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Samsung Galaxy Tab Active 3 is a rugged slate with a nifty power trick
- Samsung announced its latest ruggedized tablet, the Galaxy Active Tab 3.
- It features an impact-protected body with IP68 water resistance and a removable battery.
- It can also power on and run without a battery if need be.
Samsung has unveiled the Galaxy Tab Active 3 for those working in the field, or just have a hard time holding on to their hardware. It’s been nearly three years since the company’s Galaxy Tab Active 2 made its debut, and the third iteration in the slate line adds several modern touches and durability improvements.
Tipping the scales at 429 grams, the Galaxy Tab Active 3 is surprisingly light considering its bulky appearance. It’s clad in a rubberized shell which gives it MIL-STD-810H compliance – allowing it to buff off drops of up to 1.5 meters – and IP68 water and dust resistance. If you think that’s not enough protection, a rugged case can also be fitted which provides a cradle for the IP68-protected S Pen, too.
The Tab Active 3’s display is far denser than its predecessor with a resolution of 1,920 x 1,080 pixels. It still measures 8.0-inches from corner-to-corner but now employs IPS technology, which should improve viewing angles somewhat.
Its power system is pretty smart too. The Galaxy Tab Active 3’s 5,050mAh battery can be removed and replaced by the user, and can be topped up using a traditional USB-C port or through side-mounted POGO pins. The tablet can also be powered on and run without a battery inserted directly from a power source.
Internally, the Galaxy Tab Active 3 is a little less exciting. It’s powered by a 4G-ready Exynos 9810 chipset with 4GB of RAM and 128GB of storage with a microSD card slot. NFC also features for those who have to have mobile payments support on their tablet. Wi-Fi 6 support is included too, while GPS, Glonass, Beidou, and Galileo access also make the cut. This means you’ll probably always know where you are on the planet should you go spelunking with your tab.
Finally, for imaging, the Galaxy Tab Active 3 has a 13MP rear snapper with autofocus and a 5MP selfie camera. There’s AR support too, while the camera also doubles as a barcode scanner for retail workers.
The tablet will launch with Android 10, but we imagine Samsung will update the slate to Android 11 once available.
There’s no word on pricing just yet, but Samsung has confirmed the Galaxy Tab Active 3 will launch in Europe and Asia for now.
Next: Samsung Galaxy Tab S7/S7 Plus review: The only Android tablets to buy