Specifications
- Android 6.0
- Screen 7 inches, TFT IPS, 1280x800 pixels (216 ppi), 16:10
- 1.5 GB random access memory, 8 GB built-in (4.3 GB available to the user), cards microSD memory up to 200 GB
- Spreadtrum SC9830 chipset, 4 Cortex A7 cores up to 1.3 GHz, Mali-400MP2 (T280) graphics coprocessor; Qualcomm MSM8916 Snapdragon 410 (T285)
- Front-camera 2 megapixels, main camera 5 megapixels
- Battery 4000 mAh, the manufacturer stated video playback up to 9 hours, audio up to 100 hours, Internet time up to 11 hours; energy saving mode
- Kids mode
- Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n 2.4 GHz, Bluetooth 4.0, USB 2.0, GPS, ANT+ no
- Dimensions – 108.6x186.9x8.7 mm, weight – 274 grams
- Color options – white, silver, black
Contents of delivery
- Tablet
- Charger with USB cable
- Instructions
Positioning
The TAB A line of tablets includes affordable models, that is, devices that attract with their price/quality ratio. But it has become characteristic of Samsung that the lower the price of the device, the more it loses to Chinese models, and the comparison with operator tablets is completely lost. It is clear that operators subsidize their models, but the user cares about how much he will pay for the device, and not at all about how the business works and why this happens. The 7-inch TAB A model was no exception; at a price of 11,990 rubles for the Wi-Fi version or 13,990 rubles for LTE, you get a budget tablet that costs significantly more than all its classmates. Another thing is that camera tablets are often inferior in certain capabilities; they have less memory, simpler screens, lower quality and durability. But this is what the user looks at last. As a rule, people think that everything is approximately the same and there is no point in overpaying. In principle, in some ways this approach is logical; why pay more if you can get almost the same thing for half the price. Therefore, the choice of 7-inch Tablet Tab A can be random and under the influence of the seller, or clearly conscious when you understand why you choose him. We will try to provide enough information in the review so that you understand both the strengths and weak sides this decision.
Design, dimensions, control elements
Samsung initially planned to classify this tablet as part of the E series, which includes the older Tab E 9.6; these devices are identical in their hardware, but differ in size. From a design point of view, we are offered a very simple, proven set of solutions. Thus, the back of the device is rubberized and does not slip in your hands. With a white body, this also means that dirt can easily remain on the body, although it can be easily cleaned. There are three color options - white, black and silver.
Most 7-inch tablets are compact, but the Tab A is smaller because it has smaller bezels around the screen. You can't carry it in your jeans pocket, but it fits easily in the side pocket of your shorts and doesn't get in the way when walking. The dimensions of the tablet are 108.6x186.9x8.7 mm, weight - 274 grams. For those who are considering the 4G version as an option for a tablet and a phone at the same time, I will open unpleasant moment, there is no motor to implement vibration, and there is exactly one microphone, and it is located at the bottom end. In a word, as a phone this tablet is not at all The best decision, it’s worth looking at phablets, even if in most cases they have a smaller screen.
On the left side there is a slot for memory cards; it is covered with a plug attached to the body. On right side you see a paired volume key, as well as an on/off button. The 3.5 mm connector, as well as microUSB, are located at the top end.
The tablet has a physical key under the screen and two touch keys on the sides. I don’t like that the touch keys are located close to the central one; you expect them to be closer to the sides, and often miss when you press without concentrating on it.
The speaker is located on the rear surface, located near the camera. This arrangement seems justified; the quality of this speaker is far from ideal, but it is loud enough and audible.
There are no complaints about the build quality of the device; it outperforms operator tablets, as well as Chinese devices costing up to 10,000 rubles, it is made noticeably better and is potentially more durable.
Display
The display characteristics are as follows: 7 inches, TFT IPS, 1280x800 pixels (216 ppi), 16:10. The maximum brightness is about 350 nits, but there is no automatic backlight adjustment, so we saved money on this. In the sun the picture fades greatly, but remains visible. This screen is not amazing, but it is quite suitable for watching movies, although the viewing angles leave much to be desired; it is better to hold the tablet perpendicular to your gaze. The quality of the matrix is typical for products of this class; you wouldn’t expect anything more from it.
Chipset, memory, performance
Chipset Spreadtrum SC9830, 4 cores, 1.3 GHz. This processor is a budget solution; while in the standard interface everything is more or less fast, when working in the browser there may be freezing on “heavy” pages, and the device also reacts poorly to large applications. This is expected and quite typical for such machines. For those who are focused on tablets, including for 3D games, this model is not at all suitable, like most of its classmates, there is no modern graphics accelerator, and the capabilities of the tablet are clearly not enough.
A little better situation This is the case with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 410 (this is the 4G version), but still the solution remains budget, with all that it implies.
RAM 1.5 GB. The hardware component is not very interesting, however, look at the results of synthetic tests for yourself.
You can install memory cards up to 200 GB, which is not bad.
Battery
It's in the tablet Li-Ion battery capacity 4000 mAh. It is curious that the video playback time for it is stated to be up to 9 hours (in reality it played for 6.5 hours).
IN Wi-Fi versions There is one problem, it's the chipset. It has a high processor frequency for any task, that is, power consumption is always higher than that of models with more modern chipsets. And this directly affects the operating time, it is reduced. The stated characteristics are not bad, but in practice you will get a couple of days of work, while the tablet will work 2 hours a day. This is typical for models from previous seasons, but not for 2016 devices. Full battery charging time is about 3.5 hours.
In the settings you can find an energy saving mode, including an extreme one, but these modes do not significantly increase the operating time, but the speed of the device drops noticeably.
Camera
The main camera is 5-megapixel, the image quality is typical for tablets, that is, none. The camera cannot be considered something serious, however, take a look for yourself.
Communication capabilities
The tablet does not support MHL, but the version is USB 2.0. Version BT 4.0. For the version with a SIM card, 4G is supported, there are no problems with working on Russian networks.
Software features
Inside there is the usual Android 5.1, you should not wait for an update to 6. This is a typical representative of previous generation tablets, there is a division of the screen into areas, work in several windows.
There is an FM radio that works when a headset is connected.
The proprietary “Children's Mode” is available on all Samsung tablets, and it is also available here. In this mode, you can set the tablet so that children have access to only a limited number of functions and applications, and you can also set a schedule. Very good program, which turns Samsung tablets into children's devices if necessary. Similar software is usually worse and not free.
Likewise modern models Smart Manager has appeared, in which you can see what memory is occupied, clear it, and install an antivirus if necessary.
In the "Gifts" section you can find free apps and subscription to different services. The gifts themselves are few and far between.
The 4G version of the tablet will also have a dialer plus an SMS application. This tablet can act as big phone, you can talk on it even without a headset.
Stick to typical ones Android features I don’t see any point, they are described in a separate material.
Impression
This is a budget device with all the attendant disadvantages. Using such a tablet with a 4G module as a replacement for a phone can only be done out of desperation; such a scenario should not be considered. In my opinion, it is the Wi-Fi version that deserves attention; it has the following advantages: high-quality assembly, compact size, availability child mode and a camera with a resolution of 5 megapixels, although it is nothing in essence, but others have it even worse. The downside is that the Android version is 5.1, there will be no updates, the hardware will not support them. On the other hand, Samsung's add-ons make the model quite usable and you won't encounter any problems.
In standard usage scenarios, you won’t see any serious slowdowns; everything will be at the level of budget devices. But if you are counting on a lot of open tabs in the browser, 3D games, then this tablet is definitely not for you. By the way, for children the lack of games can be both a plus and a minus. I will make a reservation that ordinary casual games run quite normally here.
Now about direct competitors, as already mentioned, they can be any operator tablets. A typical tablet from an operator has Android 6 on board, which looks more interesting, but in reality this is not always the case. Empty delivery set, no additional programs, also lack of future updates. But the main thing is that the battery is smaller, the amount of RAM is smaller (usually 1 GB), but the presence of a 3G module, as an option, there are models with 4G. IN Chinese tablets Usually they save on memory cards, so the maximum volume is 32 GB. As for me, this is often not critical and you can buy such models, but you need to understand that the same GPS navigation in them is implemented noticeably worse due to the inability to create antennas and other “little things”. But again, operator tablets usually cost 4-6 thousand rubles, which means they outperform the Tab A, which costs 11,990 for the Wi-Fi version and 13,990 rubles for the LTE.
Finding modern 7-inch tablets in the described price category is almost impossible; as a rule, they cost significantly more, especially when it comes to well-known manufacturers. Of the older devices, there are a small handful of models running Android 4.4, but are they worth buying? Not sure about this. One such device is the TAB2 A7 from Lenovo. By the way, Lenovo has an interesting phablet – Phab. Its budget version costs 10,000 rubles and has built-in 4G, and may well compete with the Tab A in question. Another thing is that this rather a phone than a tablet, but some may like it.
The bottom line is that the device from Samsung is not cheap, but there are no direct competitors in this class as such. This is indicative, the tablet market is in decline, and manufacturers are not experimenting with the release of new models.
In today's review we will look at the popular seven-inch tablet from Samsung. Why Galaxy Tab 3 so popular? The thing is that this is one of Samsung’s most budget-friendly solutions. For less than 10 thousand rubles you can buy it in many popular electronics stores. But is it worth it? Today we'll talk about this.
I got the tablet literally for one day. The Galaxy Tab 3 is very reminiscent of the Galaxy Note smartphone that I used for two years. The device looks like most of Samsung's line of smartphones and tablets. Rather a vertical orientation, one noticeable central button and two touch buttons to the left and right of it. On the side there is a volume rocker and a button to lock/turn off the device (on the right), connectors for a SIM card and memory card (on the left), speakers and a microUSB port (bottom) and a classic headphone output (top). Frame Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 is monolithic, the battery is not removable. Now a little about the characteristics. 
Specifications Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 7.0 SM-T211 8Gb
- Operating system - Android 4.1
- Processor frequency – 1200 MHz
- Number of cores - 2
- RAM – 1 GB
- Built-in memory – 8 GB
- Memory card support - microSDXC, up to 64 GB
- Screen – 7″, 1024×600
- Screen type – TFT
- Touch screen - capacitive, multi-touch
- Pixels per inch (PPI) – 170
- Wi-Fi support - yes, Wi-Fi 802.11n, WiFi Direct, DLNA
- Bluetooth support - yes, A2DP
- Operation in mode cell phone- There is
- Mobile communications - 3G, EDGE, HSPA+, GPRS, GSM900, GSM1800, GSM1900
- Rear camera - 3 million pixels.
- Front camera - 1.3 million pixels.
- Navigation - GPS, GLONASS
- Audio/headphone output – 3.5 mm
- Battery capacity - 4000 mAh
- Dimensions (LxWxD) - 188x111x10 mm
- Weight - 304 g
In the review today, the model with 3G support is labeled SM-T211. There is a simplified one, without support mobile internet, called SM-T210. The Samsung Tab 3 in our review has a built-in memory of 8 gigabytes. There are models with 16 GB memory. There is also a Lite version, which is worse in a number of ways, including the lack of a front camera. The device discussed in the review was bought by the owner, including for Skype, so I’ll say a few words about the operation of the front camera below.
Impressions from Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 7.0 SM-T211
Personally, this device brought me back to the previous one. Its characteristics are comparable to Galaxy Note first generation, it looks about the same, except that the screen is a little larger.
Website pages are displayed in the same way as on a computer. When scrolling down top panel is removed and website pages are displayed in full screen mode
This device is quite enough for those who are interested in surfing the web, watching videos and making Skype calls. The device is also capable of making calls using a SIM card. The video quality when talking on Skype is decent for a 1.3 megapixel camera. The video on the screen looks good, the pages are displayed correctly in the browser - what else do you need? Twitter, Instagram, Vkontakte - all applications can be installed and used in in social networks, there are no problems with this. The main screen shell is similar to what can be seen on other devices (on the left is the raw version, on the right is with installed wallpaper and applications):
Otherwise, it’s worth understanding that this is a budget solution. The Tab 3 has only 1 GB of RAM, which means that sometimes the device can slow down and even freeze (it happened several times on the tested copy). By the way, I came across a copy straight from the storefront - it has some kind of promotional video built into it, which turns on when the device is locked. To bring your device into proper shape and delete this unfortunate promotional video, you need to go to the application control panel and delete extra program, the name of which I, unfortunately, no longer remember. A new device taken off the shelf usually has only one program available for removal, so you can't miss it.
This is what the HD quality videos look like, which you can watch on YouTube
Of course, the screen resolution is not impressive either. Let me remind you that it is 1024x600 here. Even the Note from two years ago, which I mentioned earlier, had a width of 1280 pixels. Considering the difference in display diagonals, we have that the Galaxy Tab 3 has a very small number of pixels per inch - only 170. For comparison, the new iPad Mini with a Retina display has this figure of 324 pixels per inch (and a total resolution of 2048 × 1536), and LG's flagship smartphone, which I recently purchased (which I will write about in a separate review), has as many as 424 pixels per inch. In fact, these numbers are interesting not only to geeks, as it might seem at first glance. There is a difference in the displays, and for me personally it is quite significant. This is especially noticeable when reading (and web surfing, respectively). In addition, the Galaxy Tab 3 uses a TFT screen. IN modern smartphones And tablets have an IPS matrix, which has superior viewing angles, color, etc.
“Angry Birds”, where would we be without them?
Separately, I would like to note this point - the touch keys are not backlit, as is implemented on most Samsung devices. Such is the injustice. In the dark, you have to use this device at random.
Some texts were also carried out in Quadrant and Antutu programs. The test results can be seen below. I’ll just say that modern flagships show indicators of 11-12 thousand “parrots” in Quadrant and 33-35 thousand in Antutu. Indicators of the Galaxy Tab 3 tablet (on the left Quadrant - 3459, on the right Antutu - 11144): 
Things that I can’t judge are battery life and the quality of the rear camera (which is 3 megapixels here). It was not possible to estimate the duration of the work for such a short period during which I had the device, and as for the camera... it’s a tablet and, for God’s sake, there is no need to take photographs with it in museums and crowded places - save the psyche of those around you.
Bottom line
In this review of the Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 7.0 SM-T211, we found out the following: this tablet does not have outstanding characteristics, but still, it is a good choice for those who do not want to spend more than 10 thousand rubles on such a toy. If you need a device for browsing the Internet, movies, chatting on social networks, calling on Skype and you are not chasing modern technologies and the most ideal image, then the Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 may be a good choice for you. That's all. Thank you for your attention and good luck with your choice!
Other device reviews:LG G2
Samsung Galaxy Note
The number one Korean electronics manufacturer in the world (according to various estimates of the popularity of released devices), Samsung is constantly working to improve and develop the models of its devices. As a result, many products released under this brand conquer the market in one or another niche, becoming the most popular and famous gadgets. Of course, this has a positive effect on the sales volumes that the manufacturer manages to achieve.
In order to show more specifically what one of the products of this brand is, we will conduct a short review of one of them. Meet the SM-T311 (also known as Tab 3 8.0) tablet. The device has a number of its own features that it can boast of potential buyer. We will talk about them, as well as many other both positive and negative aspects of this device, in this article.
Appearance
Of course, we'll start with its appearance. After all, it is precisely this criterion that we encounter every time we pick up this device. I would like to immediately note that the device has a rather unprepossessing design, reminiscent of the appearance of similar models. However, the design of the SM-T311 makes such an impression on those who are not at all familiar with the device. In fact, the appearance of the device has a certain style. Take the glass screen that covers the entire front of the tablet, giving it a glossy shine. The same effect is created by shiny back cover tablet. It is made of plastic and has a similar texture to the front of the tablet. On it we find only the inscription of the manufacturer of the device SM-T311 (Samsung) and the camera window, the characteristics and capabilities of which we will talk about later.
Due to the fact that the gadget has rounded edges, its entire body looks quite stylish, this is in perfect harmony with the glossy texture.
Navigation
With elements that allow you to navigate the capabilities and functionality of the device, everything here is quite standard. The tablet has standard physical “Menu”, “Home” and “Back” buttons located below the screen. They are equipped with additional lighting, which makes it possible to work with them in a dark room. Some users complain that the company's solution could have been to make these buttons virtual, as it would have saved space on the bottom of the phone.
In addition to these, we should also mention the metal-painted buttons for turning on the device and adjusting the sound. They are located on the side faces. This is a standard scheme, which is also supplemented for information exchange.
In general, we can say that Samsung made the controls of the SM-T311 as classic as possible, so that users did not have to relearn how to work with this model.
Display
From the name of the gadget Tab 3 8.0 SM-T311 it is immediately clear what kind of screen it has. We are talking about an 8-inch display that operates on a matrix (PLS technology). Screen resolution, according to technical parameters, is 1280 by 800 pixels. As the instructions describing the SM-T311 tablet note, the image on the tablet display has a density of 189 dots per square inch. This, of course, is very little if we talk about direct competitors like or Amazon Kindle, equipped with stronger matrices with FullHD pictures.
In this regard, of course, you can only bet on a non-standard screen size, because all these gadgets have a display with a diagonal of 7 inches, but not 8. The closest to it in this case is considered to be 7.9 inches iPad mini, but the level of prestige here, of course, is completely different.
However, the tablet SM-T311, specifications which cannot be called the most outstanding, also boasts high screen brightness. Due to this, the image appears more saturated and at the same time is more suitable for working in bright sunlight or in a well-lit room. The contents of the screen do not fade, but remain quite readable.
Performance
Describing how productive our SM-T311 tablet is, the characteristics of which we have already begun to present earlier, we should note its “heart”. This is the processor that powers the entire operating system of the device. In this case we are talking about Samsung Exymos - a dual-core processor, each clocked at 1.5 GHz. These are quite good indicators, giving good performance of processor power and graphics. This is noted by both ordinary users and specialists. For example, in the rating table in terms of processor interaction speed, the device we are describing is ahead of Asus Transformer Prime TF201, Motorola Atrix, Samsung Galaxy Tab 10, Samsung Galaxy Nexus and others. User reviews confirm this: the tablet works quite quickly, and any freezes (even when running more “demanding” software) are minimal.
The RAM of the SM-T311 is somewhat expanded (compared to the parameters of many similar devices). So, the developer installed 1.5 GB of RAM here so that the user can more freely open various applications without worrying about stability.
Autonomy
As reviews describe, tablets released under the Samsung brand often have problems with endurance. As the characteristics show, the SM-T311 has a battery with a capacity of 4450 mAh. With the help of this power element, the capacity of which, admittedly, is at a fairly high level, the tablet can work for up to 11 hours, taking into account the fact that the user will be on a WiFi network and watching videos.
The maximum load on the system gives 4-hour operation, after which the smartphone completely consumes its battery. This, again, is a good indicator considering that we are talking about the operation of a colorful, large display and serious hardware on one device.
operating system
As you might guess, the tablet has an operating system installed Android system(version 4.2.2). It has a special graphical shell developed exclusively for Samsung devices. It has a standard appearance, but differs mainly in a set of additional functions. For example, this is the ability to limit the display of information on the device display. This option is useful if you are driving and do not want unnecessary notifications to distract you from the road. Another example is the ability to display different running applications in two windows by changing their sizes. Options like these can actually make using your tablet much easier in some situations.
Samsung has made significant steps in the development and improvement of not only its individual devices, but also entire lines. In the smartphone category, the balanced A3-A7 and the very popular budget J series appeared. Tablets are not lagging behind. In addition to the flagship Tab S, there are a number of devices with the subtitle A. And in this review, we’ll look at the Samsung Galaxy Tab A 7.0 SM-T280 8GB.
This device is from the 2016 model year and is fully in line with current trends in terms of technical equipment. Even if it doesn't have the super innovative design and all the advantages of flagships of the same period, it is still an excellent tablet that performs its basic functions well.
In addition to the above-mentioned version, there is also the Samsung Galaxy Tab A 7.0 SM-T285 8GB. The difference in numbers 280 and 285 is only in the presence of a 3G/LTE module. In the first device, the user can connect to the Internet only via Wi-Fi. Otherwise, these are absolutely identical tablets.
Appearance and connectors
Samsung has been trying to bring its devices to a common denominator for several years now. Flagship smartphones and tablets with the subtitle S exactly correspond to their status. But there are discrepancies with A-models. If in the case of phones this is a truly new approach to creating devices - a breath of fresh air, then in the tablet category only the name has changed. These are all the same budget devices familiar to Samsung.
The back panel is textured plastic. It doesn't attract the eye, but it's not too distracting either. However, fingerprints remain. There are two color options to choose from – black and white. It is likely that in the latter this problem will be much less noticeable.
The company logo along with the front camera eye are located at the top of the device in portrait orientation. On the opposite side, under the display, there are mechanical and two touch buttons. Here, as in most 7-inch models, the manufacturer focuses on using it in this position. The touch buttons are located in the usual Samsung style. "Back" on the right, "List" latest apps" - on the left.
The body can be called compact, and the frames are small. The tablet weighs 283 grams. Its length is 187 centimeters and its thickness is 8.7 mm. Already in 2017, such indicators will decrease significantly, and the device will seem large.
The rear panel consists only of a slightly protruding camera and a speaker. The latter has good performance, but if you leave the tablet with the display facing up, the sound can be significantly muffled.
On the right side are the usual unlock key and volume rocker. They were executed perfectly. They are located precisely in the grooves and have a clear click.
On the top edge there is a USB connector and a 3.5 mm headphone jack. On the bottom there is a microphone. It is used not only for shooting video, but also for voice calls, if, of course, someone wants to use such a large device as a replacement for a telephone.
The quality of the case and assembly is not ideal. Can be heard during strong shaking extraneous noise, and when pressed, streaks remain. Fortunately, this does not affect the quality in any way. touchpad and interaction with it.
Performance
With the Galaxy Tab A 7.0 tablet, the company moved away from using its own chips. Instead, high-quality solutions from Qualcomm are used. Specifically - MSM8916 Snapdragon 410. 4 cores work with clock frequency 1.3 GHz. Graphics chip - Mali-400 MP. It works well with the main processor, but that doesn't take away from the fact that it's already a few years old and some modern games just won't be able to deliver the best.
The main disadvantage in terms of hardware of this tablet both for 2016 and 14-15, we can consider only 1.5 GB random access memory. This is an incredibly small figure, given the fact that after loading operating system Only a fraction will be available to the user. Some modern games require more volume to run raw. Even though the device is budget-friendly, you cannot save on this. Even an extra 512 MB would have made a difference.
The same can be said about internal memory. A measly 8 GB flash drive is not enough for all modern applications. And given the fact that a little more than half of them remains for the user, this is generally very, very frustrating. Plus, Android 5.1.1 does not provide for the use of an additional micro-SD card in the form of a system partition on which other applications could be installed. That is, even if the memory is expanded, it can only be used to save data, not programs. And you shouldn’t really hope that the manufacturer will update the OS version on this device over time.
Display
The tablet has a 7-inch IPS matrix with a resolution of 1280x800 pixels. Aspect ratio – 16:10. Quite usual for this format.
The density of 216 ppi cannot be called too high, but considering the category and cost of the device, it is not bad, especially when compared with competitors in the price range.
There is no light sensor in the tablet. The brightness will need to be adjusted manually. It is not enough here for use in bright sunshine. You'll have to look for shade or put the device down altogether. Brightness also drops noticeably when changing the viewing angle. No other distortions were found.
Although the display is not in the premium segment and cannot boast all the advantages that matrices made using AMOLED technology, characteristic of Samsung, have, users can use special software to adjust the color mode.
Autonomy
The factor is not as important for a tablet (considering that it is often a home device), as, for example, in the case of smartphones, but it should not be missed. 4100 mAh battery. It seems that this is a very small figure, but both in benchmarks and in practice the device performs very well. With average activity it will work for two days. At maximum load – 7-9 hours.
There are several power saving modes that can be used either constantly or when the battery level is low.
Cameras
Even the most budget devices now have two cameras installed. The 7-inch tablet from Samsung has not escaped this trend. The main one is 5 MP, the front one is 2 MP.
They are enough for documentation or situational shooting, but nothing more. The front camera boasts wide viewing angle. Communication in video chats will be as comfortable as possible. Autofocus is present in the main module, but it can freeze, and the lack of stabilization leads to unnecessary blurriness.
Communications
As mentioned earlier, the T280 version only works with Wi-Fi, while the T285 supports both SIM cards. Moreover, work is possible with mobile networks both third and fourth generation.
Bluetooth version 4, support for GPS and GLONASS; Latest generation Wi-Fi providing the fastest possible speed.
operating system
This is the most common Android 5.1.1 with the TouchWiz add-on from Samsung. Only taste and personal preference play a role here. Among the innovations, we can note the presence of a children's mode, when activated, it will be impossible to see content on the tablet that is not intended for children, advertising, or perform irrevocable actions.
Advantages and disadvantages
Pros:
- good display;
- good autonomy;
- LTE support in older version;
- relatively compact body.
Minuses:
- catastrophic shortage of internal and RAM memory;
- old version of the operating system;
- cameras “for show”.
conclusions
The 7-inch tablet from Samsung from the A line is a purely budget device that can be suitable for reading, watching videos, and music. Moreover, basically, this will need to be done on the Internet, which is directly hinted at by the amount of internal memory, which does not allow installing many different applications.
But such a device would be a good choice for a child, which is also emphasized by the presence of a special children’s mode.
In April last year, the South Korean giant Samsung decided to please customers by introducing updated version line of their ten-inch tablets. The model was designated Galaxy Tab 4 10.1 SM-T531.
The updated device is made in the traditional Samsung design: rounded shapes, the presence of touch-sensitive “back” and “options” buttons under the screen and a physical “home” key. The presence of the latter is a “feature” of the Korean manufacturer, but it receives mixed reviews among users. Some consider it a plus, others consider it a useless relic inherited from smartphones. The tablet has a quad-core processor, 1.5 GB of RAM, 16 GB of internal storage and a 3G communication module with support for one SIM card.
Despite the cost (today it is about $250), it would be hard to call the tablet’s hardware more than budget-friendly. Whether it is sufficient for the needs of consumers or not is not for us to decide. A brief review will allow you to take a closer look at the Galaxy Tab 4 in order to draw your own conclusions.
Specifications
The Galaxy Tab 4 does not boast support for cutting-edge technologies. Here we sell only what has been in demand for a long time. By the way, it was implemented quite well.
CPU
The tablet uses a Qualcomm chipset, model Snapdragon 400. The processor has four cores and operates at a frequency of 1200 MHz. They are enough for Internet browsing, watching movies, and simple toys. But avid gamers will not appreciate it, considering it weak.The Galaxy Tab 4 video chip is Adreno 305. As already mentioned, it is enough for not too resource-intensive tasks, but for those who need a tablet for games, this is not the best option.
A tandem of a CPU and GPU is capable of scoring only 16 thousand rating points in the AnTuTu test, which looks lackluster by modern standards.
Memory
The tablet has 1.5 GB of RAM. This volume is sufficient for everyday use. But compared to flagships with 3 GB, it seems not enough. However, some manufacturers still install 1 GB on such devices, so the Galaxy Tab 4 is not the worst option.The built-in storage has a capacity of 16 GB. There is also support for memory cards with a capacity of up to 64 GB. Why not 128 is a mystery. Unfortunately, we did not have the opportunity to test working with such a module.
Battery
The Galaxy Tab 4 battery has a capacity of 6800 mAh. Of course, there are devices on the market that have a similar diagonal of all 10,000, but thanks to optimization, the tablet’s operating time is quite decent. Of course, it won’t be enough for a day of web surfing, but 10 hours is quite realistic. Without an installed SIM card and connection to the network, the device will last in standby mode for about a week (or even more), but with them this period is sharply reduced to 2 - 3 days.
Camera
The photomodules here, although they have mediocre resolution, are not installed “for show”. The rear camera has a 3 MP matrix and is quite suitable for quick shooting. The details of objects are visible, there are no color distortions, it is quite possible to see something in the semi-darkness.The same can be said about the 1.3 MP front lens. It is quite enough for Skype or video calls over a 3G network, you can even try to take a good “selfie”.
Display
The screen of the Galaxy Tab 4 has a diagonal of 10.1" and supports up to 10 clicks simultaneously. The matrix resolution is quite typical for most devices, but from a tablet for $300 you want something more. After all, 1280x800 is HD, but at 10" pixels can be easily seen with the naked eye. After a smartphone with a similar resolution, it’s quite difficult to get used to such a screen.As for brightness and color rendition, everything is at a decent level. The picture is visible in the sun, but there is no color distortion when viewed at an angle. But there is no light sensor here, which for many is a significant minus.
Data transfer
In addition to Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, which are standard for modern tablets, the Galaxy Tab 4 has a 3G module. It supports traditional GSM and UMTS networks, but is not compatible with LTE. You can make calls from the tablet (although the appearance of the 10-inch “tray” by the ear is somewhat comical, but no one forbids using a headset).There is also GPS/GLONASS satellite navigation. It works well, apparently, the large antenna has an effect. The signal is received normally even indoors.
Sound
There are two speakers in the tablet, the sound from them is quite spacious. This is not a boombox, but the bottom and treble are reproduced quite correctly. The Galaxy Tab 4 10.1 SM-T531 16Gb also sounds good with headphones, the jack of which is located on the left side of the tablet.OS
Out of the box, the Galaxy Tab 4 comes with Android 4.4 OS on board. It comes pre-installed with the proprietary TouchWiz graphical shell. There are no brakes in operation, everything works smoothly.Recently, users have the opportunity to upgrade to Lolipop - the fifth Android versions.
Advantages of the Galaxy Tab 4 10.1 tablet:
- good sound;
- good cameras;
- high build quality;
- excellent quality of all types of communication.
Unfortunately, there are also a lot of disadvantages:
- low screen resolution;
- far from top-end hardware;
- lack of light sensor.
