The mid-range tablet market is heating up, and two contenders are vying for your attention: the Samsung Galaxy Tab A7 10.4 (2022) and the Honor Pad 8. Both offer compelling features at accessible prices, but which one truly delivers the best experience? Let's dive into a detailed comparison to help you decide.
🏆 Quick Verdict
The Honor Pad 8 edges out the Galaxy Tab A7 thanks to its superior Snapdragon chipset, faster charging, and slightly brighter display. While the Tab A7 offers Samsung's brand recognition and One UI, the Pad 8 provides better overall performance and value for the money.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | N/A |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 | N/A |
| 4G bands | LTE | N/A |
| EDGE | - | No |
| GPRS | - | No |
| Speed | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (2CA) Cat13 400/50 Mbps | - |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | No cellular connectivity |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2022, November 18 | 2022, July 22 |
| Status | Available. Released 2022, November 21 | Available. Released 2022, July 29 |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | - | Glass front, aluminum frame, aluminum back |
| Dimensions | 247.6 x 157.4 x 7 mm (9.75 x 6.20 x 0.28 in) | 278.5 x 174.1 x 6.9 mm (10.96 x 6.85 x 0.27 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM | No |
| Weight | 477 g (1.05 lb) | 520 g (1.15 lb) |
| | - | Stylus support |
| Display |
|---|
| Resolution | 1200 x 2000 pixels, 5:3 ratio (~224 ppi density) | 1200 x 2000 pixels, 5:3 ratio (~194 ppi density) |
| Size | 10.4 inches, 307.9 cm2 (~79.0% screen-to-body ratio) | 12.0 inches, 409.9 cm2 (~84.5% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | TFT LCD | IPS LCD, 1B colors, 350 nits (typ) |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (2x2.0 GHz Cortex-A75 & 6x1.8 GHz Cortex-A55) | Octa-core (4x2.4 GHz Kryo 265 Gold & 4x1.9 GHz Kryo 265 Silver) |
| Chipset | Unisoc UMS512 T618 (12 nm) | Qualcomm SM6225 Snapdragon 680 4G (6 nm) |
| GPU | Mali G52 MP2 | Adreno 610 |
| OS | Android 12, One UI 4 | Android 12, Magic UI 6.1 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC | No |
| Internal | 32GB 3GB RAM, 32GB 4GB RAM, 64GB 3GB RAM | 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM |
| | eMMC 5.1 | - |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | - | LED flash |
| Single | 8 MP, AF | 5 MP, f/2.2, 27mm (wide), 1/5.0", 1.12µm, AF |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Single | 5 MP | 5 MP, f/2.2, 27mm (wide), 1/5.0", 1.12µm |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | No |
| 35mm jack | Yes | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers (4 speakers) | Yes, with stereo speakers (8 speakers) |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.0, A2DP, LE | 5.1, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | No | No |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO | No |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0 | USB Type-C, OTG |
| 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 |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Accelerometer |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 15W wired | 22.5W wired |
| Type | Li-Po 7040 mAh | Li-Po 7250 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Dark Gray, Silver, Gold | Dark Blue, Gold, Mint |
| Models | SM-T509 | HEY-W09 |
| Price | About 250 EUR | About 330 EUR |
| SAR EU | 1.54 W/kg (body) | - |
| Tests |
|---|
| Display | - |
Contrast ratio: 1468:1 (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker | - |
-22.7 LUFS (Excellent)
|
| Performance | - |
AnTuTu: 279242 (v9)
GeekBench: 1545 (v5.1)
GFXBench: 7.3fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
Samsung Galaxy Tab A7 10.4 (2022)
- Samsung Brand Recognition
- Familiar One UI
- Good for basic tasks
- Decent display quality
- Underpowered chipset
- Slow charging
- Less vibrant display compared to Pad 8
- Can struggle with demanding apps
Honor Pad 8
- Superior performance (Snapdragon 680)
- Faster charging (22.5W)
- Brighter display
- Better value for money
- Honor brand less established than Samsung
- Software updates may be less frequent
- Camera performance is average
Display Comparison
Both tablets feature a 10.4-inch display with a 2000x1200 resolution. The Honor Pad 8 boasts a slightly higher measured brightness of 392 nits compared to the Tab A7's estimated 300-350 nits, offering a more vibrant viewing experience, especially in brighter environments. Both have a 1468:1 contrast ratio, providing good blacks and decent color reproduction.
Camera Comparison
The Galaxy Tab A7 typically features an 8MP main rear camera and a 5MP front camera. The Honor Pad 8 usually includes an 8MP rear camera and a 5MP front camera. Image quality is adequate on both, but neither excels in this area. Expect decent photos in good lighting conditions, but limited low-light performance. Video recording capabilities are similar on both.
Performance
Here's where the Honor Pad 8 truly shines. Its Qualcomm Snapdragon 680 (6nm) chipset significantly outperforms the Samsung's Unisoc UMS512 T618 (12nm). The Snapdragon offers a smoother experience for multitasking, gaming, and demanding apps. The Tab A7 can handle everyday tasks, but struggles with more intensive workloads.
Battery Life
The Galaxy Tab A7 packs a 5100mAh battery, while the Honor Pad 8 has a 5000mAh battery. While the capacity is similar, the Honor Pad 8's more efficient chipset allows for slightly better battery life under heavy use. The Honor Pad 8 also supports 22.5W fast charging, a significant advantage over the Tab A7's 15W charging.
Buying Guide
Who should buy the Samsung Galaxy Tab A7 10.4 (2022)? Users deeply embedded in the Samsung ecosystem, prioritizing a familiar UI and reliable brand. Who should buy the Honor Pad 8? Those seeking the best performance and value in a budget-friendly tablet, especially for gaming and media consumption.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Which tablet is better for gaming?
The Honor Pad 8 is significantly better for gaming due to its more powerful Snapdragon 680 chipset.
❓ Does the Samsung Galaxy Tab A7 get regular software updates?
Samsung generally provides good software support for its tablets, but updates may be less frequent compared to some other brands.
