The S Pen is the standout feature, and what separates the new Galaxy Tab A from older models without the stylus. Samsung’s new S Pen has a thinner and more precise tip than ever before, operates a revised menu system on the display, can be used to scrawl notes on the lock screen, and has various new features too. These include a translation mode, where hovering the pen over a foreign word will bring up a Google translation.
Samsung’s Galaxy Tab A has a 10.1-inch display with a strong 1920 x 1200 pixel resolution, and is powered by a 1.6Ghz octa-core processor, which although it’s not stated is likely to be one of Samsung’s own Exynos chips. There’s 3GB of RAM to help out, and a total of 32GB internal storage memory, plus the chance to pop in a MicroSD card up to 256GB in size. Android 6.0 Marshmallow is installed, which isn’t quite the latest version, but an update may come in the future. Samsung has added its own multi-user and kid-friendly modes to the Galaxy Tab A, making it easier for a family to enjoy the tablet.
It’s great to see the Galaxy Tab A equipped with a SIM card slot for on-the-move 4G LTE connectivity, but unfortunately the cool magnetic book-style cover is an extra, and there’s no obvious place to store the S Pen either. Other features include an 8-megapixel rear camera, a 2-megapixel front camera, and a 7,300mAh battery that should return about 13 hours of use before needing a recharge.
The Galaxy Tab A costs the equivalent of $430 in South Korea, where it’ll go on sale in September. If there’s any change regarding the tablet’s international release, we’ll let you know right here.
Editors' Recommendations
- Best cheap tablet deals for July 2021
- MediaTek’s new Kompanio 1300T chip puts 5G on tablets, not phones
- Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 3 is adding an S Pen, replacing this year’s Galaxy Note
- The best Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 cases and covers
- The best Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 Plus cases and covers
