The Samsung Galaxy Tab Active 5 is a relatively handy representative of the outdoor tablets. It is dustproof and waterproof with IP68 certification, offers a pen integrated into the protective case and a shockproof housing. In addition, as with the outdoor cell phone Samsung Galaxy Xcover 7 (test report), the battery is replaceable.
The Active 5 is the direct successor to the Samsung Galaxy Tab Active 3 (test report) from 2020 and a small alternative to the outdoor tablet Samsung Galaxy Tab Active 4 Pro (test report). As an outdoor tablet, the Active 5 is a robust option with good, contemporary hardware that is not only interesting for the commercial sector, but also for camping lovers or outdoor fans. We tested the small tablet extensively.
Highlights from the test
The Samsung Galaxy Tab Active 5 is an excellent and compact outdoor tablet for use outdoors, on camping holidays or in commercial areas. With a format of 8 inches, it is very handy and therefore well suited for mobile use. The fairly bright LCD is ideal for outdoor use, and the performance and long-term support with software updates are also strong. The only weakness is the rather high price 449 Euro for the Wi-Fi variant. If you often travel with the Tab Active 5, we recommend the variant with 5G 522 Euro.
How stable is the Galaxy Tab Active 5?
With a display diagonal of exactly 8 inches, the Galaxy Tab Active 5 is one of the compact tablets (list of the best). With dimensions of 213.8 × 126.8 × 10.1 mm, it is roughly the size of an A5 sheet of paper or a paperback or notepad. The frame of the tablet is rubberized to absorb shocks well. The workmanship is excellent and robust. Although it weighs 430 g, almost as much as an iPad, it is only about half as heavy as other outdoor tablets.
The back is removable, meaning the battery can be replaced – very unusual for a tablet. This allows a second battery to be used when the other one is empty. This should also extend the lifespan of the device even further, as the energy source can be replaced more easily if it becomes worn out.
Even though the Tab Active 5 is already quite sturdy, Samsung includes an additional protective cover called the Inbox Cover, which is also rubberized. You put the tablet into this, which protects the device even better in the event of a fall. A pen is also included, which is simply inserted into the inbox cover at the top – very practical. It’s the best solution we know of to store a stylus.
The tablet is IP68 waterproof and dustproof. According to the manufacturer, it can withstand fresh water at a depth of up to 1.5 meters for 30 minutes. You can also clean it with disinfectant. It is also certified to US military standard MIL-STD-810H for humidity, immersion, salt spray, dust, vibration and drop testing. According to Samsung, it can survive a fall from 1.5 meters onto a plywood surface, with the inbox cover from 1.8 meters.
How good and how bright is the display?
The LCD uses an IPS panel and has a resolution of 1920 × 1200 pixels (Full HD) at 283 pixels per inch (PPI). This ensures a sharp image in which pixels can hardly be seen with the naked eye. The image quality is excellent and offers expressive colors and balanced contrasts. The refresh rate of up to 120 Hertz also ensures a particularly smooth image during animations, games or when scrolling.
One of the biggest strengths is the Tab Active 5’s high screen brightness. We were able to measure over 800 cd/m² – that’s an excellent value for a tablet. The brighter a display, the easier it is to read outdoors. This is an important criterion for outdoor devices, but one that many smartphones and tablets do not meet at all. As long as the sun doesn’t hit the display directly, the Tab Active 5’s screen is always easy to read outdoors.
Samsung Galaxy Tab Active 5 – photo gallery
Samsung Galaxy Tab Active 5 – photo gallery
How good is the equipment?
The Samsung Exynos 1380, which also works in the Galaxy A54 (test report), serves as the drive. The chip offers more than solid performance, making the Tab Active 5 one of the faster tablets with Android. We achieved around 12,700 points in PCmark Work 3.0 and 3000 points in 3Dmark’s Wild Life. This puts the Tab Active on par with the Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE (test report). In everyday life, the system and apps always run smoothly.
The tablet offers 6GB of RAM and 128GB of internal storage. A much more reliable version with 8 GB of RAM and 256 GB (price comparison) is also available in Austria. An expansion or microSD card is also possible. In terms of interfaces, everything is up to date with Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.3 and NFC. There is an optional variant with mobile communications via 5G. GPS is also on board. What is disappointing, however, is the connection, which only supports the slow USB-C 2.0 standard. For the price we would have expected USB 3.2 here. Like its predecessor, the tablet again offers pogo pins, which you can connect a keyboard to.
A fingerprint sensor is integrated into the mechanical home button and works quickly and reliably. We also liked the robust S-Pen. This allows precise input. The orange, physical button on the side is also practical. This is programmable and can be assigned two features at the same time – each for a short press or a long hold.
How long are updates available?
The Galaxy Tab Active 5 runs Android 14 and Samsung’s One UI 6.0. Samsung is very exemplary when it comes to its update policy. The 8-inch tablet receives security patches for a period of 5 years as standard – but unlike the top Korean smartphones, they only come quarterly, not monthly. The device also receives four major Android updates – up to and including Android 18. The update period is apparently planned to be extended to 8 years for Enterprise Edition models, although official confirmation is still pending.
How long does the battery last?
As a compact tablet, the Tab Active 5, like its predecessor, only offers a relatively small battery of 5050 mAh. This means that the device lasts around 8 hours in the PCmark battery test. Most smartphones, but also tablets in 10-inch format, last a little longer here. You should be able to use the Tab Active 5 in everyday life for just under a day, but it will be a bit tight for more than that.
How much does the Galaxy Tab Active 5 cost?
The RRP for the pure Wi-Fi model with 6/128 GB is 479 euros, which is now the price of the Enterprise Edition 449 Euro fallen. The 5G model is available 522 Euro.
Technical data
What alternatives are there?