Meet Samsung Galaxy Tab S7+ - Best Android tablet of 2020?

We take a deep dive into 2020s most promising tablet yet, the Samsung Galaxy Tab S7+ with SD 865+, 120Hz Super AMOLED display, and 10,090mAh battery.

Multi-tasking with large screens

On paper the Samsung Galaxy Tab S7+ is equipped with the best possible specs an Android tablet can for 2020. Infront is a 120Hz 12.4-inch WQXGA+ Super AMOLED display while inside is a 7nm Snapdragon 865 Plus octa-core processor, Adreno 650 GPU, 8GB RAM, 256GB/512GB of storage, and 10,090mAh battery with 45W fast charging.

In the Philippines, the Galaxy Tab S7+ at PHP 63,990 includes the keyboard cover in the box, unlike other countries.

Let's take a look at what could be 2020's best Android tablet yet!

Meet Samsung Galaxy Tab S7+

Box inclusions

It comes in large white packaging with a render of the tablet outside. Inside is the Tab S7+, SIM ejector tool, S-Pen, USB Type-A to Type-C cable, documentation, and the 15W Power adapter. 

We applaud Samsung Philippines for including the keyboard with the tablet in its price but we hoped that Samsung would have at least included the 25W charger given instead of the 15W charger that the tablet supports up to 45W fast charging.

No, Samsung should have included the 45W fast charging like other Android manufacturers.

Netflix on large displays

In front is the aforementioned 120Hz, 12.4-inch WQXGA+ Super AMOLED display with 2800 x 1752 resolution. The panel is massive in size and produces a bright, vibrant, and crisp image right out of the box. The top, side, and bottom bezels are just thin enough to allow your finger rest on them to allow better handling of the larger tablet size.

The 120Hz refresh rate is variable meaning that it will change refresh rate depending on the content or activity currently on the screen to improve experience and battery life.

Matte black back

At the back are the antenna lines, Samsung Branding, rear dual cameras, and the S-Pen magnetic slot.

The S Pen is lightweight but solid in the hands. It is a near-perfect tube but with a flat surface where it connects and sticks to the tablet. It has a single button near the pointed edge. The pen tip is hard, solid, and precise.

Topside

On top are two of four speaker grills, antenna lines, and microphone ports.

Bottom side

At the bottom are the other two of four speaker grills, more antenna lines, and the USB Type-C port.

Left side

On the left side are the Antenna lines, keyboard cover attachment points, and the CPU contacts.

Right side

While on the right is the SIM card/microSD card slot, microphone port, Volume rocker, and Power button.

AnTuTu and GeekBench 

Inside the Tab S7+ is the Qualcomm Snapdragon 865+ octa-core processor, Adreno 650 GPU, 8GB RAM, and 256GB/512GB of storage.

Most powerful Android tablet yet?

In the usual benchmarks, the Galaxy Tab S7+ scored a record-breaking 557,698 in AnTuTu and it scored 783 and 2697 in GeekBench's single-core and multi-core tests.

After several weeks with the Tab S7+, we never experienced lag, slowdowns, and crashes. We were comfortable with multiple apps running in the background while using split-screen and not encounter any hiccups. Our personal favorite is surfing the web with Spotify on the side.

Call of Duty graphics settings

In games like COD, Mobile Legends, and NBA 2K20, we were able to play at the highest graphics settings while getting at least 60 fps. But because of the massive screen, we recommend pairing with a wireless controller or reconfiguring the UI to better suit the large space.

PCMark Battery benchmark and battery usage after a full 8-hour workday

The internal 10,090mAh battery while running on the 120Hz refresh rate constantly lasted for over 8 hours and 4 minutes in our usual PCMark battery benchmark test.

In our experience with the Galaxy Tab S7+ at 120Hz refresh rate with constant WiFi connection where we used it as our main web surfing and Netflix, Spotify and YouTube media consumption machine. We were consistently getting more than 5 hours of screen-on-time with 20 to 30 percent battery after a 12 hour work day.

Rear dual cameras

At the back of the tablet is the dual rear cameras made up of a 13MP f/2.0 wide main camera, 5MP f/2.2 123-degree ultra-wide camera, and an LED flash.

Camera UI

The Tab S7+'s camera UI include modes like Photo, Video, Single Take, Pro, Pro Video, Panorama, Food, Night, Hyperlapse, Live Focus, and Live Focus Video.

The Pro Phot and Pro Video modes allow controls for ISO (100-800), White Balance, and EV (+-2).

Rear Camera Samples

Rear main camera daylight

Rear ultra-wide camera daylight

Rear main camera indoor

Rear ultra-wide camera indoor

Being a tablet, the rear main and ultra-wide cameras is not the best in the market but they produce images with the Samsung look. This means that the images are sharp with vibrant colors. It takes images in daylight, indoors, and low light reliably but don't expect flagship smartphone levels of performance.

At least it is a tablet that gives you the shooting versatility not found on other tablets.

Selfie camera

In front of the Tab S7+ is an 8MP f/2.0 selfie camera on the right bezel. This placement is perfect when the tablet is docked to the keyboard cover and is in a horizontal orientation. 

Camera modes include Single Take, Selfie Photo, Selfie Video, and Selfie Live Focus mode. There is no Selfie Night mode.

Selfie Camera Samples

Selfie daylight

Selfie daylight Live Focus

Selfie indoor

The rear camera can record video with both the ultra-wide and main camera at up to 4K 30fps with stabilization while the selfie camera can take video at up to 1080p at 30fps.

There is no slow-motion video option.

The rest of the features

Handwriting recognition 

One of the main draws of the Tab S7+ is the S Pen, like the new S Pen from the Note20 series, it now has ultra-low latency and it now makes writing sounds that both give better writing on paper-like experience.

Added features included are handwriting detection then translates it to digital text. Samsung's software has improved to the point that with our two weeks with the tablet, that the handwriting detection never made a mistake given that we write in print and not in cursive.

Multi-tasking on the large 12.4-inch display is a treat. We can comfortably run and place two apps side-by-side without a hitch. This works for both symmetrical and asymmetrical layouts.

Samsung Galaxy Tab S7+ Specs

Display: 12.4-inch Super AMOLED screen w/ 120Hz refresh rate, WQXGA+ 2800 x 1752 resolution at 266 ppi

CPU: 3.09GHz 7nm Snapdragon 865 Plus octa-core processor

GPU: Adreno 650

RAM: 8GB

ROM: 256GB/512GB expandable via microSD card slot up to 2TB

Back Camera: 13MP f/2.0 + 5.0MP f/2.2 123-degree ultra-wide camera + LED flash

Selfie Camera: 8MP f/2.0

Battery: 10,090mAh battery w/ 45W Super Fast Charging 2.0

OS: Android 10 w/ OneUI 2.5

Connectivity: WiFi 802.11ax, 4G LTE, Bluetooth 5.0, GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, Galileo, nano SIM

Others: In-Display fingerprint sensor, face unlock, quad-speakers, FREE Keyboard Cover, USB-C

Dimensions: 185 x 285 x 5.7 mm

Weight: 575 g

Price: PHP 63,990

Quick thoughts

Matte Black back

In one fell swoop, Samsung has retaken the top Android tablet crown with its flagship specs, thin and lightweight design, metal and glass materials, and the robust functionality of the S Pen.

It also features a massive 120Hz, 12.4-inch Super AMOLED display, and an equally massive 10,090mAh battery that offers a full workday long battery life even with super-fast refresh rates.

We only have two concerns. The first is the inconsistent tablet UI support from various Android developers and the second concern is that the Tab S7+'s magnets for the S Pen aren't as strong nor is it as polished as the iPad Pro's magnets.

We are impressed and if you are looking for an Android tablet, this may be the best one yet.

Do you agree with us?