What's good
- Beautiful display
- Very thin and portable
- Fast performance
What's bad
- Pricey
- Android tablet support is so-so
Samsung set their sights on bumping Apple's iPad off the radar when it comes to the best tablet on the market with a stylus. But Android has yet to truly compete with Apple's tablets in terms of user experience or performance. Does Samsung's latest attempt succeed in making a top-tier Android tablet a compelling value?
Design
It’s hard not to be impressed by the design on the Samsung Galaxy Tab S7. It’s thin, has metal bands around the outside edge, and it comes in three different colors: mystic black, mystic silver, and mystic bronze. There’s a thin glass strip on the back of the tablet meant for magnetically attaching the stylus as well as wirelessly charging it.
Display
The display is without rival. It’s everything Samsung is known for, offering plenty of detail, and good color. While it’s smaller than it’s big brother -- the Galaxy Tab S7 Plus -- it doesn’t lose any footing. It also keeps the 120Hz refresh rate for silky smooth movement.
Performance
Aided by the 120Hz refresh rate, the tablet performs flawlessly, seamlessly transitioning between apps and handling the latest games with ease. Multitasking is a breeze and doesn’t seem to slow down the already snappy processing speed.
Software & Storage
The Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 runs Android 10 with a likely update to Android 11. Storage comes in a couple of different varieties -- 128GB and 256GB -- but if that’s not enough it supports MicroSD cards for affordable expansion..
Cameras
The Galaxy Tab S7 features the same camera as the larger Tab S7 Plus, including a 13MP rear main lens paired with a 5MP wide-angle lens which should accommodate those who take pictures with their tablets just fine.
It’s still not going to keep up with the latest top-tier phones. But no tablets can right now. Camera quality simply isn’t a focus for most tablet makers in 2020.
Battery Life
The Samsung Galaxy Tab S7’s 8000mAh battery clocked in with around 8 to 10 hours worth of mixed use for most reviewers. Unless you’re planning to use it for all-day work or gaming, it should last a day on a charge without concern.
Audio
The Samsung Galaxy Tab S7, as well as the Tab S7 Plus, have four speakers on the back of the tablet. Reviewers found the audio experience great for watching media or playing games. You’ll want to own a pair of Bluetooth headphones or pick up USB Type-C to 3.5mm adapters though for private listening, as the S7 does not have a headphone jack.
Specs at a Glance
- Glass and metal chassis
- 11-inch LED display
- Octa-core 3 GHz Qualcomm SM8250 Snapdragon 865 processor
- 6/8 GB of RAM
- Android 10
- 128/256 GB of storage
- 13MP front-facing camera, 8MP selfie lens
- 8,000mAh battery
- S Pen Stylus
Bottom Line
Samsung does its level best to rival the Apple iPad Pro. In some areas, it’s almost a success. While it may not be the perfect iPad replacement, it is a very nice tablet with lots of redeeming features.
Tech Radar states, “Opting for an iPad Pro will mean you have to spend more on buying an Apple Pencil. Not everyone needs a stylus with their tablet, but if you want one you'll get one included in the price of the Tab S7”
Tom’s Guide says, “While the Tab S7 looks like it will offer speedy performance and a brilliant display, it's just as important that it delivers great battery life, too. The Galaxy Tab S6 only lasted 8 hours and 58 minutes on a single charge, and we hope the Galaxy Tab S7 will enter the double-digits club when it comes to how many hours it will last.”
What the Critics Are Saying...
- Abbas Jaffar Ali, Nick Rego, TechRadarThe Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 range is an ambitious offering from Samsung, with a premium build and a fantastic screen that's unlike any we've seen on Android tablets before. However, the lack of developer support for apps on Android tablets takes a toll on what is otherwise a top iPad competitor.
- Antonio Villas-Boas, Business InsiderAt $650, the Galaxy Tab S7 with the included S Pen is really designed for those who plan to do more. It's designed for productivity and performance, even as a lightweight laptop option. Unfortunately, however, video streaming is where its wide 16:10 screen excels more than for productivity.
- Alex Iliev, Kroum Nikolov, LaptopMediaSamsung Galaxy Tab S7’s display is a touchscreen, and has a WQXGA resolution, delivering a crispy image. Its viewing angles are great, its backlight doesn’t flicker and it covers 90% of the DCI-P3 gamut. Interestingly, the 120Hz refresh rate doesn’t correlate with the pixel response times, which ar...
- Henry T. Casey, Tom's GuideSamsung's been trying to make the Galaxy Tab S-series slates a big deal for a while, and if its recent Tab S6 Lite was the company's first true home run, the Tab S7 is another homer with a couple of runners on base. From its excellent bright and sharp screen to its top-tier design, this is a tablet...
- Pranob Mehrotra, XDA DevelopersThe Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 is one of the best tablets that team Android has on offer. It's the perfect choice for anyone looking for a portable media consumption device. However, Samsung still needs to work on the software to make it a great laptop replacement.
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