Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 Review: Good Companion For Netflix Or E-Books
March 19, 2022Performance: Unisoc Tiger T618 (12nm), 3GB RAM
Display: 10.5-inch (1200 x 1920)
Weight: 508g
Storage: 64G
Battery: 7,040 mAh
Features: 1080p video recording
Rear Camera: 8 MP
Front Camera: 5 MP
S.Pen: No
Rating: 8/10
Price: RM 899.00
Samsung’s Tab A8 comes from a long line of affordable tablets meant to give the average Joe a somewhat productive experience. However, unlike its predecessors, the A8 looks more premium thanks to a better choice of materials and aesthetics borrowed from the more expensive Tab S7.
The industrial look coupled with the matte finish makes it look far more grown up than the Tab A7 that it replaces. The bezels are very thin and wrap around a 10.5-inch TFT (1920 x 1200) display. The colors aren’t as vivid as that of an AMOLED panel, but it’s good enough for casual media consumption or reading e-books.
People who consider this a deal breaker need to understand that for a tablet of 10.5-inches to cost RM899, something’s got to give. In This case it’s a choice of using a TFT panel in lieu of a super AMOLED one of the S7+ or S8+. In addition to this, the screen doesn’t support a stylus either, so sketching or jotting down notes accurately, isn’t the Tab A8’s forte.
That said, it will win over the hearts of people who want an Android device with a large screen with which they can use to do things that aren’t enjoyable to do on a smartphone. I found myself using it for watching YouTube videos or reading articles. At 6.9mm thick, it’s incredibly convenient to hold upright.
Compared to older devices like the Tab A 2019, it looks significantly smaller because of said thin bezels. And at 508g, it’s relatively lightweight and easy to carry. It’s perfect as a gift to an older parent whose primary use for it would be to read news blogs. It’s also suitable to lend to a youngster to binge watch Netflix or viral videos on YouTube.
Performance
This is a good tablet despite its many shortcomings, which include the Unisoc T618 processor and underwhelming 3GB of RAM. This combination gives the Tab A8 a single track mind, which means it’s most efficient when asked to accomplish a single task at any given time. Having a flurry of notifications coming in at once, while trying to play an arcade game can pose a problem.
There’s a moment or two of hesitation, when you open an app or website. This is probably less of an issue for the 4GB RAM Tab A8, but on our 3GB unit, patience needs to be a virtue. That’s why it would be best to turn off notifications and put most apps to deep sleep and only leave active ones that you use the most.
This helps to significantly improve overall performance. Remember that most phones operate with 6, 8 or 12GB RAM, so attempting to accomplish similar tasks with just 3GB would yield unsatisfactory results. That said, it’s sufficient for the split screen function where there’s a video playing on the top while you do something else on the bottom half.
Muti-tasking can be done, but you need to temper your expectations. It will require a few seconds to ramp up its CPU to get to what you want. But it’s a significant improvement over the woefully slow Tab A 2019, which required the patience of a Buddist Monk to operate successfully.
Samsung has made major strides in recent years with regards to the capabilities of budget tablets. The A7 and A7 Lite are good examples of this notion. They are able to do more with less than stellar hardware. The Tab A8 can do the basics without causing apps to crash or rendering the UI unresponsive.
However, open too many Chrome tabs or attempt to play a demanding game, and you will begin to see this tablet trip over itself. You’ll notice lagging when moving between tabs or frame drops during a gaming session. These are signs that you’re asking too much of this budget device. But if you understand its limitations and work within those boundaries – you’ll enjoy the ownership experience.
Most arcade games like Subway Surfers, Beach Rally and the like work well. But anything more demanding like the Asphalt series and Grand Theft Auto Vice City or San Andreas, will not run well to be considered enjoyable.
How Is The Sound?
Samsung’s given this tablet decent stereo speakers that fire from the top and bottom. When held in a horizontal position, they deliver decent quality audio for steaming content or listening to music. I was pleasantly surprised by the quality. The intensity at max volume is very good as well but as a result, clarity does suffer slightly. But the overall delivery is better than what you get from most mid-range smartphones.
In order to experience the entire breath of the acoustic delivery it would be best to keep it placed at a slight distance away. Mind, these are stereo speakers, not mono ones.
Productivity
Since it runs Android 11 with One UI 3 you’ll get most of the important features such as split screen view, access to the edge panel, single hand keyboards and easy access to the app drawer and quick panel. They’re all there, and add to the overall usefulness of the tablet.
Unlike its bigger brothers, the Tab A8 doesn’t support DeX. This isn’t surprising because to properly use the pseudo PC feature, one would need decent mobile hardware. Even the more expensive Tab S6 Lite with 4GB RAM, sometimes struggles to cope in DeX more.
This is probably why Samsung limits its budget tablets to “just” the basics. Throughout my time with the Tab A8, the split screen view was the modus operandi of getting the most out of it. At the top quarter of the screen, I’d have a YouTube video playing, while the other ¾ of the screen would be reserved to web browsing or e-book applications.
The FHD+ screen is nice and bright, making reading sessions an absolute joy. I’m a stickler when it comes to document resolution. Encountering grainy or blurry edges of words on screen is a major annoyance. I read a lot, so having to squint or enlarge paragraphs just to decipher what’s being displayed is a major dealbreaker.
But the 1200 x 1920 resolution presents everything clearly and with crisp detail. It’s what makes watching movies or reading e-magazines an enjoyable affair. It is also why most people will forgive it for being a TFT panel instead of an AMOLED one. Colors and text are clearly distinguishable.
The Tab A8 comes in WiFi only or LTE models but only the former is available in the Malaysian market. If you want to use it while you’re on the move, you’ll need to enable mobile data hotspot on a smartphone or access public WiFi. If you resort to the latter, make sure that you use a VPN to protect your data.
This tablet is available with 64 or 128GB of storage space. That can be supplemented by the addition of a MicroSD card. Said slot is being phased out for newer devices, but we are happy to see it included here.
Cameras
There’s a horizontally mounted 5MP selfie camera on the front. It’s the perfect location for one because of how we usually hold our tablets. This is a natural position, especially if you constantly use Zoom or Google Chat to stay in touch with family and friends.
Video quality isn’t great because of the limitation in camera hardware. It’s passable for casual chats but isn’t something you’d use for a professional setting. Video feeds and pictures feel a little hazy and lack vividness. The same is true of overall sharpness.
It’s a similar story for the 8MP rear camera but admittedly, it yields slightly better results. But then again, why would you want to take videos and pictures with a 10.5-inch tablet? You shouldn’t, because not only would it look silly, but your smartphone would probably be a better choice for such a task.
Power consumption isn’t bad. The 7,040mAh battery gives the Tab A8 sufficient juice to last for about a full day or at least 7 hours of continuous use. It isn’t that great but good enough for its intended purpose. This tablet is capable of 15W fast charging too, but to utilize it, you’ll need to find a suitable power brick. Included in the box is a 7.8W charger.
There’s no wireless or reverse wireless charging available, which is a given for a budget tablet. Take a look at our Unboxing & First Impressions article to see what you get in the box. Samsung sells the Tab A8 in Gray, Silver and Pink Gold. Pick the Gray if you want a professional and premium looking tablet that wouldn’t look out of place at a Starbucks or boardroom.
Should You Buy One?
That depends on what you’re using it for. If it’s intended for leisurely activities such as streaming videos or reading e-books, then it’s a clear YES. This is a really good choice for said tasks. Fit a silicone case and it will also be suitable to keep the young ones busy. It’s also perfect for an elderly parent who prefers a larger display to read content or video chat with you.
However, the Tab A8 isn’t meant for serious work because of its hardware limitations. It will let you down when you need it the most, which is why it’s best left to handle entertainment activities. It’s a good digital companion for students, bookworms and couch potatoes.
