Samsung’s slim Galaxy Tab S pair announced with AMOLED screens

Samsung has officially unveiled its flagship Galaxy Tab S tablet in both 8.4″ and 10.5″ guises, with base prices starting at US$399 and US$499, respectively.

The Korean electronics giant, after too many leaks to count, has finally lifted the curtain to reveal a lighter, faster tablet duo, with much denser screens. Both Galaxy Tab Ss are a mere 6.6mm deep while weighing in between 465 and 298g for the respective models.

The screen is however, the real selling point. The Super AMOLED, QHD 2560×1600 units, enjoy pixel densities of 288ppi for the 10.5″ and in excess of 300ppi for the 8.5″. Deeper monochrome constrasts and adaptive brightness technology improves outdoor viewing, while professional colour modes allow more accurate video and photo viewing and editing.

To power the screen, Samsung will offer consumers two chipset options. The LTE variants will house Qualcomm’s familiar 2.3GHz quad-core Snapdragon 800 CPU also found in the Galaxy Note 10.1″, while the Wi-Fi only model uses Samsung’s in-house Exynos 5 Octa-core chipset, built with efficiency in mind.

All variants get 3GB RAM while storage is capped at a disappointing 32GB. The latter is however expandable to 128GB via a MicroSD card. An 8MP camera with LED flash at the rear with a companion 2.1MP snapper at the front round off the hardware bonanza.

Of course, no tablet is complete without a set of accessories. The intricate Book Cover allows tilt adjustment for touching and typing, while shrouding the device when not in use. If touchscreen typing seems an unattractive prospect, Samsung’s Bluetooth keyboard case turns the Tab S into a formidable hybrid device.

Both models will be available in either Dazzling White or Titanium Bronze (really, Samsung?) and can be preordered from today, while shipments should commense by July. The larger 10.5″ Tab S will retail for US$499.