Samsung has two series of tablets - Galaxy Tab A and Galaxy Tab S. The first are affordable devices for everyone who needs a simple tablet without any frills. The latter are powerful multimedia flagships with the S Pen digital pen, which for many become a full-fledged replacement for a work computer.
The new Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 FE is a special, “fan” version. At the request of fans, it contains only all the essentials. On the one hand, the Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 FE is simpler than the top models and the flagship “filling”, which many do not need, is not here. But there are other royal features - a huge 12.4-inch screen, adequate performance, stereo speakers. And most importantly, the S Pen electronic pen, with which the tablet turns into an album for writing and drawing. Let's talk about the new product in detail.
Screen
Getting to know a tablet starts with the screen - I mainly use the tablet to watch videos, browse the browser, and sometimes read or play. The Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite has moderately wide frames surrounding an IPS display with a diagonal of 10.4 inches and a resolution of 2000 × 1200 pixels. The display is under protective glass with a good oleophobic coating, bright and moderately glares under the sun.
Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite. Photo: Alexander Pobyvanets / Wylsacom Media
The 18:9 aspect ratio, in my opinion, is not the best option for a tablet when you want to surf the Internet. But this format is better suited for watching movies.
Design
The tablet comes in different colors; in addition to neutral black, there are also options in blue and pink. In any case, the case will be aluminum, thin and quite light, the dimensions are excellent.
Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite. Photo: Alexander Pobyvanets / Wylsacom Media
The front part is generally featureless: no logos or mentions of Samsung, it looks simple and concise. The matte back part gets very dirty, this is especially noticeable on dark colors. The only thing that stands out is the camera lens.
Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite. Photo: Alexander Pobyvanets / Wylsacom Media
Tablet Samsung Galaxy Tab A 10.1 SM-T580 16Gb Reviews
— Supports two SIM cards — Will fit perfectly in your hands — Looks modern — Not a bad configuration — There are usually no complaints about navigation — If desired, you can connect a keyboard and mouse — Copes well with navigation — Weighs very little — There will be no fingerprints on the case fingers - Good autonomy - If desired, you can use a tablet instead of a phone - Ease of use of the tablet in general - Ability to connect a keyboard - Pleasant external appearance
Performance
The characteristics are as follows: 4 GB of RAM, 64 GB of internal memory, a compartment for microSD up to 1 TB. You can also choose a tablet with 128 GB of internal memory, but the amount of RAM will remain the same.
Memory card tray for Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite tablet. Photo: Alexander Pobyvanets / Wylsacom Media
The processor is Samsung Exynos 9611, introduced at the end of 2021. This chip is familiar from the company's smartphones. For example, it can be found in the Galaxy A51 or M31.
Benchmark performance results. The performance is average, under load the power sags by almost 20%
The hardware is not top-end, but the tablet is not a flagship one, but is aimed at the middle class. Therefore, demanding games like CoD Mobile or PUBG will not fly here, but the favorite strategy Kingdom Rush Vengeance went perfectly smoothly.
The Dead Ahead Zombie Warfare toy runs smoothly. Photo: Alexander Pobyvanets / Wylsacom Media
Moving through the menu is periodically hindered by stuttering out of the blue. I suspect that the software requires debugging - at least Samsung smartphones with similar hardware work more smoothly. Here you start to navigate through the menu and feel how the tablet thoughtfully performs a simple operation, switch between applications - and again slow animation. Moreover, if you sit in the Chrome browser or play, then there are no such problems.
Tablet Samsung Galaxy Tab S3 9.7 SM-T820 Wi-Fi 32Gb Reviews
— Battery capacity is a big plus — Availability of fairly powerful hardware — Good performance relative to the cost — Thin bezels — Support for memory cards — Relatively good sound for a tablet — Among the minuses, it is worth highlighting the small amount of built-in memory — Ability to run split-screen mode — Reviews were divided as both positive and negative - Fast operation - Fast charging - Decent cameras - Ease of use - Own and convenient shell - High-quality build
Software
The Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite runs Android 10, the OneUI 2.0 interface is already familiar from the company’s smartphones. I will list the convenient features:
- Two shortcuts to quickly access applications on the lock screen are configured;
- There is a widget for quickly launching the necessary programs in the menu;
- Supports simultaneous work with two applications on one screen;
- You can switch to gesture controls instead of buttons.
Two applications on one screen of the Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite tablet. Photo: Alexander Pobyvanets / Wylsacom Media
Tablet Samsung Galaxy Tab A 7.0 SM-T285 8Gb Specifications and price
tablet 7″, 1280×800 built-in memory 8 GB, microSDXC slot Android 5.1, RAM 1.5 GB, processor Spreadtrum SC9830A 1300 MHz Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, 3G, 4G LTE dimensions 109x187x8.7 mm, weight 274 g rear camera 5 MP front 2 megapixel camera operating time 11 hours accelerometer
S Pen
A very pleasant bonus was the presence of the S Pen included with the tablet. It is attached to the case with a magnet; it will not fall off on its own, but if you accidentally touch it, you can lose it. Therefore, you should think about buying a case.
The S Pen is located in a special compartment of the Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite case. Photo: Alexander Pobyvanets / Wylsacom Media
You can draw with the help of the S Pen, I'm not much of an artist, so I won't brag about my scribbles. Alternatively, you can take text notes by hand, writing down your ideas or supplementing screenshots with comments. It is difficult to write texts from dictation, the speed is low and it is not possible to take notes as quickly as with a pen.
I note that neither the DeX dock nor the keyboard case can be connected to the tablet. Samsung retained these features for the more expensive older model Samsung Galaxy Tab S6.
Examples of creativity in the PENUP coloring app. Photo: Alexander Pobyvanets / Wylsacom Media
I recommend trying the PENUP app. There you can find dozens of coloring pages; you can share your creative results on social networks or look at the ideas of other users. Coloring pages are suitable for both adults and children; you can choose from simple and complex designs. After that, you take a pen and carefully paint the white sheet with bright colors, escaping from quarantine isolation.
Criterias of choice
- Dimensions. Compact tablets are great for communication and communications, some games, reading books, surfing the Internet and other undemanding tasks. In this case, this solution is much more convenient than using a regular smartphone with a much smaller screen. Medium models combine mobility and access to more professional opportunities (work in graphic editors, other professional activities). And the largest tablets are designed for any professional business tasks, creating all the necessary operating conditions (large amount of RAM, ROM, powerful processor, good matrix and camera, durable body).
- Performance. The speed of the tablet largely depends on the architecture and frequency of the processor, as well as the amount of RAM. But if you are not going to use the gadget for 3D games or professional graphics work, then do not get hung up on these components. Even average hardware by modern standards is sufficient for most user tasks. In addition, if the manufacturer has poorly optimized the software, the tablet can slow down even with a top-end processor and a large amount of RAM on board. This is especially true for Android devices.
- Battery . There are quite a few tablet models with removable and serviceable batteries on the market, because this significantly increases the size and cost of the finished product. Therefore, the user has to be content with ordinary devices with stationary batteries, charged from a 220 V network. When purchasing, pay attention to the battery capacity parameter - good options start from 3000 mAh.
- Diagonal. 7-8 inches – suitable for work and multimedia entertainment; 8-11 inches - tablets that combine moderate cost and good performance are optimal for study, work and everyday tasks. Moderate average; over 11 inches are professional devices, often equipped with styluses, keyboards, and can be considered as a more mobile alternative to a laptop or netbook.
Communications
With Wi-Fi everything is stable, 2.4 and 5 GHz networks are supported, Bluetooth 5.0, GPS and GLONASS are available. If you plan to take your tablet out of the house, then look towards the version with LTE support. Then install an additional SIM card in the Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite and get the Internet where you want. Although you can always use modem mode and distribute the Internet from your smartphone, it’s up to you to decide whether to pay extra for the more expensive version with LTE or not.
Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite. Photo: Alexander Pobyvanets / Wylsacom Media
Camera
The camera performs well in natural and bright lighting. The photos are definitely no worse than on top smartphones. But the darker it is, the sadder it is. Noise creeps out, defocus appears due to the increased shutter speed, and in general the photographs come out quite average. There is no portrait mode, but there is a function to blur the edges of the frame when taking selfies.
Excellent camera performance in natural and sufficient lighting
And here too
And even here
When shooting close-up objects, the Tab S4's camera captures focus well, but the photo came out a little darker than desired. Professional mode would help here
A little less light - the picture is a little worse
Camera operation in artificial light
Camera operation in natural and artificial light
There is even less light - the photos turn out very average
And here, in low light conditions, autofocus also failed
The interface of the standard camera application has seven modes: HDR, panoramic, professional, “Beauty” for adjusting skin tone and eye expressiveness, auto, mode with stickers and recording hyperlapse video. In professional mode, you can adjust brightness, light sensitivity, white balance and exposure metering type.
Verdict: the camera is not bad, but it is demanding on lighting. The standard application supports both the necessary functions and those that most people will never need. Most likely, you will continue to use your smartphone camera.
Working hours
The battery capacity is 7040 mAh, the tablet is charged via USB Type-C, and the kit includes a 15 W power adapter with support for fast charging. It takes about three hours to fully charge.
If you use a tablet to watch videos, then at an average brightness level, the device connected to Wi-Fi sits down by 8-10% per hour. In games, the Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite discharges almost twice as fast, the performance is good. On average, you can charge the tablet once every two to three days, if you do not load the tablet with games.
Tablet Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 7.0 P3110 8Gb Specifications and price
tablet 7″, 1024×600, TFT PLS built-in memory 8 GB, microSDHC slot Android 4.1, RAM 1 GB, processor TI OMAP4430 1000 MHz Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS dimensions 122x194x11 mm, weight 344 g rear camera 3 MP front camera 0.3 Mpix accelerometer
Case
The magnetic case attaches tightly to the tablet without special fasteners, so you don’t have to worry about the Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite accidentally falling out of it. The stylus inside the case is also attached to a magnet; it is also securely fixed.
One of two options for tilting the tablet in a stand case for the Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite. Photo: Alexander Pobyvanets / Wylsacom Media
The case protects the front and back of the tablet, there are two tilt angles - the accessory is simple and well thought out. It is made of slightly rough plastic, I think it won’t get very dirty.
The case costs 6,290 rubles, but if you order it together with the tablet, then you get a 50% discount on the accessory in black, blue or pink.
Apple iPad
The main and main contender for attention is the Apple iPad 10.2. The basic model with an excellent balance of price and characteristics costs 27,990 rubles. The version with LTE costs much more - 38,990 rubles.
But remember that this iPad only gets 32 GB of memory - that's not much. However, if you look at photos in the cloud, browse websites and put on a few toys, then you can live tolerably with this volume. I still recommend looking at the iPad 10.2 with 128 GB, this one will cost 34,990 rubles.
Apple iPad 10.2 tablet. Photo: Alexander Pobyvanets / Wylsacom Media
You decide for yourself which platform is closer: iOS or Android, and then order the appropriate tool for work or entertainment. I like the basic iPad better, it is more playful and nimble, there is no hint of slight thoughtfulness when performing simple tasks, as is the case with the Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite.
Tablet Samsung Galaxy Tab S3 9.7 SM-T820 Wi-Fi 32Gb Specifications and price
tablet 9.7″, 2048×1536, Super AMOLED built-in memory 32 GB, microSDXC Android 7.1 slot, 4 GB RAM, Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 2150 MHz processor Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS dimensions 169×237.3×6 mm, weight 429 g rear camera 13 megapixel front camera 5 megapixel operating time (video) 12 hours accelerometer, gyroscope
