Samsung Galaxy Tab S7+ review: Refining the Android tablet experience

Benchmark Performance, Battery, Conclusion

Benchmark Performance

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S7+ packs a Qualcomm Snapdragon 865+, one of the latest flagship-tier processors with 5G compatibility you can possibly get on any mobile device. However, the Tab S7+ is of tablet class, so its natural rival is the 12-inch Apple iPad Pro (2020). We’re also pitting the Tab S7+ against its predecessor (Tab S6) and against Samsung’s very own Galaxy S20 Ultra smartphone. This will not only benchmark the Tab S7+ against one of its strongest competitors, but also clue us in on how powerful the Snapdragon 865+ chipset is, against Apple’s A12Z processor, and Samsung’s very own Exynos 990 chip - all of which are 2020 flagship processors.

	Samsung Galaxy Tab S7+	Samsung Galaxy Tab S6	Apple iPad Pro 12.9-inch (2020)	Apple iPad Pro 12.9-inch (2018)
Operating system	Android 10 (One UI)	Android	iPadOS	iOS 12
Processor	Qualcomm Snapdragon 865+	Qualcomm Snapdragon 855	A12Z Bionic M!2 coprocessor Neural engine	A12X Bionic
Memory	8GB RAM	6GB RAM 8GB RAM	—	—
Display	12.4-inch / 2,800 x 1,752 pixels / Super AMOLED / 120Hz refresh rate	10.5-inch / 2,560 x 1,600 pixels / Super AMOLED	12.9-inch Liquid Retina display 2,732 x 2,048 pixels 264ppi	12.9-inch Liquid Retina 2732 x 2048 pixels resolution P3 color space TrueTone ProMotion
Camera	Rear: 13MP main, 5MP ultra-wide, LED flash Front: 8MP	Rear: 13MP + 5MP Front: 8MP	Rear cameras: Wide: 12MP, f/1.8 Ultra wide: 10MP / f2.4 Front camera: 7MP, f/2.2, TrueDepth camera	Front: TrueDepth camera, 7MP Rear: 12MP, f1./8 Smart HDR camera
Audio Support	Quad speakers, sound by AKG, Dolby Atmos support	4 speakers sound by AKG, Dolby Atmos 2 microphones	—	—
Connectivity	5G, LTE (up to Cat 20, 6CA), Wi-Fi 6 (802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax), Wi-Fi Direct, Bluetooth 5.0, GPS + GLONASS, Beidou, Galileo	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac (2.4 + 5GHz), MIMO, Wi-Fi Direct, Bluetooth 5.0, GPS + GLONASS, Beidou, Galileo 4G+ LTE Cat 16 (up to 1024Mbps)	Wi-Fi 6 802.11ax/ac/b/g/n/a Blueooth 5.0	802.11ac/b/g/n/a LTE (optional)
Storage	256GB internal storage microSD expansion (up to 1TB)	128GB internal storage 256GB internal storage microSD expansion (up to 1TB)	1TB SSD	64GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB
Other Features	S Pen bundled On-display fingerprint sensor	S Pen bundled On-screen optical fingerprint sensor	Lidar scanner Face ID	—
Battery	10,090mAh 45W Super Fast Charging	7,040mAh (Tablet) 350mAh (S Pen)	36.71Wh	36.71 Wh lithium-ion
Dimensions	285 x 185 x 5.7mm	244.5 x 159.5 x 5.7mm	280.6 x 214.9 x 5.9mm	280.6 x 214.9 x 5.9mm
Weight	575g	420g	643g	633g
I/O Ports	—	—	USB-C	1 x USB-C (USB 3.1 Gen 2)

Jetstream 2

To benchmark the phone’s web browsing performance, we used the JetStream 2 benchmark test on the Google Chrome web browser app. The test measures a phone’s capabilities in handling a variety of advanced workloads and executing codes. JetStream 2 is an updated version of older benchmarks, such as the first JetStream and SunSpider.

While some devices come with custom-made web browsers, We always run this benchmark test on Chrome as it gives the best indication across devices, processors, and OS platforms - whether iOS or Android. Also, we would adjust the device’s display settings to ensure that the screen doesn't turn off mid-test since this would relegate the browser's thread(s) to background processing. Where necessary, we would run multiple test instances to get a more accurate reading of scores.

Note: Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 was tested on Sunspider, a now-outdated browser benchmark.

AnTuTu

Note: as of 9 March 2020, all AnTuTu benchmarks were removed from the Google Play Store. This move likely arose from Google’s attempts to relieve the Play Store of apps that violate their policies. AnTuTu is working with Google to restore their app listing. For this review, we used the APK file that was available on AnTuTu’s website.

AnTuTu is an all-in-one benchmark that tests CPU, GPU, memory, and storage. The CPU benchmark evaluates both integer and floating-point performance, and the GPU tests assess 2D and 3D performance, the memory test measures available memory bandwidth and latency, and the storage tests gauge the read and write speeds of a device's flash memory.

Note: Our Tab S6 review did not have an AnTuTu score and the benchmark’s website does not keep a record of the Tab S6’s performance.

Geekbench 5

Geekbench CPU is a cross-platform processor benchmark that tests both single-core and multi-core performance with workloads that simulate real-world usage. Geekbench 5 scores are calibrated against a baseline score of 1000, which is the score of an Intel Core i3-8100.

Note: the Tab S6 score reflected in the graph was taken from Geekbench 5’s records, and not from our previous tests.

3DMark Sling Shot Extreme

3DMark Sling Shot is an advanced 3D graphics benchmark that tests the full range of OpenGL ES 3.1 and ES 3.0 API features including multiple render targets, instanced rendering, uniform buffers and transform feedback. The test also includes impressive volumetric lighting and post-processing effects. The test’s Unlimited mode ignores screen resolutions.

Benchmark Performance Analysis

While the benchmark scores are nowhere similar to iPads, the Samsung Galaxy Tab S7+ has a marked improvement over its predecessor. We attribute this to the Qualcomm Snapdragon 865+ chipset and we look forward to the performance of smaller devices with the same processor. As a whole, the Tab S7+ is excellent for browsing, gaming, and running multiple apps with minimal lag and load times.

Battery Life

Our standard battery test for mobile phones has the following parameters:

• Looping a 720p video with screen brightness and volume at 100%
• Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity turned on
• Constant data streaming through email

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 packs a whopping 10,090mAh battery capacity, larger than its regular Tab S7 (8,000mAh) and the preceding Tab S6 (7,040mAh). Before we get too excited at a five-figure capacity, remember that the Tab S7+ also comes with a large 12.4-inch display, which usually consumes power rather unforgivingly.

Relatively speaking, 9.5 hours of uptime via our testing is a good score for the Tab S7+. Heck, it's the longest lasting tablet among the few in our chart. The iPad Pro (both 2020 and 2018 models) clocked about half the uptime, while the previous Tab S6 also came nowhere near. You would, however, find that smartphones like Samsung’s very own Galaxy S20 Ultra and Oppo’s Find X2 Pro getting better uptimes instead. The display size of a mobile device plays a huge role in how long your battery lasts. If battery life is more important than the size of your portable screen, you might want to stick to smartphones. 

In the box with the Tab S7+ is a 15W travel adapter. If you wish to take advantage of the tablet’s 45W fast-charging capabilities, you’ll have to purchase its 45W charger separately. 15W may be faster than a regular sub-10W mobile device charger, but it’s a pity when you have to fork out more moolah after already paying for the best Samsung tablet currently available. 

Fortunately, we had a wired 65W fast-charging adapter lying around, so we tried that out instead. Upon plugging the device to the adapter (which was directly connected to a wall socket), the Tab S7+ would put up a prompt saying that it recognises it’s in fast-charging mode. It doesn’t specify how fast it was charging, though. With our off-brand fast-charger, the Tab S7+ went from 0% to 50% in 50 minutes, and it took a little more than two hours to go from 0% to 100%. Those are acceptable charging speeds for a device with over 10,000mAh capacity.

If we really wanted to pick on the Tab S7+, it would be the lack of wireless charging and the provision of a 15W adapter in the box instead of a 45W version. The battery’s uptime and charging are otherwise above average for the tablet class, and it is certainly sufficient for extended personal entertainment or light productivity use cases. 

Conclusion 

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S7+ is, without a doubt, a worthy flagship-tier Android tablet. The display is sexy, the audio quality is great, the note-taking functionalities are fluid, and everything works smoothly if you use it, vanilla style. There’s no question in owning the Tab S7+ if you already have a habit of using tablets for entertainment and light productivity, like how I do. The inclusion of the S Pen is not a new bonus, but it still impresses me that Samsung includes the stylus without fuss, and the reduced stylus latency plus heightened display refresh rates are wonderful for my needs. The Tab S7+ also earns brownie points for its ease-of-use for basic things like unlocking, flitting between apps, and general browsing experience, befitting of a flagship-tier mobile device.

As a productivity tool, the Tab S7+ (and Android tablets in general) do not meet the mark, with some reasons attributable to Samsung, and others because of the inherent operating system it runs on.

For starters, the optimal productivity setup requires several separate purchases, such as the Book Cover with Keyboard (which costs an additional S$358) and existing use of free and premium cross-platform productivity apps. If you’re working off the cloud, like using Gmail and Google Docs or the Microsoft Office suite of tools, the additional productivity accessories help immensely. If you’re looking at running full, Windows-based apps and programmes with no compromise to software functionality and compatibility, any Android tablet (not just the Tab S7+) isn’t quite the right purchase. 

This is partly why I do not care for hardcore productivity in my tablets, and I see them for what they are - a more enjoyable mobile experience that offers a display that smartphones cannot match. If you want a deeper understanding of why Android tablets are not ideal as portable workstations, you can always refer to our sentiments found in the Tab S6’s review here.

Its productivity features are also somewhat hobbled by Samsung’s implementation. For instance, Multi-Active Window is a nice tool to achieve several tasks at once, but the steps required to get there can be frustrating given the lack of tutorials built into the Tab S7+. I believe these hiccups can be resolved with a future firmware update. Magnetic attachment of the S Pen is a good idea, but their placement feels odd. Having a convenient placement for the stylus locked behind an additional purchase (Book Cover) doesn’t feel as accessible as opposed to how Surface Pro X manages this.

So, it is it still worthwhile?

Another point of contention is the street price of the Galaxy Tab S7+ models. Starting at S$1,598 for a Wi-Fi model, the first question we asked ourselves was its relative value when pegged to a full-Windows ultra-portable device - the Wi-Fi capable Microsoft Surface Pro 7, which starts at S$1,388. If productivity, portability, and price were of equal concern, the Galaxy Tab S7+ pales in terms of the operating system, software compatibility, and cost.

However, a tablet or detachable notebook shouldn't be judged on the main device alone, since the accessories form an essential part of the productivity experience. Another blow to the Galaxy Tab S7+ is the Book Cover with Keyboard (S$358), which is also more expensive than the Surface Pro Signature Type Cover (S$249). Both feature Function keys and a PC-like keyboard layout, making them equals in productivity, but not in price.

Where the Galaxy Tab S7+ has the advantage is its complimentary S Pen (usually worth S$138). For the Surface Pro 7 the Surface Pen is an additional outlay of S$148, because it's not included. So that gives us:

• Galaxy Tab S7+ (Wi-Fi) and (free) S Pen + Book Cover with Keyboard = S$1,956
• Microsoft Surface Pro 7 + Surface Pen + Type Cover = S$1,785

Which is ~S$170 more for the Tab S7+ combo, on Android 10 instead of Windows 10. So if an Android tablet was meant to be a sidekick to your PC or workstation laptop, it's more cost-effective to consider a singular device like the Surface Pro that can also double up as your workstation or a creative and easy to use productivity tool in tablet-only mode. Plus, a wider set of creative and productivity applications are at your disposal without limitations.

Meanwhile, the 12.9-inch Apple iPad Pro starts from S$1,499 (for the 128GB edition and just S$150 more for the 256GB version) and has its own iPadOS and apps that are purposefully designed for the iPad, as well as the ease of which it works within the Apple ecosystem of products. Add on the Smart Keyboard Folio for just S$299 and the optional Apple Pencil at S$189, that brings the total sum to S$1,987, which is about on par with Samsung's Galaxy Tab S7 and its accessories. While we now see why Samsung has pegged its price at this level, its proposition and usability within its ecosystem (or the lack thereof) is different from Apple's products and how they work together.

If the Android ecosystem is the main reason why you're looking at a Galaxy Tab S, consider instead the regular Galaxy Tab S7 (Wi-Fi version) that starts at S$998. Its Book Cover with Keyboard is also cheaper (at S$318), so you can enjoy some productivity and the use of an Android tablet at a lower overall cost (S$1,316). As such the Tab S7, not the S7+, manages to retain its important niche at being both a great sidekick for both fun and work, and yet costs much less than rival options from Apple and Windows-based detachable/convertible notebooks that offer a more deep-seated app ecosystem to call the shots and peg themselves at a higher price.

For reference, here are the prices for the Galaxy Tab S7 series, along with its accessories.

With that said, the incremental, practical upgrades on the Tab S7+ do refine the overall Android tablet experience. While it’s not a productivity whiz, tablets still have their purpose in the workplace if you’re creative enough with how it’s used. As an entertainment device and a second device to your smartphone, the Samsung Galaxy Tab S7+ makes an excellent companion and an excellent Android tablet. 

Now, if you’ll excuse me, I shall go finish up bingeing The Umbrella Academy on Netflix using this tablet, since I was watching the series while testing the Tab S7+ and its amazing speaker configuration.

Read Next: How to pre-order the Galaxy Tab S7 and Tab S7+ in Singapore