Samsung Galaxy Tab Pro 8.4in review

Shipping with a beautiful 8.4in display, quad-core power, Samsung's Secured Android (Knox) and a multitude of business apps, the Galaxy Tab Pro is one of the best all-round tablets we've tested.

Competition in the sub-10in tablet market is intense, with the Apple iPad mini 2 and Nexus 7 proving popular. So what has Samsung done to differentiate its device? We start with the display below, but feel feel to check out the specific sections on Interface, Performance & Connectivity or Battery life & Verdict.

Dazzling display

Samsung has opted for a unique 8.4in screen with a 16:10 aspect ratio. The LCD display has a 2560 x 1600 resolution, giving a pixel density of 341ppi.

The Galaxy Tab Pro may not have the brightest screen (368cd/m2 compared to 396cd/m2 for the iPad mini 2 and 540cd/m2 for the 2013 edition of the Nexus 7 ) but it does have advantages over its competitors.

Websites default to desktop mode on the 8.4in display, and they can be viewed comfortably in the landscape orientation. Some sites do look squeezed in portrait mode, but it's still possible to navigate them.

The 129mm width of the Pro tablet makes it narrower than the iPad mini 2 (135mm), so it's easier to fit into pockets and hold in one hand. The way Samsung has crafted the device makes it akin to using a 7in tablet.

Samsung's Galaxy Tab Pro also weighs less than the smaller Nexus 7 (331g vs 340g) and is the the same weight as the iPad mini 2 so there is no portability issues caused by the larger frame.

Samsung has used a faux-leather cover on the back of the Pro, giving the tablet a premium feel and making it easy to hold. It's infinitely better to grip than the glossy plastic on the Galaxy smartphone range, which gets slippery.

Being a Pro-branded tablet, the lack of stylus support is a surprise omission. If you want a pen, you'll have to buy a third-party branded device.

Underneath the screen, Samsung has opted to place a couple of dedicated buttons either side of the home button. You've got a multi-tasking shortcut and a back button. Samsung doesn't use the on-screen buttons provided by default Android - freeing up a little more screen space.