Samsung SAMSUNG Galaxy Tab S5e 4G LTE (64GB, 4GB) 10.5” Review

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S5e is a budget-friendly Android tablet that punches above its weight with a gorgeous 10.5-inch Super AMOLED display. Performance is adequate for streaming and light tasks, but the 4GB RAM and older Snapdragon 670 chip show their age. At around $100 renewed, it's a great pick for media lovers who prioritize screen quality over raw speed.

Looking for a lightweight Android tablet with a killer screen that won't break the bank? The Samsung Galaxy Tab S5e is a solid contender, especially if you can find it around the $100 mark for a renewed model. This 10.5-inch slate is all about portability and media, with a super slim metal design that weighs less than a pound. It runs Android (upgradable to Android 11) and packs a Snapdragon 670 chip with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage. The big draw here is the Super AMOLED display, which makes movies and shows look fantastic. Just note, this is an AT&T-locked 4G LTE model, so its cellular feature is only useful if you're on that specific network.

Performance is a mixed bag, which is typical for a tablet in this older, budget-friendly category. The Snapdragon 670 and 4GB of RAM land in the 41st and 34th percentiles respectively in our database. For everyday tasks like browsing, streaming video, and light social media, it's perfectly adequate. You won't be setting any speed records, but it gets the job done without major hiccups. The GPU sits in the 43rd percentile, so don't expect to play demanding 3D games at high settings. Casual games and emulators are fine. The battery life is middle-of-the-road at the 48th percentile, which translates to a full day of mixed use, but not much more.

At roughly $100 for a renewed unit, the Tab S5e's value proposition is almost entirely about that beautiful AMOLED screen. You're getting a premium display experience at a budget price. The trade-off is aging internals and software. For the same money, you could look at newer budget tablets like the Lenovo Tab M10 or Amazon Fire HD 10, but they'll have inferior LCD screens. If the screen quality is your top priority and you're okay with middling performance, this is a unique deal.

Let's name some names. Compared to a base model Apple iPad (9th or 10th gen), the iPad destroys the S5e in performance, software support, and app ecosystem, but it costs more and its screen isn't AMOLED. Against a modern Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE, the FE has much better performance, longer software support, and an S Pen included, but again, it's more expensive. The closer call is against other budget Android tablets. The Lenovo Tab M10 Plus offers similar performance with a more modern version of Android, but its IPS LCD screen can't touch the S5e's AMOLED for contrast and color. It really comes down to what you value more: a gorgeous screen or more up-to-date specs.

Skip the Tab S5e if you need a tablet for heavy multitasking, gaming, or as a primary work device. The 4GB of RAM is a real bottleneck here. Also, avoid it if you're not on AT&T, as the 4G LTE lock makes that feature useless. Students needing a reliable note-taking machine or artists looking for a drawing tablet should consider an iPad or a Galaxy Tab with more RAM and better stylus support. If future software updates are important to you, this tablet stuck on Android 11 is a dead end.

Should you buy the Samsung Galaxy Tab S5e? Yes, but with very specific conditions. If your main use is consuming media—watching Netflix, reading comics, browsing the web—and you prioritize screen quality above all else, this $100 renewed tablet is a fantastic little machine. It's perfect for a bedside media hub, a portable movie player for travel, or a lightweight reader. However, if you need a tablet for multitasking, gaming, or as a primary productivity device, the limited RAM, older chip, and outdated software will hold you back. Look at an iPad or a newer mid-range Android tablet instead.