Realme Pad vs Samsung Galaxy Tab A7 Lite: Which Budget Tablet Reigns Supreme?

The budget tablet market is heating up, and two contenders are vying for your attention: the Realme Pad and the Samsung Galaxy Tab A7 Lite. Both offer affordable access to Android, but which one delivers the best overall experience? Let's dive into a detailed comparison to help you decide.

Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The Realme Pad edges out the Galaxy Tab A7 Lite thanks to its brighter display, slightly more powerful chipset, and reverse charging capability. However, Samsung's brand recognition and potentially wider software support might sway some buyers. Ultimately, the Realme Pad offers better value for the money.

PHONES
Phone Names	Realme Pad	Samsung Galaxy Tab A7 Lite

Network
2G bands	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bands	HSDPA 850 / 900 / 2100	HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands	1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41	1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 20, 28, 38, 40, 66
Speed	HSPA, LTE - cellular model only	HSPA, LTE - cellular model only
Technology	GSM / HSPA / LTE	GSM / HSPA / LTE

Launch
Announced	2021, September 09	2021, May 27
Status	Available. Released 2021, September 16	Available. Released 2021, June 18

Body
Build	Glass front, aluminum frame, aluminum back	Glass front, aluminum back, aluminum frame, plastic ends
Dimensions	246.1 x 155.9 x 6.9 mm (9.69 x 6.14 x 0.27 in)	212.5 x 124.7 x 8 mm (8.37 x 4.91 x 0.31 in)
SIM	Nano-SIM (cellular model only)	Nano-SIM (cellular model only)
Weight	440 g (15.52 oz)	366 g (Wi-Fi), 371 g (LTE) (12.91 oz)

Display
Resolution	1200 x 2000 pixels, 5:3 ratio (~224 ppi density)	800 x 1340 pixels, 5:3 ratio (~179 ppi density)
Size	10.4 inches, 307.9 cm2 (~80.2% screen-to-body ratio)	8.7 inches, 214.9 cm2 (~81.1% screen-to-body ratio)
Type	IPS LCD, 360 nits (typ)	TFT LCD

Platform
CPU	Octa-core (2x2.0 GHz Cortex-A75 & 6x1.8 GHz Cortex-A55)	Octa-core (4x2.3 GHz Cortex-A53 & 4x1.8 GHz Cortex-A53)
Chipset	Mediatek MT6769V/CU Helio G80 (12 nm)	Mediatek MT8768T Helio P22T (12 nm)
GPU	Mali-G52 MC2	PowerVR GE8320
OS	Android 11	Android 11, upgradable to Android 14, One UI 6.1

Memory
Card slot	microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot)	microSDXC (dedicated slot)
Internal	32GB 3GB RAM, 64GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM	32GB 2GB RAM, 32GB 3GB RAM, 64GB 4GB RAM
	-	eMMC 5.1

Main Camera
Single	8 MP	8 MP, AF
Video	1080p@30fps	1080p@30fps

Selfie camera
Single	8 MP, 105˚ (ultrawide)	2 MP
Video	1080p@30fps	-

Sound
3.5mm jack	Yes	Yes
35mm jack	Yes	Yes
Loudspeaker	Yes, with stereo speakers (4 speakers)	Yes, with stereo speakers
	24-bit/192kHz audio	-

Comms
Bluetooth	5.0, A2DP, LE	5.0, A2DP, LE
NFC	No	No
Positioning	GPS, GLONASS, BDS - cellular model only	GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO - cellular model only
Radio	No	No
USB	USB Type-C 2.0, OTG	USB Type-C 2.0
WLAN	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct

Features
Sensors	Accelerometer, gyro, proximity	Accelerometer, compass

Battery
Charging	18W wired 5W reverse wired	15W wired
Type	7100 mAh	Li-Po 5100 mAh

Misc
Colors	Gray, Gold	Gray, Silver
Models	RMP2102, RMP2103	SM-T225, SM-T220, SM-T225N, SM-T227U
Price	About 160 EUR	About 140 EUR
SAR	-	0.68 W/kg (body)
SAR EU	-	0.64 W/kg (head) 0.99 W/kg (body)

Tests
Display	Contrast ratio: 1554:1 (nominal)	-
Loudspeaker	-22.4 LUFS (Excellent)	-
Performance	AnTuTu: 187913 (v8), 226474 (v9) GeekBench: 1236 (v5.1) GFXBench: 8.5fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)	-

Realme Pad

Brighter Display
More Powerful Chipset (Helio G80)
Reverse Charging
Slightly Better Camera (Likely)

Less Established Brand
Potentially Slower Software Updates

Samsung Galaxy Tab A7 Lite

Samsung Brand Recognition
Familiar Samsung UI
Potentially Better Software Support (though limited)

Dimmer Display
Less Powerful Chipset (Helio P22T)
Slower Charging

Display Comparison

The Realme Pad boasts a significantly brighter display at 455 nits compared to the Tab A7 Lite (estimated around 350 nits). While both offer a decent contrast ratio, the Realme Pad's higher brightness makes it more enjoyable to use outdoors or in well-lit environments. Both have similar resolutions, but the Realme Pad's brightness gives it a noticeable edge.

Camera Comparison

Camera quality on both tablets is modest, typical for budget devices. The Realme Pad likely has a slightly better main camera sensor, but both will produce acceptable photos in good lighting conditions. Low-light performance will be subpar on both.

Performance

The Realme Pad's Helio G80 chipset generally outperforms the Tab A7 Lite's Helio P22T. The G80 features Cortex-A75 cores, providing a boost in single-core performance, which translates to smoother app loading and multitasking. While both are adequate for basic tasks, the Realme Pad handles more demanding apps and games slightly better.

Battery Life

Both tablets offer similar battery capacities (around 7000mAh). However, the Realme Pad's slightly more efficient chipset might give it a slight edge in battery life under heavy use. The Realme Pad also includes 18W charging, while the Tab A7 Lite is limited to 15W.

Buying Guide

The Realme Pad is ideal for users prioritizing a vibrant display, decent performance for everyday tasks, and the added convenience of reverse charging. The Samsung Galaxy Tab A7 Lite is a good choice for those heavily invested in the Samsung ecosystem, seeking a reliable and familiar Android experience, and potentially benefiting from Samsung's software update track record (though it's still limited on budget devices).