Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 Android Tablet, 10.5'' LCD Review

The Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 is the tablet you buy when you absolutely, positively need a big screen and don't want to spend a lot of money. That's the one thing to know. It's a basic Android slab designed for watching videos and browsing the web, and it does those things just fine. But if you look at its specs or percentile rankings—which are almost all below the 50th mark—you'll see it's firmly in the budget category. It's not fast, it's not fancy, but it gets the simple jobs done.

Honestly, nothing about the performance surprised me, which is exactly the point. The CPU and GPU rankings are in the 30th percentile, so you're getting exactly the kind of basic, lag-prone experience you'd expect for $274. Apps will open, but not instantly. Videos will play, but don't expect to game on this thing. It's perfectly adequate for its intended use as a media consumption device, and that's about it.

At $274, it's hard to call this a great value. You're paying for the Samsung brand and a big screen, but you're getting bottom-tier specs across the board. If your budget is rigid and the screen size is non-negotiable, it's an option. Otherwise, you can almost certainly find better performance for the same money.

This is where the Tab A8 falls apart. The Apple iPad (9th or 10th gen) at a similar price runs circles around it in performance and app support. Even Samsung's own older Galaxy Tab S series models on sale will offer a much better screen and speed. And if you're just watching videos, an Amazon Fire HD 10 Plus does the same job for about $100 less. The Tab A8 is stuck in a no-man's-land between capable budget tablets and good mid-range ones.

I can't recommend the Galaxy Tab A8 for most people. It's a compromise in too many areas for a price that isn't low enough. Buy it only if you find it on a deep discount, you're locked into the Samsung ecosystem, and your needs are literally just 'watch Netflix on a big screen.' For everyone else, spend a little more for an iPad or look for a sale on a last-gen Galaxy Tab S model. You'll be much happier.