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So where does the Tab S fit in with the smorgasbord of similar tablets on the market at the moment and how does it compete in terms of specs and price?
iPad Air 2 and Mini 3
With Samsung targeting the iPads directly and few other premium Android tablets to speak of, it makes sense to start with Apple's tablets.
For my money, these Tab S models have a better screen, but they lack the overall aesthetic appeal of Apple's metal unibody creations - and the new Air 2 in particular pushes this on. The Samsung devices are thinner and a touch lighter, but not to an extent that it makes much difference.
Android and iOS each have their own strengths, but right now it's the Apple OS that feels like a better fit on a tablet — and that's coming from someone who uses an iPad mini and a Nexus 7 on a regular basis. At this stage the iPads have better software and better accessories, but that's not to say the Tab S is a failure.
Samsung has got closer to the iPads than I thought it ever would, and if you're a real lover of Android then it makes sense to choose one of the Tab S models rather than an iPad, but the Air 2 is still our pick of the best tablet on the market.
Sony Xperia Z2 Tablet
The Z2 Tablet may be a touch more austere in the looks department than the Tab S, but it has a more streamlined version of Android and boasts some useful extra features, such as a waterproof body.
It manages to be thinner than the Tab S slabs, though the display, impressive as it is, doesn't quite reach the heights of what Samsung has put together.
There's no smaller Z2 Tablet of course (though there is now a Z3 Tablet Compact), so we're only really comparing it with the 10.5-inch version of the Tab S. The Tab S has the better display and more power behind it, so unless you particularly need a waterproof tablet or like Sony's take on Android then I'd recommend picking up a Tab S.
Sony Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact
With a powerful processor, brilliant battery life and a thin, light design the Sony Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact is a worthy competitor for the 8.4-inch Galaxy Tab S. It also one-ups the Galaxy Tab S with water and dust resistance.
But it misses out on other features which the Tab S does offer, such as an IR blaster and a fingerprint scanner. Perhaps most damningly though its screen just isn't up to scratch. Few can match the display on the Tab S, but with a resolution of just 1200 x 1920 the Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact doesn't even come close.
Nexus 7
Google's Nexus line-up has been a huge blessing for lovers of stock Android: excellent hardware at a decent price without any software bloat. The Nexus 7 isn't as pretty as the 8.4-inch Tab S, but it's a whole lot cheaper, to the tune of £120 less for the 16GB model.
It's that price vs quality balance that you're going to have to consider when you weigh up the Tab S against virtually any other Android tablet.
The Nexus 7 can run Netflix just as well as the Samsung device, but it won't look as good. If you want the best Android slate that money can buy, the Tab S is it. If you'd rather save some money, have a look elsewhere.
Nexus 9
At 8.9 inches the Nexus 9 straddles the line between the two Galaxy Tab S sizes, though it's closest to the 8.4-inch model.
Strong front-facing speakers make it great for audio but the Tab S edges it overall for media thanks to its sumptuous screen, though the Nexus 9 runs Android 5.0 Lollipop, giving it a software edge for the time being.
It's likely that the Tab S will make the jump soon, but even once it does it will have the divisive TouchWiz running over the top, so for Android purists the Nexus 9 is a better option.
Sadly its price tag isn't quite as appealing as we've come to expect from Nexus devices as it starts at £319 / $399 / around AU$460, making it a direct competitor to Samsung's 10.5-inch slate and that's a fight it can't quite win.
