Unboxing and first impressions of the Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite

By: Paolo Lacuna

Samsung recently launched its newest tablet the Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite and we are excited to share with you what we think. While it is a cheaper alternative to the Samsung Galaxy Tab S6, it’s no slouch with its bright and colourful 10.4 inches screen, slim bezels, premium aluminum body and frame, and an included S-Pen.

We purchased ours online in Hachi.Tech (S$598), which only has the Oxford Gray model. These are our first impressions.

The tablet feels premium and durable on hand. With a sleek design of slim bezels, rounded corners and modern look, it is a well-built tablet you can expect from Samsung that can compete in the tablet category this year. That’s saying a lot, with the tablet market being cornered by Apple with its iPad.

Also, it comes as quite a surprise for a budget tablet, as the Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite also includes a 3.5mm headphone jack and stereo speaker. No fingerprint scanner though, so you’ll have to settle with Face Unlock with Samsung Knox.

The S Pen included in the box is not bad as well. It feels great on hand, despite the full plastic body, and it snaps magnetically to the tablet with a satisfying click. The S Pen placement on the tablet’s right side (on portrait) is fine, but not so great for left-handers (me!), who will need to hold the tablet with their right hand with the grip is restricted by the S Pen.

Regardless, the S Pen adds great value to a really affordable tablet, especially with the availability of S Pen features like Create Note, Screen write and AR Doodles.

During booting with Android on Samsung’s One UI, the tablet is adequate. It is speedy enough to browse and consume content. I had a perfectly good time reading magazines (using Zinio) and watching Netflix and YouTube videos. The 10.4 LCD screen is bright and crisp enough to keep you engaged, but it can get sluggish though when trying to switch between too many apps.

On gaming, you can expect the tablet to work well with many modern games, like PUBG Mobile and Roblox (which my kids love). Call of Duty is definitely playable, and surprisingly smooth. On Fortnite though, frame drops are evident from the start. You’ll have to settle with low graphic settings to play, but it doesn’t look great. Trust me, it won’t be a fun experience.

Now onto the cameras. The 8MP rear camera is fine but not great; I refuse to use tablets for photography. It is quite adequate for scanning documents though. And the 5MP front camera is definitely not for selfies. I tried using the front camera for a Zoom call, and I kinda looked like a smudgy cartoon character.

Compared to other major differences from last year’s Samsung Galaxy Tab S6, this tablet does not have a keyboard connector, nor does it have an official keyboard cover. You can still pair this with any Bluetooth keyboard though. Also, this tablet doesn’t have DEX mode, for those who want to have a PC experience with their tablets. These two things are not deal-breakers, especially if your use case for this tablet revolves around entertainment.

The Official Book cover, which is available in Oxford Grey, Angora Blue and Chiffon Pink, includes a magnetic slot for the S Pen, is priced too expensive at S$108. You might want to settle for other usable covers elsewhere.

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite is available in Singapore at Hachi.Tech for S$598, with only the Oxford Gray, 4GB Ram and 128GB Storage, and Wifi Only model available. In other parts of the world, you may also get Chiffon Pink and Angora Blue.

Overall, I find great value with this new budget tablet from Samsung. For its price, the Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite is a modern, sleek and premium feeling device, which is powerful enough for your daily entertainment needs.

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