Microsoft Surface 2 RT (32GB) vs Samsung Galaxy Tab A 8.0 (2019, SM-T290)
Side by side comparison between Microsoft Surface 2 RT vs Samsung Galaxy Tab A 8.0 (2019) tablets, differences, pros, cons and full specifications. What's the better?
,
vs
8"
TFT
TFT
800x1280
8
MP
MP
2mp
2GB
RAM
RAM
Quad-core
5100
mAh
mAh
(Non removable)
What's the better tablet? Samsung Galaxy Tab A 8.0 (2019, SM-T290)
The phonemore's choice is much more technical than personal. Therefore, you shouldn't only consider this. Our goal is to help you, but what's important to us may not be important to you. You decide which one is the best! Comment!
9 Advantages 
10 Advantages | 14 Common items in both devices |
| 2GB LPDDR3 |
| TFT LCD |
| 16 million |
| Only digital zoom |
| Autofocus |
| Full HD (1920x1080) |
| Capacitive |
| +7 specs and more in the table below |
Check the comparison table below for more items that are not evaluated in comparison score above.
Highlight differences Clear highlight📱 Model features | ||
| Microsoft Surface 2 RT (32GB) | Galaxy Tab A 8.0 (2019, SM-T290) | |
| Model | Surface 2 RT (32GB) | Galaxy Tab A 8.0 (2019, SM-T290) |
| Other model names | Microsoft Surface RT 2, Microsoft Surface 2 RT | Galaxy Tab A8" WiFi SM-T290NZKMZTO |
| Country or region available | feature not registered |  (Global, International) |
| Brand | Microsoft | Samsung |
| Release date | 9/23/2013 | 7/5/2019 |
| Depth | 8.9 millimeters (0.35 inches) | 8 millimeters (0.31 inches) |
| Size (width x height) | 172.5 x 274.6 millimeters (6.79 x 10.81 in) | 124.4 x 210 millimeters (4.9 x 8.27 in) |
| Weight | 676 grams (23.66 ounces) | 345 grams (12.08 ounces) |
| Build, materials | feature not registered | Plastic body, glass front, aluminum back |
| Protection against water and others | Not supported | Not supported |
📲 Display | ||
| Microsoft Surface 2 RT (32GB) | Galaxy Tab A 8.0 (2019, SM-T290) | |
| Display type | TFT LCD | TFT LCD |
| Screen size | 10.6" inches | 8" inches |
| Screen-to-body ratio | ~65.4% (screen-to-body ratio) | ~71% (screen-to-body ratio) |
| Display resolution | 1080x1920 pixels | 800x1280 pixels (16:10) |
| Touchscreen | Capacitive Multitouch 5-points | Capacitive Multitouch |
| Pixel density (dot pitch) | 208 PPI | 189 PPI |
| Colors | 16 million | 16 million |
| Scratch-resistant glass | Not supported | Not supported |
| Refresh rate | feature not registered | 60Hz |
| Display features | feature not registered | Not supported |
🤖 Operating System | ||
| Microsoft Surface 2 RT (32GB) | Galaxy Tab A 8.0 (2019, SM-T290) | |
| System version | Windows RT 8.1 | Android 9.0 Pie |
| Firmware update | feature not registered | Android 11 |
| User Interface | feature not registered | One UI Core 1.1 / 2.5 / 3.1 |
⚙️ Processor | ||
| Microsoft Surface 2 RT (32GB) | Galaxy Tab A 8.0 (2019, SM-T290) | |
| Chipset | 32bit: NVIDIA Tegra 4 Wayne (28nm) | 64bit: Qualcomm Snapdragon 429 (SDM429) (12nm) |
| CPU | Penta-core, 1 processor: 5x 1.7GHz ARM Cortex-A15 (Penta-core) | Quad-core, 1 processor: 4x 2GHz ARM Cortex-A53 (Quad-core) |
| GPU graphical controller | NVIDIA GeForce ULP MP72 672Mhz | Qualcomm Adreno 504 |
| Performance (benchmark) | feature not registered | AnTuTu: 35288 (v8) |
💽 Memory and storage | ||
| Microsoft Surface 2 RT (32GB) | Galaxy Tab A 8.0 (2019, SM-T290) | |
| RAM memory | 2GB LPDDR3 | 2GB LPDDR3 |
| Internal storage | 32GB (15GB available) | 32GB (21GB available) eMMC 5.1 |
| External storage | Until 64GB microSD, microSDXC (dedicated slot) | Until 512GB microSD, microSDXC (dedicated slot) |
📶 Mobile networks | ||
| Microsoft Surface 2 RT (32GB) | Galaxy Tab A 8.0 (2019, SM-T290) | |
| Dual-SIM | Not supported | Not supported |
| SIM card | Not supported | Not supported |
| Maximum Download / Upload | feature not registered | feature not registered |
| Network technology | feature not registered | feature not registered |
| Frequency, bands | Expand band details Collapse details | |
| GSM MHz band | Not supported | Not supported |
| Primary 2G network | Not supported | Not supported |
| Primary 3G network | Not supported | Not supported |
| Primary 4G network | Not supported | Not supported |
| Primary 5G network | Not supported | Not supported |
| Primary data network | Not supported | Not supported |
| Secondary 2G network | Not supported | Not supported |
| Secondary 3G network | Not supported | Not supported |
| Secondary 4G network | Not supported | Not supported |
| Secondary data network | Not supported | Not supported |
📷 Camera | ||
| Microsoft Surface 2 RT (32GB) | Galaxy Tab A 8.0 (2019, SM-T290) | |
| Back camera (main camera) | 5 megapixels | 8 megapixels |
| Main camera resolution | 2592x1944 pixels | 3264x2448 pixels |
| Video recording (primary) | Full HD (1920x1080) 30 fps | Full HD (1920x1080) 30 fps |
| Flash | LED flash | Not supported |
| Focal aperture | feature not registered | feature not registered |
| Focal length | feature not registered | feature not registered |
| Sensor size | feature not registered | feature not registered |
| Pixel size | feature not registered | feature not registered |
| Autofocus | Autofocus | Autofocus |
| Touch focus | Not supported | Supported |
| Image stabilization | feature not registered | EIS: Digital stabilization |
| Zoom | Only digital zoom | Only digital zoom |
| Face/smile detection | Face detection | Face detection, Smile detection |
| BSI sensor | Not supported | Not supported |
| HDR | Not supported | HDR photo only main camera |
| Camera extras | feature not registered | feature not registered |
📸 Front camera | ||
| Microsoft Surface 2 RT (32GB) | Galaxy Tab A 8.0 (2019, SM-T290) | |
| Front camera (secondary) | 3.1 megapixels | 2 megapixels |
| Front camera resolution | 2048x1536 pixels | 1600x1200 pixels |
| Video recording (secondary) | Full HD (1920x1080) | HD (1280x720) |
| Front flash | Not supported | Not supported |
| Focal aperture | feature not registered | feature not registered |
| Focal length | feature not registered | feature not registered |
| Sensor size | feature not registered | feature not registered |
| Pixel size | feature not registered | feature not registered |
🔉 Sound and multimedia | ||
| Microsoft Surface 2 RT (32GB) | Galaxy Tab A 8.0 (2019, SM-T290) | |
| Loudspeaker | Supported | Mono sound with dual speakers |
| Active noise cancellation | 2 microphones or more | Not supported |
| Radio | Not supported | Not supported |
| TV | Not supported | Not supported |
| Video formats | MP4, DivX, XviD, H.264, H.263, WMV | MP4, H.265, H.264, H.263, XviD, MKV |
| Audio formats | MP3, WAV, WMA, eAAC+, AC3, FLAC | MP3, WAV, WMA, eAAC+, FLAC |
🔌 Connectivity | ||
| Microsoft Surface 2 RT (32GB) | Galaxy Tab A 8.0 (2019, SM-T290) | |
| USB | USB 3.0 | MicroUSB 2.0, USB OTG On-The-Go |
| Audio output | 3.5mm jack | 3.5mm jack |
| TV output | Micro HDMI Type D | Not supported |
| Bluetooth | 4.0 + A2DP | 4.2 + A2DP |
| WiFi | 802.11 a/b/g/n [wifi4] (2.4GHz, 5GHz) | 802.11 a/b/g/n [wifi4] (2.4GHz, 5GHz) + MIMO WiFi Direct, hotspot |
| DLNA | Not supported | Not supported |
| GPS | Not supported | A-GPS, GeoTagging, GLONASS, GALILEO, BeiDou |
| NFC | Not supported | Not supported |
| Infrared port | Not supported | Not supported |
🧭 Sensors | ||
| Microsoft Surface 2 RT (32GB) | Galaxy Tab A 8.0 (2019, SM-T290) | |
| Sensors | Accelerometer Ambient light sensor Compass Gyroscope | Accelerometer Ambient light sensor |
| Vibrating alert | Supported | Supported |
🔋 Battery | ||
| Microsoft Surface 2 RT (32GB) | Galaxy Tab A 8.0 (2019, SM-T290) | |
| Battery type | Li-Ion: lithium-ion (Non removable) | LiPo: li-ion polymer (Non removable) |
| Battery capacity | feature not registered | 5100 mAh |
| Charger, watts | Wired charging | 7.75W (5V/1.55A) Wired charging |
| Inductive / wireless charging | feature not registered | Not supported |
| Talk time autonomy | 10 hours | feature not registered |
| Standby | feature not registered | feature not registered |
➕ Other features | ||
| Microsoft Surface 2 RT (32GB) | Galaxy Tab A 8.0 (2019, SM-T290) | |
| Call control | Not supported | Not supported |
| Messaging | E-mail, Push mail | E-mail, Push mail |
| Hands-free calling | Supported | feature not registered |
| Video calling | Supported | feature not registered |
| Ringtones | feature not registered | feature not registered |
| Web browser | HTML, XHTML, HTML5, Flash player | HTML, XHTML, HTML5 |
| Antenna | Internal antenna | feature not registered |
| Qwerty physical keyboard | Dock with QWERTY keyboard | Not supported |
| Miscellaneous | • Colors: Dark Titanium • Dual-position kickstand • Optional Touch Cover with keyboard • WiFi Direct • Microsoft Office 2013 RT • USB On-The-Go 1.3 • SkyDrive 200GB for 2 years • Skype free international calls and WiFi for 1 year | • Colors: Carbon Black, Silver/white • Kids Home |
☢️ Radiation rate | ||
| Microsoft Surface 2 RT (32GB) | Galaxy Tab A 8.0 (2019, SM-T290) | |
| SAR 1.6W/kg (USA, Mexico, etc.) | feature not registered | feature not registered |
| SAR 2W/kg (Europe, UK, etc.) | feature not registered | 0.33W/kg (body) |