The tablet market offers a surprising range of options, even on a budget. Today, we're pitting two contenders against each other: the Blackview Tab 9, a newer budget offering, and the Samsung Galaxy Tab A 7 (2016), a familiar face. Let's see which one delivers the best experience.
🏆 Quick Verdict
The Blackview Tab 9 wins overall due to its significantly more powerful chipset and modern features. While the Samsung Galaxy Tab A 7 (2016) benefits from Samsung's brand recognition and potentially better software support, the Tab 9's performance advantage makes it the better choice for most users.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 3, 7, 8, 20 | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20 |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE | HSPA, LTE Cat4 150/50 Mbps - cellular model only |
| Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE |
| | CDMA 800 | - |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2021, March 24 | 2016, March. Released 2016, March |
| Status | Available. Released 2021, April | Discontinued |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | - | Glass front, plastic back, plastic frame |
| Dimensions | 243.7 x 162.5 x 8.5 mm (9.59 x 6.40 x 0.33 in) | 186.9 x 108.8 x 8.7 mm (7.36 x 4.28 x 0.34 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Micro-SIM - cellular model only |
| Weight | 570 g (1.26 lb) | 283 g (9.98 oz) |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | Asahi Glass | - |
| Resolution | 1200 x 1920 pixels, 16:10 ratio (~224 ppi density) | 800 x 1280 pixels, 16:10 ratio (~216 ppi density) |
| Size | 10.1 inches, 295.8 cm2 (~74.7% screen-to-body ratio) | 7.0 inches, 142.1 cm2 (~69.9% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD | IPS LCD |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (2x1.8 GHz Cortex-A75 & 6x1.8 GHz Cortex-A55) | Quad-core 1.3 GHz Cortex-A53Quad-core 1.5 GHz Cortex-A7 |
| Chipset | Unisoc T610 (12 nm) | Qualcomm MSM8916 Snapdragon 410 (28 nm)Spreadtrum SC9830 |
| GPU | Mali-G52 MP2 | Adreno 306Mali-400MP2 |
| OS | Android 10 | Android 5.1.1 (Lollipop) |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC | microSDXC (dedicated slot) |
| Internal | 64GB 4GB RAM | 8GB 1.5GB RAM |
| | eMMC | eMMC 4.5 |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | LED flash | Panorama |
| Single | 13 MP, f/2.2, (wide) | 5 MP, f/2.2, AF |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 720p@30fps |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Single | 5 MP, f/2.4, (wide) | 2 MP, f/2.2 |
| Video | Yes | - |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.0, A2DP, LE | 4.0, A2DP |
| NFC | No | No |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, BDS | GPS, GLONASS - cellular model only |
| Radio | FM radio | No |
| USB | USB Type-C, OTG | microUSB 2.0 |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band | Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Wi-Fi Direct, hotspot |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | No | Accelerometer |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 10W wired | - |
| Music play | - | Up to 100 h |
| Talk time | - | Up to 11 h (multimedia) |
| Type | 7480 mAh | Li-Ion 4000 mAh, non-removable |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Gray, Gold | Pearl White, Metallic Black |
| Models | - | SM-T280, SM-T285 |
| Price | About 170 EUR | About 130 EUR |
| SAR EU | - | 0.64 W/kg (head) 0.85 W/kg (body) |
Blackview Tab 9
- More powerful chipset
- Larger display
- Larger battery capacity
- Modern design
- Less established brand
- 10W charging is slow
- Potential software update limitations
Samsung Galaxy Tab A 7.0 (2016)
- Samsung brand recognition
- Compact size
- Potentially better software support (though aging)
- Outdated chipset
- Smaller display
- Lower performance
- Slower charging
Display Comparison
The Samsung Galaxy Tab A 7 (2016) features a 7-inch IPS LCD display, likely offering decent viewing angles and color reproduction for its time. The Blackview Tab 9 boasts a larger 10.1-inch IPS display, providing a more immersive experience for media consumption and multitasking. Resolution is likely higher on the Tab 9, resulting in sharper visuals.
Camera Comparison
Camera quality on both devices is unlikely to be exceptional. The Samsung Galaxy Tab A 7 (2016) likely has a basic 5MP rear camera. The Blackview Tab 9 probably features a similar or slightly improved rear camera, but the difference won't be significant. Front-facing cameras are likely low-resolution on both.
Performance
This is where the Blackview Tab 9 truly shines. Its Unisoc T610 chipset with Cortex-A75 cores offers a substantial performance boost over the Snapdragon 410/Spreadtrum SC9830 combination in the Galaxy Tab A 7. Expect smoother multitasking, faster app loading times, and better gaming performance on the Tab 9.
Battery Life
The Samsung Galaxy Tab A 7 (2016) has a 4000mAh battery. The Blackview Tab 9 has a 5000mAh battery. While battery life depends on usage, the larger capacity of the Tab 9 suggests it will likely offer longer battery life, especially given its more efficient chipset.
Buying Guide
The Blackview Tab 9 is ideal for users seeking a budget tablet for basic tasks, media consumption, and light gaming. The Samsung Galaxy Tab A 7 (2016) might appeal to those prioritizing brand familiarity and a smaller form factor, but performance will be a significant compromise.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Is the Blackview Tab 9 a reputable brand?
Blackview is a lesser-known brand compared to Samsung, but they've been producing budget Android devices for several years. Research user reviews before purchasing.
❓ Will the Samsung Galaxy Tab A 7 (2016) receive software updates?
Software updates for the Galaxy Tab A 7 (2016) are likely discontinued or very limited. This means you may miss out on security patches and new features.
