Microsoft Surface RT (32GB) vs Samsung Galaxy Tab A 8.0 (2019, SM-T290)
Side by side comparison between Microsoft Surface RT vs Samsung Galaxy Tab A 8.0 (2019) tablets, differences, pros, cons and full specifications. What's the better?
,
10.6"
TFT
TFT
768x1366
1
MP
MP
1mp
2GB
RAM
RAM
Penta-core
4120
mAh
mAh
(Non removable)
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!
5 Advantages 
15 Advantages | 16 Common items in both devices |
| TFT LCD |
| 60Hz |
| 16 million |
| Only digital zoom |
| Autofocus |
| EIS: Digital stabilization |
| (front) HD (1280x720) |
| +9 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 RT (32GB) | Galaxy Tab A 8.0 (2019, SM-T290) | |
| Model | Surface RT (32GB) | Galaxy Tab A 8.0 (2019, SM-T290) |
| Other model names | Tablet Microsoft Surface RT 1 | Galaxy Tab A8" WiFi SM-T290NZKMZTO |
| Country or region available |  (Global, International) | (Global, International) |
| Brand | Microsoft | Samsung |
| Release date | 10/26/2012 | 7/5/2019 |
| Depth | 9.4 millimeters (0.37 inches) | 8 millimeters (0.31 inches) |
| Size (width x height) | 172 x 274.6 millimeters (6.77 x 10.81 in) | 124.4 x 210 millimeters (4.9 x 8.27 in) |
| Weight | 680 grams (23.8 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 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 | ~65.6% (screen-to-body ratio) | ~71% (screen-to-body ratio) |
| Display resolution | 768x1366 pixels | 800x1280 pixels (16:10) |
| Touchscreen | Capacitive Multitouch 5-points | Capacitive Multitouch |
| Pixel density (dot pitch) | 148 PPI | 189 PPI |
| Colors | 16 million | 16 million |
| Scratch-resistant glass | Not supported | Not supported |
| Refresh rate | 60Hz | 60Hz |
| Display features | Not supported | Not supported |
🤖 Operating System | ||
| Microsoft Surface RT (32GB) | Galaxy Tab A 8.0 (2019, SM-T290) | |
| System version | Windows RT 8.0 | Android 9.0 Pie |
| Firmware update | Windows RT 8.1 | Android 11 |
| User Interface | feature not registered | One UI Core 1.1 / 2.5 / 3.1 |
⚙️ Processor | ||
| Microsoft Surface RT (32GB) | Galaxy Tab A 8.0 (2019, SM-T290) | |
| Chipset | 32bit: NVIDIA Tegra 3 (T30L) (40nm) | 64bit: Qualcomm Snapdragon 429 (SDM429) (12nm) |
| CPU | Penta-core, 2 processors: 4x 1.3GHz ARM Cortex-A9 (Quad-core) 1x 500MHz ARM Cortex-A9 (Single-core) | Quad-core, 1 processor: 4x 2GHz ARM Cortex-A53 (Quad-core) |
| GPU graphical controller | NVIDIA GeForce ULP MP12 (416MHz) | Qualcomm Adreno 504 |
| Performance (benchmark) | Browsermark: 73180 (v1) | AnTuTu: 35288 (v8) |
💽 Memory and storage | ||
| Microsoft Surface RT (32GB) | Galaxy Tab A 8.0 (2019, SM-T290) | |
| RAM memory | 2GB LPDDR2 | 2GB LPDDR3 |
| Internal storage | 32GB (15GB available) SSD | 32GB (21GB available) eMMC 5.1 |
| External storage | Until 64GB microSD, microSDXC (dedicated slot) | Until 512GB microSD, microSDXC (dedicated slot) |
📶 Mobile networks | ||
| Microsoft Surface 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 RT (32GB) | Galaxy Tab A 8.0 (2019, SM-T290) | |
| Back camera (main camera) | 1 megapixels | 8 megapixels |
| Main camera resolution | 1280x720 pixels | 3264x2448 pixels |
| Video recording (primary) | HD (1280x720) 30 fps | Full HD (1920x1080) 30 fps |
| 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 |
| Autofocus | Autofocus | Autofocus |
| Touch focus | Not supported | Supported |
| Image stabilization | EIS: Digital stabilization | EIS: Digital stabilization |
| Zoom | Only digital zoom | Only digital zoom |
| Face/smile detection | Not supported | 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 RT (32GB) | Galaxy Tab A 8.0 (2019, SM-T290) | |
| Front camera (secondary) | 1 megapixels | 2 megapixels |
| Front camera resolution | 1280x720 pixels | 1600x1200 pixels |
| Video recording (secondary) | HD (1280x720) | 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 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 RT (32GB) | Galaxy Tab A 8.0 (2019, SM-T290) | |
| USB | USB 2.0 | 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 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 RT (32GB) | Galaxy Tab A 8.0 (2019, SM-T290) | |
| Battery type | LiPo: li-ion polymer (Non removable) P21GK3 | LiPo: li-ion polymer (Non removable) |
| Battery capacity | 4120 mAh | 5100 mAh |
| Charger, watts | Wired charging | 7.75W (5V/1.55A) Wired charging |
| Inductive / wireless charging | Not supported | Not supported |
| Talk time autonomy | 8 hours | feature not registered |
| Standby | 360 hours (15 days) | feature not registered |
➕ Other features | ||
| Microsoft Surface 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 • Optional Touch Cover with keyboard • WiFi Direct • Microsoft Office 2013 RT | • Colors: Carbon Black, Silver/white • Kids Home |
☢️ Radiation rate | ||
| Microsoft Surface 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) |