The Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite is a 10.4 inch Android tablet that hit the streets in 2020 with prices starting at $430 in the US, making it a lower-cost (and lower-spec) alternative to the Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 which had launched a year earlier.
Now that the Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 series is here, you’d think Samsung might be ready to offer a Galaxy Tab S8 Lite or FE model. But instead it looks like the company’s next tablet is a refreshed Galaxy Tab S6 Lite.
The Galaxy Tab S6 Lite (2022) is up for pre-order in Italy for €400 and it’s expected to begin shipping later this month. It will most likely launch in other countries soon as well, but Samsung doesn’t seem to have officially announced the tablet yet.
The updated tablet looks virtually identical to the 2020 model, but it features to key upgrades:
- The new model has a Qualcomm Snapdragon 720G processor rather than a Samsung Exynos 9611 chip.
- The new model ships with Android 12 rather than Android 10, which means it will most likely continue to receive OS and security updates for two years longer than the 2020 model.
Here’s a run-down of key specs for both versions of the Galaxy Tab S6 Lite:
| Galaxy Tab S6 Lite (2022) | Galaxy Tab S6 Lite (2020) | |
| Display | 10.4 inch, 2000 x 1200 LCD S-Pen | 10.4 inch, 2000 x 1200 LCD S-Pen |
| Processor | Qualcomm Snapdragon 720G 2 x Kryo 465 Gold (Cortex-A76) CPU cores @ 2.3 GHz 6 x Kryo 465 Silver (Cortex-A55) CPU cores @ 1.8 GHz Adreno 618 graphics 8nm | Samsung Exynos 9610 4 x Cortex-A73 CPU cores @ 2.3 GHz 4 x Cortex-A53 CPU cores @ 1.7 GHz Mali-G72 MP3 graphics 10nm |
| RAM | 4GB | 4GB |
| Storage | 64GB | 64GB or 128GB |
| Initial Software | Android 12 | Android 10 |
| Front camera | 5MP fixed-focus | 5MP fixed-focus |
| Rear camera(s) | 8MP auto-focus | 8MP auto-focus |
| Battery | 7,040 mAh | 7,040 mAh |
| USB | USB Type-C | 2.0 Type-C |
| Headphone? | 3.5mm | 3.5mm |
| microSD? | Yes | Up to 1TB cards |
| WiFi | WiFi 5 | WiFi 5 |
| Bluetooth | 5.0 | 5.0 |
| GPS | Yes | Yes |
| Dimensions | 244 x 154 x 7mm | 244.5mm x 154.3mm x 7mm |
| Weight | 465 grams | 467 grams |
It remains to be seen whether Samsung will launch a lower-cost version of the Galaxy Tab S8 anytime soon. So while both versions of the tablet are mid-range devices, the newer processor and software in the updated model should make it a better choice for folks who are looking to pick up a new tablet in the €400/$400 range this year.
via Pricebaba, @SnoopyTech, and GSM Arena
Why don’t they make the firmware update
to the real (2020) S6 Lite?
Right that makes no point to come out with a 2022 version just more confusion
I hope this becomes a more common trend, recycling older hardware with updated internals. It’s one of Apple’s business practices that I’m surprised hasn’t been copied more.
Aside from market share, it’s one of the reasons why Apple has more accessories available. Accessory makers don’t want to make huge lineups of accessories for a “flavour of the month” product.
It’s really just the naming that’s weird. They could have done exactly the same thing and called it the Galaxy Tab S8 Lite just to make it sound less old.
If I had to guess why they didn’t do that though, it’d probably be something along the lines of
– A different tablet called Galaxy S8 Lite or FE is in the works
– The Galaxy S6 Lite still sells well enough that they didn’t want to discontinue the brand altogether
– But production of the Exynos 9610 is winding down, so they opted for a different processor
What an odd choice for the branding lol.