You remember 2018, right? Fortnite was just hitting mobile, the headphone jack was already on life support, and Samsung decided to drop the Samsung Galaxy Tab S4. It was a weird time for tablets. Apple was dominating with the iPad Pro, and Android tablets mostly felt like oversized phones with stretched-out apps that looked, honestly, pretty terrible. Samsung tried to change that. They didn't just want to give you a screen for Netflix; they wanted to give you a computer.
The Tab S4 was the first time we saw Samsung really lean into the "pro" moniker without actually putting "Pro" in the name. It launched with that gorgeous 10.5-inch Super AMOLED display and a resolution of 2560 x 1600. Even today, if you put this thing next to a modern mid-range tablet, the Samsung Galaxy Tab S4 usually wins on color depth and contrast. That's just the magic of AMOLED. But is a screen enough to keep a device relevant nearly eight years later?
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People often assume that old tech is just e-waste. That's a mistake.
The DeX Factor: Why This Tablet Refuses to Die
Most people forget that the Samsung Galaxy Tab S4 was the catalyst for the modern DeX experience on tablets. Before this, DeX required a clunky docking station. With the S4, Samsung let you trigger a desktop interface directly on the tablet screen. It was a massive shift. You could suddenly drag windows around, use a taskbar, and alt-tab through apps like you were on a Windows laptop.
It wasn't perfect. It's still not perfect. But for a student or someone who just needs to bang out 2,000 words in a coffee shop, it’s remarkably capable. The Snapdragon 835 processor inside is ancient by today's standards, sure. You aren't going to be editing 4K video at 60fps on this thing without it screaming for mercy. However, for Google Docs, Slack, and basic web research? It holds up surprisingly well.
I’ve talked to writers who still keep an S4 in their bag specifically for the 16:10 aspect ratio. It’s taller than your average widescreen but narrower than an iPad. For side-by-side multitasking, it’s a sweet spot that Samsung arguably moved away from too quickly in later generations.
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Hardware That Aged Like Fine Wine (Mostly)
Let’s talk about the build. Samsung went with a glass back on the Samsung Galaxy Tab S4, which was a bold, albeit slippery, choice. It feels premium. It feels expensive. Even now, holding it doesn't feel like you're holding a budget relic.
One thing that really stands out—and honestly, puts modern tablets to shame—is the S Pen situation. The S Pen came in the box. No $129 extra charge. No magnetic charging anxiety because it didn't even have a battery. It used Wacom’s electromagnetic resonance (EMR) tech. It’s light, the nib has a bit of friction that feels like paper, and it’s still one of the best note-taking experiences you can get for under a hundred bucks on the used market.
The Audio Experience
Samsung tapped AKG to tune the quad speakers. They even threw in Dolby Atmos support. If you're using this as a media machine, it’s loud. It’s clear. It has that punchy low-end that makes watching movies in bed actually enjoyable rather than a tinny mess.
The Battery Reality
The 7,300 mAh battery was a beast at launch. Fast forward to now, and if you’re buying a used Samsung Galaxy Tab S4, you have to be realistic. Lithium-ion batteries degrade. You’re likely looking at 5-6 hours of screen time rather than the original 10+. But, since it supports 15W fast charging, it’s not a total dealbreaker if you stay near a wall outlet.
Where the Samsung Galaxy Tab S4 Falls Short
We have to be real here. The software is the ceiling. The Samsung Galaxy Tab S4 officially topped out at Android 10 with One UI 2.0. That’s the end of the road for official updates.
Security is the biggest concern. Without active security patches, using this for your primary banking device or sensitive corporate work is a bit like driving a car with a finicky seatbelt. You can do it, but you should probably be careful about what sites you visit.
And then there's the RAM. 4GB. That’s it. In 2018, 4GB was "fine." In 2026? It’s a bottleneck. If you have twenty Chrome tabs open while trying to run Spotify and a PDF editor, the tablet is going to start aggressive background app killing. You’ll feel the stutter. It’s not a dealbreaker for single-tasking, but the "Pro" workflow Samsung promised is definitely hampered by that memory limit.
The Used Market Value Proposition
Is it worth buying one now? Let's look at the numbers. You can often snag a Samsung Galaxy Tab S4 for roughly $100 to $130 on sites like Swappa or eBay. Compare that to a brand-new budget tablet like the Galaxy Tab A9+.
- The A9+ gives you a faster processor and longer software support.
- The Tab S4 gives you a vastly superior OLED screen and S Pen support.
If you are an artist on a budget or a student who needs to take handwritten notes, the S4 is actually the better tool. The laminated display on the S4—where the glass and the screen are fused together—means there’s no gap between the pen tip and the "ink." Most budget tablets today have a noticeable air gap that makes drawing feel disconnected.
Common Misconceptions About the Iris Scanner
Samsung tried something weird with the S4: they ditched the fingerprint sensor for an iris scanner and facial recognition. At the time, reviewers hated it. It was slower than a thumbprint. It struggled in direct sunlight.
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But here’s the thing—it’s actually pretty great for a "kitchen tablet." If your hands are covered in flour or you're wearing gloves, you just look at the thing and it unlocks. It’s a niche benefit, but for a device that has likely transitioned into a secondary household tool, it’s a feature that aged better than people expected.
Practical Advice for Current Owners
If you still have a Samsung Galaxy Tab S4 sitting in a drawer, don't throw it away. There are three specific ways to give it a second life that don't involve browsing the modern (and heavy) web.
- The Dedicated E-Reader: The OLED screen makes "Dark Mode" reading incredible. The blacks are truly black, which reduces eye strain at night compared to an LCD Kindle or iPad.
- Second Monitor: Use an app like SuperDisplay. Because the S4 has a high-resolution screen, you can plug it into your PC via USB and use it as a dedicated Photoshop touch-panel or a secondary monitor for your Discord/Slack feed. It works over Wi-Fi too, but USB is lag-free.
- The Retro Gaming Station: The Snapdragon 835 is a champ for emulating everything up to the PS1, N64, and even some GameCube titles. Pair a Bluetooth controller, and you have a gorgeous portable gaming rig.
Final Verdict on the Legacy of the S4
The Samsung Galaxy Tab S4 was a transitionary device. It was Samsung figuring out how to be serious about productivity. It proved that OLED belongs on tablets and that DeX had a future. It isn't a powerhouse anymore, and for most people, the lack of security updates means it shouldn't be a primary computer.
However, as a specialized tool for media consumption and digital note-taking, it still punches way above its weight class. It’s a reminder that flagship hardware from yesterday often beats "new" budget hardware today.
Actionable Next Steps for Samsung Galaxy Tab S4 Users
- Check your battery health: Download an app like AccuBattery to see how much of that original 7,300 mAh capacity is left. If it's below 70%, consider keeping it plugged in as a permanent smart home hub or digital photo frame.
- Optimize for speed: Go into Developer Options and turn "Window animation scale," "Transition animation scale," and "Animator duration scale" down to 0.5x. It won't make the processor faster, but the UI will feel significantly snappier.
- Clear the bloat: Since the 4GB RAM is your biggest enemy, disable any pre-installed apps you don't use (like the old Microsoft Office suite or Samsung Daily) to free up every megabyte possible for your active apps.
- Security First: If you are using an S4 in 2026, ensure you are using a browser with strong built-in protections like Brave or Firefox with uBlock Origin to mitigate the risks of running an older Android version.