Barnes & Noble stopped developing its own NOOK tablets a while back, and instead partnered with Samsung to sell Android tablets pre-loaded with NOOK software. The first model was last year’s Samsung Galaxy Tab 4 NOOK, which was basically a special edition of an existing $179 tablet.

This year the companies are trying something a bit different, by offering a NOOK version of a premium tablet.

Meet the Samsung Galaxy Tab S2 NOOK. It’s available from B&N stores and the NOOK website for $400.

galaxy tab s2 nook

That price includes three free NOOK books, three free NOOK magazines, and a $5 credit. But it’s still a lot of money for a tablet from a company that used to offer low-cost Android tablets under its own NOOK brand.

That said, the Galaxy Tab S2 is a much nicer tablet than last year’s model. It sports an 8 inch, 2048 x 1536 pixel Super AMOLE display, 3GB of RAM, 32GB of storage, 802.11ac WiFi, Bluetooth 4.1, GPS and a 4,000 mAh battery.

The new tablet weighs about 9.4 ounces, measures about 0.22 inches thick, and has an 8MP camera on the back and a 2.1MP camera on the front. The tablet runs Google Android 5.0 software along with some special NOOK features including support for free WiFi access at Barnes &  Noble stores, the ability to read some eBooks for free when you’re connected to a B&N WiFi network, and of course, access to the NOOK digital content store.

B&N also says customers will get free lifetime support for their tablets in stores.

Want something a little cheaper? B&N’s tablet lineup now includes three models: the company continues to offer the 7 inch Galaxy Tab 4 NOOK for $150, along with a 10 inch Galaxy Tab 4 NOOK 10.1 inch tablet for $250.

via B&N and The Digital Reader

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8 replies on “B&N launches Samsung Galaxy Tab S2 NOOK tablet for $400”

  2. I know that some people, myself included, prefer devices without extra software taking up space. But there must be folks out there who prefer the idea of having the B&N software included on a simple tablet. The Samsung Galaxy Tab S2 seems like a good place to start. I will concede that $400 seems a lot of money for an 8″ tablet. I’m sure it’s a nice tablet, tho.

  3. Looks like a great tablet but its $400 on Amazon without the nook stuff.

  6. Are B&N and Samsung crazy? For this price, I’d expect a Windows 10/Android combo
    tablet, active digitizer, LTE, or some feature(s) making the device worth it. Wouldn’t
    be surprised if the price got knocked off by $150 in 3 months. Been to a B&N store
    and their WiFi was pathetic.

    1. Does anyone make Windows/Android devices? I thought MS and Google were both against that. Also dual-boot devices seem not to be things with mainstream demand. Samsung have the Note series if you want a digitizer.

      1. I think mainstream demand is NOT a problem… lots of demand for Android and at least some for Windows.

        Nobody is going to complain if they can pick what to boot at any given time.

        Its just being discouraged for fears of …something… causing …something that results in a reduction of profits at some point.

        Also, In Hong Kong and China, people are making and selling Windows/Android devices. So you *can* find them if you look around.

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