Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 10.5 inches, 256GB WiFi Review

The Galaxy Tab S6 is a budget-friendly media tablet with a stunning screen, but its age shows. It's a good buy only if you plan to just watch videos.

CPU 2.42 GHz
RAM 8 GB
Storage 256 GB
Screen 10.5" 1600x2560
OS Android
Stylus No
Cellular No
Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 10.5 inches, 256GB WiFi tablet
54.5 Overall Score

Overview

The Galaxy Tab S6 is a weird one. It's a perfectly fine Android tablet that's been left behind by its own family. The one thing to know? You're buying a deeply discounted, older device that's still decent for media, but don't expect it to be a laptop replacement. The '2-in-1' PC desktop mode is more of a neat party trick than a serious productivity tool.

Performance

Honestly, nothing here is a shocker. The specs are middle-of-the-road across the board, which is exactly what you'd expect from a tablet in this price bracket now. It's fast enough for Netflix and light gaming, but you'll feel the age if you try to push it. The battery life is just okay, and the connectivity is actually below average.

Performance Percentiles

CPU 75.7
GPU 75.1
RAM 73.4
Screen 77.1
Battery 48.8
Feature 19.4
Storage 75.9
Connectivity 43.8
Social Proof 88.5

Pros & Cons

Pros

  • Strong screen (67th percentile) 89th

Cons

  • Below average feature (21th percentile) 19th

Specifications

Full Specifications

Processor

CPU 2.42 GHz
GPU QUALCOMM SM8150

Memory & Storage

RAM 8 GB
Storage 256 GB

Display

Size 10.5"
Resolution 1600

Physical

Weight 0.5 kg / 1.1 lbs
OS Android

Value & Pricing

At $250, it's a good deal if you just want a nice screen for videos and light web browsing. You're not getting a powerhouse, but you're also not paying for one. For this price, you can't really complain.

$250 Unavailable

vs Competition

The obvious competitor is a used or refurbished iPad. For the same money, an older iPad will have better app support and a smoother overall experience, but you lose the included stylus and that beautiful OLED screen. If you're in the Android ecosystem and want a bigger, newer tablet, even the base Galaxy Tab S9 FE smokes this in performance, but it costs more. This Tab S6 sits in a niche: it's for the Android die-hard who values that OLED display above all else and is on a tight budget.

Verdict

Buy it as a dedicated media tablet, and nothing more. If you want to watch shows in bed or on a plane, this is a fantastic pick for the price. If you have any thoughts of using it for real work, or you want the latest games, look elsewhere. It's a one-trick pony, but that one trick—a beautiful screen—is done well.