Had a while with my Tab S4 and have used it extensively and compared to other tablets I own for development purposes - though for the sake of this comparison the Mediapad M5, Tab S3 and iPad pro are probably the only ones I have that are true 'competitors'. Quick list of what I felt:
1. Tab S4 solves the bizarre Tab S3 performance issues. Honestly that is the one and only reason I rate it higher than the S3.
1a. Performance is good. Occasional Samsung hiccups but when it is running well it feels quicker than the Mediapad M5 if you really pay attention. iPad pro of course blows them all out of the water.
2. Whoever decided to remove the fingerprint sensor and opt for iris scanning needs to be shot. Iris scanning on a tablet is clumsy, irritating and inconvenient. Fingerprint unlocking was easy and could be completed regardless of the tablets position (held, flat on desk, stood up etc).
3. Both the s-pen and the book cover are slightly better on the Tab S3. The older S-pen is nicely weighted with a metal clip, the old book cover is insanely thin and magnetically attached rather than the tacky looking plastic clip retention of the new one. Neither are really worth £60 though.
4. Speaking of covers, both the S3 and S4 keyboard covers are silly. A decent slimline bluetooth keyboard (i.e. a Logitech K810, K380) is a far better option, less cramped and free to be positioned independently of the tablet, can be used with other devices etc.
5. The 'tuned by AKG' speakers on the Tab S3 and S4 are both garbage. The iPad pro and Mediapad M5 embarrass them, even the 8.4" Mediapad sounds far better.
6. Same silly glass back as the S3
7. Drawing/S-pen on the S3 and S4 seems identical in terms of input latency and general performance. I use Artflow & Infinite Painter and both work perfectly. I have the non-pro Mediapad so can't compare the M-pen. iPad pro with apple pencil feels like it has
far less input latency.
8. S4 seems to suffer really badly from redraw/refresh-induced 'tilting' when scrolling in portrait. For example open
this link and scroll up & down holding the tablet in portrait.
Sounds like I'm knocking the tablet but I'm just pointing out some of the worst bits. It
is a good tablet, very good. Personally I don't think it is quite worth £599, but it is the best Android tablet available at the moment.
If you do not draw (or otherwise use the S-pen) and are just after a fast tablet for games and media consumption, I'd say the Mediapad M5 non-pro is far better value for money. The screen isn't
quite as good (its still very good) but the sound is miles better. The 10.8" version seems to be on offer regularly for ~£250 which is less than half the cost of the Tab S4.
this or the MS Surface go?
For what tasks?