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If you're shopping around for a tablet at the moment, you've no doubt heard "iPad this" and "iPad that".

But what about those of us who are heavily invested in the Android ecosystem? Or those of us who, for whatever reason, have just never owned an Apple product and find the prospect of learning how to use one too daunting at this point?

Fear not, dear reader; we've got your back. In this post, we're going to shine a light on 5 of the best Samsung tablets on the market.

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In This Blog:

• For Power Users
• For Power Users On A Budget
• The Mid-Range Option
• The Cheaper Mid-Range Option
• Just the Basics

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For Power Users: Samsung Galaxy Tab S8

If you need the best of the best, the Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 is the tablet for you.

The S8 is Samsung's current flagship tablet and, as such, is ideal if you need a tablet for demanding tasks like graphic design, video production or coding… or, you know, you just want to play the latest and greatest games (we're not judging).

The S8's most important feature is a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chipset, which (coupled with 8GB of RAM) provides a huge amount of power for the aforementioned demanding tasks as well as multitasking.

To support all that power, Samsung have included a long lasting battery with fast charging capabilities – you're covered when you're out and about, and you can get back to it quickly if you find yourself short on energy too!

It also features an 11" LCD display with a 120Hz refresh rate, which isn't the best on the market but does the trick for most purposes (if you want a better display and have a bit more cash to spare, the S8+ has a 12.4" Super AMOLED screen). You'll also get four speakers with Dolby Atmos surround sound and a dual camera set-up (13MP/6MP rear cameras) with 4k filming capabilities.

Samsung generously includes an S Pen stylus with the S8, so you have everything you need to take notes and doodle out of the box, and there's a handy magnetised strip to keep it safe when you're not using it (because, let's face it, stylus' are very easy to lose). If you're more of the writing/coding persuasion, you can attach Samsung's Book Cover Keyboard (sold separately) for more of a PC-esque experience.

All in all, the Samsung Galaxy S8 is one of the best Android tablets around and well worth a look if you're planning to use a tablet for professional purposes or particularly demanding hobbies.

 

For Power Users On A Budget: Samsung Galaxy Tab S7

The Galaxy Tab S7 is a great shout if you're planning to dabble in a bit of a drawing or video production, but don't want to splash out full price on a top-end tablet.

Although it was released in 2020, the Tab S7 still holds up well. The Qualcomm Snapdragon 865+ processor isn't the fastest on the market but it can still handle demanding tasks, files and games.

You'll also get a very similar 11" 120Hz LCD display and a huge 8,000mAh battery with similarly super-fast charging. In addition, the S7 has a dual-camera set-up with 4K video capability and an S Pen included as standard… sound familiar? Yep, it's fair to say that while the S7 is a slightly older, slightly slower version of the S8, it'll give most users everything they need at a lower price tag.

Refurbished Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 tablets are widely available these days too, so you can save a bit more money as well as help to protect the planet!

Shop refurbished Samsung Galaxy Tab S7

 

The Mid-Range Option: Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite

Okay, brace yourselves: there are two versions of the Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite, one released in 2022 and the other in 2020.

There isn't a great deal of difference between the two: both have a 10.4" LCD display, a 7,040mAh battery and an S Pen as standard. They're also exactly the same size. If you look at them side-to-side, it's hard to tell much of a difference.

But there is one crucial difference: the processor. The 2022 Galaxy Tab S6 model has a Snapdragon 720 chip, whereas the 2020 version uses Samsung's own Exynos 9611 processor. That means the 2022 version is faster and more capable of handling the latest apps, but the 2020 version is generally cheaper.

You might also want to consider ongoing software support. Both versions still support the latest version of Android as it stands, but it's almost certain the 2022 version will get support for longer.

That said, if you want to save money, the 2020 Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite is still worth a look.

Buy refurbished Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite

 

The Cheaper Mid-Range Option: Samsung Galaxy Tab S6

Sometimes you don't need all the bells and whistles of the latest tech. Sometimes you just need something that's powerful enough, stylish enough and, most importantly, doesn't cost a fortune.

Step forward the Samsung Galaxy Tab S6. First released in 2019, the Galaxy Tab S6 isn't the most powerful tablet on the market but its Snapdragon 855 chip can still handle most apps. If you're just watching movies and playing games, it should do almost everything you need (although it's worth bearing in mind that, like all older tech, it may struggle with the very latest games if they aren't optimised).

On top of that, you get a 10.5" Super AMOLED 60Hz display, an S Pen, a long-life battery and a multicamera set-up. Couple that with a premium aluminium build, four speakers with Dolby Surround Sound and a USB-C port, and you're getting a seriously good tablet for a very reasonable price (especially if you buy refurbished).

The S6 still supports the latest version of Android too (as of Jan 2023), so you'll get all the latest security and performance updates.

Buy refurbished Samsung Galaxy Tab S6

 

Just the Basics: Samsung Galaxy Tab A7

The Galaxy Tab A7, part of Samsung's budget A series, is ideal if you just want to watch movies, play games or do basic life admin.

It features a 10.4" display and 4 speakers with Dolby Atmos surround sound, which should be good enough for most people to enjoy films and TV shows on. Its slim design (it's only 7mm thick) makes it perfect for lounging around on the sofa, while its durable metal build gives it some protection from drops, scuffs and scrapes (we highly recommend avoiding all three if you can though).

Power-wise, the A7 features an octa-core processor with 3GB of RAM. It's not super powerful, but you don't really need that level of power for a tablet like this! It also features a 7,040mAh battery with 15W fast charging and an 8MP rear camera for any impromptu photography. That probably isn't as good as your phone's camera but it does the trick for photos where quality isn't a concern and tasks like scanning documents.

Buy refurbished Samsung Galaxy Tab A7 

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We hope this guide helps you find the perfect tablet. If you want to delve a little deeper, why not check out our range of refurbished Samsung tablets? 

Want to branch out and try a different tablet? Try a refurbished iPad model instead! We also sell a range of other Apple products including cheap iPhone models such as cheap iPhone 11,  refurbished iPhone 12 and refurbished iPhone 13 models. So whether you're looking for an affordable iPhone for sale or any other Apple product, find it for less on the musicMagpie Store!

If you need a little extra cash for your new tablet, you can sell mobile phone handsets with us too – find out how much you can make for your iPhone trade in today!