Samsung Galaxy Tab A 8.0 & S Pen (2015) Review

• Overview
• Design and Build Quality
• Display
• Performance
• Software and User Interface
• Camera
• Battery Life
• Connectivity and Networking
• Additional Features
• Comparison with Other Related Phones
• Pros and Cons
• Conclusion

Overview

The Samsung Galaxy Tab A 8.0 & S Pen (2015) is a compact and versatile tablet that offers a seamless user experience. With its sleek design and powerful features, this tablet is perfect for both work and play. The 8.0-inch TFT display provides clear and vibrant visuals, while the quad-core processor ensures smooth performance. The S Pen stylus adds a new level of functionality, allowing you to write, draw, and navigate with precision. The tablet also offers expandable storage, a 5-megapixel rear camera, and a long-lasting battery. Available in black, gray, and white, the Galaxy Tab A 8.0 & S Pen (2015) is a reliable companion for all your digital needs. With a price tag of around 220 EUR, it offers great value for money.

Design and Build Quality

The Samsung Galaxy Tab A 8.0 & S Pen (2015) features a design that is sleek and compact, making it highly portable and easy to hold with one hand. The tablet has a dimension of 208.4 x 137.9 x 7.5 mm (8.20 x 5.43 x 0.30 in) and weighs 338g (11.92 oz), making it lightweight and comfortable for extended use. The tablet has a sturdy construction and a premium look and feel, with a combination of metal and plastic materials used in its build.

The back panel of the tablet has a smooth texture, which enhances grip and prevents it from slipping out of hand. The bezels surrounding the 8.0-inch TFT display are reasonably slim, maximizing the screen-to-body ratio and providing an immersive viewing experience. The tablet also features a stylus, which adds to the overall functionality and versatility of the device.

The buttons and controls are well-placed and easily accessible, ensuring effortless navigation and operation. The tablet comes in three color options - black, gray, and white, offering users a choice to suit their personal preferences.

In terms of durability, the Samsung Galaxy Tab A 8.0 & S Pen (2015) is built to withstand regular use and occasional bumps. The build quality is commendable, showcasing Samsung's commitment to delivering reliable and long-lasting devices.

Overall, the design and build of the Samsung Galaxy Tab A 8.0 & S Pen (2015) strike a balance between aesthetics and functionality. It offers a sleek and compact form factor, premium look and feel, and robustness that ensures it can withstand everyday usage. Whether for work or entertainment, this tablet is designed to provide a satisfying user experience.

Display

The Samsung Galaxy Tab A 8.0 & S Pen (2015) features an 8.0-inch TFT display with a resolution of 768 x 1024 pixels and an aspect ratio of 4:3. The screen size provides a comfortable viewing experience, especially for reading books, browsing the web, and using the S Pen for note-taking and drawing. However, the pixel density of around 160 ppi is relatively low compared to newer tablet models, resulting in less sharpness and detail in the visuals.

The display utilizes TFT LCD technology, which offers decent color accuracy and vibrancy. While it may not deliver the same level of richness and contrast as OLED displays, it still provides satisfactory visuals for everyday tasks. The brightness levels are adequate for indoor usage, but outdoor visibility might be challenging under bright sunlight.

The tablet's touch responsiveness is generally smooth and responsive, allowing for accurate and precise input with the S Pen stylus. Unfortunately, there is no mention of any specific display protection, such as Gorilla Glass, which could potentially leave the screen vulnerable to scratches and damage.

In terms of viewing angles, the display offers decent performance, ensuring that the content remains visible even when viewed from different angles. However, there is no mention of features like HDR or wide color gamut support, which could have enhanced the overall visual experience.

Additionally, the tablet does not feature an always-on display or a blue light filter, which could have been beneficial for prolonged usage and reducing eye strain. However, it does offer adaptive brightness, which automatically adjusts the screen brightness based on the ambient lighting conditions.

Overall, the display of the Samsung Galaxy Tab A 8.0 & S Pen (2015) provides a satisfactory viewing experience for everyday tasks, but it may lack some of the advanced features and technologies found in newer tablet models.

Performance

The Samsung Galaxy Tab A 8.0 & S Pen (2015) offers decent performance for its price range. Powered by a quad-core 1.2 GHz chipset, it provides smooth multitasking and app loading speeds. With 2GB of RAM, it can handle everyday tasks and light gaming quite well. However, it may struggle with resource-intensive applications and heavy multitasking.

In terms of gaming capabilities, the Galaxy Tab A 8.0 & S Pen (2015) performs adequately for casual gaming. It can handle popular games with moderate graphics requirements, providing a satisfactory gaming experience. However, it may not be able to run the latest graphically demanding games smoothly.

When it comes to GPU benchmarks, the Galaxy Tab A 8.0 & S Pen (2015) performs modestly. Its graphics scores are average compared to other tablets in its price range. While it may not excel in this aspect, it still offers a satisfactory gaming performance for casual gamers.

CPU benchmarks also reveal a similar story. The quad-core processor delivers decent performance, but it may not match the speed and efficiency of higher-end tablets. However, for everyday tasks like web browsing, media consumption, and productivity apps, the performance is more than sufficient.

The Galaxy Tab A 8.0 & S Pen (2015) also benefits from Samsung's system optimization, providing a relatively lag-free performance. The tablet manages thermal management quite well, ensuring that it doesn't overheat during extended use.

In terms of benchmark tests, the Galaxy Tab A 8.0 & S Pen (2015) may not achieve top scores compared to flagship devices. However, it's important to note that synthetic benchmarks don't always reflect real-world performance accurately. The tablet's performance metrics are more than satisfactory for its intended usage.

Overall, the Samsung Galaxy Tab A 8.0 & S Pen (2015) offers a smooth user experience with its optimized system and decent performance. While it may not excel in terms of benchmark scores or gaming capabilities, it provides a reliable and affordable option for those seeking a tablet for everyday tasks, light gaming, and note-taking with the included S Pen.

Software and User Interface

The Samsung Galaxy Tab A 8.0 & S Pen (2015) runs on the Android 5.0 (Lollipop) operating system. This version of Android provides a solid foundation for the tablet's software, offering a smooth and responsive user experience. The interface is user-friendly and easy to navigate, making it suitable for both beginners and experienced users.

One notable aspect of the software is the inclusion of the S Pen functionality. The S Pen is a stylus that comes with the tablet, providing a unique way to interact with the device. It adds an extra layer of versatility and precision, particularly useful for note-taking, drawing, and navigating through the interface. The S Pen also supports handwriting recognition, making it convenient for those who prefer writing over typing.

In terms of customization, the Samsung Galaxy Tab A 8.0 & S Pen (2015) offers various options to personalize the device according to individual preferences. Users can customize the home screen layout, add widgets, and choose from a wide range of wallpapers. Additionally, the tablet comes with a selection of pre-installed apps, including productivity tools and entertainment options.

While the software experience is generally smooth and user-friendly, some users have noted the presence of pre-installed apps, commonly referred to as bloatware. These apps may take up storage space and can sometimes be intrusive. However, most of them can be uninstalled or disabled, allowing users to have more control over the apps they want to keep.

Overall, the software on the Samsung Galaxy Tab A 8.0 & S Pen (2015) provides a reliable and user-friendly experience, enhanced by the inclusion of the S Pen functionality. The Android 5.0 operating system offers a solid foundation, and the customization options allow users to tailor the device to their liking.

Camera

The Samsung Galaxy Tab A 8.0 & S Pen (2015) comes equipped with a 5-megapixel autofocus camera, capable of capturing decent photos in various settings. While it may not have the highest resolution in the market, it is still capable of delivering satisfactory image quality for everyday photography needs. The camera features an average aperture and focal length, allowing for a balanced depth of field and composition.

In terms of image quality, the Samsung Galaxy Tab A 8.0 & S Pen (2015) performs well in daylight photography, capturing natural colors and sharpness. The camera's dynamic range is adequate, ensuring that details in both bright and dark areas are preserved reasonably well.

Indoor photography is also handled decently, although low-light performance could be better. The tablet's camera struggles in low-light conditions, resulting in some noise and reduced sharpness. However, it does offer a night mode and low-light sensitivity to help improve performance in such situations.

The camera app provides additional features such as portrait mode, HDR, panorama mode, and pro mode, allowing users to experiment and enhance their photography skills. Additionally, the tablet supports video recording, including 4K video capture, with decent video stabilization. Slow-motion video and time-lapse options are also available, providing creative options for capturing unique moments.

While the camera of the Samsung Galaxy Tab A 8.0 & S Pen (2015) may not be its standout feature, it offers a satisfactory photography experience for casual users, delivering good image quality in well-lit environments and providing a range of camera features to explore.

Battery Life

The Samsung Galaxy Tab A 8.0 & S Pen (2015) is equipped with a non-removable Li-Ion 4200 mAh battery, which provides a decent battery life. The tablet offers up to 28 hours of talk time on 3G networks and can last for up to 114 hours of music playback. While the battery capacity may not be the highest in its class, it is optimized to provide efficient power usage. The tablet utilizes battery optimization features to maximize battery performance and minimize battery drain. It also supports fast charging technology, allowing users to quickly recharge the device. However, wireless charging options are not available on this tablet. Overall, the battery of the Samsung Galaxy Tab A 8.0 & S Pen (2015) delivers satisfactory battery backup and can endure moderate usage throughout the day.

Connectivity and Networking

The Samsung Galaxy Tab A 8.0 & S Pen (2015) offers a range of connectivity options to ensure seamless communication and data transfer. With support for GSM, HSPA, and LTE networks, users can enjoy fast data speeds and network compatibility. The device also features Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, allowing for wireless internet connectivity. Dual-band capability ensures a stable Wi-Fi connection, and Wi-Fi Direct enables direct file transfers between compatible devices. For wireless audio streaming and device pairing, the tablet is equipped with Bluetooth 4.1 and supports A2DP. GPS, GLONASS, and BDS provide accurate positioning and navigation capabilities, while the absence of NFC and USB-C may limit certain connectivity features. However, the microUSB 2.0 port allows for data transfer and charging. Additionally, users can create a mobile hotspot to share their internet connection with other devices. Overall, the Samsung Galaxy Tab A 8.0 & S Pen (2015) offers a range of connectivity options to meet the needs of users while on the go.

Additional Features

The Samsung Galaxy Tab A 8.0 & S Pen (2015) comes with a range of standout features that enhance its usability and functionality. One notable feature is the inclusion of an S Pen, which allows for precise and natural writing and drawing on the tablet's screen. This stylus is a great addition for those who enjoy taking notes or sketching on their device.

In terms of durability, the tablet does not offer any specific water resistance or dust resistance capabilities. However, it does come with an accelerometer, which enables the tablet to detect and respond to motion. This feature is particularly useful for gaming or for applications that rely on motion detection.

The Samsung Galaxy Tab A 8.0 & S Pen (2015) also includes other standard features such as Wi-Fi connectivity, Bluetooth, GPS, and a microUSB port for charging and data transfer. It has a 5 MP rear camera and a 2 MP front camera for capturing photos and videos. The tablet runs on Android 5.0 (Lollipop) and has a battery capacity of 4200 mAh, providing ample usage time. Overall, the Samsung Galaxy Tab A 8.0 & S Pen (2015) offers a solid set of features for its price range.

Comparison with Other Related Phones

The Samsung Galaxy Tab A 8.0 & S Pen (2015) is a versatile tablet that offers a unique feature in the form of an included stylus, which sets it apart from its competitors in the market. When comparing it to other related devices, such as the Apple iPad Mini or the Huawei MediaPad M5, the inclusion of the S Pen gives the Samsung tablet an edge in terms of productivity and creativity.

In terms of specifications, the Galaxy Tab A 8.0 features a quad-core 1.2 GHz processor and 2GB of RAM, which allows for smooth multitasking and app performance. Its 8-inch TFT display with a resolution of 768 x 1024 pixels may not be as crisp as some of its competitors, but it still offers a decent viewing experience for everyday use.

The tablet also comes with 16GB of internal storage, expandable via a microSDXC card slot, which is useful for storing multimedia files and documents. The 5MP rear camera and 2MP front camera may not be the best in terms of image quality, but they are sufficient for basic photography needs.

In terms of connectivity, the Galaxy Tab A 8.0 supports Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.1, and GPS. However, it lacks NFC and a radio, which may be a downside for some users.

Battery life is decent, with a non-removable 4200 mAh battery that offers up to 28 hours of talk time on 3G and up to 114 hours of music playback.

One of the standout features of the Galaxy Tab A 8.0 & S Pen is its included stylus. The S Pen offers precise input and enhances the tablet's usability for note-taking, drawing, and other creative tasks. This sets it apart from other tablets in the market, such as the iPad Mini or the Huawei MediaPad M5, which do not offer a similar stylus experience.

In terms of pricing, the Galaxy Tab A 8.0 & S Pen (2015) is priced at around 220 EUR, making it an affordable option for those looking for a tablet with stylus functionality. Overall, it offers good value for money considering its features and capabilities.

In summary, the Samsung Galaxy Tab A 8.0 & S Pen (2015) stands out in the market with its included stylus, which enhances productivity and creativity. While it may not have the most advanced specifications or the

Pros and Cons

Conclusion

In conclusion, the Samsung Galaxy Tab A 8.0 & S Pen (2015) offers a compact and lightweight design, making it highly portable. The inclusion of the S Pen stylus enhances productivity and creativity, allowing users to take notes and draw with precision. The device features a decent 8-inch TFT display and a quad-core processor, providing smooth performance for everyday tasks. However, the low pixel density may affect the visual experience. The 5MP rear camera and 2MP front camera deliver average image quality. With a long-lasting battery and expandable storage, the Samsung Galaxy Tab A 8.0 & S Pen (2015) is a suitable choice for those seeking a budget-friendly tablet with stylus functionality.