The Best Samsung Galaxy Tab Deals

The Samsung Galaxy Tab is a tablet device that is made by the Korean company Samsung. It comes in a range of different models, all of which feature high-quality engineering and powerful processors, allowing them to be used for high-end professional applications and as mobile entertainment centres.

This buyer's guide looks at what the Samsung Galaxy Tab series has to offer and how to choose the right model for you. The tablet doesn't tend to come cheap either, so we'll offer a few suggestions about how to get great Samsung Galaxy Tab deals as well.

Samsung Galaxy Tab: The First Mass-produced Android Tablet

Samsung started out in 1930s Korea as a general trading company, but in the post-war period it embraced electronics, carving a global niche in the process. Since the 1990s, the company has focused most of its attentions on smart and mobile devices, introducing popular smartphones, LED TVs and, of course, its range of Samsung Galaxy Tab devices.

The first Galaxy Tab appeared in September 2010 and was confusingly named the Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.0 – but don't look for anything before that, or you'll be out of luck. At the time, the Galaxy Tab was groundbreaking, being the first mass produced tablet based on the Android operating system. When 4G compatibility was added into the package, it became a bestseller, cementing Samsung's reputation as a market leader in mobile devices.

The original Galaxy Tab was soon updated, with its processor being overhauled, its HD screen growing larger and extra RAM being added with every edition. In 2015, another feature started to appear: special tie-ins with Microsoft to bundle in tablet-friendly versions of Microsoft Office and Windows. This was followed by the Samsung Galaxy TabPro S which appeared in 2016 and allowed users to turn it instantly into a fully-operative Windows PC.

Right now, users can take their pick from Samsung Galaxy Tabs with Microsoft functionality, which are ideal for business users, or pure Android tablets. With plenty of RAM, great cameras, bottomless storage space, HD screens and fast processors, the latest Galaxy Tabs remain at the head of the pack, whatever you need to use them for.

What Can You Do with a Samsung Galaxy Tab

As we noted above, the Samsung Galaxy Tab is a versatile beast. It is just as suited to accounting, making presentations and drawing up architectural plans as it is to gaming, surfing the web and checking your social media. Here are just a few of the features that set it apart from similar devices:

• Use the Galaxy Game Launcher to run games like Megapolis, Hearthstone Heroes of Warcraft and Empire: Four Kingdoms.

• The Vulkan API graphics card allows you to play demanding games and stream TV and movies smoothly.

• USB C connectivity allows you to charge the Galaxy Tab extra quickly, while the 6,000mAh battery provides 12 hours of video playback.

• The Samsung Flow system allows you to seamlessly transfer photos or videos from Samsung phones onto your tablet.

• The Super AMOLED screen provides high-definition video, turning the tablet into a mobile cinema device.

• The CPU has been made 18% quicker than the previous Samsung Galaxy Tab, while the GPU has been sped up by a factor of three.

• Quad speakers ensure a powerful, even sound, no matter how you hold or prop up your tablet.

• Compatible with the S Pen, which looks and feels just as comfortable as a high-quality ballpoint pen.

• Can be converted into a laptop computer thanks to the plug-in keyboard.

Samsung Galaxy Tab: Key Specifications

So, the Samsung Galaxy Tab is a powerful piece of kit, but exactly how do the specs of the current model measure up. Here are the key metrics of 2017's Samsung Galaxy Tab S3:

• CPU: Quad-core (2x2.15GHz Kryo + 2x1.6GHz Kryo)

• Memory: 4GB RAM

• GPU: Adreno 530

• Display: 9.7-inch 2048×1536 Super AMOLED display

• Sound: Four built-in AKG speakers

• Cameras: 13MP rear facing camera and a 5MP front facing camera

• Connectivity: Wi-Fi 802.11a/b/g/n/ac and Bluetooth 4.2

• Battery: 6,000mAh, 12 hours video playback

• Weight: 429g

• Operating System: Android 7.0 “Nougat”

• Storage: 32GB and the option of 256GB SSD storage

The S3 was released in February 2017, and will eventually supersede the S2. However, its predecessor remains a powerful and popular tablet option. Here are its key specs:

• CPU: 1.9GHz quad-core Cortex-A57 + 1.3GHz quad-core ARM Cortex-A53

• Memory: 3GB RAM

• GPU: ARM Mali T760MP6 @ 700MHz

• Display: 9.7-inch 2048×1536 Super AMOLED display

• Sound: Integrated stereo

• Cameras: 8MP rear facing camera and a 2.1MP front facing camera

• Connectivity: Wi-fi 802.11a/b/g/n/ac and Bluetooth 4.1

• Battery: 5,870mAh

• Weight: 389g

• Operating System: Android 5.0.2 “Lollipop”

• Storage: 32 or 64GB and the option of 128GB SSD storage

As you can probably see, Samsung made a few tweaks and updated the internal architecture, but 2015's instalment in the Galaxy Tab Series is comparable to 2017's. The S2 was also accompanied by a couple of other options, which are also worth thinking about, so let's take a quick look at the varieties available.

Official Launch Film of the Samsung Galaxy Tab S3

Different Models of Samsung Galaxy Tab

Since 2015, Samsung has vastly expanded the Galaxy Tab range (sometimes making it hard to know which model you have, and what is the best upgrade option). To help clear up the confusion, here's a quick run down of the options available:

• The Samsung Galaxy Tab A – Released in 2015 and updated in 2016, the Samsung Galaxy Tab A is a middle of the range option which does most of the things its more illustrious cousins can do, often for a fraction of the price. You'll get slightly less RAM (2 GB) and it weighs a little more than other Galaxy Tabs, but the A is a solid, easy to use working tablet that won't break the bank.

• The Samsung Galaxy Tab S2 – Ultra slim and lightweight but with a solid, sleek feel to it, the S2 is a joy to use. It has a high-definition screen, can be expanded via the SD card slot (up to 128GB) and generally represents a high-quality competitor for the Microsoft Surface or Apple's iPad. It's also slightly cheaper than those elite pads, with very little difference in terms of functionality.

• The Samsung Galaxy Tab E – Getting on a bit now (it was released in 2014), the Galaxy Tab E is still a very handy everyday tablet to have around the house. It may feel a little clunky (being 8.5 mm thick), the bezels aren't as streamlined as later tablets, the processor struggles a little if you use more demanding apps and its screen resolution of 1,280 x 800 looks a little murky at times. However, it's cheap and functional, and as well made as you'd expect a Samsung tablet to be.

• The Samsung Galaxy Tab 4 – Delving back in time still further, you may find a few Samsung Galaxy Tab 4s on the market, often at huge discounts relative to S3s. At the time, the 4 was released as a mid-range tablet without the processing oomph needed by high-end users, but with everything ordinary owners could need. That was fine at the time, but it lacks the high res Super AMOLED display that later Galaxy Tabs possess, and it's also fairly heavy. But with a 10.1-inch screen, it offers plenty of space for games and movies to fill, so there's an upside to consider.

• The Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 – Another relatively ancient device, the 3 was released way back in 2013. Robust, competent and probably extremely cheap (particularly if you find pre-owned deals), the 3 suffers in terms of graphics, processing power and aesthetics, but it's a good entry level tablet to consider thanks to its price level.

Many of these tablets come in a range of sizes. For instance, the Tab 3 and 4 (as well as the Pro) come in a “10.1” version, along with 7.0 and 8.0 versions. What does this mean? The 10.1 simply refers to the size of the screen (which is 10.1” from corner to corner). In later models, the 10.1 has been downsized to 9.7, but the resolution has been vastly improved, so there's no loss of quality.

What to Think About When Buying a Samsung Galaxy Tab

The first thing to think about before you buy a Samsung Galaxy Tab is simply whether you actually need a tablet or not.

Tablets are useful for students, office workers and other people who need the functions of a computer but the mobility of a smartphone. They have enough power to run Office apps and are small enough to carry in your handbag. However, they aren't as powerful as most laptops. It's easy to forget this when you read through the specifications of something like the Galaxy Tab S3, but it could be important if you need to process or edit video or manage multiple applications at any one time.

Now, when you've decided to buy a tablet, think about the price. As you can probably tell from the discussion above, there's quite a disparity between the cost of various Galaxy Tab models. The older versions might be long in the tooth and clunky, but with plenty of deals below £100, they are an affordable option. If all you need is a tablet to watch BBC documentaries or YouTube and use Facebook, why pay extra? Models like the Galaxy Tab 4 will provide the power you need.

Then again, there has been a big technical leap forward from the 4 to the S2. The Super AMOLED screen offers far clearer visuals while the tablet has been slimmed down drastically, and looks better as well. If you watch a lot of streaming videos from the web, those crisp visuals can make a big difference, and the same applies to the embedded stereo speakers.

At the end of the day, as with most electronic devices, you'll need to balance functionality against cost. There's no doubt that the newer Samsung tablets deliver impressive specs, but they also come with a price tag to match, though they still undercut Apple's alternatives by some distance.

How to Find Out Which Model of Samsung Galaxy Tab You Own

What can you do if you don't know the exact model of your Samsung Galaxy Tab? Identifying the precise model is really simple and here's how to go about doing so:

The first way is to flip your tablet onto its back and look towards the bottom. You should see the model number clearly printed on the case of the phone.

If that doesn't work or you need confirmation, head to the settings menu on your device. Choose the “General” option and then “About device”. The model number of your phone should be listed there.

Now, you're free to list your phone for sale, enabling you to trade up for a more up to date tablet.

Accessories for the Samsung Galaxy Tab

The Samsung Galaxy Tab can be enhanced significantly with a range of accessories, most of which can be purchased from Samsung.com and HotUKDeals merchants. Here are a few suggestions that might come in useful:

• Keyboards – Samsung has come up with a few different keyboard options. The first is to dock your Galaxy Tab in the Samsung Keyboard, turning it into a quasi-laptop. The other option is the firm's Bluetooth Keyboard which is totally wire-free and can be used with other Samsung devices as well.

• Cases – The Galaxy Tab may be sleek and strong, but it can be scuffed and smudged like any other device. Keep it in good working order and retain its value by ensuring that it is protected by a specially made Galaxy case.

• Earphones – Sometimes it's great to cut loose with the Galaxy Tab's four integrated speakers, but at other times privacy is more important, particularly on trains or planes. That's why special Galaxy Tab earphones come in so handy.

• Bluetooth speakers – If the built-in speakers don't deliver enough juice, you can supplement them with Bluetooth speakers. These little devices are the ideal way to transform your workaday tablet into a fully-fledged music centre, a great tool for parties.

When and Where to Purchase the Cheapest Samsung Galaxy Tab

When you've worked out that you absolutely need a tablet and it's got to be a Galaxy Tab (and not an iPad or Surface), what next? How do you go about saving as much money as possible?

First off, be sure about which model you want. It's easy to get confused when you are searching through online listings and there are significant differences in features between Galaxy Tab versions, so note down the exact model number before you start your search.

If you like, it's also often a great idea to head to a retailer like Currys or John Lewis where you can give the tablet a try. See how it sits in your hand and give the stylus a go. Different tablet sizes work better for certain people (and some just can't get used to tablets in general).

When you're ready to make a purchase, the best place to head is HotUKDeals. When you search our listings for your chosen model of Samsung Galaxy Tablet, you'll find a constant stream of deals from merchants like Currys, John Lewis, Argos, Amazon, eBay, Very and Tesco. Shop around and act quickly when you see an exceptional deal.

If possible, you may want to wait a while as well. If you can hold out until Black Friday in November, you're sure to encounter lower prices. The same applies to the January Sales. But prices fluctuate in any case. Stay alert and be ruthless when a great deal appears.

Think about buying second-hand models or trading in as well. Sometimes you can save big just by opting for last year's model too. There are plenty of ways to afford high-end tablets if you are willing to shop around, delay or make a few compromises. But whatever strategy you choose, make regular visits to HotUKDeals a part of it.

Update Your Tablet for Less with the Samsung Galaxy Tab Offers at HotUKDeals

The Samsung Galaxy Tab series continues to push the boundaries of tablet design, offering high-quality engineering, crisp graphics and impressive processing power to everyday consumers. If you need to get the latest tablet model, check out the HotUKDeals Samsung Galaxy Tab listings, where updating your tech collection is cheaper than ever.