Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 Review: A Detailed Buyer’s Guide

Samsung is one of the paramount electronic and smart appliances producing companies. Their products include home appliances and mobile devices, including Tablets. They are very popular for making quality products, one of which is the Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 tablet. 

In this review of the Samsung Galaxy Tab A8, I will be discussing everything you need to know about the tablet, including the product features, performance and value.

If you are considering buying a Samsung Galaxy Tab A8, you will have the information you need in order to make your decision after reading this review.

Related Post: Is Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 Tablet Worth Buying?

Unboxing the Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 Tablet

These are the items you would get inside the box of a brand-new Samsung Galaxy Tab A8:

• The tablet itself
• 1 7.5 watts standard wall adapter 
• 1 type A to type C charging cable
• 1 tool for micro SD card slot
• The device manual

Design

The Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 design is very sound in terms of design. The tablet is made with quality materials with a very sturdy aluminium finish that makes it very durable. I was quite impressed with the overall look and feel of the tablet. 

The screen size itself strikes a good balance for me between handheld use for media consumption and gaming and tabletop use for more productive tasks. The comfort of two-handed typing while holding the tablet vertically is, of course, subject to the hand size of the user but is comfortable on an average scale if that is something that is of great importance.

In terms of appearance, the tablet comes in three colours: silver, pink, gold and grey finish. I think the tablet looks great in all three colours available. 

Build Quality of the Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 Tablet

The build quality of the Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 is in the range of high-quality tablets. The metal construction feels good when you hold it, better than the tablets made with plastic casings. 

Although this makes the tablet a bit heavier, it is not in an uncomfortable manner. As opposed to the rest of the body, the buttons have a plastic casing. It also has corning’s gorilla glass protecting its display.

Display 

Screen Specifications

Pixel Density	216 PPI
Resolution	1920 x 1200
Aspect Ratio	16:10
Screen-to-body Ratio	80%
Panel Type	TFT LCD

Screen Size

In terms of screen size, the Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 comes with 10.5 inches TFT LCD panel with a 1920 x 1200 resolution display. This screen is large enough for the majority of users as it offers enough space to perform various tasks. It is also big enough for use on a tabletop.

Refresh Rate

The refresh rate of the Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 is 60Hz. This is pretty standard compared to other tablets on the market. It operates very smoothly and doesn’t cause hanging or screen freezing. It is very good for watching videos up to 1080p60 settings and gaming.

Brightness 

The Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 has an average brightness of 345.6 cd/m, which makes it slightly brighter than its predecessor. It goes up to the maximum brightness of 368 cd/m, which can increase up to 372 cd/m when the brightness sensor is activated. This is bright enough for a wide range of users as it also accommodates users with sensitive eyesight.

If you are looking for a tablet that is still comfortable to use under direct sunlight, the Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 is a good option. It is bright and would provide you with a decent outdoor usage experience.

Sound Quality

Speaker

In terms of speaker quality, the Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 is top tier. It comes with 4 stereo speakers, which makes it loud and clear. If you are looking for a good speaker to watch content and blast music, the Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 is a great choice.

Microphone 

The Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 comes with a decent inbuilt microphone. It has a good quality of sound during video calls.

Performance 

The Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 is a good choice of the tablet for those who want an affordable option that enables them to carry out basically any tasks that are not artistry in nature. 

Although the overall performance of the tablet is limited, it is able to carry out most activities that other tablets do. If you need a tablet to perform artistry tasks, you can opt for an iPad instead.

Processor 

One of the most important aspects of a tablet is its performance. The Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 comes with an octa-core 12-nanometer Unisoc tiger T618 processor that is paired with a mali g52 mp2 for graphics. 

This processor is strong enough to handle tasks such as day-to-day browsing, editing documents, gaming and watching content. The table also has a good enough ram of 3GB or 4GB that assists with handling heavy workloads and multitasking.

Battery Life

Another important aspect to consider before purchasing a tablet is the battery life. One of the most impressive features of the Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 is the 7040 milliamp-hour battery. This is much more powerful in comparison to other competitive models as it lasts between 6 and 8 on average, depending on what you are doing on the tablet. If you are doing light tasks on the tablet, it can last a day’s use on a full charge.

Features 

Here, I will be talking about the Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 and some of its features. Although this tablet is very affordable compared to other competitive models, it still has great features that make it a good choice, regardless.

One feature of the Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 is the face registration unlock feature. 

This allows you to unlock the tablet with your face. Although if you do not want to make use of this feature, the usual pin, pattern or passcode options are still available. 

It comes with Android 11 software that can be updated when a newer version is available.

The Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 comes with preinstalled applications which include the Google Play Store and the Samsung Galaxy Applications.

Specifications 

RAM (Memory)	3GB, 4GB
Storage	32GB, 64GB, 128GB
CPU	Octa-core (2×2.0 GHz Cortex-A75 & 6×2.0 GHz Cortex-A55)
GPU	Mali G52 MP2
Dimensions	246.8 x 161.9 x 6.9 mm (9.72 x 6.37 x 0.27 in)
Weight	508 g (1.12 lb)
Colours	Silver, Pink Gold and Gray

The Camera

Front Camera

The Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 front camera positioned at the side of the tablet is decent. It has a 5-megapixel lens, 1080p resolution, and 30 frames per second. This makes it good for your video calls but not beyond that. If you want to take impressive selfies, use your phone.

Rear Camera

The rear camera of the Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 has an 8 megapixels lens and does video at 1080p resolution, 30 frames per second. The details are not as impressive as other competitive models, but it works. 

Portability 

In terms of portability, Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 has a slimmer design making it super easy to carry about. The charger is also the regular size making it easy to fit into bags.

Serviceability

Most parts on the  Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 can be replaced or upgraded, making it a very serviceable device. For example, the storage and RAM can be configured up to 128GB and 4GB RAM, respectively. The software can also be updated when a newer version is released.

Generally, the Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 is a very serviceable device that can be easily upgraded or repaired as needed.

Connectivity 

Ports 

The  Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 has several ports located on the left and right sides of the device.

On the right side, there is the volume rocker and power button.

On the left side, there is the micro SD card slot which lets you add up to 1 terabyte of additional storage. At the bottom, there are two out of the four speakers, a type A or type C port capable of 15-watt charging and a headphone jack.

Wireless Connectivity

The wireless connection of the tablet is thus: 

• Wi-Fi: Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, hotspot
• Bluetooth: 5.0, A2DP, LE.

These specifications are good enough to connect to any network.

Software

The Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 comes with Android 11 and has the option to be upgraded to newer versions whenever it’s available.

Pros 

• The tablet is made with premium-quality materials.
• The battery life is wonderful: it can go a day’s use with a single charge
• The speakers are loud and clear
• It is affordable, retailing under $300
• You can move applications from the tablet to the micro SD card easily
• It has a sleek and portable body
• It supports 15W fast charging
• It has excellent performance on productivity tasks, content watching and gaming.
• Lack of bloatware
• Software support

Cons 

• Slow charging speed, even with a fast charger
• It lacks S pen functionality
• The camera is only good for video calls
• The box does not come with a fast charger
• No DEX mode
• You cannot use an external monitor.

Buyer’s Guide – Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 Tablet Review

The Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 is a multipurpose device that can be used for basically anything except artistry functionalities. The common issue you would come across with this tablet is slow charging. 

It takes about 2 hours and 45 minutes for a full charge with a 15-watt charger and over 4 hours of charging time with the 7.5-watt charger that comes with the box. 

It is also common for the tablet to be a bit slow when changing from a vertical to a horizontal layout, but this is not a dealbreaker. 

The camera quality is poor for selfies and pictures but is pretty decent for video calling.

How much is the Samsung Galaxy Tab A8?

The tablet retails for $279.99 (£229). However, the price has been seen to have plummeted down to $189 (£160.86). The prices differ but in this range depending on where you are buying it from.

Is the Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 worth buying?

The  Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 is an impressive low-cost tablet that is good for general non-artistry activities. 

It is a great choice for people who want to watch HD content on 1080p settings, people who want to play games in HD settings at high frame rates and who perform every other basic activity a tablet is used for. It has a very reliable battery, and it is cost-effective in terms of purchase and repair prices.

5 Alternatives to the Samsung Galaxy Tab A8

1. Apple iPad 9th Generation: This tablet offers more performance with the A13 bionic chip in comparison to the Samsung Galaxy Tab A8. if you want to perform tasks that majorly deal with productivity, this is a considerable option for you with $100 more costly. It also has faster charging and fingerprint authentication. It operates on iPadOS and has Apple Pencil support.
2. Microsoft Surface Go 3: this device has a better typing experience than the  Samsung Galaxy Tab A8. It is a very good option for students.  It comes with an impressive IPS touchscreen and also has access to a massive library.
3. Xiaomi Pad 5: this tablet has a great Dolby Vision display and loudspeakers. It has an incredible front and rear camera, so if the Camera is a big deal to you, you can opt for this device. It retails at £349.
4. Realme Pad: The Realme has an excellent display with loudspeakers. It also has a clean OS and adequate battery life. It is good for day-to-day browsing and video streaming. It has low performance, so if you need to do productivity tasks more often, you should opt for the  Samsung Galaxy Tab A8.
5. Nokia T20: This is another well-built and has good speed. The design is somewhat basic and might not be a point of attraction, but the overall performance is decent.

Conclusion

Overall, the  Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 is a decent tablet for everyday use, and it is very affordable compared to other competitive tablets with similar specifications. It is durable and has an excellent battery life that can get you a day’s use with light tasks and 8 hours with much heavier productivity tasks.

In the end, it all depends on your needs. If you need a tablet that is durable with an excellent battery that is good for gaming, note-taking and watching high-quality video content, the  Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 might be a good choice. If you want a tablet with better performance for artistry activities, the iPad 9th generation is a better option.

I hope you found this review of the  Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 helpful.

FAQ – Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 Tablet Review

Q: Can the  Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 receive phone calls?

A: Yes, the  Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 can receive phone calls. The tablet uses a SIM card in order to connect to a mobile network, so as long as you have a data plan with your carrier, you will be able to use the tablet as a phone.

Q:  What software does the  Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 use?

A: The  Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 uses the Android 11 software, which can be updated.

Q: Can I use Face ID to unlock my  Samsung Galaxy Tab A8?

A: Yes, the option to use Face ID to unlock the  Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 is available.

Product Image Gallery – Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 Review

References: Samsung, Samsung Galaxy, Tablet Device.