Choosing between a smartphone and a tablet can be tough, especially when both are from Samsung. The Galaxy A7 Duos, an older smartphone, boasts impressive battery life, while the Galaxy Tab A8 10.5 (2021) offers a larger display and modern features. Let's dive into a head-to-head comparison to help you decide which device is right for you.
🏆 Quick Verdict
The Galaxy Tab A8 10.5 (2021) is the clear winner for most users. While the A7 Duos has exceptional battery life, the Tab A8’s larger screen, more modern chipset, and tablet functionality provide a significantly better overall experience. It's a great value tablet for entertainment and light productivity.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - SIM 1 & SIM 2 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 - A700YD, A700H | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 3, 7, 8, 28, 38, 39, 40, 41 - A700YD | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66 |
| Speed | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat4 150/50 Mbps | HSPA, LTE - cellular model only |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2015, January. Released 2015, February | 2021, December 15 |
| Status | Discontinued | Available. Released 2022, January 17 |
| Body |
|---|
| Dimensions | 151 x 76.2 x 6.3 mm (5.94 x 3.00 x 0.25 in) | 246.8 x 161.9 x 6.9 mm (9.72 x 6.37 x 0.27 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM (cellular model only) |
| Weight | 141 g (4.97 oz) | 508 g (1.12 lb) |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 4 | - |
| Resolution | 1080 x 1920 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~401 ppi density) | 1200 x 1920 pixels, 16:10 ratio (~216 ppi density) |
| Size | 5.5 inches, 83.4 cm2 (~72.5% screen-to-body ratio) | 10.5 inches, 319.7 cm2 (~80.0% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | Super AMOLED | TFT LCD |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (4x1.5 GHz Cortex-A53 & 4x1.0 GHz Cortex-A53) | Octa-core (2x2.0 GHz Cortex-A75 & 6x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm MSM8939 Snapdragon 615 (28 nm) | Unisoc Tiger T618 (12 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 405 | Mali G52 MP2 |
| OS | Android 4.4.4 (KitKat) | Android 11, upgradable to Android 14, One UI 6 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) | microSDXC (dedicated slot) |
| Internal | 16GB 2GB RAM | 32GB 2GB RAM, 32GB 3GB RAM, 64GB 2GB RAM, 64GB 3GB RAM, 64GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 3GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM |
| | eMMC 4.5 | - |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | LED flash, panorama, HDR | - |
| Single | 13 MP, f/2.0, 28mm (wide), AF | 8 MP, AF |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Single | 5 MP, f/2.2, 23mm (wide) | 5 MP |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes, with stereo speakers (4 speakers) |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 4.0, A2DP, EDR, LE | 5.0, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | Yes (A700YD) | No |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS/ BDS (market dependant) | GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO, QZSS - cellular model only |
| Radio | FM radio, RDS, recording | No |
| USB | microUSB 2.0 | USB Type-C 2.0 |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, hotspot | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Accelerometer, proximity, compass | Accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| | ANT+ | - |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | - | 15W wired |
| Music play | Up to 54 h | - |
| Talk time | Up to 17 h (3G) | - |
| Type | Li-Ion 2600 mAh, non-removable | Li-Po 7040 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Pearl White, Midnight Black, Champagne Gold | Gray, Silver, Pink Gold |
| Models | SM-A7000, SM-A7009, SM-A700H, SM-A700YD | SM-X200, SM-X205 |
| Price | About 300 EUR | About 230 EUR |
| SAR | 1.25 W/kg (head) 1.05 W/kg (body) | - |
| SAR EU | 0.29 W/kg (head) 0.39 W/kg (body) | 0.92 W/kg (body) |
| Tests |
|---|
| Audio quality |
Noise -95.2dB / Crosstalk -93.4dB | - |
| Battery life |
Endurance rating 83h
| - |
| Display |
Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal), 3.679 (sunlight) | - |
| Loudspeaker |
Voice 64dB / Noise 66dB / Ring 73dB
| - |
| Performance |
Basemark OS II 2.0: 813Basemark X: 4802 | - |
Samsung Galaxy A7 Duos
- Exceptional battery life
- Compact smartphone form factor
- Affordable price (due to age)
- Outdated chipset
- Lower performance
- Older display technology
- Limited camera capabilities
Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 10.5 (2021)
- Larger display for media consumption
- More modern chipset and CPU
- Versatile tablet functionality
- Improved camera quality
- Slightly shorter battery life than A7 Duos
- 15W charging is relatively slow
Display Comparison
The Tab A8’s 10.5-inch display is a major advantage. It offers a significantly larger viewing area for videos, games, and browsing. While the A7 Duos has a decent display, its smaller size and older technology can't compete. The Tab A8 likely has better color accuracy and viewing angles, though specific panel details for the A7 Duos are scarce.
Camera Comparison
Camera quality is generally better on the Tab A8, although specific megapixel counts are not readily available for the A7 Duos. The Tab A8 likely benefits from more modern image processing algorithms. The A7 Duos camera is likely adequate for basic snapshots, but the Tab A8 will offer superior image quality.
Performance
The Tab A8’s Unisoc Tiger T618 chipset, built on a 12nm process, is noticeably faster and more efficient than the A7 Duos’s Snapdragon 615 (28nm). The Tab A8’s CPU architecture (Cortex-A75 cores) also provides a performance boost. Expect smoother multitasking and faster app loading times on the Tab A8.
Battery Life
The A7 Duos's endurance rating of 83h is truly remarkable, suggesting exceptional battery life. However, the Tab A8's larger battery (7040 mAh) combined with the efficiency of the Unisoc chipset still provides very good battery life, likely lasting a full day of moderate use. While the A7 Duos *might* edge out the Tab A8 in pure battery endurance, the difference is likely less significant in real-world usage.
Buying Guide
The Samsung Galaxy A7 Duos is best suited for users prioritizing extreme battery life and a compact smartphone form factor, particularly those on a tight budget. The Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 10.5 (2021) is ideal for those seeking a versatile tablet for media consumption, light gaming, and basic productivity tasks, offering a larger screen and more modern features.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Is the Galaxy A7 Duos still worth buying?
Only if extreme battery life is your absolute top priority and you're on a very tight budget. Otherwise, newer devices offer significantly better performance and features.
❓ Can the Galaxy Tab A8 handle gaming?
It can handle casual games and less demanding titles well. However, it's not a powerhouse for high-end gaming.
