPad 7 2019 (Safari 13) | |
| Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 SM-T860 (Chrome 77.0.3865.116) | |
| Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 (45.5 - 67, n=16) | |
| Samsung Galaxy Tab S5e SM-T720 (Chrome 74.0.3729.136) | |
| JetStream 1.1 - Total Score | |
| Apple iPad Pro 11 2018 (Safari 13) | |
| Apple iPad 7 2019 (Safari 13) | |
| Average of class Tablet (28.1 - 436, n=27, last 2 years) | |
| Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 SM-T860 (Chrome 77.0.3865.116) | |
| Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 (84.4 - 120, n=17) | |
| Huawei MediaPad M5 10.8 Pro (Chrome 68.0.3440.91) | |
| Samsung Galaxy Tab S5e SM-T720 (Chrome 74.0.3729.136) | |
| Huawei MediaPad M5 10.8 (Chrome 65) | |
| WebXPRT 3 - --- | |
| Apple iPad Pro 11 2018 (Safari 13) | |
| Average of class Tablet (33 - 342, n=42, last 2 years) | |
| Apple iPad 7 2019 (Safari 13) | |
| Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 (90 - 129, n=20) | |
| Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 SM-T860 (Chrome 77.0.3865.116) | |
| Huawei MediaPad M5 10.8 Pro (Chrome 68.0.3440.91) | |
| Samsung Galaxy Tab S5e SM-T720 (Chrome 74.0.3729.136) | |
| Speedometer 2.0 - Result | |
| Apple iPad Pro 11 2018 (IOS 12.1.1) | |
| Average of class Tablet (13.9 - 376, n=42, last 2 years) | |
| Apple iPad 7 2019 (Safari 13) | |
| Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 SM-T860 (Chrome 77.0.3865.116) | |
| Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 (42.5 - 67.9, n=15) | |
| Samsung Galaxy Tab S5e SM-T720 (Chrome 74.0.3729.136) | |
| Octane V2 - Total Score | |
| Apple iPad Pro 11 2018 (Safari 13) | |
| Apple iPad 7 2019 (Safari 13) | |
| Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 SM-T860 (Chrome 77.0.3865.116) | |
| Average of class Tablet (5004 - 74614, n=49, last 2 years) | |
| Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 (17011 - 25640, n=20) | |
| Huawei MediaPad M5 10.8 Pro (Chrome 68.0.3440.91) | |
| Samsung Galaxy Tab S5e SM-T720 (Chrome 74.0.3729.136) | |
| Huawei MediaPad M5 10.8 (Chrome 65) | |
| Mozilla Kraken 1.1 - Total Score | |
| Huawei MediaPad M5 10.8 (Chrome 65) | |
| Huawei MediaPad M5 10.8 Pro (Chrome 68.0.3440.91) | |
| Samsung Galaxy Tab S5e SM-T720 (Chrome 74.0.3729.136) | |
| Average of class Tablet (451 - 12972, n=46, last 2 years) | |
| Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 SM-T860 (Chrome 77.0.3865.116) | |
| Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 (1852 - 2611, n=19) | |
| Apple iPad 7 2019 (Safari 13) | |
| Apple iPad Pro 11 2018 (Safari 13) | |
* ... smaller is better
The storage performance of the Galaxy Tab S6 is a real highlight. Its UFS-3.0 storage results in miraculous transfer rates of up to 1416 MB/s during sequential reads and up to 192 MB/s during 4 KB random reads. The Android competitors can pack their bags here, since they only achieve about a quarter of the storage bandwidth of the Samsung.
However, when reading from or writing to microSD cards, the Galaxy Tab S6 is even slightly slower than the comparison devices. But at a maximum of 70.5 MB/s with our Toshiba Exceria Pro M501 reference card, it still remains within a good range, particularly since the competitors are not really that much faster at a maximum of 85 MB/s.
| Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 SM-T860 | Huawei MediaPad M5 10.8 | Huawei MediaPad M5 10.8 Pro | Samsung Galaxy Tab S5e SM-T720 | Average 128 GB UFS 3.0 Flash | Average of class Tablet | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AndroBench 3-5 | -40% | -48% | -45% | 5% | -22% | |
| Sequential Read 256KB | 1416 | 247.8 -82% | 278.6 -80% | 294.4 -79% | 1520 ? 7% | 761 ? -46% |
| Sequential Write 256KB | 522 | 126.8 -76% | 94.1 -82% | 197.1 -62% | 546 ? 5% | 452 ? -13% |
| Random Read 4KB | 191.6 | 54.7 -71% | 27.41 -86% | 79.2 -59% | 206 ? 8% | 140.3 ? -27% |
| Random Write 4KB | 170.2 | 60.8 -64% | 15.35 -91% | 18.79 -89% | 193.9 ? 14% | 136.2 ? -20% |
| Sequential Read 256KB SDCard | 70.5 ? | 85.1 ? 21% | 84.9 ? 20% | 76.1 ? 8% | 67.3 ? -5% | 72 ? 2% |
| Sequential Write 256KB SDCard | 54.5 ? | 73.8 ? 35% | 73.1 ? 34% | 60.8 ? 12% | 55.7 ? 2% | 40.4 ? -26% |
Gaming - The ideal gaming platform
The Galaxy Tab S6 is great as a gaming machine. Due to their placement on the two short sides, its four Dolby-Atmos compatible speakers always ensure a great sound field, no matter whether you hold the tablet in portrait or landscape orientation. Current games, which we always test with our Gamebench test tool, are displayed by the Snapdragon 855 octa-core processor and the Adreno 640 graphics unit in the maximum possible frame rate almost throughout, without the need to reduce the detail adjustment.
Emissions - Surround sound and Dolby Atmos
Temperature
During operation, the Galaxy Tab S6 always remains comfortably cool. Even under maximum load, we barely measure 34 °C (93 °F) as a maximum value. As the GFXBench battery test shows, the Android device has to use some tricks from time to time, in order to keep the heat developments within limits.
Although the frame rate remains constantly high even after the 30th run in the GFXBench T-Rex test scenario, during the more demanding Manhattan test scenario it slightly drops already in the beginning and then drops significantly after 17 runs. While there are some speed drops, due to the high performance reserves of the tablet, you will not notice any of them in practice.
(+) The maximum temperature on the upper side is 34 °C / 93 F, compared to the average of 34.1 °C / 93 F, ranging from 21.2 to 53.2 °C for the class Tablet.
(+) The bottom heats up to a maximum of 32.4 °C / 90 F, compared to the average of 33.5 °C / 92 F
(+) In idle usage, the average temperature for the upper side is 29.1 °C / 84 F, compared to the device average of 30.2 °C / 86 F.
Speakers
With its four Dolby-Atmos compatible AKG speakers, the Galaxy Tab S6 delivers a surprisingly full surround sound, which is automatically optimized in the Standard setting. Alternatively, there are also the Movie, Music, and Voice modes, through which the sound output can be adjusted correspondingly.
By linking Bluetooth speakers to the tablet, you can also output the sound of selected apps to them. Unfortunately, Samsung does not include headphones with the Galaxy Tab S6.
Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 SM-T860 audio analysis
(+) | speakers can play relatively loud (85.5 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(±) | reduced bass - on average 11.4% lower than median
(±) | linearity of bass is average (11.7% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(+) | balanced mids - only 4.8% away from median
(+) | mids are linear (2.4% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(+) | balanced highs - only 1.8% away from median
(+) | highs are linear (3.9% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(+) | overall sound is linear (10.9% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 8% of all tested devices in this class were better, 4% similar, 87% worse
» The best had a delta of 7%, average was 19%, worst was 50%
Compared to all devices tested
» 6% of all tested devices were better, 2% similar, 92% worse
» The best had a delta of 3%, average was 20%, worst was 65%
Huawei MediaPad M5 10.8 Pro audio analysis
(+) | speakers can play relatively loud (84.6 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(-) | nearly no bass - on average 15.7% lower than median
(±) | linearity of bass is average (8.7% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(+) | balanced mids - only 2.7% away from median
(+) | mids are linear (4.1% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(±) | higher highs - on average 5.1% higher than median
(+) | highs are linear (5.6% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(+) | overall sound is linear (14.4% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 24% of all tested devices in this class were better, 4% similar, 72% worse
» The best had a delta of 7%, average was 19%, worst was 50%
Compared to all devices tested
» 18% of all tested devices were better, 4% similar, 78% worse
» The best had a delta of 3%, average was 20%, worst was 65%
Power Management - A long battery life guaranteed
Power Consumption
At 2.8 watts during idle operation and a maximum of 11.9 watts under load, the Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 is very energy efficient. With the exception of the Samsung Galaxy Tab S5e, the competitors are unable to match these values by far. If you also take the 7040 mAh battery into consideration, a long battery life should be guaranteed.
The included 15-watt charger fully recharges the tablet within 2.5 hours.
| Off / Standby |   0.02 / 0.18 Watt |
| Idle |  1.96 / 2.8 / 2.82 Watt |
| Load |
5.31 / 11.91 Watt |
    
| |
| Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 SM-T860 7040 mAh | Apple iPad 7 2019 mAh | Apple iPad Pro 11 2018 7736 mAh | Huawei MediaPad M5 10.8 7500 mAh | Huawei MediaPad M5 10.8 Pro 7500 mAh | Samsung Galaxy Tab S5e SM-T720 7040 mAh | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Power Consumption | -92% | -71% | -49% | -76% | -2% | |
| Idle Minimum * | 1.96 | 2.2 -12% | 1.2 39% | 2.01 -3% | 3.3 -68% | 2.07 -6% |
| Idle Average * | 2.8 | 6.7 -139% | 4.1 -46% | 5.4 -93% | 4.2 -50% | 3.94 -41% |
| Idle Maximum * | 2.82 | 8.2 -191% | 7.5 -166% | 5.44 -93% | 7 -148% | 3.96 -40% |
| Load Average * | 5.31 | 11.3 -113% | 13.6 -156% | 8.55 -61% | 10.4 -96% | 4.07 23% |
| Load Maximum * | 11.91 | 12.5 -5% | 15.2 -28% | 11.53 3% | 13.8 -16% | 5.73 52% |
* ... smaller is better
Battery Life
Samsung promises up to 15 hours of playing videos and a straight 9 hours of using the internet for its high-end tablet and scores correspondingly in the battery test. With 9:16 hours in the realistic WLAN test and 14:32 hours when playing the H.264 test video, the Galaxy Tab S6 fulfills the manufacturer specifications almost exactly.
Of course, this is really by chance, since those times depend on different test conditions. But what is more important is that the results show that the Galaxy Tab S6 is a companion with a lot of endurance that does not necessarily need to get back to an outlet after a day of intensive use.
| Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 SM-T860 7040 mAh | Apple iPad 7 2019 mAh | Apple iPad Pro 11 2018 7736 mAh | Huawei MediaPad M5 10.8 7500 mAh | Huawei MediaPad M5 10.8 Pro 7500 mAh | Samsung Galaxy Tab S5e SM-T720 7040 mAh | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Battery Runtime | -2% | 25% | -10% | -11% | -1% | |
| Reader / Idle | 1276 | 1486 16% | 2056 61% | 1344 5% | 1254 -2% | 1263 -1% |
| H.264 | 872 | 802 -8% | 982 13% | 702 -19% | 629 -28% | 864 -1% |
| WiFi v1.3 | 556 | 707 27% | 920 65% | 648 17% | 670 21% | 623 12% |
| Load | 340 | 196 -42% | 208 -39% | 196 -42% | 220 -35% | 300 -12% |
Pros
Cons
Verdict - Top technology at a steep price
The Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 is currently probably the best Android tablet. With its Snapdragon-855 SoC, the 10.5-inch tablet leaves even fast competitors such as the Huawei MediaPad M5 10.8 Pro behind. It also scores with a brilliant AMOLED display, high-quality workmanship, and a powerful surround sound from four speakers.
Additional advantages of the Galaxy Tab S6 are the good battery life, the at least in daylight conditions decent dual camera, and last but not least the included S Pen that adds very practical pen input to the tablet. Samsung's DeX desktop mode is also worth a mention, but to really be able to work with this, you need the optional docking keyboard, which increases the total price by about 130 Euros (~$145).
The Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 is ideal for creative and multimedia use. However, the Galaxy Tab S5e is almost just as good at that, at only half the price.
This also brings us to the main disadvantage of Samsung's flagship tablet: the price of officially at least 749 Euros (~$836). If it does not have to be the maximum performance, the Galaxy Tab S5e will do just as well. It costs only half as much, but already offers more than sufficient performance for all everyday tasks. Its equipment is also to a large extent identical to that of the Galaxy Tab S6.
Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 SM-T860
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08/31/2022 v7
Manuel Masiero
Pricecompare
