SAMSUNG Galaxy Tab A8 10.5” 32GB

 

SAMSUNG Galaxy Tab A8 10.5” 32GB Android Tablet w/ LCD Screen, Long Lasting Battery, Kids Content, Smart Switch, Expandable Memory, US Version, Dark Gray

The SamsungGalaxy Tab A series has established a solid reputation for offering high-quality tablets at competitive rates. Samsung's budget tablets have always excelled in terms of value, despite not having the most powerful CPUs or all the features of the Galaxy Tab S line. With a sleek new design, Samsung has decided it's time to update its budget Android tablet, but is its beauty more than meets the eye? Learn more in our review of the Samsung Galaxy Tab A8.

Mid-December 2021 saw the announcement of the Samsung Galaxy Tab A8, which will go on sale in mid-January 2022. It serves as the superior Sumsang Galaxy Tab A7's replacement, with a few crucial visual differences that distinguish the two Android tablets. A few internal updates are also included, with the most significant being a switch from Qualcomm's Snapdragon chipsets to the Unisoc Tiger T618 processor.

The Galaxy Tab A7's 10.4-inch display is larger than Samsung's new 10.5-inch panel. The 16:10 aspect ratio and slightly rounded corners make it suitable for streamingvideo. The power button and volume rocker are located in a thin plastic strip that is attached to the tablet's metal body. Gray, Silver, and Pink Gold are now available as colour options.

The Galaxy Tab A8 comes standard with 32GB of storage and 3GB of RAM, but the latter can be expanded by up to 1TB using a micro SD card slot. You have the option of up to 128GB of onboard storage in the US, and an LTE-enabled model is also available in Europe and India.

From the previous edition, Samsung carried over the substantial 7,040mAh battery and the 15W wired charging. Given that the Galaxy Tab A8 is a tiny bit thinner and smaller than the Tab A7, the similar battery size is an outstanding accomplishment.

One of Samsung's most recent improvements is the rear camera's circular housing as opposed to its previous square design. As it still only gives 8MP, it appears to be an aesthetic change. Likewise, the 5MP front camera was maintained.

The Galaxy Tab A8 maintains the reputation of the Galaxy Tab A series as a reasonably priced option for the majority of customers. The least expensive variant in the US is $139 with black Friday deal, while the model with the most storage and RAM, 4GB, and is $329.99. But given that it routinely goes on sale, there's a chance you might get the tablet for much less. Amazon and Samsung are just two of the retailers selling the Samsung Galaxy Tab A8.

How is the new design?

Overall, the revised design has the appearance and feel of a member of the current Samsung Galaxy family. Despite the price, it wouldn't look out of place next to a Galaxy Sseries phone thanks to small details like the redesigned camera and updated colour options that contribute to creating a seamless ecosystem. It feels much more premium in the hand than a plastic tablet would, even though it is heavier as a result of the metal build.

However, the plastic strip that covers the volume rocker and power button seems like a weird choice. The plastic doesn't seem as high-quality as the metal at the seam where the two components join, which is instantly visible.

Additionally, it can take some users some time to get acclimated to the tablet's look. If you're used to holding an iPad that is roughly square in shape, it may be difficult to do so with the wider 16:10 ratio. The Galaxy Tab A8's media streaming capabilities, however, really start to shine once you get acclimated to using it in landscape mode; more on that in the section below. If there was any question, Samsung wants you to use the tablet in landscape mode as seen by the selfie camera's prominent location in the centre of the longer, larger bezel.

Samsung keeps putting off adding a fingerprint reader to its less expensive tablets. Given that there was none on its predecessor, this is not surprising, but it does mean that you will have to rely on software-based security measures. Although it may be used hands-free, facial recognition isn't very secure. While holding such a big display, it can be challenging to trace your pattern or enter a PIN.

How is the display doing?

There is no doubt that Samsung built the Galaxy Tab A8 with media streaming in mind.

The 10.5-inch LCDscreen's 1,920 x 1,200 resolution is sufficient for the majority of uses. Although tablets only have 60Hz screens, unless you start spending a lot more, you won't actually notice faster refresh rates on them.

A 16:10 aspect ratio, which is a perfect fit for streaming services, is used to present the huge panel. I was watching The Witcher's second season catch-up and noticed only little black bars on the top and bottom edge. Naturally, if you wish to see something like The Lighthouse, which was shot in 1.19:1, it won't look as well, but other media will look fantastic. Another characteristic I like is that the bezels are the same size on all four sides. They are sufficiently thick for a grip, but not in an annoying way.

My primary issue with the Samsung display is that it has a propensity to cool down and get more blue when used frequently. It frequently vanishes during movies or TV shows that you watch. It is particularly noticeable in applications with white backgrounds. The tint didn't appear to be significantly affected by changing the brightness, either. Samsung does offer a few colour correcting options for you to test out, but they are more for colour blindness and don't address the overall blueness.

How are the charging and battery life?

Samsung is delighted to brag about the 7,040mAh battery but doesn't make any ludicrous claims regarding the Galaxy Tab A8's battery life. After all, it takes a very sizable cell to power the 10.5-inch display continuously throughout the day.

I used streaming services, social media, and web browsing sporadically for the most of my testing. Of course, binge-watching Netflix will deplete the charge more quickly than browsing Google News, but with sensible use, I had no trouble going two days without a charge. The Wi-Fi-only model is the foundation for my battery results. If you frequently use a connection other than Wi-Fi, you might have weaker results with the LTE-enabled alternatives.

The 15W peak speed is the only disadvantage of the battery and charging configuration. It doesn't charge very quickly; a full battery took more than four hours to charge from zero to 20%. The good news is that Samsung includes a charger and a USB-C cable in the box, saving you money while getting you back up and running.

We can't really criticise the 15W charging speeds too much because you're probably not in as big of a rush when charging your tablet. After all, unlike a smart phone that needs to be charged and available at all times, you probably only use a tablet sometimes. The Galaxy Tab A8 was my primary device in the nights, thus I had to significantly increase my usage to quickly deplete the battery.

What type of power does the Galaxy Tab A8 possess?

Because Unisoc is not one of the most well-known chipset makers, I had some reservations regarding Samsung's decision to employ the Tiger T618 CPU at the outset of my testing. Concerning the Snapdragon 662 featured in the Galaxy Tab A7, I was concerned about how well it would perform in comparison to a Qualcomm equivalent. But all of those concerns proved to be unfounded very fast. The Tiger roared through every task I gave it, but it would falter in any challenging conflicts.

Video streaming, switching between programmes, and opening several apps at once were all no problem for me. You should be able to play some light games as well, but if you want to play Genshin Impact or Call of Duty: Mobile on a larger screen, you'll need to get one of the more expensive alternatives available. When I first turned on the Galaxy Tab A8, the Tiger T618 also stumbled a little, although this was probably simply a case of setup issues. When I took up the tablet after being inactive for a day or two, I also occasionally noticed stuttering, although it usually went away after a short while.

If anything, Samsung’s basic RAM and storage options will fall short before the processor does. The 3GB of RAM means idle apps will quickly drop out of memory. The 32GB of storage can also feel slightly limited at times, especially if you want to download shows for bingeing on the go. Those looking to push the tablet beyond basic browsing and streaming would be better off opting for one of the 4GB of RAM configurations, though you can always expand the storage on any of the models by up to 1TB with the micro SD slot.