Samsung Galaxy Tab A 8.4 (2020) Specs, Pricing & Availability

Samsung is one of the very few brands that not only continues making Android tablets but also maintains an extensive range at the lower end of the spectrum. The company recently made official the Galaxy Tab A 8.4 SM-T307 (2020), succeeding the $150 Tab A 8.0 from last year. The 2020 iteration comes packed with a slew of improvements in nearly all departments, making it a much better device than its predecessor, at least on paper. However, many of these upgrades have resulted in a slightly inflated price tag versus the tablet it replaces.

The Tab A 8.4 (2020) is a compact device with its 8.4-inch display, which makes it a portable tablet perfect for consuming media on the go. Here is everything you need to know about it, including its specifications, pricing, availability details, and some alternatives.

Read: Top 7: The Best Samsung Tablets | 2020 Edition

Highlights

• 8.4-inch FHD display
• Octa-core processor
• 3GB+32GB
• Expandable storage
• Two cameras
• 5000mAh battery
• USB-C, fast charging
• 4G LTE
• Headphone jack

Samsung Galaxy Tab A 8.4 (2020): The Basics

The modern design language adopted by higher-end Samsung tablets is now trickling down to budget options. The all-new 8.4-inch Tab A model not only comes with relatively thinner top and bottom bezels, but its display also gets rounded corners. Plus, the company has given the tablet a rich Mocha color to make it stand out from the crowd. Its 8.4-inch screen has a full HD resolution in 16:10 aspect ratio, which is better suited for watching movies and TV shows, although it’s an LCD panel and not AMOLED.

What powers the slate is Samsung’s in-house octa-core Exynos 7904 chip, which is a step up from the one that fueled its predecessor. The same processor can also be found in many low to mid-range Galaxy handsets and the popular Tab A 10.1 from last year. On the 8.4-inch model, the SoC is paired with 3GB of RAM and 32GB of flash memory, which you can expand using a microSD card of up to 512GB. However, it comes running Android Pie with One UI and not the latest Android 10 version. It has an 8MP camera on the back and a 5MP one on the opposite side to enable video conferencing and taking selfies.

The Tab A 8.4 is an LTE-enabled device that you can pair with US carriers Verizon and Sprint. Besides 4G for on-the-go connectivity, it also supports Wi-Fi ac and Bluetooth 5.0. Samsung has retained the headphone jack to let you connect your wired headsets and has a USB Type-C port that supports fast charging. The tablet includes a 5000mAh battery that, as the company claims, can last for up to 12 hours between charges. While it may have a pair of speakers, there won’t be any stereo separation, considering this is a budget tablet.

Read: Samsung Galaxy Tab A 10.1 2019 vs. 2018 vs. 2016 Comparison: What Has Changed?

Full Specifications

Pricing & Availability

You can already buy the Galaxy Tab A 8.4 (2020) from Samsung’s online store for a price of $280 in the US. In comparison to last year’s Galaxy Tab A 8, which started from $150, this price seems a bit steep, although one has to factor in all the additional features the 2020 model brings to the table. If you want to buy a carrier-locked variant of the tablet on a 24-month plan, then you can pick it up from Verizon’s website. Samsung will hopefully soon introduce its Wi-Fi-only model and expand its availability to its key markets across Europe and Asia.

Samsung Galaxy Tab A 8.4 (2020) Alternatives

Those who prefer having a stylus with such a compact tablet can look at the Galaxy Tab A 8.0 with S Pen (review) from 2019, which is one of the very few budget tabs to come with a stylus. If it’s possible to push your budget a bit, you have the option to pick the Apple iPad Mini 2019 (review), which is by far a better tablet, even for its price that is often discounted. In the territory around $150, the new Lenovo Tab M8 (review) could be a great choice with its clean software and metal build, though it has a lower-res HD screen.

Samsung’s own Galaxy Tab A 10.1 (2019) (review) often retails much below the $200 mark and has the same processor as the Tab A 8.4 (2020), making it one of the better options if portability isn’t something you absolutely want. In the 10-inch screen category, you have a bunch of options, including the budget Lenovo Smart Tab M10 FHD Plus released earlier this year or the latest Fire HD 10 (review) model from Amazon, which starts at $150. Even the iPad 10.2 (review) is a great tablet to go for, particularly since it’s often discounted to $280 — the exact asking price of the Galaxy Tab A 8.4 (2020).

Read: Best Budget Tablets Under $200 | 2020 Edition

Samsung Galaxy Tab A 8.4 (2020)

Picking up the baton from last year's budget Samsung tablet, the new Galaxy Tab A 8.4 (2020) does a lot of things right. It has a new, more modern design and has a higher-red FHD display, which should be great for media consumption. Samsung has designed it for outdoor use with the provision of LTE connectivity and a battery life that is claimed to last for up to 12 hours. Plus, it's a light slate that you can easily carry around.

Buy on* Amazon

Articles about this tablet

• The 8 Best Samsung Tablets: Our Big 2024 Comparison
• Comparison: Samsung Galaxy Tab A 8.4 vs. SM-P200/205 vs. SM-T290/295