Samsung Galaxy Tab A 10.1 vs. Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite – Materials and Connectivity Comparison

Many people need a tablet. A considerable part of them wonders if they should buy the Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite with an S Pen or a comparably affordable Galaxy Tab A 10.1.

We are here to figure out which one suits you best, so you can choose with ease.

Samsung has a significant portfolio of Android tablets at the moment.

The latest one is the Galaxy Tab S6 Lite, a mid-ranger that will set buyers back approximately $350.

A considerably more affordable edition is the Samsung Galaxy Tab A 10.1, which costs roughly 200 Dollars.

Let’s see the main differences!

Looks And Build Quality

The tablets share a lot in common in terms of looks.

Both feature metal bodies, so the more affordable model doesn’t feel too cheap.

Both have an impressive build quality, but if you pay close attention, you will notice some minor differences.

You notice straight away that Tab A 10.1 has a plastic bit at the top to cover its antennas.

The tablet’s frame sticks out a bit above its screen for roughly 1mm.

However, for the S6 Lite, the switch from screen to frame is seamless, providing a better overall feeling.

Its antennas are built into the body, and it isn’t covered by any plastic panel.

The S6 Lite is marginally thinner than the Tab A 10.1 and nearly the same weight, with a difference between the two devices of only four grams.

The main downside to the 10.1’s body is that it has bigger bezels around the shorter sides, which are very noticeable and annoying if you are a meticulous person.

Connectivity

In terms of ports, both devices are equipped with a USB C 2.0 port, a microSD card slot and a headphone jack.

Cameras

Camera performance is similar on the two devices, but nobody buys a tablet to take high-quality photos.

One thing is sure, though – there is considerably more post-processing being carried out on the S6 Lite, but the level of detail is similar.

However, on the front camera department, the S6 Lite is doing better, even though both tablets have a similar resolution on paper.

Sound Quality

Both devices are equipped with stereo speakers, but the Tab A 10.1 has its speakers located on the shorter sides, which means that you won’t really notice any significant sound separation that you would typically get with stereo speakers.

S Pen And Display

The Tab A 10.1 has a 1920 x 1200 screen, while the S6 Lite features a 10.4-inch panel with a 2000 x 1200 pixels resolution.

Samsung uses LCD TFT displays on both displays, as it is a considerably more affordable option than the AMOLED screens they offer on higher-end devices.

Though the two tablets are equipped with budget displays, the viewing angles are decent for both of them. They are more than enough for a standard user.

A considerable advantage you get with the Tab S6 lite is the included S Pen, an active stylus that you can use in multiple ways.

Additionally, the Galaxy Tab A 10.1 isn’t compatible with any S Pen or other devices.

You can still use a generic stylus built for capacitive touchscreens. They are relatively affordable but certainly don’t provide the same set of advantages as the dedicated Samsung styluses.

In the end, both are great daily devices. They offer similar performance, but there are minor drawbacks in terms of looks. If you can wrap your head around that, we suggest going for the more affordable model.

William Reid
A science writer through and through, William Reid’s first starting working on offline local newspapers. An obsessive fascination with all things science/health blossomed from a hobby into a career. Before hopping over to Optic Flux, William worked as a freelancer for many online tech publications including ScienceWorld, JoyStiq and Digg. William serves as our lead science and health reporter.