Samsung Galaxy Tab A8: Unboxing & First Impressions
February 21, 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
Samsung’s A series tablets are modest and affordable slabs that aim to entice the average Joe. In recent years, the company has been progressively improving the overall design and choice of materials. The latest iteration, the Tab A8, exemplifies this notion perfectly. Its aesthetics lean heavily toward the look of the S7, from the industrial look to the dual tone color theme.
It has a slim profile, measuring just 6.9mm thick. In comparison to the Tab A 2019, the Tab A8 is wafer thin, which makes it feel like a far superior device. And in many ways, it is a better tablet, from the 10.5-inch FHD+ screen to the relatively thin bezels (10.2mm). This makes it far more compact than its predecessors, yet packs enough punch to put them all to shame.
When you buy a Galaxy Tab A8, what do you get in the box?
Well, the box itself looks very compact, far smaller than it ought to be to house a 10.5-inch screen – but such is Samsung’s ability at packaging gadgets. Despite the size, you aren’t deprived of valuable accessories. Right on top is the Tab A8 wrapped in a protective cloth. Directly underneath is a USB Type-C charging cable and a 7.8W power brick.
The underwhelming power rating doesn’t reflect the charging ability of the Tab A8 itself. The tablet can support fast charging speeds of up to 15W, so get your hands on a better charger, and you should be able to shorten the duration needed to charge its 7,040mAh battery.
What Don’t You Get In The Box?
Wired earphones included despite the tablet having a 3.5mm headphone jack. This should be expected because it’s now common practice across the industry to omit this “legacy” accessory in favor of encouraging customers to opt for a pair of wireless earbuds.
Check out our review articles of the following Samsung earbuds:
Samsung Galaxy Buds2 Review: Compact But Packed With Features
Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro Review: Great All-Rounder
Samsung Galaxy Buds Live: Great Choice For Casual Music Listeners
There’s no screen protector for the tablet, so it would be wise to buy one separately and have it installed to ensure it is protected from minor bumps and scrapes. At this point, I feel that it’s wasteful not to include it because the Tab A8 is destined to fall into the hands of an overactive child, a teenager or elderly parent. As such, it will need all the protection it can get.
Besides this, the tablet doesn’t get a silicone case either. There are a variety of third-party options available on e-merchant sites that are relatively affordable. Yes, they will add a fair amount of bulk and heft, but the added protection that they offer cannot be overstated. Pick one up, because you’ll need it.
First Impressions
The Tab A8 is a svelte yet affordable tablet that is unlike anything we’ve seen from the Tab A line. It’s thin enough to fit the profile of a medium-sized notepad and at 508g, it’s light enough to carry in hand or in a backpack without seeming burdensome. The neatly crafted rear shell comes in either pink or grey here in Malaysia.
In the past, there was little reason to recommend a Tab A8 tablet for productivity work because of the performance deficit. But that is no longer the case because despite having only 3GB RAM, the octa-core T618 chipset can cope with light and less demanding tasks. It seems capable for web browsing or playing arcade style games.
Unlike previous tablets, the Tab A8’s 10.5-inch screen is a little wider, which makes it better suited to reading journals, magazines or comics. And when you flip it on its sides, the screen’s 16:10 aspect ratio is perfect for media consumption. The 5MP selfie camera is mounted horizontally too, to make the most of video chatting with friends or family members.
Since this is a base model tablet, it doesn’t have stylus support or attachments for mountable keyboards. We will be testing this tablet over the next few days to gauge whether it is worth the money. Stay tuned for more.
