Apple may have the lead in the market for thin and lightweight tablets, as their iPad Air and Air 2 have established a very solid reputation for their slim characteristics. However, it’s clear that they’re not the only ones capable of producing devices with such an optimized form factor, as it’s recently been reported that the Samsung Galaxy Tab S2 is being designed to compete in this market segment precisely, and it’s going to offer a very good size and weight.
The report is coming from a news site that focuses strongly on Samsung’s products, and according to them, the Galaxy Tab S2 is going to be aimed at the high-end market, with metal in its design and two variants with different screen sizes, though different ones from the current 8.4 and 10.5 inch models that the company is offering. Apparently, Samsung have decided to switch to a 4:3 display ratio for their tablets.
That would follow the footsteps of the iPad mini and the Nexus 9, and even though widescreen seems to be a more popular aspect ratio for mobile devices, 4:3 is also gaining some support among manufacturers, and it’s seeing more and more use.
What’s most notable about the Galaxy Tab S2, according to the rumors about it, is that the device is going to be very thin, just 6.1mm in width, half a millimeter down from the current Galaxy Tab S. It might not sound like a big difference, but when the device is already less than a centimeter thick, every bit counts, and a thin tablet can definitely be felt in the hands.
Apple’s own iPad Air line has been very popular among gadget fans, and many have praised the company for developing a good solution for people who like to pack lightly on their travels, as well as those who want to have some more serious computing power in their backpacks without adding too much weight.
There’s not much competition for it though, so a new entry into the market that gives Apple something to fight compete against would certainly benefit everyone. On one hand, buyers will get more options to choose from, and will probably see prices coming down on all sides as well. On the other, Apple will get some hints on how they can improve their own device, and will be motivated to develop it even further and make it a more attractive offer to compete with what others are releasing. Competition is what drives progress, after all, and Apple can certainly use a little extra competition in some segments of the market nowadays, as the company has grown a little too relaxed in their success.