Review: SAMSUNG Galaxy Tab A8 10.5” 64GB Android Tablet, US Version, 2022, Pink Gold – Versatile, value-packed tablet with impressive battery life

In-depth review of the affordable Samsung Galaxy Tab A8, covering aesthetics, performance, and battery life... Read more

Specifications

Brand	SAMSUNG
Model Name	Galaxy Tab A8
Memory Storage Capacity	64 GB
Screen Size	10.5 Inches
Display Resolution Maximum	1920 x 1200 Pixels

Introduction

Getting my hands on the Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 was quite an anticipation-filled moment. This new budget-friendly tablet from Samsung has garnered much interest, owing to its affordability packed with appealing features. Retailing at 200 dollars, this device promises a set of high-end specs usually found in premium models without breaking the bank. To start, it provides 32GB of storage complemented by 3GB of RAM, with options available for higher configurations.

Unpacking the Samsung Galaxy Tab A8: First Impressions

On unwrapping the device, I found more than just a tablet. The package houses a few essential accompaniments including a seven and a half watt charger, a type A to Type C charging cable, and a tool to handle the micro SD card slot. These additions, though common, were much appreciated.

The first impression of the device was impressive. The grey-colored tablet proclaimed a sturdy, aluminum finish, ensuring durability – something substantial considering the budget-tag highlighting the device.

Brief Overview of Technical Specs

Before delving more in-depth into the product’s features, let’s take a quick skim over its technical specifications. We’re talking about a substantial 32GB of storage, a decent 3GB of RAM, and a micro SD card slot for expandability up to a whole terabyte. If that wasn’t enough, the device manages to pack 2 speakers on the bottom apart from a type C port with 15W charging capacity, and a good ol’ headphone jack. Not to mention an 80% screen-to-body ratio which is definitely a note-worthy feature in this price range.

Hence, an initial overview indicates the Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 as a quite promising device, bringing in a well-rounded package for its price point.

Physical Features

• Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 has robust build quality
• Offers convenient usability features like volume rocker, power button
• Features 80% screen to body ratio for comfortable use

Hands-on Experience: Examining the Aesthetics and Build Quality

When I first unboxed the Samsung Galaxy Tab A8, I was greeted by the sleek, gray-colored body. The durable aluminum finish on the back offers not just an appealing aesthetic but also reassures me of its sturdiness. This robust build quality gives me peace of mind as I don’t worry about everyday wear and tear.

Usability Features: Checking Out the Speaker and Port Setup

Examining the edges of the device, I found a well-thought-out usability setup. On the right side, a conveniently placed volume rocker and power button allow easy access. The left slot houses a micro SD card slot, a great addition to expand the storage up to a whopping one terabyte.

My examination continued to the bottom edge where I find a pair of speakers, a type C USB port for charging and, much to my delight, a practical and often missed feature these days – a headphone jack.

One design feature worth mentioning is the respectable 80% screen to body ratio, providing a substantial viewable area while leaving enough bezel to hold the tablet comfortably and avoid unnecessary screen touches.

Verdict: Samsung has done a noteworthy job in not only providing a tablet that looks and feels premium but also making it ergonomic and user-friendly. The combination of build quality, usability features, and value-for-money makes this product appealing to a wide range of users.

Display and Audio

• Tab A8’s display delivers vibrant colors, practical design
• Optimal for media consumption and gaming
• Excellent audio with built-in quad speakers

Stepping into the realm of screen and sound, we’ve got quite a handful to talk about regarding the Samsung Galaxy Tab A8. As you might expect, these elements considerably influence both the aesthetic appeal and user experience, so let’s delve in and see what’s cooking.

Taking a Close Look at the Tab A8’s Screen

At first glance, the Tab A8’s 1920×1200 resolution display presents vibrant colors that are pleasing to the eye. Coupled with a decent 80% screen-to-body ratio and balanced symmetrical bezels, this tablet seems built for practicality. Topping it all off is the thoughtful enough design space to perch your fingers on the tablet edges, effectively preventing accidental screen touches.

When it comes to digging deeper into user experience, the well-balanced screen handles media consumption and gaming nicely. Whether it’s watching YouTube videos in 1080p60 resolution or playing games, the colorful display makes these common tasks enjoyable.

Enjoying Media: Video Playback Quality and Audio Experiences

Watching videos with the Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 takes center stage, being one of its strong suits. The viewing experience, overall, is immersive and smooth. You can appreciate the excellent video playback quality, especially when watching HD videos.

Interestingly, the audio aspect shines bright too. The tablet boasts a quad speaker setup, adding an extra layer of depth to your video watching or music blasting sessions. Imagine having a portable speaker combined with a gorgeous display to binge-watch your favorite shows or listen to your beloved tunes!

However, to play devil’s advocate, I would recommend using headphones for a truly immersive audio experience. Not that the built-in speakers aren’t good, but a bit more depth and range from a good pair of headphones can truly elevate your experience.

So far, it seems that the Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 meets expectations in the realm of display and audio – neither exceptionally awe-inspiring nor disappointing. On balance, it succeeds in providing a smooth and enjoyable user experience for the price.

Daily Usage

• Light gaming is a win on Samsung Galaxy Tab A8
• Battery consumption increases significantly during gaming
• -inch screen is great for multitasking
• Two-handed typing is comfortable on this tablet

Moving on to the daily usage of the Samsung Galaxy Tab A8, let’s delve into my experience using the tablet for various tasks and how it held up in terms of performance.

Gaming Ability: Testing with Popular Games

First up, my gaming experience on this tablet was unexpectedly smooth. I played a good amount of Old School Runescape and some emulated games like Super Mario Strikers. I was taken aback by how well they actually ran on this budget tablet. Light gaming is definitely a win here . The fairly large screen combined with commendable performance made the gaming experience quite enjoyable.

The tablet seemed to handle these games quite effectively without any major lags or crashes. However, remember that performance with heavier, resource-intensive games may vary. One caveat, battery consumption does increase significantly during gaming , though it remains acceptable.

Balanced for Productivity: How Well Does It Multitask?

I also took the liberty of pushing the Tab A8 to its limits by loading up on productivity tasks. Surprisingly, it was quite a champ. The 10.5-inch screen was just large enough for using on a tabletop with two applications open side by side , while still compact enough for enjoyable handheld use.

Equipped with Samsung’s multitasking features similar to their other tablets, the Tab A8 offers a versatile switch between apps and tasks. This level of versatility at this price point was quite a pleasant surprise. There’s a comfortable balance between work and play that I noticed during my usage.

Versatility: Handheld Use versus Tabletop Use – A Fine Balance

One of my favourite aspects of the Tab A8 was its perfect balance between handheld usage and tabletop usage. The tablet seemed equally suitable for media consumption, gaming, and for more performance-intensive tasks. When held vertically, two-handed typing was comfortable on this tablet , making it perfectly suited for writing long emails or documents.

In summary, when it comes to daily usage, the Tab A8 maintains an impressive stand for a budget tablet with its commendable performance and versatility.

Performance

• Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 experiences minor navigation slowdowns
• Tablet’s performance within apps mostly solid and stable
• Lag during heavy multi-tasking is a reality

Let’s cut to the chase and discuss the performance of the Samsung Galaxy Tab A8. How does it hold up in a daily routine? Is it a speedy device or is it dragging its feet? Most importantly, is it capable enough to justify its economical price tag? Here are my thoughts:

Navigating through the OS – Is It Smooth Enough?

Being completely transparent, general navigation of the Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 can sometimes be a bit on the slower side. While it isn’t a deal-breaker, it’s something worth noting. While jumping from one app to another, or switching between home screens, I did run into minor hiccups. I found that things weren’t as smooth as I’d have liked, and there was a slight lag that was noticeable, although not jarring.

However, on the bright side, once I got into my groove within an app, whether it was reading a book or jotting down notes, these flashes of slowness seemed to disappear. The experience within an individual app, whether it be browsing, gaming, reading, or note-taking was pretty solid, and I found very little to complain about here.

Handling Minor Hiccups – What You Might Face

The Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 is not immune to hiccups or unexpected glitches. As I’ve pointed out, it can be a bit of a slow starter when you’re multi-tasking or hopping between apps. But what kinds of issues might you run into?

Mostly, I noticed the minor delays in response times when juggling multiple tasks. The touch response might feel a little behind your commands, or an app might take an extra second to load. However, despite these short pauses, the overall performance stability is worth mentioning. I didn’t experience any random crashes or unexpected reboots, which goes a long way in providing a smooth user experience.

On a similar note, it would be unrealistic to expect top-tier performance from a budget-friendly device. So, while slight delays might be noticeable at times, I believe it’s a compromise one could live with, given the tablet’s otherwise solid performance.

To sum up, the performance of Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 is mostly stable, with minor slowdowns that do not drastically affect the overall user experience. However, perceivable lag during heavy multi-tasking is a reality one needs to keep in mind.

Camera Quality

• Tab A8’s rear camera delivers acceptable but inconsistent quality
• Front camera offers better results, especially for video calls
Lighting significantly impacts the front camera’s performance

When it comes to the Tab A8’s camera performance, there’s a mixed bag to delve into. Let’s critically examine both the front and rear lenses.

Evaluating the Rear Camera

The Tab A8’s rear camera is serviceable at best. On most occasions, photos appeared to be just fine, delivering acceptable quality that would suffice for casual shots. However, in more critical circumstances, images often turned out to be blurry. These blurry results required frequent retakes, making the overall photo-taking experience slightly disjointed.

Note:

If you’re relying on this tablet for important photograpy, you might want to reconsider. The rear camera seems to be a bit hit-and-miss, and it’s certainly not the device’s strongest point.

The Front Camera: A Test for Video Calls and Work Conferences

Moving on to the front camera, things take a turn for the better. The camera is strategically positioned on the side of the tablet, which makes it quite handy for video calls or work conferences. In terms of quality, it’s pretty decent. A test video recorded in a well-lit room produced sharp images, with a resolution capturing at a satisfactory 1080p at 30 frames per second.

Just remember – lighting is key! In room conditions where the lighting isn’t adequate, the camera quality noticeably dips, and images look blurry. So, for optimal results, always try and have good light when using the front camera for video calls.

All in all, the front camera manages to deliver a smoother and more gratifying experience than its rear counterpart, especially for video communication purposes—definitely a plus point for the Tab A8.

Overall Battery Performance

• Galaxy Tab A8 has a 7040mAh battery capacity
• Provides up to eight hours of screen-on time
• Charging cycle takes over four hours with 7.5-watt charger

Next up, is a factor that truly defines the usability and convenience of any device – the battery life. So, let’s dive into the battery performance of this budget-friendly tablet. Just to set the context, the Galaxy Tab A8 comes equipped with a 7040 milliamp hour battery capacity.

Battery Life on Average Daily Use

During my time with the Tab A8, I found the battery life to be pretty robust. With varied usage including streaming YouTube videos, playing light games and even doing productivity tasks, the device comfortably gave me up to eight hours of screen-on time. This is at brightness levels fluctuating between 50 to 100 percent.

Even while performing more battery-intensive tasks like gaming or multitasking, I observed that the battery survived around six hours, which was quite satisfactory. This practically means that with an average use pattern, you wouldn’t be charging your tablet more than once a day.

Charging Speeds

While the Petal has an impressive battery life, its charging speeds leave something to be desired. Using the tablet’s in-box 7.5-watt charger, I noted that a full charge cycle from zero to a 100 percent took a bit over four hours. Trading it for a 15-watt charger did yield better results, clocking the charging time to just under 2 hours and 45 minutes. However, obtaining a 15w charger would mean an additional expense as it’s not included in the box.

To be critical and objective, considering the battery life the Galaxy Tab A8 offers, a slower charging speed might be an acceptable trade-off for some. But it’s also important to keep in mind that there are other tablets in a similar price range that offer faster charging times.

Summing up, despite the longer charging times, the strong battery life lends this tablet a good deal of practicality, making it a reliable daily work tool or entertainment platform. In my opinion, the Galaxy Tab A8 competently manages to strike a decent balance in this aspect.

Conclusion

In summing up my experience with the Samsung Galaxy Tab A8, the key word that comes to mind is versatile. This tablet strikes a satisfying balance between affordability and functionality.

Weighing the Pros & Cons

The pros definitely shine bright for this tablet – its impressive screen clarity, decent audio, commendable battery life, and noteworthy multitasking features. Particularly, for media consumption and light gaming, the A8 truly stands out.

However, the tablet is not without its flaws. Its day-to-day navigation can tend to be a bit on the slower side, which might give tech-savvy users a slight hiccup. Furthermore, the camera quality, especially the rear one, leaves much to be desired, with images often coming out blurry. The charging speed also lags a bit, which can take some patience.

Assessing Its Value against Samsung’s Other Tablet Options

When compared to Samsung’s array of tablet options, the Tab A8 emerges as an attractive choice for the budget-conscious user. It might lack some of the high-end features of pricier models – like S Pen functionality – but for a price tag that’s at least 50% less, the trade-off feels reasonable.

Final Thoughts

All things considered, the Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 offers a reliable and user-friendly tablet experience at a budget-friendly price. Plenty of value can be extracted from it, particularly for those looking for a blend of productivity, media consumption, and light gaming. The compromises one must deal with, such as slower navigation and charging speeds, feel reasonably justified given the price point.

So, if you’re searching for a budget tablet with more than just the basics, can compromise on the lack of an S Pen and handle a few minor hiccups, then this device could be right up your alley.

Should you buy the SAMSUNG Galaxy Tab A8 10.5” 64GB Android Tablet, US Version, 2022, Pink Gold?

Buy it if…

You’re Looking for an Affordable Tablet

With the current price of $200, Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 comes packed with great features, making it a great choice if you’re looking for an affordable yet effective tablet.

You Need a Portable Media Consumption Device

With a decent screen for the price, good audio quality thanks to the quad speaker setup, and a size that strikes a good balance for handheld use, it’s a great choice if media consumption is your primary use case.

You Value a Strong Battery Life

You’ll be able to get a long screen-on time, from 6 to 8 hours, depending on your activity. This is great if you use your tablet for extended periods without access to a power outlet.

Don’t buy it if…

You Need a High-quality Camera

The rear camera is merely acceptable, with many photos turning out blurry. Hence, it won’t be a good fit if you’re planning on using the tablet for high-quality photography.

You Can’t Stand Slow Navigation

Navigation of the tablet is on the slower side, with minor hiccups here and there. If smooth and fast navigation is essential for you, you should consider other alternatives.

You need an S Pen or Fast Charging

Tab A8 lacks the S pen functionality and also charges slower than other models. So if these factors are critical to you, you might want to look elsewhere.

FAQ

What are the color options for Samsung Galaxy Tab A8?

The Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 comes in Silver, Pink, Gold, and Grey.

How many storage options does the Tab A8 offer?

The Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 comes with a starting storage of 32GB but it also has other configurations up to 128GB.

What type of charger comes with the Tab A8?

The Tab A8 comes with a 7.5 W charger, and a type A to type C charging cable.

How is the display quality of the Tab A8 for consuming media?

The 1920×12 resolution display provides pretty good colors and overall enjoyable media consumption experience.

Can I game on the Samsung Galaxy Tab A8?

Yes. Light gaming is a win on this tablet. It has been tested with games like old school Runescape and Super Mario Strikers without major issues.

How long does the battery last on average use?

In personal use testing, the Tab A8 had around 8 hours of screen on time at around 50% to 100% brightness. If you use it for more power-intensive tasks like gaming, expect around 6 hours of screen on time.

How does the tablet perform for video calls?

The front-facing camera is instilled on the side of the tablet for video calls. It is sufficient for clear video meetings and conferences, provided the room is well-lit.

Does the Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 support S Pen functionality?

No, the Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 does not support S Pen functionality.