The "1-Minute" Review
Verdict
Samsung did something good with the Galaxy Tab A8 10.5 (2021.) Most notably, the speakers but also the price point and overall carefully chosen specs for a budget tablet.What's good
- Long term security support
- Great battery life
- Good performance
- Premium design and feel
- Dolby Atmos speakers
What's bad
- The base model has very little storage or RAM
- Fast charging is not available
- Cameras are poor
The Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 10.5 2021 is aimed as a budget tablet, and the price matches that point. Being a budget tablet, what are you gaining or losing?
Design
Reviewers were pleasantly surprised that this tablet, being a budget device, did not feel budget. It has a hefty premium-feeling metal frame. There are color choices: Gray, Silver, and Pink Gold.
Display
While the display is not the higher version of those seen in other more expensive tablets, reviewers stated it was more than acceptable with a clear picture and vivid colors. The display has a slightly different ratio, and reviewers said it worked fine for some media and would create black bars at the top and bottom of the screen for others.
Performance
Having a lesser chipset than its predecessor worried reviewers. However, they were pleasantly surprised to see that it did remarkably well.
They saw no pausing or stuttering when opening multiple apps or switching between them. The only time they witnessed this was when trying graphics-intensive games.
Software & Storage
Storage is one area reviews were mixed in, mainly because the baseline tablet only had the option for 32GB, which isn’t much. The next two tiers are 64 and 128GB, which felt more capable of doing everything you would want or need.
The tablet comes with Android 11 but is guaranteed to have two more updates and a four-year policy of security updates.
Cameras
The cameras felt like an afterthought, according to reviewers. The cameras work okay, which is the consensus for most tablets these days, but they won't win any awards. They’ll be somewhat grainy and with a lot of color drain.
Battery Life
Samsung does not make any outlandish claims regarding battery life for this tablet, and reviewers saw it to be adequate for the needs of someone who would be buying a tablet at this price point. However, one part of the reviewers’ contention is the lack of fast charging.
Audio
One of the things that stood out on this tablet against others of its kind was the dual Dolby Atmos speakers. Reviewers stated it was very good at projecting sound and not in a flat way compared to others.
Specs at a Glance
- Plastic design
- 10.5-inch LCD
- Unisoc Tiger T618 processor
- 3/4GB of RAM
- Android 11
- 32/64/128GB of storage
- 8+ MP camera
- 12 hours
- Dolby Atmos
The Bottom Line
Overall the Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 seems like an excellent tablet, especially on a budget. When looking for details that included losing performance or graphics, the only failing feature was the cameras, at which point that’s not really why people want tablets anyway.
Notebook Check says, “As already the Galaxy Tab A7 predecessor before, the Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 distinguishes itself with a very good price-performance ratio.”
Android Authority states, “The Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 earns its place among the best affordable Android tablets thanks to punchy speakers and a wide display with thin bezels that's perfect for media streaming. Add in the top-tier build quality and you've got a budget slate that more than justifies its asking price.”
What the Critics Are Saying...
- Petra Player, TechRadarThe Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 offers a pretty picture at an affordable price. Its LCD display renders anything on screen quite crisply, with vibrant colors and nice details. Additionally, features like split-screen functionality make it a great productivity tablet too. However, you get what you pay for,...
- Conor Cawley, Android PoliceIf you're in the market for a budget Android Tablet, the Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 is easily one of your best options. It looks good, feels sturdy, is affordable, and runs Android 13, which should be all you're asking of a tablet at only $230. Compared to other budget options, the Samsung Galaxy Tab A8...
- Jabba ReviewsElevate your entertainment experience as quad speakers powered by Dolby Atmos surround sound reveal every detail of the audio with exceptional clarity and depth. Made to deliver immersion on the go, the Galaxy Tab A8 android tablet opens up an enveloping universe of content, games & activities t...
- Peter Phelps, TrustedReviewsThe Galaxy Tab A8 is by no means a tour de force of a tablet, and its miserable performance standard is a particularly disappointing low note. It also won’t be the best for video calls, given the underwhelming font-facing camera, and it takes quite a long time to charge back up. However, if you’re j...
- Jon Mundy, Tech AdvisorBudget tablets don’t come any better built than the Samsung Galaxy Tab A8. Throw in a strong set of speakers and decent battery life, and you’re halfway to a top-quality affordable media player. A poor screen and slow charging hold it back from top marks, but it’s a good value option nonetheless.
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