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Fantastic plastic might be prone to heat damage on Samsung’s best tablet yet

Published Jul 17th, 2014 9:14AM EDT
Galaxy Tab S Overheating Damage

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Samsung’s Galaxy Tab S is the company’s best tablet family yet, especially considering the stunning 2K AMOLED displays Galaxy Tab S models pack. But the Galaxy Tab S tablets are still made of plastic, which, while good enough for Samsung, may not be as great for some users because plastic appears to be significantly affected by dissipated heat in some cases. Russian publication hi-tech.mail.ru has posted a gallery of images showing the 8.4-inch version of the tablet and its heat-damaged rear plastic shell.

Apparently, overheating occurs especially while graphics-intensive apps, such as games, are in use, and the fact that the tablet is extremely thin (measuring 6.6mm) may not help either when it comes to heat dissipation.

It’s not clear whether the issue affects multiple tablet versions, but the user who noticed extreme heat and “dimples deformation” on the plastic back was an Exynos 5 Octa model.

Samsung told the publication it’s currently looking into the matter, adding that the faulty tablet can be replaced at one of Samsung’s service centers, without revealing whether other users have returned similarly damaged Galaxy Tab S units. Whether heat was indeed responsible for plastic deformation or not, it’s still something premium tablet buyers should not have to worry about.

Despite facing heavy criticism for its persistence with plastic designs for mobile devices, Samsung is still in denial about its plastic problem (regardless of any overheating issues), trying to convince buyers that plastic is the better choice – at least when it comes to the Galaxy S5’s build choice.

Images showing the damaged plastic back on the Galaxy Tab S follow below, with more available at the source link.

Chris Smith Senior Writer

Chris Smith has been covering consumer electronics ever since the iPhone revolutionized the industry in 2008. When he’s not writing about the most recent tech news for BGR, he brings his entertainment expertise to Marvel’s Cinematic Universe and other blockbuster franchises.

Outside of work, you’ll catch him streaming almost every new movie and TV show release as soon as it's available.