Tab S2 or Note Pro

[malimal]

I can get a Tab S2 from t-mobile or a used Note pro from ebay or something...The screen real estate of the note pro is enticing. they both have 3GB or ram, but the s2 is Octa-core. Not much use for the S-pen when I had a regular Note, but occasionally used it. I know the note pro has been out for a while, just wonder how future proof it is. is the quad-core snap 800 enough?

 

[ShadowLea]

The difference between a Tab S2 Exynos Octa and a NotePro Snapdragon Quadcore is in what you intend to use it for.

• CPU: Cores can't be merged or share speed. The max speed of a single core is all it can achieve.
  
  The Exynos has a Quad-core 1.9 GHz and a quad-core 1.3 GHz, together making it an Octacore. (It's not a real Octacore, just two Quads on different speeds.)
  The Snapdragon has four cores less, but those remaining four are 2.4 GHz each.
  
  So if an app requires 2.1GHz, the Exynos can only supply 1.9GHz. Doesn't matter how many cores it has, they're not going to powerranger themselves into a giant 7.6GHz core. (Oh, how I wish they could do that....)
  
  In my experience the Snapdragon 800 is still one of the most powerful chips in the market.
  
  
• GPU: Keep in mind that an Exynos always comes with a low-end Mali GPU, and a Snapdragon comes with a high-end Adreno. If you plan to game or render 2K/4K films, you'll find the Mali to be insufficient. If you don't, it is entirely irrelevant. (It's basically the whole IntelHD vs Nvidia Geforce story.)
  
  
• Batterylife. If you want it to last very long, go with the 9500mAh NotePro. If you intend to charge it every (other) day anyway, the 4000mAh Tab S2 is more than sufficient.
  
  My NotePro (the Snapdragon version) lasts around 80 days in standby, or 25 hours of 1080p bingewatching. Doesn't mean they all do, I'm a bit of a controlfreak, but I do run Stock.
  
  
• Screen. The Tab S2 has an AMOLED screen. Deeper colours, true black. The NotePro has an LCD screen, which means no true back and a bit more natural colours. (AMOLED on a 12.2" screen would make the device around 2000 quid, which is why they used LCD.)
  
  
• On a second note regarding screen, the Tab S2 is 4:3, whereas the NotePro is 16:10. If you intend to use it for films and series, you'll find quite a bit of letterboxing(big black bars) on the Tab S2 as films and series are always in 16:10.
  
  Oh, if you read comics or magazines, the NotePro screen is the exact size of a page. (In Europe where A(4) is the standard, anyway)
  
  
• Weight. The NotePro is a beast, but it weighs like one, too. It's fairly light for its size (750 grams), but the Tab S2 is a whole 500 grams lighter. (270 grams). If you intend to carry it with you a lot, that might matter.
  
  (It never did to me, as I used it to replace the 5kg laptop I lugged about, but not everyone favours usability over weight. I'm the (proud)weirdo who'd rather extend her jeans pockets than buy a smaller phone. (Note 3.) :silly: )
  
  
• Size. The Tab S2 is small enough to fit inside a regular bag. The NotePro has the size of an A4 paper, meaning you'll need a bigger bag. On the other hand, a bigger screen means bigger screen realestate. The bigger screen also allows 4-way Multiwindow, instead of 2.
  
  
• Futureproof hardware wise: The Snapdragon variant is literally a Note 3 with a bigger screen, so as for future proof.. The Note 3 is about equal to the Note 5 in terms of performance.
  
  I expect it to run strong for about 4-5 more years, if the innovation remains as stuck as it is. (Most devices are actually a step backwards these days)
  
  
• Futureproof Software wise: In terms of official firmware updates, you're better off with the Tab S2. The NotePro is a very niche model, and it's passed its maximum support age of 18 months, so it won't be getting any more updates, and it's not getting 6.0.
  
  
• The Spen... It's a personal preference. The one in the NotePro is bigger than the one in the regular Notes, but the tech is the same. Pen Window, which allows you to draw resizable, floating apps anywhere on the screen( and with root every app can be enabled), is absolutely brilliant, and the pen keeps smudges off your screen.
  
  But unless you're an artist and/or need the pressure sensitivity, that's where the advantages stop. Every other task can also be done with a regular stylus.
  
  If you are an artist or a designer, you can use the NotePro as a Wacom drawing tablet (using a free app), which is bloody useful.
  

So, long answer short:

If you
+ Intend to do a lot of multitasking lighter tasks
+ Prefer a more manageable size and weight
+ Want a more beautiful screen
+ Want to receive future software updates
+ Want a more 'on the go/everyday use' tablet
- Don't need ages of battery life,
- Don't mind 4:3 or a smaller screen
The Tab S2 is the way to go.


If you
+ Intend to game/run heavy apps
+ Watch a lot of films
+ Intend to use it as a laptop replacement/for productivity
+ Want a bigger screen
+ Need longer battery life
+ Want an Spen
- Don't care much about updates
- Don't care about its weight and dimensions in terms of handling
The (Snapdragon) NotePro might be more your thing.

 

[billinaz]

Unfortunately my Note Pro fell and I had to replace it. I got the S2 and it is a smaller screen at 9.7. super light weight (by comparison to the note pro !) and updated to 6.01.

The fingerprint recognition was pretty fast, and I thought I could just live with the smaller screen. Then I watched a movie. Huge letterboxing.... like really big. I dont like the 4:3.

Back in the box it goes, I am returning it and bought another Note Pro 12.2