Let's get one thing straight right away: finding a Samsung tablet Galaxy Lite 3 in a store is going to be tough, mostly because that specific naming convention doesn't actually exist in Samsung's official lineup. If you’re searching for it, you’re almost certainly looking for the Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite, which has seen three distinct "lives" or refreshes over the last few years. It's a confusing mess of model years. Samsung first dropped the S6 Lite in 2020, then realized they had a hit on their hands and refreshed it in 2022, and then—somewhat inexplicably—did it again in 2024.
It’s the zombie tablet that just won’t quit.
Why? Honestly, it’s because the "Lite" formula hits a sweet spot that the high-end Tab S9 Ultra or the budget-basement A-series tablets usually miss. You get the S Pen in the box. That’s the big one. While Apple makes you sell a kidney to afford a Pencil after buying an iPad, Samsung just gives it to you. For students or digital artists on a budget, that’s basically the whole game.
What the Samsung Tablet Galaxy Lite 3 Really Is
When people talk about the "third" version of this tablet, they are usually referring to the 2024 edition of the Galaxy Tab S6 Lite. Under the hood, this thing has evolved significantly since 2020, even if the chassis looks identical. The original had an Exynos 9611. It was... fine. The 2022 version swapped in a Snapdragon 720G/732G, which made it feel much snappier. Now, the latest refresh uses an Exynos 1280.
It’s not a powerhouse. Don’t expect to edit 8K video or play Genshin Impact on max settings. You’ll see some stutter if you try to open twenty Chrome tabs while running a video in a floating window. But for taking notes in a lecture or sketching in Procreate-alternatives like Infinite Painter? It’s surprisingly solid.
The build quality is actually better than you’d expect for the price. It’s all metal. No creaky plastic. It feels premium in your hand, unlike some of the cheaper tablets from Lenovo or Amazon. You get a 10.4-inch LCD screen. It isn't OLED, so blacks are more of a dark gray, but the 2000 x 1200 resolution is sharp enough that you won't see individual pixels unless you're pressing your nose against the glass.
The S Pen Factor: Not Just a Plastic Stick
The real reason this tablet stays relevant is the Wacom-powered S Pen. It doesn't require a battery to write. It doesn't need charging. It just works.
If you’re a student, the Samsung Notes app is probably the best first-party note-taking app on any platform right now. It converts handwriting to text with scary accuracy. You can record audio of a professor's lecture while you type, and when you play the audio back, it highlights exactly what you were writing at that moment.
One thing most reviewers miss: the S Pen has 4,096 levels of pressure sensitivity. That’s the same as many professional-grade drawing tablets from a decade ago. If you use apps like Clip Studio Paint or Krita, this "Lite" tablet becomes a legitimate portable art studio.
The Screen vs. The Competition
Let's talk about the display because there's a lot of misinformation out there. No, it is not a 120Hz refresh rate. It’s 60Hz. If you are used to an iPhone Pro or a flagship Galaxy phone, the scrolling will look a bit "choppy" to your eyes at first. That's just the trade-off for the price point.
However, the screen is laminated.
This is huge. Cheap iPads often have an air gap between the glass and the display panel. It feels like you're writing on a piece of glass hovering over the image. On the Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite, the tip of the pen feels like it's actually touching the "ink." It makes a massive difference in how natural it feels to draw or write.
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Performance Reality Check: What Can It Actually Do?
Software-wise, you’re looking at Android 14 with Samsung’s One UI 6.1 (depending on exactly when you buy it). Samsung has become the king of Android updates lately. Even this budget-friendly model gets regular security patches and OS upgrades.
But let's be real about the specs:
- RAM: You’re stuck with 4GB. This is the bottleneck. If you try to jump between a heavy game and a browser, the tablet will likely close the background app to save memory.
- Storage: Usually 64GB or 128GB. Thankfully, there is a microSD card slot. Buy a 256GB card for twenty bucks and you’ll never worry about space for movies or photos again.
- Speakers: Surprisingly good. AKG-tuned dual speakers with Dolby Atmos. It’s actually a great little Netflix machine for a plane ride.
Is it a laptop replacement? No. Not even with Samsung DeX. While the tablet supports DeX (a desktop-like interface), the 4GB of RAM makes it struggle when you start tiling windows. It’s a tablet first, a productivity tool second.
Battery Life and "Real World" Use
Samsung claims about 12 hours of video playback. In the real world, if you're using Wi-Fi, have the brightness at 70%, and are bouncing between apps, you’re looking at about 8 to 9 hours of screen-on time. That’s enough to get through a full school day or a long-haul flight.
Charging is... slow. It supports 15W charging. By modern standards, that’s ancient. If you plug it in when it’s dead, expect to wait over two hours for a full charge. My advice? Plug it in overnight and forget about it.
Comparing the "Lite" Versions
| Feature | 2020 Version | 2022 Version | 2024 Version |
|---|---|---|---|
| Processor | Exynos 9611 | Snapdragon 720G | Exynos 1280 |
| Android Version | Started at 10 | Started at 12 | Started at 14 |
| S Pen | Included | Included | Included |
| Headphone Jack | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Yes, it still has a headphone jack. In 2026, that feels like a rebellious act. If you hate Bluetooth latency or don't want to keep track of dongles, this is one of the last decent tablets that lets you just plug in your old-school earbuds.
Common Misconceptions About the Galaxy Lite Series
A lot of people think that "Lite" means "Low Resolution." That's not the case here. The resolution is higher than a standard 1080p monitor. The "Lite" refers mostly to the processor and the lack of an OLED panel.
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Another myth: "It won't work with my PC." Actually, Samsung's "Second Screen" feature lets you use this tablet as a wireless monitor for your Windows laptop. It’s a bit laggy for gaming, but for keeping your Slack or Spotify windows open while you work on your main screen? It's incredibly useful.
Who Should Actually Buy This?
If you want to play Call of Duty: Mobile at 60fps, don't buy this. If you want to do professional video editing, don't buy this.
But if you are a student who needs to mark up PDFs, an office worker who wants a digital notepad, or a parent looking for a durable media tablet for a kid that won't break the bank—this is it. It’s the "Honda Civic" of tablets. It’s not flashy, but it’s reliable and does exactly what it says on the box.
The Samsung tablet Galaxy Lite 3 (or S6 Lite 2024) occupies a space that Apple has largely abandoned: the affordable, pen-enabled tablet that doesn't feel like a toy.
Actionable Next Steps
- Check the Model Number: Before buying, look for model code SM-P620 (Wi-Fi) or SM-P625 (LTE). This ensures you are getting the newest 2024 refresh with the faster processor and longer software support life.
- Skip the 128GB Upsell: Unless the price difference is less than $20, buy the 64GB model and add your own microSD card. It's much more cost-effective.
- Optimize the Software: Immediately go into Settings > Advanced Features and turn on "Multi Window for all apps." It makes the multitasking much more flexible.
- Protect the Nib: The S Pen tip is soft and feels like paper, but it can wear down. Buy a pack of replacement tips for $5 on Amazon to keep the writing experience smooth.
- Look for Bundles: Samsung often bundles this tablet with a "Book Cover" for free. The cover is magnetic and has a dedicated slot for the S Pen so you don't lose it—since the pen doesn't magnetically snap to the side as strongly as it does on the more expensive S9 series.