Is the tablet market dead? Surely there are many who would not hesitate for a moment to answer this question with a resounding Yes. However, there are several manufacturers that continue to renew their tablets. And if they do, it is because these types of devices continue to be sold. One of the latest to hit the market is the Samsung Galaxy Tab A 10.1 2019, the renewal of the cheapest model from the Korean manufacturer . It is a tablet with a 10.1-inch screen and FHD resolution, a metallic design, good autonomy and Android 9 Pie.
We are facing a device mainly aimed at undemanding users. Hence, it has a fairly tight hardware, although its possibilities are more than we could expect at first . An ideal tablet for those looking for an inexpensive device but that offers a service for both adults and children. I have had the opportunity to spend a few weeks testing the Samsung Galaxy Tab A 10.1 2019 and I am going to tell you about my experience with it.
Data sheet Samsung Galaxy Tab A 10.1 2019
| screen | 10.1-inch TFT panel with WUXGA resolution (1,920 x 1,200 pixels) |
| Main chamber | 8 MP, Autofocus, FHD video recording at 30fps |
| Camera for selfies | 5 MP |
| Internal memory | 32 or 64 GB |
| Extension | MicroSD (up to 512GB) |
| Processor and RAM | Exynos 7904 with eight cores (two at 1.8 GHz and four at 1.6 GHz) |
| Battery | 6,150 mAh |
| Operating system | Android 9.0 Pie + One UI |
| Connections | Dual band 802.11ac WiFi, Bluetooth 5.0, GPS, 3.5mm jack, USB Type-C |
| SIM | Only on 4G model |
| Design | Metal and glass, colors: black, silver and rose gold |
| Dimensions | 245.2 x 149.4 x 7.5 mm, 469 grams |
| Featured Features | Dolby Atmos sound Kids mode |
| Release date | Available |
| Price | 2 GB + 32 GB: 230 euros 3 GB + 64 GB: 270 euros |
Metallic design for a better finish
The Samsung Galaxy Tab A 10.1 2019 does not have a groundbreaking design, but it is quite elegant and effective. It is only 7.5 millimeters thick and has a metallic finish that gives it a more premium touch. Compared to the previous model, we no longer have buttons on the fronts and the frames are tighter. The side frames are quite narrow, although the top and bottom frames are more pronounced. The truth is that, despite not being a very "modern" design, they facilitate the grip of the device.
The back is almost all metal. And I say almost all of it because at the top, where the camera is located, it has a strip of plastic. In general, the finish is of a high quality, weighing 469 grams, which is quite correct in hand. The only three physical buttons are located on the right side (looking at the device from the front), these being the volume and power buttons. Under them is the MicroSD card slot, very useful to expand the amount of storage more economically.
The Samsung Galaxy Tab A 10.1 2019 has a front camera, located in the upper frame. However, the lower frame is "bare", since it does not include a fingerprint reader . The truth is that it is quite missing, since today even the cheapest mobiles have one.
For the rest, we have a 3.5mm headphone jack on top. And the USB Type-C connector at the bottom to charge the device. Next to it are the speakers, one on each side.
Correct display and better than expected performance
Samsung has us used to including magnificent screens with AMOLED technology in their mobiles. The Samsung Galaxy Tab A 10.1 2019, however, has a simpler display. Specifically, a 10.1-inch TFT panel with a resolution of 1,920 x 1,200 pixels .
Despite this, the screen looks great . The images are sharp, the color reproduction is correct, and the viewing angles are good. As for the brightness, it is correct, although I have missed a bit more light output , especially for outdoor use. And I have also lacked that it has a light sensor , since it does not have automatic brightness control.
Regarding performance, inside the Samsung Galaxy Tab A 10.1 2019 we have an Exynos 7904 processor with eight cores . Of these eight cores, two work at 1.8 GHz and another two at 1.6 GHz. They are accompanied by 2 or 3 GB of RAM , as well as 32 or 64 GB of internal storage , depending on the model. I have tried the top model, with 3 GB of RAM and 64 GB of internal storage. The price difference is not very high, so I personally recommend opting for the superior model. Not because of the amount of storage, since this section can be supplied with a MicroSD card, but because of the extra gigabyte of RAM.
This technical package offers optimal performance in most situations, although with some “buts” . For example, when it comes to multitasking, it shows that it costs you. It is also very noticeable when we are installing a new application or an update and we want to work with the device.
For the rest, the performance is more than correct . Heavy games will take a little longer to open than on a higher-end mobile or higher-powered tablet like the Samsung Galaxy Tab S5E, but once booted they will work perfectly.
For those of you who trust more in the numbers, on these lines I leave you the result of the AnTuTu and Geekbench tests. As you can see, the numbers obtained are at the height of some mid-range mobiles.
Battery for several days and cameras for sporadic use
Completing the technical set we have a 6,150 milliamp battery . Considering that the included hardware is not too demanding, including the screen, the autonomy is quite good.
During the time that I have had the tablet I have used it for about an hour a day. With this use, the battery has lasted around 6-7 days , depending on whether you were watching video, playing games or just browsing the Internet. In idle, the consumption is very low, so many days can go by without having to charge it.
Photo taken with the Samsung Galaxy Tab A 10.1 2019
Lastly, the Samsung Galaxy Tab A 10.1 2019 also includes a couple of cameras . The front is 5 megapixels and will give us a correct performance in video conferences or video calls, which is after all its main use on a tablet.
In the back we have an 8 megapixel sensor with f / 2.0 aperture . This has autofocus and video recording with 1080p resolution at 30fps. It is a camera that offers good image quality for sporadic photography, but which, of course, is surpassed by almost any mobile that we carry in our pocket. But, if you have an emergency, you should know that the main camera performs quite well.
Dolby Atmos sound and updated connectivity
El sonido de la Samsung Galaxy Tab A 10.1 2019 está proporcionado por dos altavoces situados en la parte inferior de la tableta. Se escuchan bastante bien incluso a volúmenes altos, aunque su ubicación hace que no tengamos sonido estéreo.
Por otro lado, la tableta cuenta con tecnología Dolby Atmos. Podemos activarlo desde el panel de control y lo cierto es que se nota mucho el cambio. El sonido mejora especialmente cuando estamos viendo películas y series, menos en música. A nivel general, lo que hace esta tecnología es aumentar el volumen de todos los canales, dando especial atención a las voces y efectos. Se consigue así unos diálogos mucho más claros, así que os recomiendo que para consumir contenido multimedia lo activéis.
En cuanto a conectividad, podríamos decir que la Samsung Galaxy Tab A 10.1 2019 está a la última. Cuenta con WiFi 802.11ac de doble banda, Bluetooth 5.0 y conector USB Tipo C. No tiene NFC, pero tampoco tendría mucho sentido ya que su uso más habitual es para el pago móvil.
Android 9 Pie con One UI de Samsung
Para dirigir y controlar todo este hardware la Samsung Galaxy Tab A 10.1 2019 está equipada con Android 9.0 Pie. Eso sí, siempre con la capa One UI sobre el sistema operativo de Google. Lo cierto es que esta capa de personalización de Samsung es bastante interesante, como ya hemos visto en los análisis de los diferentes móviles que el fabricante coreano ha lanzado este año.
Tenemos preinstaladas algunas aplicaciones de Samsung, como Notes, Calendario o la Galaxy Store. También un par de Microsoft, como Office Mobile y OneDrive. Ninguna de ellas se puede desinstalar, aunque sí desactivar. Lo cierto es que en este aspecto Samsung ha mejorado mucho, eliminando muchas de las aplicaciones que traían preinstaladas otros años sus terminales.
El sistema va fluido y la capa de personalización es mucho más intuitiva de lo que era TouchWiz. Llama la atención la pantalla de Ajustes, que claramente se ha portado tal cual de los móviles y deja un especia en blanco bastante grande en su parte superior.
Mención especial para el Modo Niños, que podemos activar directamente desde el panel de control. Si lo hacemos la interfaz cambia por completo y aparecen varias aplicaciones especialmente diseñadas para los más pequeños de la casa. En un principio no están descargadas, así que tendremos que hacerlo antes de utilizarlas.
Entre ellas tenemos aplicaciones para pintar y dibujar, para distorsionar la voz, vídeos, juegos interactivos e incluso una aplicación especial de cámara.
Conclusiones y precio
Contestando a la pregunta inicial, yo creo que sigue habiendo mercado para las tabletas. Aunque eso sí, para usos muy específicos. Por un lado tenemos los usuarios que quieren una tableta para un uso profesional. Y por otro los que buscan un dispositivo para entretener a los más pequeños de la casa. De ahí que tengamos dispositivos con una diferencia de precio tan pronunciada.
Lo cierto es que somos muchos los que cuando pensamos en tabletas en nuestra mente directamente aparece un iPad. Sin embargo, los precios de los dispositivos de Apple hacen que muchos usuarios busquen alternativas más económicas.
Una buena alternativa sería esta Samsung Galaxy Tab A 10.1 2019. Es una tableta ideal para consumir contenido multimedia, navegar por Internet, ver redes sociales y distraerse con algunos juegos de Android. Si vamos a darle un uso más profesional deberíamos mirar otros modelos. Pero lo cierto es que, sin ser un aparato necesario, le acabas cogiendo el gusto a tenerla en casa.
La Samsung Galaxy Tab A 10.1 2019 tiene un precio oficial que parte desde los 230 euros para el modelo con 2 GB de RAM y 32 GB de almacenamiento interno. Sin embargo, como os comentaba antes, yo recomiendo adquirir el modelo superior. Se trata del modelo que he probado, cuenta con 3 GB de RAM y 64 GB de almacenamiento interno, y su precio oficial es de 270 euros.