Good enough? Samsung Galaxy Tab A9+ long-term review
Verdict in brief
The Galaxy Tab A9+ is a handy, affordable all-round tablet that surprises with its performance. Jen sorely misses the stylus. If you want one, go for the Tab S6 Lite or S9 FE. For office work, browsing and videos, it is perfectly sufficient.
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Pros
- Handy 11-inch format with 90 Hz, unusual in this price range
- Runs smoothly for videos, browsing, office work, notes and video calls
- Headphone jack and microSD slot included
- Android 14 and One UI 6 via update, Samsung DeX on board
- 6 to 7 hours of screen-on time, up to two days
Cons
- No S Pen and no S Pen support
- Gap between display and body quickly collects dirt
- No fingerprint sensor
- Weak cameras with 5 and 8 megapixels
- Display only reaches up to 570 nits
I’m a big fan of tech that’s handy enough to simply have with you on the go. That is exactly what the 11-inch Samsung Galaxy Tab A9+ is. Notebooksbilliger provided me with the device for testing, so I could take it with me on trips.
Entry-level tablet, not high-end
The Tab A9+ is not a high-end device for 4K video editing or high-resolution photo editing. That’s what the Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra is for, Samsung’s flagship tablet, which for many people can even replace a laptop. But I wouldn’t just toss the S9 Ultra in my backpack, read on the train or take it to the beach. The Tab A9+ is excellent for that: you just slip it into your bag and take it along to read, work or watch movies on the go.
Display
The tablet has an 11-inch FHD LCD with 90 Hz. In this price segment, that’s unusual, normally it’s 60 Hz. The display reaches up to 570 nits. In direct sunlight, reading is already difficult. The Tab A9+ costs €269 RRP in the WiFi version.
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Build and ports
The build quality is okay for an entry-level tablet. The body is made of aluminum, is 6.9 mm slim and weighs 480 g. I’m bothered by a small gap between the display frame and the body, where dust and dirt quickly collect. The Galaxy Tab S9 FE doesn’t have this problem because it’s made from a single piece.
In return, the Tab A9+ has a headphone jack and a microSD slot. The S9 FE, for example, doesn’t have the headphone jack. You unlock it with face unlock, PIN or pattern. A fingerprint sensor is missing, which you have to keep in mind at this price point.
Performance and features
The Tab A9+ is powered by the Snapdragon 695, with either 4 or 8 GB of RAM, depending on whether you buy 64 or 128 GB of storage. It comes with Android 13, and by now there is an update to Android 14 and One UI 6.
The most important thing: the tablet runs smoothly throughout for the tasks it was made for. These include videos and movies, web browsing, email, notes, video calls, reading and simpler games. Nothing stutters, and web pages and apps open at a reasonable speed. Samsung DeX is on board, which lets you work comfortably with a keyboard and mouse.
I get 6 to 7 hours of screen-on time, so two days with heavy use. The 5-megapixel front camera is okay for video calls. I wouldn’t start an Instagram career with it or the 8-megapixel main camera. The main camera is good for scanning documents at best.
Comparison with the Tab S9 FE, Tab S6 Lite and Tab A9
| Model | RRP | Special features |
|---|---|---|
| Galaxy Tab A9+ | €269 | 11 inches, 90 Hz, Snapdragon 695, no S Pen |
| Galaxy Tab S9 FE | €499 | Same size, made from a single piece, S Pen, higher resolution, fingerprint scanner, better selfie camera, more powerful processor |
| Galaxy Tab S6 Lite (2024) | €429 | 10.4 inches, Exynos 1280, S Pen included |
| Galaxy Tab A9 | €229 (at Samsung €199) | 8.7 inches, 60 Hz LCD, MediaTek Helio G99 |
- Tab S9 FE: €240 more than the A9+. If you care about the points mentioned, you’re better off spending a bit more.
- Tab S6 Lite (2024): The cheapest current Samsung tablet with an S Pen, €160 more than the A9+. Why it isn’t called Galaxy Tab S9 Lite remains a mystery to me. If you want the stylus, and I’d be right at the front of the line, this is the one to get. Price-wise, it sits between the A9+ and the S9 FE.
- Tab A9 without Plus: Slightly smaller and handier, I can only recommend it for reading, a bit of browsing and watching videos. Working and video calls are no fun because of the low performance. It’s basically a handy e-reader that’s also good for browsing and watching videos.
Verdict
The Tab A9+ is a really nice, handy tablet that surprised me with its performance. Smooth work with office applications is possible, as are browsing and watching videos. That makes it an affordable all-rounder. I sorely miss the stylus, but the low price has to come from somewhere, and not everyone needs one. If you buy a Samsung device, you also buy into the ecosystem, with Samsung Notes, Samsung Health and Quick Share. For me, that’s a big plus.
Questions and answers
- How much does the Samsung Galaxy Tab A9+ cost?
- The WiFi version costs €269 RRP. There is 64 GB with 4 GB of RAM or 128 GB with 8 GB of RAM.
- Does the Galaxy Tab A9+ have an S Pen?
- No, there is neither an S Pen nor S Pen support. Jen sorely misses the stylus. The cheapest current Samsung tablet with an S Pen is the Galaxy Tab S6 Lite (2024) at €429 RRP.
- What is the difference between the Galaxy Tab A9+ and the Tab S9 FE?
- The Tab S9 FE costs €499 RRP, so €240 more. For that you get better build quality without the gap, an S Pen, higher resolution, a fingerprint scanner, a better selfie camera and a more powerful processor.
- How long does the Galaxy Tab A9+ battery last?
- Jen gets 6 to 7 hours of screen-on time, which means two days with heavy use.
