The Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 was officially unveiled this week, and although it appears to be well-equipped to be a decent Android tablet, the specs suggest it will have a hard time competing with top-tier devices like the Apple iPad (2021).
Of course, that may not be Samsung’s goal for the Galaxy Tab A8. After all, its predecessor was a compelling mid-range tablet that undercut the entry-level iPad by around $ 100. Maybe it could not compete with the iPad in terms of power, but in our review of the Samsung Galaxy Tab A7, we called it one of the best Android tablets on the market thanks to its excellent battery life, clean Android interface and affordable price .
However, we were disappointed with the A7’s dim screen and dull performance. The cheaper, smaller Samsung Galaxy Tab A7 Lite, which the company released earlier in 2021, did not impress either, even though it is a decent Android tablet for not much money.
Now, Samsung has shown us what to expect from the Galaxy Tab A8, and although it seems like a modest improvement over the A7, it still seems anemic compared to Apple’s beginner tablets. But if you’re looking for a new Android tablet, the Galaxy Tab A8 might be just the device you need.
Specifications for Samsung Galaxy Tab A8
| Screen | 10.5-inch TFT screen (1920 x 1200 pixels) |
| Processor | 2GHz octacore processor |
| ram | 3 – 4 GB |
| Memory | 32 GB internal storage (3 GB RAM model), 64-128 GB internal storage (4 GB RAM model) |
| Cameras | 8MP AF (rear), 5MP (front) |
| Ports | USB-C 2.0, microSD, 3.5 mm headphone jack |
| Connection | Wi-Fi 5, Wi-Fi Direct, Bluetooth 5, LTE (optional) |
| Size | 9.72 x 6.37 x 0.27 inches |
| Weight | 1.12 lbs |
Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 prices and availability
Samsung has not yet confirmed much in terms of tough details regarding the Galaxy Tab A8’s prices and availability.
The company says it will be available for purchase via Samsung’s website in Europe at the end of December 2021 and in the US from January 2022. No pricing information has yet been released for either the Wi-Fi or LTE models, but the company is then gone to confirm that it will be available in your choice of silver, gray or a new pink gold color.
Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 design
The Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 has roughly the same size and weight as its predecessor, which is a good thing. It seems the company has done little to change the winning design of the A7, as the A8 appears to have a similar elongated design with reasonably thin black frames around the screen (Samsung claims it has a screen-to-body ratio of 80%).
Inside, there is a four-speaker array that supports Dolby Atmos, which should provide decent sound quality. We certainly appreciated the speakers on the older A7, though they could get a bit distorted when turned up to over 80% volume.
Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 screen
The Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 gets roughly the same size as its predecessor, but the screen is slightly larger: 10.5 inches, compared to the 10.4-inch screen on last year’s Galaxy Tab A7.
However, the new model will have a slightly lower resolution than the A7. The screen of the new Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 will have a resolution of 1,920 x 1,200 pixels, whereas the old A7 has 2,000 x 1,200 pixels. It’s a very small change that probably will not make a difference to the viewing experience, but we’ll have to get one for testing to see for ourselves.
Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 performance
Pricing is not the only detail that Samsung keeps secret for now. The company has also decided not to (yet) officially confirm which processor will be in the Galaxy Tab A8, only noting that it will be a 2GHz octacore chip.
However, there is good reason to believe that it could be the Unisoc Tiger T618, an octacore SoC (system on a chip) with speeds that peak at 2GHz. That was what was tipped to power the tablet when the Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 specs leaked earlier this year, and so far almost everything in that leak has proven accurate.
Whatever ends up inside the Tab A8, it will almost certainly be more powerful than the Qualcomm SM6115 SoC that powered the old A7. However, it is unlikely that it will offer much competition against the A13 Bionic chip that powers Apple’s 2021 iPad.
The new Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 will be available with either 3 GB or 4 GB of RAM. The 3GB entry-level model is limited to only 32GB of storage, while the 4GB model can be configured with either 64GB or 128GB of space. By comparison, Apple’s iPad offers 64 GB of storage to boot and tops at 256 GB – but of course the iPad does not offer a microSD port like the Galaxy Tab A8 does, and you can use it to insert an external memory card into up to 1 TB in size.
Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 cameras
The new Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 will have a 5MP front camera and an 8MP rear camera, which is roughly the same camera setup (at least in terms of megapixels) as that of its predecessor. And it’s a kind of failure, because in our review of the Samsung Galaxy Tab A7, we outlined our disappointment with its camera array. They work well enough for the price, but we found it difficult to take good pictures with them.
We hope to get better results by taking pictures with the Galaxy Tab A8, which will also include a new screen recorder feature that aims to make it easier to record your screen when you e.g. presents something important on a call or makes a cool play in a game.
The Tab A8 will also support face recognition, a smart feature we valued in its predecessor because it’s a premium security feature that even Apple’s iPad does not offer.
Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 battery
Last year’s Galaxy Tab A7 lasted over 13 hours in our lab battery test, which sets the tablet in motion to constantly surf the web over Wi-Fi with its screen set to a certain brightness level. A total of 13+ hours is excellent battery life for a tablet, and one of the A7’s best features, so we hope the Galaxy Tab A8 can match or surpass that when we get one for testing next year.
Samsung has not yet made any official claims about battery life about the new A8 and only says that it will have a 7,040 mAh battery that supports fast charging via Samsung’s 15W Adaptive Fast Charger – which unfortunately appears to be sold separately.
Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 outlook
The Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 looks like an iterative but worthwhile upgrade over its predecessor, packing slightly better components into a chassis that has roughly the same size and design as last year’s Tab A7.
That’s not necessarily a bad thing: the Samsung Galaxy Tab A7 is a solid all-round Android tablet with decent performance and outstanding battery life, plus it offers a reasonably clean version of Android, all for more than $ 100 less than the cheapest iPad .
The Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 seems to offer the same value. If it has roughly the same price as its predecessor at $ 229, the A8 could be a great mid-range tablet for Android fans in 2022. That value only grows if you already own other Galaxy devices, such as the Samsung Galaxy Book Pro 360 or the rumored Samsung Galaxy S22, as Samsung does a good job of ensuring that data can be easily shared between Galaxy devices.
Of course, we’ll have to wait until we get one for testing to tell you exactly how the Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 performs compared to the competition. Stick around!
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