Samsung Galaxy Tab Active5 vs Active3 vs Active4 Pro Comparison

Samsung’s Galaxy Tab Active series has long been recognized for delivering rugged yet feature-rich tablets. In this in-depth comparison, we will dig into the specifications of the latest entries in the rugged tablet series from Samsung. In this Samsung Galaxy Tab Active 5 vs Active 3 vs Active 4 Pro comparison, we aim to help you make an informed decision to buy a rugged tablet meant for the outdoors.

Samsung Galaxy Tab Active 5 vs Active 3 & Active 4 Pro Comparison: Quick Overview

Display and Ruggedness

The Galaxy Tab Active 5 features an 8-inch WUXGA TFT LCD screen with a 120Hz refresh rate. This, coupled with Corning Gorilla Glass 5 protection, ensures durability while maintaining great visuals. The Active 5 boasts an IP68 water and dust resistance rating, MIL-STD-810H certification, and an impressive 1.8m drop resistance.

Read More: The Best 10-Inch Tablets Of 2024 (Android, Windows, iPads)

In contrast, the Galaxy Tab Active 3 opts for an 8-inch WXGA PLS TFT LCD screen with a 16:10 aspect ratio, prioritizing outdoor usability with its glove mode feature. The Active 3 features IP68 water and dust resistance, MIL-STD-810H certification, and 1.5m Anti-shock with an inbox protective cover.

The Galaxy Tab Active 4 Pro stands out with a larger 10.1-inch WUXGA PLS TFT LCD screen, also supporting Glove Mode and featuring Corning Gorilla Glass 5 for durability. The Active 4 Pro matches its predecessors with IP68 water and dust resistance, MIL-STD-810H certification, and 1.2m Anti-Shock with an inbox protective cover.

Each tablet caters to slightly different preferences, with the Active 5 emphasizing a high refresh rate, the Active 3 focusing on outdoor usability, and the Active 4 Pro offering a larger display. The Galaxy Tab Active series continues its legacy of durability, with the Active 5 introducing higher drop resistance.

Performance

Under the hood, the Active 5 is powered by the Exynos 1380 5nm processor, complemented by the Mali-G68 MP5 GPU. It comes with configurations of 6GB or 8GB of RAM and 128GB or 256GB of storage. The Active 5 ships with Android 14, overlaid with Samsung One UI 6, offering the latest software experience.

On the other hand, the Galaxy Tab Active 3 houses the Exynos 9810 processor and Mali G72MP18 GPU, paired with 4GB of RAM and options for 64GB or 128GB of internal storage. In our review of the Tab Active 3, we noted its impressive performance, including the ability to import and edit 24-megapixel RAW photos with Adobe Lightroom without lag. The Samsung DeX desktop mode for productivity also worked smoothly. 

Based on our review, the gaming performance on the Tab Active 3 is not flawless. We experienced minor stutters and limitations in graphics settings for games like Fortnite and PUBG Mobile. Despite these limitations, the tablet proved capable in handling games like Asphalt 9 and World of Tanks with satisfactory performance. In the software department, the Active 3 shipped with Android 10 but in March 2023, Samsung rolled out Android 13-based OneUI 5.1 update to the Tab Active 3. 

In contrast, the Active 4 Pro features the Snapdragon 778G processor, Adreno 642L GPU, and options for 4GB or 6GB of RAM with 64GB or 128GB of storage. Just like the Tab Active 3, this one also shipped with Android 12 but got the Android 13 update in March 2023. 

In conclusion of the performance, all of the three tablets deliver robust performance, with the Active 5 and Active 4 Pro integrating newer processors. The Tab Active 5 is the most recent addition to the series, which is why it comes with the latest Android 14. 

Camera, Connectivity and S-Pen Support

All three tablets share similar camera setups, featuring a 13MP rear camera and varying front camera specifications, with the Active 4 Pro introducing an improved 8MP front camera for enhanced selfies. The other two tablets settle for a 5MP front camera. 

Interestingly, the trio of tablets come with the IP68-rated S Pen, offering users various features for enhanced productivity even in challenging outdoors.

Modern connectivity options are shared among the trio, including 5G/4G LTE, Wi-Fi 802.11 ax, Bluetooth 5.x, and USB Type-C.

Battery

All three tablets feature removable batteries, ranging from 5,050mAh for Tab Active 5 and Active 3 to 7,600mAh for Tab Active 4 Pro, providing users with flexibility for extended usage in tough surroundings. Removable batteries offer users the flexibility to extend usage and replace batteries if needed.

In our review, the battery performance of the Tab Active 3 was tested by streaming an HD video on YouTube at maximum brightness, lasting for approximately 6 hours. 

Read More: Top 10 Android Tablets With Best Battery Life

Pricing

Samsung Galaxy Tab Active 5 was unveiled in January 2024 and is yet to officially go on sale in the USA and other regions. The tablet will first go on sale in Germany at a starting price of EUR 479 (around $633). 

Samsung Galaxy Tab Active 4 Pro starts at around $599 for the Wi-Fi only model and $899 for the 5G model. While the Tab Active starts at $450. So we can see that there is not much price difference between the Tab Active 5 and Active 3. The Tab Active 4 Pro caters to a more premium segment. If you have to choose between the Active 5 and Active 3, it is better to wait for the Active 5 to launch in your region. 

The Verdict

The Samsung Galaxy Tab Active series is specifically aimed at users who work in tough surroundings and weather conditions. You can also opt for the tablets in the Active series if you are too clumsy to handle a regular tablet and want a rugged tablet that can withstand falls. 

Based on our comparison, we think the latest Galaxy Tab Active 5 impresses with a high-refresh-rate display and enhanced durability, while the Galaxy Tab Active 3 and Active 4 Pro provide solid options with their own strengths but they are old models now. We suggest choosing a tablet based on your priorities, whether it’s a compact form factor, a larger display, or the latest software updates.

Read More: Best Tablets for Travel in 2024

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Samsung Galaxy Tab Active5

Read now: Our Samsung Galaxy Tab Active5 Review

The Samsung Galaxy Tab Active5 is a high-quality outdoor tablet that is protected against water, dust and shocks according to IP68 and MIL-STD 810H standards and can even be cleaned with disinfectant. It's got a very bright and good display, the excellent S Pen is included and works very well, and we get long software updates. The only downsides are that the processor performance has hardly improved compared to its predecessor and we get one USB 2.0 port only.

Positive

• Very rugged design
• Bright 8 inch display
• IP68 & MIL-STD 810H
• Excellent S Pen
• Long updates
• 5G version with phone capabilities
• Fingerprint reader
• GPS

Negative

• No USB 3
• Mid-range performance only

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