The official Galaxy S10 reveal might still be a few days away, but Samsung has managed to get a surprise announcement in to tide everyone over. The company is launching its thinnest and lightest Android tablet yet: the Galaxy Tab S5e.
The Galaxy Tab S5e is a 10.5-inch tablet that is just 5.5mm thick and weighs 400 grams. For comparison, the 11-inch iPad Pro measures in at 5.9mm and 468 grams. But while the iPad Pro is a distinctly premium (and pricey) device, Samsung is pitching the Tab S5e as a more mid-range sort of product.
The device itself still looks "premium", just with more modest hardware under the hood. Rather than using one of its top-end processors, Samsung has opted for a Snapdragon 670 processor instead. The Snapdragon 670 is no slouch, but could have some implications for multi-tasking.
This should be good news in terms of affordability, however: the Galaxy Tab S5e will retail for USD$399 internationally, which is about $560 at current exchange rates.
Other specifications for the Galaxy Tab S5e include a 10.5-inch 2560x1600 display, 64GB of expandable storage, 4GB of storage a side-facing fingerprint reader, and a battery said to last up to 14.5 hours. It will ship running Android Pie and will launch alongside a compatible keyboard cover.
Local pricing and availability has yet to be announced, but Samsung has confirmed the Tab S5e will make its way to Australia later this year.
Alex Choros
