Samsung Galaxy Tab A7 (2020) Review: A Decent Budget Tablet?

There are very few companies making Android tablets these days, and the number is a lot less when we look at the budget tablet section. Samsung remains one of the few smartphone manufacturers that’s still coming up with Android tablets. But then those from the company too cost upward of 50K. For instance, there’s the super expensive Tab S7 or the mid-ranger Tab S6 Lite. We've already covered the Tab S6 Lite, and today we're going to review the Samsung Galaxy Tab A7 (2020).

Samsung Galaxy Tab A7 (2020) Specifications:

• Dimension: 9.8 x 6.2 x 0.3 -inches
• Display: 10.4-inch TFT display, 2000 x 1200 pixel resolution
• Rear Camera: 8MP
• Front Camera: 5MP
• Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 662
• CPU: Octa-core (4x 2.0Ghz Kyro 260 Gold + 4x 1.8Ghz Kyro 260 Silver)
• GPU: Adreno 610
• RAM: 3GB
• Storage: 32GB (expandable via a microSD card slot)
• Audio: Quad stereo speakers, Dolby Atmos
• OS: Android 10, One UI 2.5
• Security: Face recognition
• Battery: 7040mAh, 15W fast charging
• Color options: Dark Gray, Silver, Gold
• Price in Nepal: NPR 34,999 (3/32GB)
• Available at Samsung authorized retail stores

Samsung Galaxy Tab A7 (2020) Review:

For those looking to shop for a tablet in the budget segment, there’s not much of an option. Of course, you can buy the Amazon Kindle Fire, but that would be breaking away from the Android ecosystem. So, given the fact that there’s a limited set of choices for customers in the budget tablet segment, it made sense for Samsung to come up with one. And that’s exactly what they have done with the Samsung Galaxy Tab A7 (2020). But should you buy it or skip it altogether and go for a high-end tablet? Well, that’s what we are here to discuss. Let’s dive into our review of the Samsung Galaxy Tab A7 (2020), and find out whether it is worth your money or not.

Design and Build

• Premium metallic build
• Slightly heavyweight design

Display

• 10.4" TFT LCD panel with 5:3 aspect ratio
• An abysmal 329 nits of peak brightness

This device sports a 10.4-inch screen. It is a TFT display with 2000 x 1200 pixel resolution. The huge screen is surrounded by bezels of substantial size. Though, it does come in handy as it decreases the chances for accidental touches. However, considering how the Galaxy Tab S7 is famed for its AMOLED panel, it was rather surprising to see such a downgrade on this one. But then again, this is a budget tablet. Having said that, the display might not be mind-blowing, but it is not a pushover either.

Software and Performance

• Snapdragon 662 (11nm) SoC paired with 3GB of RAM
• Either 32 or 64GB of internal storage (expandable)
• OneUI 2.5 on top of Android 10 out-of-the-box

Slight lags

There was some delay while launching the apps and in general, I felt that there was a hint of lag in the animation, however, that’s about it. Once the app launches, everything works smoothly. It can keep up with your day to day tasks such as surfing the web, watching videos on YouTube, attending online classes/meetings, or catching up on the latest stories on Instagram quite easily.

Gaming

If you are a fan of mobile gaming, then you will be relieved to hear that the Galaxy Tab A7 can handle heavy-duty games such as PUBG, Asphalt 9, COD, and Mobile Legends pretty well. On max settings in PUBG Mobile, i.e Balanced graphics, and medium frame rate, the gameplay is not smooth, you’ll have to deal with a lot of stuttering. For the best result, you should opt for smooth graphics with high frame rates. As for COD and Mobile Legends, you can play to your heart's content without any frame drops. On Asphalt 9, which is a relatively less demanding game among the ones mentioned, I experienced lags while performing rolls and overall not the smoothest of experience, but still playable. All in all, you will not get high-end tablet smoothness while using the Tab A7, but then again it is not a high-end tablet. For performing everyday tasks and playing games, this device should be more than sufficient.

Battery

• 7040mAh battery with 15W fast charging

I would gladly take the trade-off between a rather dim display and a better battery life. And that’s exactly what this device provides. Modern Android devices are plagued by a lackluster battery backup, but you won’t have to worry about that issue on the Galaxy Tab A7. Similar to the Tab S6 Lite, this device too is equipped with a 7040mAh battery. I managed to get around 13 hours while browsing through the web, and watching videos on Netflix and YouTube at 40% brightness. Throwing in some game time in between regular tasks does decrease the battery life by an hour or so, but it still great. So, no complaints on that department. The battery lasts for a long time on this device, unfortunately, a similar time period is required to charge this device. Okay, that might be a little exaggerated statement, but honestly, charging this device to 100% took ages to complete. You surely would want to get hold of a 15W fast charger for this device because it does not ship with the device. Either that or be prepared to wait for 3 and a half hours to get the device fully charged.

Audio

• Quad speakers with Dolby Atmos support
• 3.5mm headphone jack

The quad-speaker setup on the A7 delivers punchy, loud, and clear sound. Of course, they are not flagship-level, but in a small to medium-sized room, you’ll find that the sound reproduction is good. Even at the highest volume, the sound does not distort.

Camera

• An 8MP rear camera and a 5MP front-facing camera

Rear Camera

The 8MP rear camera takes decent photographs in a well-lit condition, however, that’s about it.

Front Camera

Talking about the front camera, it is a 5MP shooter, placed on the center of the right-hand side bezel. This forces you to place the tablet in landscape mode while you are on a video-call. That’s probably a good thing as it increases your display angle.

Verdict

So, what’s our final stand about the Galaxy Tab A7? This budget Android tablet provides goods in just the right areas. Sure, it could have been a lot better if only they had provided a brighter display, but considering its battery life and fit for media consumption configuration, I’d rate this one as a go-to budget tablet. You just have to keep in mind the money you are paying for it, and you will be more than satisfied with the Galaxy Tab A7.

Samsung Galaxy Tab A7 (2020) Review: Pros & Cons

Pros:

• Great battery life which can easily last for two days
• Tablet good for media consumption
• A fast face-recognition system
• Good performance for a budget tablet
• Good speaker

Cons:

• A mediocre TFT panel with a dim display
• Falls on the thicker side
• Lags in animations while switching between apps