Samsung Galaxy Tab A vs Asus ZenPad 3S 10 - which to buy?

[steffeeh]

So I'm finally buying my very first tablet, and have done a very thourough check on what tablets are available here in Sweden using our equivalent to Newegg. I found plenty of alternatives, but after launching my own Hunger Games I'm down to 2 contestants:
- Samsung Galaxy Tab A 10.1 SM-T580 32GB (equal to $330) https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=9SIAB8953W6320&cm_re=Samsung_Galaxy_Tab_A_10.1_SM-T580_32GB-_-9SIAB8953W6320-_-Product
- Asus ZenPad 3s 10 Z500M 32GB (equal to $418 on sale) - couldn't find it on Newegg, but here's it on the Swedish equivalent - https://www.prisjakt.nu/produkt.php?e=3822261

Both are somewhat similar by reading the specs, except: the Asus tablet has twice the RAM (4 GB), probably faster charging. Then we have various things where one is better than the other, but nothing that affects my decision.
But most importantly it's about 2 different form factos, Samsung with 16:10 vs Asus with 4:3

As for RAM I've been doing well of 2 GB on my phone, and I always have like 500-700 MB free, and I probably will have similar RAM usage if not less on my tablet. On the other hand you want the RAM to be enough for the future, however it's also true that you won't have a tablet for more than 3 years, so it's not that much of an idea to go hardcore on futureproofing.
As for formfactor, my usage will be mostly reading on the tablet, watching videos, and mirroring my desktop and controlling it from the tablet. Here it's pretty obvious that the 16:10 formfactor wins, but on the other hand a lot seem to indicate that 4:3 is better for web browsing, and that the market is aiming more and more towards it.

So ground up it's mostly about the amount of RAM and what formfactor will benefit me the most.

As for pricing it will of course feel in my wallet with around $95 extra, but I'm willing to pay that if necessary.

 

[okcnaline]

By the option, don't even consider the 3S. Seriously, MT6718? But at this price range you may as well as get the Nexus 9 or even the SHIELD Tablet since the performance is MUCH better.

 

[bjornl]

I would suggest a different model:
https://www.prisjakt.nu/produkt.php?e=3693276

It is 200 SEK more, but it is an amoled display. The quality of the panel makes all the difference in the world when you look at the tablet for extended periods of time. The screen on the Tab A is "ok". The resolution difference between them might matter to some, but for me I don't care. I have an iPad (resolution is 2048x1536) and a Samsung Tab 4 (resolution is 1280x800) functionally and any other way you wish to compare them, the screen on the Samsung is just as appealing to me. But when I compare them to an (am)oled screen, they both seem dull.
My phone is a Google pixel XL with 4 gb of ram. It's a great phone, but the extra 2gb of ram over my last one makes no difference that I can tell. So I would ignore this. Most apps are built with the assumption that the target device will have around 2gb. Only heavy multi-tasking is going to bump in to this ceiling. Me, I think I'd just close an app or use a memory manager and not worry about it. The Tab s2 has 3gb, so the functional difference between the Asus and this model due to ram should be zero. While the better Samsung screen would be a nice upgrade.