Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 review: A budget tablet with a beautiful display

Samsung Galaxy Tab A8: Review in a minute

The Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 is actually quite amazing, in a version that belies its affordability. As a budget option for the Samsung Galaxy Tab S8, you can expect some tradeoffs, but overall I was very, very impressed.

For starters, the 10,5-inch LCD screen doesn't let you miss much despite being a long way from the Tab S8's AMOLED display. It's crisp, clean and sharp with vivid colors and a fast response rate, especially when compared to other budget tablets like the TCL Nxtpaper 10s. This makes the Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 a great affordable option for someone who wants a portable device for watching a movie or show, with LTE connectivity available for a little more money.

With the screen built into a metal chassis, the Tab A8 has a premium feel worthy of a much more expensive tablet. It's very well designed, with the edges housing a variety of buttons and ports for user convenience.

Plus, its cheap octa-core processor combined with just 3GB/4GB of RAM (depending on which storage option you choose) handles multitasking pretty well, with split-screen and popup mode for some apps so you can have multiple displays. immediately.

There are various storage options available in different markets, ranging from 32GB to 128GB. You're not limited to this specific amount, though: the Tab A8 gives you the option of adding up to a 1A microSD card if you need more storage. .

Many devices now rely on Bluetooth to pair headphones so you can listen to your device without disturbing those around you, but the Tab A8 comes with a 3,5mm audio jack, a rare and welcome inclusion. Bluetooth 5.0 is also built in, so you have the flexibility to decide how to connect your audio equipment.

While it's easy to sing praises for the Samsung Galaxy Tab A8, its battery life is a bit short. A 7.040 mAh capacity is a bit disappointing when you consider that its budget counterparts offer a little more (8.526 mAh in the case of the 10.2 iPad 2021), though you can extend its use over several days when using its battery configuration. energy saving. It's also quite slow to charge, as the TCL Nxtpaper 8000s' higher capacity 10 mAh battery charges faster, at over an hour.

However, for its price, the Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 is a great performer, offering decent performance and a great screen at an affordable price.

Samsung Galaxy Tab A8

The Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 has an LED screen that looks very sharp even on its home page. (Image credit: Future)

Samsung Galaxy Tab A8: price and availability

Originally announced in December 2021, the Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 launched on January 17, 2022. There are several different options, including cellular or Wi-Fi, as well as different storage options that differ from region to region.

Pricing starts at a very reasonable €229.99 / £219 / AU$379. In all regions, you can also buy it direct from Samsung and major retailers.

Slide to scroll horizontallySamsung Galaxy Tab A8 Price and Availability Header Cell - Column 0

As for its price, it is one of the cheapest tablets out there today. And against another Android device, the 10-inch TCL Nxtpaper 10,1s, it sneaks in a cheaper price in all markets. However, the €275.59 / AU$499 (around €399, but not officially available in the US) price tag of the TCL Nxtpaper 10s comes with one bundled accessory: the T-Pen in the UK and a Australian plastic box.

A closer comparison can be made with the third-generation Lenovo Tab M10 Plus, which launched the following month after the Tab A8 in 2022. Prices for this Android tablet start at $189.99 for 32GB in the US. In the UK and Australia, the Tab M10 Plus starts from €210 / AU$399 for 64GB, making the Tab A8 the cheapest option Down Under but more expensive elsewhere.

At least in Australia and the UK, it's also well below Apple's budget 10,2-inch iPad (2021), which retails at a base price of €329 / £369 / AU$549. Although prices are about the same in the US, neither iPad offers expandable storage.

While comparing the Tab A8 to the Galaxy Tab S8 is like looking at apples and oranges, it's worth knowing how much you can save by going with the former. The Tab S8 starts at $699.99 / £649 / AU$1,099 and then goes up from there if you opt for more storage or LTE connectivity. That's a big difference, but it's worth noting that you're also paying for more premium features, including an 120-inch 11Hz display, the included S-Pen, and 8GB of RAM plus the extra storage (the base model comes with 128GB).

Price and availability rating: 4.5/5

Samsung Galaxy Tab A8: Specifications table

Slide to scroll horizontallyStarting price €329.99 / €219 / AU$379Operating systemAndroid 11 (upgradeable to Android 13)ChipsetUnisoc Tiger T618Memory4GBStorage64GB+ expandable up to 1TBScreen10.5-inch LCDWeight508gBattery7,040mAhCameras8MP main, 5MP front

Samsung Galaxy Tab A8

With a fast response rate, typing on the Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 is easy with both the onscreen keyboard and your fingertip. (Image credit: Future)

Samsung Galaxy Tab A8: display

Samsung can cut the cost of the Tab A8 by using a 10,5-inch LCD screen, instead of an AMOLED display like the Galaxy Tab S8. Despite that, it's bright and vibrant with crisp, sharp detail and, coming from the TCL Nxtpaper 10s, I found the difference very noticeable.

The TCL's picture quality suffers from its multi-layered eye protection screen, which makes on-screen images look a bit blurry. By comparison, the Tab A8 is sharp even in the darkest images and I was very impressed with how much detail it could make out even on its default wallpaper.

Samsung may not have taken the same steps as TCL to promote eye care, but it's not entirely absent from the Tab A8. With the Eye Comfort Shield setting, you can set the screen to a warmer shade, either permanently or on a timer closer to bedtime, to reduce the blue light emitted from the screen.

Also, the Tab A8's response time is snappy and snappy, especially compared to its TCL counterpart.

I found typing on the Tab A8 to be surprisingly pleasant with its onscreen keyboard: not only was there no input lag, but the keys felt great to my fingers. Although I don't have a stylus compatible with the Tab A8, I tried writing with my finger in the included Notes app and it was very smooth, picking up individual strokes without a problem.

With fingers come fingerprints, though, and the Tab A8 was quick to pick up smudges that had me reaching for the cleaning cloth quite often. Also, the screen suffers from glare. It's not unique to the Tab A8, as almost all tablets except those with E Ink displays or the TCL Nxtpaper 10 will have this problem, but it was enough of a problem, even indoors, that I'm seriously considering buying one. anti-glare screen. guard to handle it.

Screen Rating: 4.5/5

Samsung Galaxy Tab A8

Since the Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 has a metal chassis, it looks like a more expensive tablet. (Image credit: Future)

Samsung Galaxy Tab A8: design

With a sleek and simple design, the Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 doesn't really do anything different from other tablets. The review unit I received came in a dark gray metal chassis, which is the only color option available in Australia (where testing was conducted). However, UK and US buyers have other color options, including a delightful choice of rose gold or silver.

There's a slight bump to the camera on the back, so while it wobbles a bit when not in a case, it's not as intrusive as other similar tablets.

There is a lot going on around the edges of the device. One houses the two speakers, with another, longer edge offering the USB-C charging port and, oddly enough, a 3,5mm auxiliary port for connecting wired headphones or even a small speaker supplied with a standard cable. Another side houses the microSD tray, while the opposite side houses the power and volume buttons, as well as the tablet's built-in microphone.

Overall, the Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 may not do anything physically different from other tablets, but its metal chassis gives it a more premium feel than its price suggests.

Design Score: 4.5/5

Samsung Galaxy Tab A8: features

Samsung Galaxy Tab A8

Although they are nothing to write home about, the Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 has both an 8 MP rear camera and a 5 MP front camera. (Image credit: Future / Sharmishta Sarkar)

Multitasking enthusiasts will find a useful feature in the Samsung Galaxy Tab A8. There are two multi-screen setups, with either a direct split-screen option or the ability to open some apps to layer them on top of others.

However, configuring either mode is not very intuitive; You need to open the apps first, then long press its icon on "open apps screen", then open the second app. While the little popup box was easy to adjust and move around the screen, I found the split screen mode a bit more temperamental. You can adjust each window to different sizes in this mode, but they will go back to a 50/50 pause every time the A8 tab goes to sleep. Despite this small drawback, I found both modes to work well and to be very useful.

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