#TECH: An affordable tablet that does the job

WHILE the iPad reigns supreme when it comes to the tablet market in terms of branding and recognition, Samsung has performed admirably well over the years to chip away at the iPad's dominance and is now the only major company that rolls out new Android-powered tablets regularly each year. There seems to be renewed interest in the tablet form factor with the likes of Lenovo, Realme, and Xiaomi joining the fray.

Samsung's flirtation with the "flagship killer" category of devices really took off with the Samsung Galaxy S20 FE, which is why the world was looking forward to the release of the Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 FE that has been marketed as an affordable alternative to the top notch Tab S7 and S7+. Of course, the "FE" suffix would mean certain sacrifices would have to be made in order to deliver a pocket-friendly sticker price.

Design and form factor

How far can you veer away when it comes to a tablet design? I am happy to report that the Tab S7 FE is impressive to look at and feels solid to the touch. The glass front does complement the aluminium back. It does not matter whether you suffer from sweaty palms or not, the aluminium back ensures that this is far less of a fingerprint magnet and is nicer to the touch.

At first glance, one can be forgiven for thinking that this is the high-end Tab S7+, only to realise that the rear camera module sports just a single lens instead of two.

Inspecting the back, you will discover that there is no magnetic charging strip for the included S Pen for a very good reason: the S Pen is a passive model that does not require any power to function.

While it can remain attached at the back or at the sides of the device, I would not recommend doing so since the S Pen tends to break away easily due to the weak magnet. If you are going to make full use of the S Pen on a regular basis, it makes perfect sense to pick up the keyboard cover that comes with a stylus storage compartment.

The 12.4-inch display features a slim bezel and a screen-to-body ratio that is identical to the one you find on the Tab S7+. It tips the scale at 608 grams, so I would strongly recommend having a firm grip at all times lest you drop it by accident. In front lies a 5MP camera that supports face unlocking, but frankly, it is better to use a PIN number due to the current pandemic situation that requires us to put on face masks most of the time.

Where audio is concerned, your ears will be treated to fairly loud tunes from the stereo speakers. It might sound (pardon the pun) like I am nitpicking here, but the quad-speaker configuration on the flagship models offer so much more.

With just two speakers, there is less bass heard, although speech clarity is fairly decent. You will find the speaker grilles located at the top and bottom sides of the device, ensuring that they do not remain obstructed when you use the tablet in landscape mode. Do take note that there is no 3.5mm headphone jack, so you might want to use Bluetooth headsets or a USB-C-to-3.5mm converter.

Charging is achieved through the USB-C port, which is a good thing. It is a good thing that the charger is included right out of the box. I had the privilege of using the Tab S7 FE with a keyboard cover which attaches itself to one side of the device easily.

On the opposite side lies the volume rocker and power button, while the SIM tray is also capable of handling a microSD memory card if the need arises. In terms of its internal storage, you can choose from 64GB, 128GB and 256GB capacities, where all of them can be further expanded through the microSD memory card slot.

Display

Here we are at the end of 2021, and it is rather unfortunate that the Tab S7 FE's 12.4-inch display sports a refresh rate of just 60Hz. It boasts a resolution of 1600 x 2560 pixels on this LCD display, which is a disappointment since Samsung should have thrown in an OLED screen instead. This means you can forget about enjoying any Always-On Display features, and for those who have gotten used to 90Hz or 120Hz refresh rates on other devices will find the return to 60Hz a jarring one.

The Tab S7 FE offers a maximum brightness level of 400-plus nits, which translates to possible usage under bright sunlight. Of course, comparing it to the flagship tablets from Samsung would see a marked decrease in quality, but it is good enough to stand on its own for basic, everyday use.

Despite the weaknesses mentioned above, the display still works impressively, offering a reasonable degree of detail while displaying colors in a vivid manner. You would not have any issues watching movies or videos via streaming services even at Full HD resolution.

How does it perform?

Generally speaking, the Tab S7 FE is a solid performer. Whenever you browse the Internet, scroll through endless social media feeds, or stream videos of your favourite movie, you can sit back, relax, and enjoy a smooth and responsive experience. The generous display size also makes multitasking possible, although the processor used does choke once in a while, but that is few and far in between.

However, serious gamers would do best to avoid the Tab S7 FE as online games these days require a reasonable amount of processing muscle, so there is a noticeable lag if you decide to take heavy duty titles such as Call of Duty: Mobile or FIFA Mobile for a spin. Do expect input lag as well, which is anathema to gamers. Simple games such as Sudoku puzzles are definitely not an issue for this tablet.

Software and user interface

The Tab S7 FE is powered by Samsung's One UI, which is an Android 11 skin. While it runs on version 3.1 at the moment, it should not be long before the Android 12-based One UI 4.0 is released based on Samsung's recent track record in rolling out new security and operating system updates. However, I was still running on the xxxx security update patch and xxxx Google Play Store update as of December 2021.

Anyone who has used Samsung's smartphones would be immediately familiar with the overall look and feel. I come from an Oxygen OS background with my OnePlus handset, but it does not take too long to get used to One UI and its nuances.

It is the multitasking experience that makes owning a tablet worth it thanks to the larger screen size. Using two apps in split-screen mode is an intuitive experience, and would make life a whole lot more productive especially when you have the keyboard cover accessory attached. I look forward to Android 12L being implemented for the Tab S7 FE in the future, where a two-column notification shade, dedicated taskbar and better letterboxing would definitely make life a whole lot easier.

Camera

Let's face some simple facts in life - camera performance in a tablet has never been the main strength. If you are going to use your tablet to snap photos, then skip the Tab S7 FE altogether. The 8MP rear lens and 5MP front-facing lens are functional at best. Make no mistake about it, they work fine for video calls, but you will always run into issues with exposure and colour accuracy.

Video recording performance is no better, either. The Tab S7 FE maxes out at Full HD recordings (1080p) at 30fps. This means missing out on 4K, but then again, 4K video requires massive amounts of storage of which the Tab S7 FE can ill afford.

Battery life

The Tab S7 FE comes with 45W charging support, but the included charger is rated at only 15W. The 10,090mAh battery works great here, where the LCD display consumes less power than an OLED panel, which allows the Tab S7 FE to be a solid performer. It is able to run for up to two days before you reach for a power outlet. Again, battery life remains a subjective matter and depends on the usage pattern.

As mentioned earlier, the Tab S7 FE supports 45W fast wired charging which requires a separate adapter to achieve its full potential. With the included 15W charger, you get just 16 per cent of battery power after charging it for 30 minutes. A full charge would translate to several hours of waiting time.

Conclusion

Samsung has treaded rather cautiously with the Tab S7 FE that ultimately, failed to deliver in my opinion. There were too many compromises made, from the 60Hz refresh rate to its LCD panel, middling processor performance, just a stereo speaker setup, and disappointing cameras are a huge letdown.

However, build quality remains top notch, and excellent battery life with the included charger and S Pen makes it a compelling option if you have a couple of thousand RM to spare and are looking for a tablet.

Overall, the Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 FE is ideal for the person who wants a large viewing real estate on the go to consume media and check emails, compose documents, and crunch spreadsheets occasionally, while giving casual games a go once in a while. Otherwise, road warriors who want something powerful to use as their primary productivity tool should avoid this, as the Tab S7 FE is more of a companion device.

The Galaxy Tab S7 FE (4+64GB) is priced at RM1,899, whie the (6+128GB) variant is at RM2,199.

Pros:

Fantastic battery life

S Pen included

Excellent build quality

Cons:

Not meant for gaming

60Hz refresh rate

LCD display

Software does not provide a seamless tablet experience

Verdict: 3.5/5

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