Samsung uses such a compact, lightweight design for its Galaxy Tab A7 (2016) SM-T280 that it could be mistaken for a big phablet at first glance. Although the casing is completely made of plastic, it is appreciated thanks to its non-slip back. A bit more stability would have benefited the connection of touchscreen and display; pressure causes wave formations on the screen quite early. The IPS panel is not really awesome in any aspect, but it does not exhibit any real weaknesses, either. The same is true for the installed cameras. Although they have a lower resolution than high-end solutions, they produce decent photos seen individually. High-quality videos are not part of the Galaxy Tab A7's repertory, though.

Despite the rather low-performance hardware, basic tasks like viewing photos or navigating through the device settings are astonishingly smooth. However, the SoC finds its limits relatively soon with increasing demands, which can lead to noticeable waiting times or dropouts when, for example, visiting intricate websites. The user also has to make compromises in view of the tight storage capacity, although this problem is defused slightly thanks to the micro-SD slot with App2SD support.

The Galaxy Tab A7 is not a product that will please techies due to its relatively limited performance reserves. However, it offers enough power for many routine applications, has useful cameras and a good screen for a reasonable price.

The review sample is presently available for a market price starting at 135 Euros (~$153). Bargain hunters can risk taking a look at Amazon's Fire Tablet, which now starts at around 60 Euros (~$68), as an alternative. However, the user will have to accept a lower-quality casing, lower-resolution screen and an operating system designed for the Amazon Universe.

Source: www.notebookcheck.net