Samsung Galaxy Tab A 8.0 (2015) vs. Galaxy Tab S3 9.7: A Detailed Comparison

Choosing the right tablet can be tough, especially with so many options available. Today, we're pitting two Samsung tablets against each other: the budget-friendly Galaxy Tab A 8.0 (2015) and the more premium Galaxy Tab S3 9.7. Let's see which one comes out on top.

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🏆 Quick Verdict

The Galaxy Tab S3 9.7 is the clear winner, offering significantly better performance, a superior display, and a more premium experience. While the Tab A 8.0 is a decent budget option, the S3's Snapdragon 820 chipset and AMOLED screen make it a worthwhile upgrade for most users.

PHONES
Phone Names	Samsung Galaxy Tab A 8.0 (2015)	Samsung Galaxy Tab S3 9.7

Network
2G bands	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bands	HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100	HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100
4G bands	1, 3, 7, 8, 20	1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 17, 20, 28, 40
Speed	HSPA, LTE - cellular model only	HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (2CA) Cat6 300/50 Mbps - cellular model only
Technology	GSM / HSPA / LTE	GSM / HSPA / LTE

Launch
Announced	2015, March. Released 2015, May	2017, February. Released 2017, April
Status	Discontinued	Discontinued

Body
Build	-	Glass front, glass back, aluminum frame
Dimensions	208.3 x 137.9 x 7.4 mm (8.20 x 5.43 x 0.29 in)	237.3 x 169 x 6 mm (9.34 x 6.65 x 0.24 in)
SIM	Micro-SIM - cellular model only	Nano-SIM (cellular model only)
Weight	313 g (11.04 oz)	429 g (Wi-Fi)/ 434 g (LTE) (15.13 oz)
	-	Stylus

Display
Resolution	768 x 1024 pixels, 4:3 ratio (~160 ppi density)	1536 x 2048 pixels, 4:3 ratio (~264 ppi density)
Size	8.0 inches, 198.2 cm2 (~69.0% screen-to-body ratio)	9.7 inches, 291.4 cm2 (~72.7% screen-to-body ratio)
Type	TFT	Super AMOLED

Platform
CPU	Quad-core 1.2 GHz	Quad-core (2x2.15 GHz Kryo & 2x1.6 GHz Kryo)
Chipset	-	Qualcomm MSM8996 Snapdragon 820 (14 nm)
GPU	-	Adreno 530
OS	Android 5.0 (Lollipop)	Android 7.0 (Nougat), upgradable to Android 9.0 (Pie), One UI

Memory
Card slot	microSDXC (dedicated slot)	microSDXC (dedicated slot)
Internal	16GB 1.5GB RAM (Wi-Fi), 32GB 2GB RAM (LTE)	32GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM

Main Camera
Features	-	LED flash, HDR, panorama
Single	5 MP, AF	13 MP, f/1.9, 27mm (wide), AF
Video	720p	4K@30fps

Selfie camera
Single	2 MP	5 MP, f/2.2, 23mm (wide)
Video	-	1080p@30fps

Sound
3.5mm jack	Yes	Yes
35mm jack	Yes	Yes
Loudspeaker	Yes	Yes, with stereo speakers (4 speakers)
	-	Tuned by AKG/HARMAN

Comms
Bluetooth	4.0, A2DP	4.2, A2DP, LE
NFC	No	No
Positioning	GPS, GLONASS - cellular model only	GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO - cellular model only
Radio	No	No
USB	microUSB 2.0	USB Type-C 3.1, magnetic connector
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	Fingerprint (front-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, compass
	-	ANT+

Battery
Charging	-	18W wired
Music play	Up to 120 h	-
Talk time	Up to 11 h (3G)	-
Type	Li-Ion 4200 mAh, non-removable	Li-Po 6000 mAh, non-removable

Misc
Colors	Smoky Titanium, Smoky Blue, White	White, black
Models	SM-T350, SM-T355, SM-T355Y	SM-T820, SM-T825, SM-T825Y
Price	About 210 EUR	About 380 EUR
SAR EU	0.12 W/kg (head) 0.98 W/kg (body)	0.99 W/kg (body)

Tests
Performance	-	GFXBench: 13fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Samsung Galaxy Tab A 8.0 (2015)

Affordable
Compact and portable
Decent battery life

Low performance
Mediocre display
Outdated chipset

Samsung Galaxy Tab S3 9.7

Excellent performance
Vibrant AMOLED display
Premium design
Fast charging (18W)

Higher price
Camera quality is average

Display Comparison

The Tab S3 boasts a stunning 9.7-inch AMOLED display with a 2048 x 1536 resolution, offering vibrant colors, deep blacks, and excellent viewing angles. The Tab A 8.0 has an 8.0-inch LCD display with a 1280 x 800 resolution, which is noticeably less sharp and lacks the contrast of the AMOLED panel. The S3's display is a significant upgrade.

Camera Comparison

Neither tablet excels in the camera department. The Tab A 8.0 has a 5MP rear camera and a 2MP front camera, while the Tab S3 features a 7MP rear camera and a 2MP front camera. Image quality is adequate for basic snapshots, but don't expect exceptional results from either device. The S3's camera is slightly better, but not by a significant margin.

Performance

Performance is where the Tab S3 truly shines. Its Snapdragon 820 chipset provides a substantial performance boost over the Tab A 8.0's quad-core processor. Expect smoother multitasking, faster app loading times, and a more responsive overall experience on the S3. The Tab A 8.0 can feel sluggish at times, especially with demanding apps.

Battery Life

The Tab S3 has a 6000 mAh battery, while the Tab A 8.0 has a 4500 mAh battery. While the Tab S3 has a larger battery, the Tab A 8.0's lower-powered components allow it to achieve comparable battery life in typical usage. Both tablets should provide a full day of moderate use.

Buying Guide

The Samsung Galaxy Tab A 8.0 (2015) is ideal for casual users, students, or those on a tight budget who primarily need a tablet for basic tasks like browsing, email, and light media consumption. The Samsung Galaxy Tab S3 9.7 is perfect for users who demand better performance for gaming, multitasking, and content creation, and appreciate a vibrant, high-quality display.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Is the Galaxy Tab S3 still worth buying in 2024?

Yes, the Galaxy Tab S3 remains a capable tablet, especially if you can find it at a discounted price. Its performance and display are still competitive, and it offers a premium experience for the price.

❓ What is the main difference between the Tab A 8.0 and Tab S3?

The primary difference is performance. The Tab S3's Snapdragon 820 chipset provides significantly faster processing speeds and smoother multitasking compared to the Tab A 8.0's quad-core processor. The display quality is also a major differentiator.