Samsung announces the mid-range Galaxy Tab A8

Android tablets are, despite all odds, still alive thanks to the success of Samsung’s Galaxy Tab products, and now the company is launching a new mid-range option. I didn’t see the Galaxy Tab A8 then yet personally, and some important details remain unanswered, but specifications and features suggest that the new Tab A8 could be a cheap option with a few trade-offs.

Samsung has not yet split the official prices, but based on the $ 229 Tab A7 price and the $ 530 Galaxy Tab S7 FE price, I would venture to assume that the Tab A8 will be around $ 250. Price details should be announced soon, whereas Tab A8 will be available in the US in January 2022. TThe A8 tab comes in something called Pink Gold, a softer shade of Rose Gold. Blush Gold, maybe. Other options, gray and silver, are tame.

TThe Tab A8 shares the same aesthetics as the Galaxy Tab S line, a premium series of tablets. The tablets are not exciting to describe, and Tab A8 is no different. It is a rectangular board with the Samsung logo opposite one 8 megapixel camera (there is a 5 MP camera on the front). TTab A8 stands out in this category because it boasts a metal case and is relatively thin frames. At 1.1 pounds and 0.27 inches thick, the A8 is roughly the size of most other 10-inch tablets.

Perhaps my favorite new feature is face recognition, which should allow you to quickly unlock tablets without the hassle of remembering a password. Samsung’s face unlock doesn’t have the cleanest security record, but the company promises to keep your tablet protected by Knox, the proprietary mobile security platform.

Samsung has gained a reputation for equipping its products with some of the best screens, while this environmentthe A8 range will give up the latest panel technology, its 10.5 inches, 1920 x 1200 A 16:10 TNT display should deliver vivid colors. If it doesn’t, the A8 will have a hard time proving its value because, without a keyboard, pen or Samsung DeX, the tablet is clearly more for streaming video than for doing business. And for that matter, the Tab A8 has four speakers with Dolby Atmos support, a setting that should result in powerful sound. Or you can use the included headphone jack because Samsung, quite refreshingly, won’t pressure you to buy its Galaxy Buds Pro.

What I am eager to determine is whether the appeal of the Tab A8 can go beyond being a cheap tablet for consuming media. That answer will have to wait because Samsung does not reveal the heart of the A8’s performance, vaguely stating that it is running on an “Octa-Core, 2GHz” CPU. Rumors point to the Unisoc Tiger T618 chip; we contacted Samsung for confirmation.

Paired with this processor is 3 GB or 4 GB of RAM and 32 GB, 64 GB or 128 GB of storage. Those planning to use the Tab A8 to store photos and videos in full resolution can use the microSD card slot to expand storage to 1 TB.

Samsung does not give any estimates of the battery life for the A8, it just promises that there will be “hours at the end” (whatever that means). We will have to conduct our own tests to see if it is 7,040 The mAh battery can take us through all day web browsing or urgent browsing Vastness. Whether or not, the Tab A8 charges via the USB-C port and supports fast charging.

Runtime will, of course, vary depending on your usage, and using the optional 4G LTE connection will not do you any favors, although comfort may be valuable to you if you need mobility. It is worth noting that the A8 does not support 5G and that broadband access is limited to Wi-Fi 5, not the newer Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) standard.

Although the Tab A8 doesn’t come with DeX, Samsung’s pseudo-desktop interface, it has a Multi-Active Window for using two apps side by side. There’s also a new Screen Recorder feature for recording yourself and the screen, and the ability to quickly copy and paste to and from your Galaxy smartphone. Samsung is also inserting a freebiee: two months of YouTube Premium without ads with the purchase of Tab 8.

Performance, durability and price are wildcards. If the Galaxy Tab A8 can be three for three on them, it could earn a place as the best tablet for watching movies, playing games or performing basic tasks online. Everything else about the device, from the modern design to the expandable storage space and quad speakers, gives us a good feel about the Tab A8.