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ToolsDesign, Display, and Connectivity
Samsung ‘s midrange A-series tablets are created with casual users in thinker. Sizes in the Tab A kin compass from 7 to 10.5 inches. For the most partially, there are both Wi-Fi and LTE variants for each tablet in the series, with LTE models coming in at about a $ 50 bounty, depending on the carrier. We tested the 8-inch Wi-Fi model .
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Reading: Samsung Galaxy Tab A 8.0 Review
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Since 1982, PCMag has tested and rated thousands of products to help you make better buy decisions. ( See how we test. ) 
The Galaxy Tab A 8.0 sees a little refining in design over its 2015 harbinger. An improved screen-to-body proportion makes it a little less squat, and the television camera dislodge on the back is less pronounce. The human body is constructed of smooth polycarbonate while the back is a glossy aluminum shell that easily picks up fingerprints and smudges .
The slate measures 8.35 by 4.89 by 0.35 inches ( HWD ) and weighs 12.65 ounces. It ‘s not the lightest tablet on the marketplace, but we had no trouble holding it on a busy string for a retentive commute home. And although its frame is fictile, the overall build quality feels notably more solid than Amazon ‘s Fire tablets. That said, we decidedly recommend a encase if the pad will be used by children or if you plan to use it for your day by day permute .
On the right side of the Tab A, you ‘ll find the world power button and volume rocker. Both are responsive and provide a satisfy suction stop when tapped. There ‘s a microSD poster slot on the leave that accommodates up to 400GB of external storehouse in accession to the 32GB of internal storehouse. A USB-C charge port sits at the bottom, alongside a bottom-firing loudspeaker that provides all the audio. At 86 decibels, the Tab A is brassy enough for watching streaming video recording, but do n’t expect a high-end audio feel. The speaker sounds excavate and bum at higher volumes .
Display quality is properly. The front control panel is home to an 8-inch, 1,280-by-800 TFT display with 189 pixels per edge, the lapp as you ‘ll find on the Lenovo Tab 4 8 and the Fire HD 8. The shield looks good for multimedia stream, but text and drawings are a little fuzzed. Brightness and viewing angles are excellent, so you should have no trouble using the slate in calculate sunlight .
The Tab A supports 2.4 and 5GHz Wi-Fi, and we received excellent radio receiver range and connectivity on both bands in testing. Bluetooth 4.2 is besides on board for radio receiver audio .
Processor, Battery, and Camera
The tablet is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 425 central processing unit clocked at 1.4GHz. It ‘s a common central processing unit for budget tablets, though at three years old, it ‘s nearing its termination date. There ‘s besides 2GB of RAM, making the Tab A feel slenderly snappier than tablets with 1 or 1.5GB of RAM ( like the Fire HD 8 ). Apps opened cursorily and basic multitasking worked without a limp in testing. We were even able to play Asphalt 8 without problems. We did, however, begin to experience slowdown once more than a one-half twelve apps were open .
See How We Test Tablets
Battery life is strong. When streaming full-screen television over Wi-Fi at maximal screen brightness, we managed to eke out an impressive 6 hours and 37 minutes. That ‘s slightly longer than the Fire HD 10 ( 6 hours and 14 minutes ) and should well get you through a long flight with button-down consumption .
When it comes to the television camera, the Tab A ‘s 8-megapixel rise shooter is underwhelming in most circumstances ( like most tablet cameras, particularly at this price ). While day photos are passable, our low-light photos were both farinaceous and bleary .
performance on the 5-megapixel front-facing detector offers much the lapp experience. Video calls are adequate in a well-lit board, but choice cursorily degrades in low light .
Software and Features
The Tab A ships running Android 7.1, however there ‘s an OTA udate to Android Oreo 8.1 with Samsung Experience 9.5 once you take it out of the box. Samsung ‘s customs UI has improved vastly over the final few years. unfortunately, there are silent a handful of pleonastic apps like Samsung Mail, Samsung Internet, and Samsung Notes that can not be uninstalled .
In addition to Samsung Experience 9.5, there are a few other software flourishes worth mentioning. Secure Folder allows you to designate a private placement on the pad where you can store documents and secondary instances of apps you ‘d like to keep away from prying eyes. Samsung Flow lets you to share photos and information between your pad and Samsung smartphone. And if you ‘re a rear with youthful children, you ‘ll decidedly appreciate Kids Mode, an app that lets you create a custom home page with kid-friendly contentedness .
For the most part, Samsung ‘s UI adds only minor changes to the stock certificate Android have. You still have access to about any app in the Google Play store, and can easily add your own customs skins. It ‘s a sharp line to Fire OS, Amazon ‘s custom UI that not entirely replaces the Play Store for its own App Store, but besides changes the entire user feel. Fire OS is built to showcase Amazon ‘s products and services and has no resemblance to the interface you may already be accustomed to if you use an Android smartphone. That said, Fire OS is easier to use and offers more guidance toward finding content if you are n’t already conversant with Android .
Conclusions
At $ 200, the Samsung Galaxy Tab 8.0 is nicely built, but a little costly for what you get. Its compact size and long battery life make it a good option for media consumption or basic productivity tasks on the die, specially if you want access to Google Play.
Read more: Acer Aspire E5-575G-562T 15.6-inch Reviews
If you ‘re not absolutely sold on the Google Play slant, however, you should check out the Amazon Fire HD 10. In addition to being $ 50 less than the Tab 8, it has a larger, sharper display and performs better thanks to a more herculean processor. If you ‘re looking to save evening more money, the Fire HD 8 is available for less than half the price of the Tab A and offers a reasonably like experience from a hardware position .
Samsung Galaxy Tab A 8.0
3.5
See It
$ 149.99
at Best Buy
MSRP $ 199.99
Pros
Cons
The Bottom Line
The Samsung Galaxy Tab A 8.0 is a relatively low-cost Android pill with adequate specification, but you can get more slam for your sawhorse if you do n’t need access to Google Play .
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