Samsung’s tablet selection is about as wide as their phone selection, running the gamut from cheap low-end models to the super high-end Galaxy Tab S2 and even a Windows 2-in-1. One of the newest additions to the family is the lower mid-range Galaxy Tab A 10.1, sporting an Exynos 7870 processor, backed by 2GB of RAM, and a 1920×1200 screen at 10.1 inches, with a battery rated for about 13 hours of operation. This tablet, able to go a couple miles beyond basic tasks, is now officially up for preorder on Samsung’s website in the US. Customers in the states can earmark themselves one of the 10.1 inch slates for $299.
That $299 will net users a Wi-Fi only tablet with 16GB of internal storage, backed by a MicroSD slot. The middle-of-the-road processor and respectable screen are touted by Samsung as having a full 13 hours of operable time between charges, thanks to a rather gargantuan 7,300mAh battery, even on the large side by tablet standards. The tablet itself is an 8.2mm affair, weighing in at 525 grams. A 2-megapixel selfie snapper should be just enough for vanity shots, while an 8-megapixel back camera will get the job done, but not in spectacular fashion. The tablet runs Android 6.0 Marshmallow out of the box, and comes with most of Samsung’s better TouchWiz features, like Quick Connect and Split Screen. A full suite of Wi-Fi connections is on board, as is Bluetooth 4.2, but no MHL for video output.
While not exactly among the most elite of devices in any regards, the device makes a nice jack of all trades that should be a nice addition to any user’s collection for both work and play, especially considering the very long battery life. The octa-core processor and decent GPU will power most games nicely, while 2GB of RAM is pretty much enough to load just about any individual app, though multitasking could suffer with apps that consume a large amount of RAM. The tablet is already making the rounds in Europe and some other areas, and should be shipping to US customers that put in their preorder within 7-10 business days, according to the listing on Samsung’s website.
