Want the new S Pen without the exploding phone? You’ll love the 2016 Galaxy Tab A tablet

By Julian Chokkattu Updated September 13, 2016

Samsung knows the S Pen that comes with the Galaxy Note 7 is a considerable improvement on the older versions, so it has decided to release a Galaxy Tab A (2016) tablet that comes with the updated S Pen stylus as well. Rumored for a while, the tablet has now been officially announced in Korea, but details are lacking on whether an international release will follow. That’s no reason not to lust after one though, so here’s what it’s all about.

Galaxy Tab A S Pen — Image used with permission by copyright holder

The S Pen is the standout feature, and what separates the new Galaxy Tab A from older models without the stylus. Samsung’s new S Pen has a thinner and more precise tip than ever before, operates a revised menu system on the display, can be used to scrawl notes on the lock screen, and has various new features too. These include a translation mode, where hovering the pen over a foreign word will bring up a Google translation.

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Samsung’s Galaxy Tab A has a 10.1-inch display with a strong 1920 x 1200 pixel resolution, and is powered by a 1.6Ghz octa-core processor, which although it’s not stated is likely to be one of Samsung’s own Exynos chips. There’s 3GB of RAM to help out, and a total of 32GB internal storage memory, plus the chance to pop in a MicroSD card up to 256GB in size. Android 6.0 Marshmallow is installed, which isn’t quite the latest version, but an update may come in the future. Samsung has added its own multi-user and kid-friendly modes to the Galaxy Tab A, making it easier for a family to enjoy the tablet.

It’s great to see the Galaxy Tab A equipped with a SIM card slot for on-the-move 4G LTE connectivity, but unfortunately the cool magnetic book-style cover is an extra, and there’s no obvious place to store the S Pen either. Other features include an 8-megapixel rear camera, a 2-megapixel front camera, and a 7,300mAh battery that should return about 13 hours of use before needing a recharge.

The Galaxy Tab A costs the equivalent of $430 in South Korea, where it’ll go on sale in September. If there’s any change regarding the tablet’s international release, we’ll let you know right here.

Julian Chokkattu

Former Mobile and Wearables Editor

Julian is the mobile and wearables editor at Digital Trends, covering smartphones, fitness trackers, smartwatches, and more…

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