A review of the Samsung Galaxy Tab Active 3.
Verdict
The Galaxy Tab Active 3 is the epitome of a niche device, yet it falls short in terms of display and elegance for many users. For those that value vitality above all else, it's a difficult tablet to surpass.
Geniuses
As intense as it advertises.
Can be used with gloves on.
S penwork
Can be used without a battery.
Cons
Restricted execution.
Android tablet experience is truly constrained.
Feels expensive.
Key Specifications:
Survey Price: £539.
Samsung Exynos 9810 Processor
4G LTE (CAT 6)
MIL-STD-810H + IP68 Guaranteed
S Pen pointer.
Replaceable 5050 mAh battery.
We presume the iPad is the finest tablet available. However, it is just the best option for certain people at times.
No iPad is suitable for delivery drivers, unskilled workers, construction laborers, and those who engage in home projects that would have your typical Apple Store salesperson rushing for the microfiber material.
The Samsung Tab Active 3 believes it is tough enough to withstand any thumps and scrapes that come its way. The accompanying review will seek to determine whether that is correct, and more importantly, whether it can carry out the considerably more difficult task of becoming a good tablet.
Plan: Chunky and moderately utilitarian.
Indeed, even without the tough outer case that comes with the Galaxy Tab Active 3, this is a rugged, basic piece of equipment. Its all-plastic design has stronger corners and a detachable, flexible, and durable backboard.
That latter element is important since it implies you can remove and replace the Tab Active 3's battery. The optional SIM and microSD cards slide into a pull-out tray on the left edge, eliminating the need to take the back off each time you need to access them; however, the case must be removed. This is an enhancement over the Galaxy Tab Active 2.
Without the case, it weighs just under 430g, which is rather heavy for an 8-inch tablet (the iPad Mini weighs only 300g). It's also rather thick, at over 10 mm.
The front of the tablet is remarkable for the presence of three real hardware buttons directly beneath the display. It feels like a remnant from a bygone period, which is accentuated by a large chin and forehead.
Remember, however, that this tablet was built for usage in harsh environments where thick gloves may be required. It makes perfect sense to have physical buttons versus ambiguous motions, and you do get a good fingerprint sensor under the main home button.
The edges of the Galaxy Tab Active 3 have some intriguing components. To the right, there is an additional red button that can be programmed to open any application with a push or hold.
In the workplace, there is generally one app that you require regular and immediate access to. This button may take you to that app even from the lock screen, and it also functions as a camera shortcut and shutter button.
The opposing edge contains a pogo pin connector, which will only be relevant in specific commercial applications. But, again, that is what this dependable tablet is designed for. On the bottom, you'll find a 3.5mm headphone connector, a USB-C port, and one speaker.
Ruggedness—trulydifficultbeat.beat.
The Samsung Galaxy Tab Active 3 is a rather standard tablet with an impressive amount of durability. To that aim, Samsung provided a basic test kit to assist put the tablet through its paces.
To test the Galaxy Tab Active 3's IP68 water and dust resistance, I buried it in a few inches of sand and plunged it in a pail of water for several minutes. It made it through both tests pretty undamaged, but some leftover grit did appear to clog the multitasking and back buttons for a short while until water and use broke it loose.
When it comes to water immersion, the Tab Active 3 performed flawlessly during the test (while I kept the PUBG lobby running) and soon after, after I towelled it off.
It's also possible to go into the settings and boost the screen sensitivity, allowing you to operate the tablet with gloves. I tested this with a set of heavy-duty work gloves given by Samsung, and it worked great, with the exception of the occasional missed input. With those physical fascia controls, it's truly possible to operate the Tab Active 3 without removing your gloves—warehouse workers and campers rejoice.
Finally, for the drop test, I dropped the Galaxy Tab Active 3 (with its case) onto a hard concrete floor from a height of around 1.5 meters. Except for a little scuffed cover, the tablet was undamaged and fully working. Samsung's statements of military-grade MIL-STD-810H durability appear to be correct.
Screen and S Pen: Improved display for a cleaner writing experience
I wouldn't call the Samsung Galaxy Tab Active 3 a really tiny tablet; it's too tank-like for that, but it does have a smaller-than-average 8-inch screen. This puts it in a comparable area to the iPad mini.
This is a good PLS TFT panel, Samsung's IPS equivalent. At 1200 x 1920, it's reasonably crisp, and the colors are pleasingly vivid for an LCD. Outdoor visibility is decent, as one would think, albeit it does wash out slightly in intense light. At the very least, it represents a significant improvement over the Samsung Galaxy Tab Active 2.
Samsung also supplies the S Pen here. Unlike Samsung Galaxy Note 20 phones, this plastic stylus fits snugly into a slot on top of the protective shell, rather than the tablet itself.
The S Pen is thicker and more pen-like compared to the short stick included with the Note 20 Ultra. It's considerably more convenient and pleasant to use, especially with chilly or gloved hands.
Otherwise, the writing experience is fairly similar to the Note, with 4,096 levels of pressure that enable believable, natural handwriting and drawing. You also have the traditional button for opening the pen menu and rapidly starting notes.
Specs & Performance: Outdated silicon delivers the bare minimum.
The Samsung Galaxy Tab Active 3 features Samsung's proprietary Exynos 9810 CPU. This is an older flagship processor that formerly powered the Samsung Galaxy S9 in early 2018.
Of course, the Samsung Galaxy Tab Active 3 is not designed to be a multimedia powerhouse. Even so, I tested it with PUBG, and it performed well on medium settings. The primary point is that overall navigation is smooth; however, I did notice significant pauses when switching back to previously open programs in the app switcher menu, most likely due to the device's limited 4GB of RAM. It should be obvious that this is far from a standout performance. Average Geekbench scores of 329 (single-core) and 1290 (multi-core) aren't very impressive, trailing considerably behind even the average £300 smartphone.
Aside from that, you get 64GB of storage, which, as previously said, can be expanded using a microSDXC slot.
There is also a 13-megapixel f/1.9 camera here. That's not a particularly impressive setup by contemporary smartphone standards, but no one is purchasing this for Christmas photos (hopefully). It is adequate for practical purposes such as barcode scanning and delivery documentation.
Meanwhile, an 8-megapixel f/2.2 selfie camera should get you through those Zoom meetings just fine.
Software: Samsung's typical set of tricks
The Samsung Galaxy Tab Active 3 runs Android 10 and One UI 2.5. By now, you've most likely formed your own strong opinions on Samsung's proprietary Android skin.
It's a love-it-or-hate-it attempt, with large, vivid icons, plenty of customization options, and the Samsung Daily news and notice board on the left side of the home screen rather than Google Feed. It's less bloated than it formerly was, and it's easier to traverse.
You'll also get Samsung's DeX UI, which allows you to connect to compatible TVs and monitors for a more PC-like experience, including using the tablet as a touchpad. Despite the fact that it is not officially supported, I found it to operate pretty well with my 2020 LG TV.
In general, the Android tablet experience remains well behind Apple's iPad platform, particularly in terms of third-party software optimization. Unfortunately, Samsung has few options in this regard.
However, the company's S Pen software has improved significantly, particularly the excellent Notes app, which can read your handwriting and convert it to digital form. It's got true productivity capabilities.
Battery Life: A large battery can be eliminated from the equation.
Samsung supplied the Galaxy Tab Active 3 with a 5050 mAh battery, which is significantly larger than its predecessor's fairly weedy 4450 mAh cell.
It claims to provide 11 hours of video or internet playback and 81 hours of audio playback. It will easily last a few days with combined, useful use. However, if you're always using LTE and watching a lot of video, your experience may differ.
I have noted that the Galaxy Tab Active 3 battery can be removed and changed, which is unusual these days. But the most intriguing new feature is the ability to utilize the tablet without a battery inserted.
I found this by mistake, having believed the battery was simply flat. Sure enough, when I connected the tablet, it started up normally without the cell, which felt fantastic.
In terms of practical uses, I can easily picture hot-swapping batteries or using the Galaxy Tab Active 3 as a continual, permanently plugged-in warehouse workhorse.
You also receive a 15W charger, which isn't very fast, but it does the job. When the port becomes damp, the Galaxy Tab Active 3 will alert you to the need to dry it before charging.
Should you get the Samsung Galaxy Tab Active 3?
The Samsung Galaxy Tab Active 3 is truly a specialized tool for a very narrow set of circumstances. It's great for those who want a large-screen tablet that can withstand the rigors of a physically demanding work.
For almost any other tablet use case scenario, you're better off with one of Apple's offerings. The iPad Air 4 costs only £40 more than the Tab 3 and outperforms it in every manner. If robustness isn't the most important factor, the value argument here is seriously flawed.
These are the greatest tablets to buy.
Unless you truly need the Tab's precise, super-tough characteristics, it's tempting to go with the iPad Mini and spend the additional £140 on an Apple Pencil and a hard case.
However, for those who require their tablet to withstand the (very literal) daily grind without fear of scratches, it is one of the few solutions available.