Looking for a large-screen tablet without breaking the bank? The Xiaomi Mi Max 3 and Samsung Galaxy Tab A7 Lite are popular contenders in the budget tablet space. But which one offers the best value for your money? Let's dive into a detailed comparison.
🏆 Quick Verdict
The Xiaomi Mi Max 3 boasts a significantly larger display and exceptional battery life. However, the Samsung Galaxy Tab A7 Lite offers a more modern chipset and a generally smoother user experience. For pure battery endurance and screen size, the Mi Max 3 wins, but for overall usability, the A7 Lite takes the lead.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - SIM 1 & SIM 2 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 20, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 20, 28, 38, 40, 66 |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE | HSPA, LTE - cellular model only |
| Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE |
| | CDMA2000 1xEV-DO | - |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2018, July. Released 2018, July | 2021, May 27 |
| Status | Discontinued | Available. Released 2021, June 18 |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | Glass front, aluminum back, aluminum frame | Glass front, aluminum back, aluminum frame, plastic ends |
| Dimensions | 176.2 x 87.4 x 8 mm (6.94 x 3.44 x 0.31 in) | 212.5 x 124.7 x 8 mm (8.37 x 4.91 x 0.31 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM (cellular model only) |
| Weight | 221 g (7.80 oz) | 366 g (Wi-Fi), 371 g (LTE) (12.91 oz) |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | To be confirmed | - |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2160 pixels, 18:9 ratio (~350 ppi density) | 800 x 1340 pixels, 5:3 ratio (~179 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.9 inches, 122.9 cm2 (~79.8% screen-to-body ratio) | 8.7 inches, 214.9 cm2 (~81.1% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD | TFT LCD |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (4x1.8 GHz Kryo 260 Gold & 4x1.6 GHz Kryo 260 Silver) | Octa-core (4x2.3 GHz Cortex-A53 & 4x1.8 GHz Cortex-A53) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SDM636 Snapdragon 636 (14 nm) | Mediatek MT8768T Helio P22T (12 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 509 | PowerVR GE8320 |
| OS | Android 8.1 (Oreo), upgradable to Android 10, MIUI 12 | Android 11, upgradable to Android 14, One UI 6.1 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) | microSDXC (dedicated slot) |
| Internal | 64GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM | 32GB 2GB RAM, 32GB 3GB RAM, 64GB 4GB RAM |
| | eMMC 5.1 | eMMC 5.1 |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Dual | 12 MP, f/1.9, 1/2.55", 1.4µm, dual pixel PDAF
Auxiliary lens | - |
| Features | Dual-LED flash, HDR, panorama | - |
| Single | - | 8 MP, AF |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 720p/1080p@30fps (gyro-EIS), 720p@120fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Single | 8 MP, f/2.0, 1/4.0", 1.12µm | 2 MP |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | - |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.0, A2DP, LE | 5.0, A2DP, LE |
| Infrared port | Yes | - |
| NFC | No | No |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, BDS | GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO - cellular model only |
| Radio | FM radio | No |
| USB | USB Type-C | USB Type-C 2.0 |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Accelerometer, compass |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 18W wired, QC3 | 15W wired |
| Type | Li-Ion 5500 mAh, non-removable | Li-Po 5100 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Black, Champagne Gold, Blue | Gray, Silver |
| Models | M1804E4A | SM-T225, SM-T220, SM-T225N, SM-T227U |
| Price | About 310 EUR | About 140 EUR |
| SAR | 1.58 W/kg (head) 1.42 W/kg (body) | 0.68 W/kg (body) |
| SAR EU | - | 0.64 W/kg (head) 0.99 W/kg (body) |
| Tests |
|---|
| Audio quality |
Noise -93.7dB / Crosstalk -94.0dB | - |
| Battery life |
Endurance rating 115h
| - |
| Camera |
Photo / Video | - |
| Display |
Contrast ratio: 1462 (nominal), 3.061 (sunlight) | - |
| Loudspeaker |
Voice 68dB / Noise 71dB / Ring 83dB
| - |
| Performance |
AnTuTu: 119229 (v7)
GeekBench: 4907 (v4.4)
GFXBench: 6fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) | - |
Xiaomi Mi Max 3
- Massive 6.93-inch display
- Exceptional battery life (115h)
- Excellent sunlight contrast ratio
- Potentially good value
- Older chipset (Snapdragon 636)
- Can feel sluggish
- Camera specs unknown
- Larger size may be unwieldy
Samsung Galaxy Tab A7 Lite
- More modern chipset (Helio P22T)
- Smoother performance
- Compact and portable
- Reputable brand
- Smaller display (8.7-inch)
- Significantly shorter battery life
- Basic camera performance
Display Comparison
The Xiaomi Mi Max 3 features a massive 6.93-inch display with a contrast ratio of 1462 (nominal) and 3061 (sunlight), offering excellent outdoor visibility. The Samsung Galaxy Tab A7 Lite has a smaller 8.7-inch display. While the A7 Lite's display is generally well-regarded, the Mi Max 3's sheer size provides a more immersive viewing experience.
Camera Comparison
Camera quality is generally not a strong point for budget tablets. The Mi Max 3 likely has a decent camera setup, but detailed specifications are unavailable. The Samsung Galaxy Tab A7 Lite features a single rear camera and a front-facing camera, suitable for basic photos and video calls. Image quality on both will be adequate, but not exceptional.
Performance
The Samsung Galaxy Tab A7 Lite's Mediatek Helio P22T chipset, while not a powerhouse, provides a more modern and efficient performance compared to the Mi Max 3's Snapdragon 636. Expect smoother multitasking and app loading on the A7 Lite. The Mi Max 3 can feel a bit sluggish at times, especially with demanding apps.
Battery Life
The Xiaomi Mi Max 3 absolutely dominates in battery life, boasting an incredible endurance rating of 115 hours. This is a significant advantage for users who need a tablet that can last for days on a single charge. The Samsung Galaxy Tab A7 Lite offers respectable battery life, but falls far short of the Mi Max 3's endurance.
Buying Guide
The Xiaomi Mi Max 3 is ideal for users prioritizing battery life and a massive screen for media consumption. The Samsung Galaxy Tab A7 Lite is a better choice for those seeking a more responsive tablet for everyday tasks, light gaming, and a more compact form factor.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Is the Xiaomi Mi Max 3 still worth buying in 2024?
If battery life and a large screen are your top priorities and you can find it at a very low price, it can still be a decent option. However, consider the age of the hardware.
❓ Which tablet is better for streaming videos?
The Xiaomi Mi Max 3's larger screen offers a more immersive streaming experience, but the Samsung Galaxy Tab A7 Lite's smoother performance might result in a less frustrating experience overall.
