Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 11" Mystic Bronze Review

The refurbished Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 is a solid buy for under $250 if you mainly want a great screen for videos and the included S Pen for notes and drawing. Its older specs and Android 10 OS hold it back from being a true productivity workhorse, but for entertainment and light creative tasks, it delivers good value.

Looking for a premium Android tablet experience without the premium price? The Geek Squad Certified Refurbished Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 is a compelling option. It's an 11-inch tablet with a sharp 2560x1600 LCD screen, 6GB of RAM, and 128GB of storage, powered by a Snapdragon 865+ processor. It comes with the redesigned S Pen in the box, which is a huge plus for note-takers and doodlers. The big question is whether this 2020 tablet, running Android 10, still holds up in 2024, especially when you can find it for around $230 refurbished. We dug into the data to see if it's a smart buy or if you should look at newer alternatives.

Performance is a mixed bag. The Snapdragon 865+ chip is still decent for everyday tasks like web browsing, streaming video, and light gaming. In our database, its CPU performance lands in the 41st percentile among tablets, which means it's fine but not a powerhouse. The GPU is in the 42nd percentile, so you can play casual games, but don't expect to max out the latest 3D titles. Where it shines is for entertainment. That 11-inch screen scores in the 71st percentile for sharpness and color, and the quad speakers with Dolby Atmos make movies and shows sound great. Just know that its scores for productivity are its weakest area, sitting at just 22.7 out of 100, so it's not a laptop replacement for heavy work.

At roughly $230 for a refurbished unit, the value proposition is all about the S Pen and the screen. You're getting a high-quality stylus and a great display for media consumption at a fraction of the cost of a new iPad Pro or Galaxy Tab S9. The catch is you're buying older tech. If your main goals are note-taking, drawing, and watching videos, it's a good deal. If you need a tablet for more serious work or want long-term software support, your money might be better spent elsewhere.

The most direct competitor is the newer Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 series, which offers much better performance, more RAM, and years of software updates, but at over twice the price. For productivity, the Microsoft Surface Pro is in a different league as a full Windows device, but it's also far more expensive. The more interesting comparison is with the base model Apple iPad (10th gen). For a similar price new, the iPad offers a more powerful chip, a much longer software support lifespan, and a vast app ecosystem, but you have to buy the Apple Pencil separately, which adds significant cost. The Tab S7 wins if the included S Pen is your top priority.

Skip this tablet if you need a device for serious multitasking or plan to keep it for more than two years. The 6GB of RAM and outdated Android 10 OS will feel limiting. Also, avoid it if you're deeply invested in the Apple ecosystem or need a true laptop replacement. For those users, a base model iPad or a used Microsoft Surface Pro would be a better fit, even if it costs a bit more.

So, should you buy the refurbished Galaxy Tab S7? It's a yes, but only for a specific person. If you want a fantastic media consumption device and a great digital notepad with a premium stylus included, all for about $230, this is a smart buy. The Geek Squad certification helps mitigate the risk of buying used. But if you need a tablet for heavy multitasking, plan to use it for several years, or want access to the latest apps and features, its age and software limitations are hard to ignore. In that case, saving up for a newer model or looking at a base iPad is the better long-term play.