Published February 20, 2024 Vincent Paquette
We tested the Samsung Galaxy Tab A9+ tablet. This is a cost-effective alternative to high-end tablets like the iPad or Galaxy Tab S, but is suitable for anyone who wants entertainment at a cheaper price.
For many, a tablet is an extension of their smartphone that allows them to enjoy their favorite applications on a larger screen.
It remains a lighter and more portable solution than a laptop.
If this is our vision of a tablet, we don't necessarily need to spend a fortune on high-end tablets like iPads or even Samsung's Galaxy Tab S.
With the Galaxy Tab A we can easily fall back on the affordable Samsung series. We tested the Galaxy Tab A 9+.
The features of the Galaxy Tab A9+ tablet
Just like its predecessors Galaxy A7 and A7 Lite, Samsung offers one of the most economical tablets on the market with the Galaxy Tab A 9+.
This device offers good value for money with the features it offers.
A light and compact tablet
The Galaxy Tab A 9+ is a light tablet at just 480 grams.
This is due to the aluminum finish, which certainly gives it a less luxurious look, but serves its purpose very well.
We can therefore easily carry it in our bag or briefcase, although it has a thickness of just under 7 mm.
The Galaxy Tab A9+ is available in blue, gray or silver. Photo credit: Samsung
A remarkable 11-inch screen
The first sacrifice we have to make with the Galaxy Tab A 9+ is the screen quality.
Of course, in a cheap model like this we cannot benefit from an AMOLED screen.
However, we are entitled to an 11-inch LCD screen with a resolution above Full HD (1920 x 1200).
The 11-inch screen of the Galaxy Tab A9+ allows us to enjoy our entertainment. Photo credit: Samsung
It remains a screen where we can easily read articles and enjoy our entertainment such as Netflix, Disney+ and others.
For our navigation on the tablet as well as our video games, it is interesting to know that we can achieve a refresh rate of 90 Hz. It offers more fluidity.
Respectable performance
In terms of performance, the Galaxy Tab A 9+ is powered by the Snapdragon 695 chip.
We shouldn't expect a performance monster, but the tablet offers us enough for what we would call basic use (internet, video, music, etc.).
Coupled with this processor, you have the choice of 4GB or 8GB of RAM.
You can easily run two applications at the same time on the Galaxy Tab A9+. Photo credit: Samsung
We will have no problem running multiple applications at the same time and getting good performance speed.
However, when it comes to video games, we need to lower our demands and adjust the parameters in our favorite game accordingly.
Expandable storage
On the storage side we have the choice between a capacity of 64 GB or 128 GB.
This choice is consistent with our RAM choice. That means the 64GB storage model has 4GB of RAM and the 128GB storage model has 8GB of RAM.
The 64GB storage is lightweight. Especially since Samsung's system uses almost 15 GB and we still have 49 GB left.
On the other hand, you can insert a micro SD card with a maximum capacity of 1TB, which allows you to overcome this limitation.
Decent sound quality
Samsung may advertise that the Galaxy Tab A 9+ offers Dolby Atmos technology, but don't expect the tablet to have a big sound system.
The Galaxy Tab A9+ does have Dolby Atmos technology, but the sound isn't exceptional. Photo credit: Samsung
It's surrounded by four speakers, which offer decent quality but unsurprisingly lack power, especially at low frequencies.
Of course, if we want we can connect our headphones or our Bluetooth headset as long as it supports Bluetooth 5.1.
We can even connect our wired headphones via a 3.5mm jack.
Limited use cameras
Tablets rarely perform well when it comes to taking photos, recording videos, or making video calls, and the Galaxy Tab A 9+ is no exception to this trend.
There's an 8MP camera on the back, which quickly makes us want to take out our phone instead of using it.
The front camera is a 5 MP camera. Again, we may want to take our phone out, although most offer better resolution, but it's still fine for video calls.
Especially since it's much more pleasant to have a video call on an 11-inch screen than on your phone.
Is a compatible keyboard coming soon?
The Galaxy Tab A 9+ is equipped with a USB-C 2.0 port, but we also notice ports for a keyboard case.
However, at the time of writing, we couldn't find a single case of this type on Samsung's website.
If this comes to fruition, making it a hybrid tablet would be an interesting solution.
Good battery life
Finally, as far as the battery is concerned, it is a 7040mAh battery.
Depending on the refresh rate you choose (adaptive or 90Hz), you can get it between 9:30 and 10:30.
Charging is done via a USB-C cable. It's a shame that the tablet only supports a maximum charge of 15W. This means that charging from 0 to 100% takes just over 2 hours.
A competitive price
The fact is, at $329 for the 64GB storage model and $399 for the 128GB model, we're getting our money's worth.
When it comes to update support, Samsung isn't particularly transparent in this regard.
Based on their support trend for Galaxy A phones, we can imagine them offering Android updates until fall 2026 and security updates until fall 2027.
The Galaxy Tab A9+ tablet remains an interesting choice for the whole family. Photo credit: Samsung
Is the Galaxy Tab A9+ tablet a good buy?
It's always a question of how we want to use our tablet.
If our goal is to have a larger screen than our phone to surf the Internet, play small games and watch videos, then this remains an interesting solution.
However, if you're looking for a tablet that can run really big games at full speed, edit videos, or launch energy-intensive applications, this isn't the best option.
The question then becomes whether we want the model with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage or the one with 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage.
Apparently, with 8GB of RAM, the device makes it easier to run many applications at the same time.
If we don't mind the 4GB of RAM but want additional storage, it's better to spend the $60 difference on a micro SD card. A 512GB card costs around $60.
Galaxy Tab A9+
64GB: $329
128GB: $399
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