Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 has been recently made available in Nepal.
This is an update from the existing Tab A7 Lite which was released last year. This is not exactly a multitasking or power-performing tablet, but it does offer a lot more than its predecessor. This can be a great multimedia tablet especially for watching movies, reading books, browsing the internet or attending online classes. However, its market performance is still doubtful given the presence of better competitors.
Let’s get into the details of the Tab.
Specifications
| Dimension | Height: 246.8mm Width: 161.9mm Thickness: 6.9mm Weight: 508 grams |
| Display | 10.5-inch TFT |
| Sim | Nano sim |
| Resolution | 1,200*1,920 pixels |
| OS | Android 11, One UI 3 |
| Chipset | Unisoc Tiger T618 (12nm) |
| GPU | Mali G52 MP2 |
| Storage | 32GB/64GB/128GB |
| SD card slot | Dedicated |
| RAM | 3GB/4GB |
| Camera | Front: 5MP Rear: 8MP |
| Sound | 4 stereo Loudspeakers 3.5mm headphone jack |
| Battery | 7040mAh, Li-Po, non-removable 15W fast charging |
| Sensors | Accelerometer Proximity Gyro Compass Hall sensor Light sensor |
| Colours | Gray, silver, pink, gold |
| Price | Rs 31,999 (4/64GB Wifi only) Rs 37,999 (LTE variant) Rs 40,999 (4/128GB LTE variant) |
Design and display
Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 has a solid metallic build on the back. The back of the tab also houses the camera panel and Samsung branding is done neatly. Unlike Samsung Galaxy phones, the branding is done vertically. Though having a huge battery backup, the tab is only 6.9mm thick and weighs around 508 grams.
On the front, there is a 10.5-inch TFT LCD display that has a maximum resolution of 1,920*1,200 pixels. This big display can be very handy for web surfing, video streaming or for virtual classes. Samsung has one of the best displays in the market and this tab should be no exception.
Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 also features quad stereo speakers with Dolby Atmos, which can be extremely loud and can add a pleasing audio experience for the big display. There is also a 3.5mm headphone jack on the tab if you need some privacy.
Camera
Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 only has a minimal camera setup. It only features a single camera on both back and front. On the front, there is a 5MP selfie camera and there is an 8MP camera on the rear end. The rear camera has autofocus and can record videos in 1080p resolution. The front camera can also record videos in the same resolution but does not have autofocus. There are camera features like portrait mode, professional mode, panorama, hyper-lapse, and food mode.
The camera specification on the tab indicates that it is mostly good for scanning documents or attending virtual classes. The front camera should be better than the ones on most laptops and should be handy during virtual meetings and classes.
Performance and battery life
Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 runs on One UI 3 based on Android 11 and is powered by Unisoc Tiger T618 (12nm) chipset. The graphics of the tab are handled by Mali G52 MP2. Samsung is very clear about the users here. The chipset on the tab indicates that it is not the fastest in the market and heavy-duty works or intense gaming sessions cannot be expected from this.
However, this does not mean it cannot perform the basic tasks. It is perfectly equipped to perform basic tasks like editing with Google Docs, web browsing, checking emails or normal gaming. It will also provide the same user experience as the Samsung phones, so if the user has a Samsung phone, the tab should look familiar.
Giving the life to Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 is a 7,040 mAh non-removable Li-po battery. The tab can be charged with a 15W fast charger. This power should be enough for a longer session use and should be very handy during online interaction or for web surfing.
Storage, connectivity and price
Samsung is offering three variants of the Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 in Nepal at the moment. There are 4/64GB Wifi only, 4/64GB LTE and 4/128GB LTE variants. The storage of the tab can also be expanded with a microSD card and there is a dedicated spot for it.
The tab supports a single nano sim. For further connectivity, the tab has Bluetooth 5.0 and uses USB Type-C 2.0.
The starting price of the Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 is Rs 31,999 for the base 4/64GB Wifi only variant. The prices are fixed at Rs 37,999 for the LTE variant and Rs 40,999 for the 4/128GB LTE variant.
Verdict
Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 puts the buyers in an awkward situation. The pricing of 40,999 for the 4/128GB variant rivals Xiaomi’s Pad 5 which costs Rs 44,999 for a 6/128GB variant. Not to forget that, Pad 5 is a powerful tablet and is better than Samsung Galaxy Tab 8 in every sector. The Pad 5 has a bigger, better, higher refresh rate, higher resolution display. It also has a powerful chipset, a bigger battery back up and a faster charger. This can really put the buyer in a dilemma if one should spend so much money on Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 for minimal features rather than opting for Xiaomi’s Pad 5.
However, if one has no need for extra and powerful features and only needs a tablet for multimedia purposes, the base variant will be the best option. Spending more for better storage and on the LTE variant seems a bit overspending with the existence of Pad 5.
