October 12, 2020 11:13:06 am
Samsung Galaxy Tab A7 can be used to write and edit household tasks in Google Docs or give a presentation. (Image credit: Anuj Bhatia / Indian Express)
With schools mostly closed due to the coronavirus pandemic, parents are having a hard time deciding whether to buy a tablet or laptop for their children’s online classes. It’s a tough decision to make, but as the Samsung Galaxy Tab A7 shows, there are options.
Samsung Galaxy Tab A7 price in India: Rs 17,999 (Wi-Fi only)
Samsung Galaxy Tab A7: design and build
The design of the Galaxy Tab A7 feels familiar, and that’s not a bad thing. It measures 7mm in terms of thickness, weighs 476 grams, and comes in gray, silver, or gold color options. Its back has a smooth metal finish, while the 10.4-inch screen is surrounded by sizable bezels. The bezels are dramatically smaller compared to the huge bezels seen on Apple’s eight-generation iPad and the Tab A7 looks good.
The Galaxy Tab A7 is lightweight and comfortable to hold for extended periods. (Image credit: Anuj Bhatia / Indian Express)
For whatever reason, I found the Tab A7 perfect for reading e-books and electronic newspaper editions. It is lightweight and comfortable to hold for extended periods. I can read news articles, watch videos, play games, or attend conference calls. In terms of portability and ease of use, tablets will always have an advantage over laptops at any time.
Samsung Galaxy Tab A7: display and speaker
The Tab A7 has a large 10.4-inch 2000 x 1200 screen that is not an AMOLED panel. Instead, Samsung uses a normal LCD panel that gets bright enough but lacks sharpness. The Galaxy Tab A7 is clearly meant to offer a cheaper option compared to entry-level Windows laptops, and given the cost of the tablet, the display appears to be fine. I just finished watching the first season of Utopia on Amazon Prime Video, and I never felt the Tab A7’s LCD screen was any less superior.
The Galaxy Tab A7 has a large 10.4-inch LCD screen. (Image credit: Anuj Bhatia / Indian Express)
For me, however, the Tab A7’s biggest feature is its quad speakers. You will find four speaker grilles at the top and bottom vertically, left and right when horizontal. They get so loud that I can hear the sound coming from the speakers in another room. I haven’t found a single Windows 10 tablet or laptop that offers quad speakers in this price range. Although the quad speakers sound amazing on the tablet, the headphone jack is missing. This surprised me as the Tab A7 will be used mainly by children. It seems odd of Samsung not including the 3.5mm headphone jack on the Tab A7.
specs
Monitor: 10.4 inch FHD screen + 2000 x 1200 pixel screen
Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 662
RAM / storage: 32GB + 3GB RAM, microSD card slot
Drums: 7040mAh battery, 15W fast charging support
software: Android 10 based on OneUI 2.1
Camera: 5 MP front camera, 8 MP rear camera
Connectivity: Wi-Fi / LTE
Samsung Galaxy Tab A7: performance and battery
Powering the Galaxy Tab A7 is a Snapdragon 662 processor. On paper, it’s a mid-range processor, but for routine tasks like editing a task in Google Doc, browsing the web, chatting on WhatsWeb, or watching YouTube, the Snapdragon 662 should be powerful enough. In my testing, I have not found the Tab A7 to have a hard time opening commonly used applications or running less graphics intensive games. It’s super fast for my workflow activities like editing and proofreading stories, checking emails, editing photos on Pixlr, and occasionally tweeting my stories. The Galaxy Tab A7 doesn’t quite match the blazing-fast speeds of the Galaxy Tab S7 +, but for most people, that’s not going to matter much.
The quad speakers are so loud that I can hear the sound coming from the speakers in another room. (Image credit: Anuj Bhatia / Indian Express)
But I am a bit concerned about the storage on the Galaxy Tab A7. The tablet will be available with just a 32GB storage option in India; there is no 64GB storage option. 32GB storage is not enough at present. Yes, you can expand the storage via microSD, but that’s an additional cost.
The cameras – an 8MP snapper on the rear and a 5MP camera on the front – are there. I didn’t test the rear camera, but I used the front camera for a Zoom call and it’s fine. The Galaxy Tab A7 has a large 7040mAh battery capacity with 15W fast charging support. I got roughly 8 to 9 hours of battery life, which is longer than most laptops.
I found the Tab A7 perfect for reading e-books and electronic newspaper editions. (Image credit: Anuj Bhatia / Indian Express)
The Galaxy Tab A7 runs OneUI 2.1, which is based on the top of Android 10. It’s a well-designed interface, but it won’t have the same level of customizations and features that you’ll find on the Galaxy Tab S7 +. It’s a simple interface that works well for a tablet like the Galaxy Tab A7.
The Galaxy Tab A7 is not designed to be a productivity-focused tablet as it lacks S Pen support, DeX mode, and a snap-on magnetic keyboard. That being said, the Tab A7 can be used for typing and editing household chores in Google Docs or giving a presentation. You can split the screen between multiple apps or have multiple user accounts on the Galaxy Tab A7. This way, the whole family can use the Tab A7 and customize the tablet the way they want.
The Logitech K480 has been my favorite Bluetooth keyboard. It works with Android, iOS, Windows, Mac, and even Chrome OS. (Image credit: Anuj Bhatia / Indian Express)
Samsung Galaxy Tab A7: Should You Buy It?
Although the Galaxy Tab A7 is marketed as a multimedia tablet, it can also be a great device for everyday work. In my case, I paired a Logitech K480 Bluetooth keyboard with the Tab A7 and used the tablet to write stories and attended most of the product launch briefings. I won’t say this tablet can replace a computer, but if your child’s purpose is limited to attending online classes or writing assignments in Google Doc, the Galaxy Tab A7 fits the bill. And yes, the tablet can be used by any member of the family to consume multimedia content, thanks to a 10.4-inch screen and four speakers. After all, the Galaxy Tab A7 is not restricted for educational purposes only. I think that is the purpose behind the Galaxy Tab A7. It can be your child’s first device or his mother’s cooking class companion.
📣 The Indian Express is now on Telegram. Click here to join our channel (@indianexpress) and stay up to date with the latest headlines
For the latest tech news, download the Indian Express app.
© IE Online Media Services Pvt Ltd
.
