Tablets are trending devices again, thanks to the Covid-19 pandemic and the lockdown periods. And earlier this month, Apple released two new iPads, including the 8th generation of its most affordable iPad. But the most important Android tablets manufacturers released affordable models as well: is it worth spending the money asked for the new iPad 10.2 or you should choose a last-generation Android tablet in the affordable segment? This comparison between the new iPad 10.2, the Samsung Galaxy Tab A7, and the Huawei MatePad 5G will clear your ideas.
Apple iPad 10.2 8th gen vs Samsung Galaxy Tab A7 vs Huawei MatePad 5G
| Huawei MatePad 5G | Samsung Galaxy Tab A7 | Apple iPad 10.2 8th gen 2020 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| DIMENSIONS AND WEIGHT | 245.2 x 155 x 7.5 mm, 460 g | 247.6 x 157.4 x 7 mm, 476 grams | 250.6 x 174.1 x 7.5 mm, 490 g |
| DISPLAY | 10.4 inches, 1200 x 2000p (Full HD+), IPS LCD | 10.4 inches, 1200 x 2000p (Full HD+), IPS LCD | 10.2 inches, 1620 x 2160p (Quad HD+), Retina IPS LCD |
| PROCESSOR | Huawei Hisilicon Kirin 820 5G, octa-core 2.36 GHz | Qualcomm Snapdragon 662, octa-core 2 GHz | Apple A12 Bionic, hexa-core 2.5 GHz |
| MEMORY | 6 GB RAM, 128 GB – micro SD slot | 3 GB RAM, 32 GB – 3 GB RAM, 64 GB – micro SD slot | 3 GB RAM, 32 GB – 3 GB RAM, 128 GB |
| SOFTWARE | Android 10, EMUI | Android 10, One UI | iPadOS 14 |
| CONNECTIVITY | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax, Bluetooth 5.1, GPS | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 5.0, GPS | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 4.2, GPS |
| CAMERA | Single 8 MP 8 MP front camera |
Single 8 MP 5 MP front camera |
Single 8 MP f/2.4 1.2 MP f/2.2 front camera |
| BATTERY | 7250 mAh, fast charging 22.5W | 7040 mAh, fast charging | 32.4 Wh |
| ADDITIONAL FEATURES | Pen support, LTE, 5G | Optional LTE | Optional LTE, Pen support |
Design
The Apple iPad 10.2 does not have the best design out there. It has a very outdated design, unlike the latest iPad Pro, with thick bezels around the display and Touch ID. Huawei MatePad 5G is the most stunning one because it sports very narrow bezels around the display and a full metal unibody design with great build quality. Samsung Galaxy Tab A7 is the thinnest tablet of the trio and it has narrow bezels as well, but it is made of cheaper materials and it comes with thicker bezels than the Huawei MatePad 5G. That is why the MatePad 5G wins the design comparison.
Display
The most advanced display belongs to the iPad 10.2. Not only it sports a higher resolution, but it also comes with higher overall image quality. The iPad 10.2 has a 4:3 aspect ratio which is actually better for reading, web browsing, and viewing images. On the other hand, the 5:3 aspect ratio of the Samsung Galaxy Tab A7 and the Huawei MatePad 5G is better for video playback. With the iPad 10.2 8th gen, you also get a higher brightness level. Note that iPad 8th gen and Huawei MatePad 5G support the stylus for handwriting and drawing, while the Samsung Galaxy Tab A7 does not.
Hardware/Software
The best tablet in terms of performance is the iPad 10.2 because it sports a more powerful processor: the Apple A13 Bionic which is the same you can find on the iPhone Xs series. The tablet has high-end performances and even a better optimized operating system. iPad OS is also better than Android for productivity thanks to its advanced features. For these reasons, the iPad 10.2 8th gen wins both the hardware and software comparisons. But some people may prefer Android to iOS due to more chances of personalizations. Note that Huawei MatePad 5G is the only one to support 5G.
Camera
You should not focus so much on the cameras while opting for an affordable tablet because you won’t get a great photo quality. These tablets are more or less at the same level, equipped with their 8 MP rear cameras, and they are nothing special. You can only get a sufficient photo quality for emergency shots, nothing more. When it comes to selfies, Huawei MatePad 5G wins thanks to its 8 MP front camera. Instead, if we talk about rear cameras, the iPad 10.2 8th gen is actually more convincing.
Battery
With iPad 8th gen, Samsung Galaxy Tab A7, and Huawei MatePad 5G have satisfying batteries which can last two days with moderate usage. We still can not tell you which one lasts more on a single charge because none had the chance to test all of them thoroughly until now. An important detail is the support of 22.5W fast charging on the Huawei MatePad 5G, which makes charging a lot faster. The Samsung Galaxy Tab A7 should have a shorter battery life than Huawei MatePad 5G if you keep 5G disabled on the MatePad 5G.
Price
The iPad 10.2 8th gen is priced €370/$430, Samsung Galaxy Tab A7 costs just €240/$280, and Huawei MatePad 5G has a €400/$465 listing price. If we exclude 5G support, the iPad 10.2 8th gen wins the comparison thanks to its more advanced hardware department, great display, and more interesting operating system, at least for productivity. Samsung Galaxy Tab A7 is the loser, but it has the highest value for money.
Apple iPad 10.2 8th gen vs Samsung Galaxy Tab A7 vs Huawei MatePad 5G: PRO and CONS
Samsung Galaxy Tab A7
PROS
- Slimmer
- Very affordable
- Good design
- Fast charging
CONS
- No pen support
Huawei MatePad 5G
PROS
- 5G
- Pen support
- Fast charging
- Good design and build quality
CONS
- Price
Apple iPad 10.2 8th gen
PROS
- Awesome hardware
- Great OS for productivity
- Awesome camera
- Pen support
- Best display
CONS
- Outdated design
