In a market flooded with high-priced flagships, the demand for capable yet affordable tablets remains strong. Samsung consistently answers this call with its Galaxy Tab A series, and the Samsung Galaxy Tab A9 Plus, released in late 2023, stands as a prime example of this philosophy. Designed for everyday users, students, and families, it brings a generously sized display, a smooth user experience, and robust features to a highly competitive price segment. Available in both 64GB and 128GB storage configurations, it offers flexibility to cater to different user needs.
The design of the Samsung Galaxy Tab A9 Plus is surprisingly premium for its price point. It features a sleek metal unibody design, giving it a more upscale feel than its plastic-bodied predecessors. With a slim profile of just 6.9mm and weighing around 480g (Wi-Fi) to 491g (5G variant), it strikes an excellent balance between a large screen and comfortable portability. You can easily hold it for extended periods for reading or media consumption, and it slides effortlessly into most bags. The build quality feels solid and durable, capable of withstanding the rigors of daily use in a busy household or educational environment. It’s typically available in attractive colors like Graphite, Silver, and Navy, adding a touch of modern elegance.
An Expansive View: The 11.0-inch TFT LCD Display with 90Hz Refresh Rate
The star of the show on the Galaxy Tab A9 Plus is undoubtedly its expansive 11.0-inch TFT LCD display. This large screen size is ideal for immersive media consumption, whether you’re streaming movies, Browse photos, or enjoying e-books. It boasts a resolution of 1920 x 1200 pixels (WUXGA) with a 16:10 aspect ratio, providing crisp visuals and ample screen real estate. Text is sharp, and images are rendered with good detail.
A significant upgrade from previous Tab A series models and a key feature for a tablet in this segment is the 90Hz refresh rate. This higher refresh rate translates to noticeably smoother scrolling, more fluid animations, and a more responsive feel when navigating the interface. While it’s not a top-tier AMOLED panel, Samsung’s implementation of the TFT LCD is commendable, offering decent brightness and vibrant enough colors for an enjoyable viewing experience indoors. For its price category, the display quality is a strong selling point, making the Tab A9 Plus an excellent device for entertainment and light productivity. The larger screen also significantly enhances multitasking capabilities, allowing for comfortable split-screen use.
Dependable Performance: Snapdragon 695 5G and RAM Variants
Powering the Samsung Galaxy Tab A9 Plus is the Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 5G (6 nm) chipset. This octa-core processor comprises two Kryo 660 Gold cores clocked at 2.2 GHz and six Kryo 660 Silver cores at 1.8 GHz, paired with an Adreno 619 GPU. This mid-range chipset is a highly capable performer for the tablet’s intended use cases.
For everyday tasks, the Snapdragon 695 ensures a smooth and responsive experience. Web Browse, social media, email, video streaming, and running productivity applications (like Microsoft Office Suite or Google Workspace apps) are handled with ease. The 90Hz refresh rate further enhances the perception of fluidity.
The Samsung Galaxy Tab A9 Plus comes in two primary configurations:
- 64GB internal storage paired with 4GB of RAM.
- 128GB internal storage paired with 8GB of RAM.
The 4GB RAM variant (with 64GB storage) is suitable for light users who primarily consume media, browse the web, and use a few apps simultaneously. It will perform well for these tasks, though heavy multitasking might occasionally lead to minor slowdowns or app reloads.
The 8GB RAM variant (with 128GB storage) offers a noticeable boost in multitasking capabilities. With double the RAM, the tablet can hold more applications in memory, leading to smoother transitions between apps and better overall responsiveness, especially for users who juggle multiple tasks or keep many browser tabs open. This variant provides a more future-proof experience and handles slightly more demanding applications with greater ease.
Crucially, both the 64GB and 128GB variants of the Tab A9 Plus come with a dedicated microSDXC card slot, supporting expandable storage up to 1TB. This is a massive advantage, especially for the 64GB base model, as it allows users to significantly expand their storage for photos, videos, movies, games, and documents, effectively mitigating any concerns about running out of space.
For connectivity, the Snapdragon 695 5G variant supports 5G networks, ensuring fast internet speeds for streaming, downloading, and online gaming on the go. Both Wi-Fi and 5G models support Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac) for reliable wireless connections. Bluetooth 5.1 (or 5.3 depending on region/variant) ensures seamless pairing with accessories like wireless headphones and keyboards.
Software Experience: Android 13/14 and One UI Core
The Samsung Galaxy Tab A9 Plus launched with Android 13 out of the box, overlaid with Samsung’s streamlined One UI 5.1 (Core version). Samsung has a good track record with software updates, and the Tab A9 Plus is expected to receive several major Android OS upgrades and years of security updates, ensuring its longevity and continued access to new features. As of mid-2025, it would have already received or be in line for Android 14 and potentially One UI 6.x.
One UI Core is Samsung’s optimized interface for its more budget-friendly devices, providing a clean, intuitive, and feature-rich experience. It includes essential productivity features that leverage the large screen, such as:
- Multi-Active Window: This allows users to run up to three apps simultaneously in split-screen mode, enabling seamless multitasking for comparing documents, watching a video while chatting, or taking notes during a lecture. This feature is particularly effective on the 11-inch display.
- Pop-up View: Apps can be opened in resizable floating windows, offering even more flexibility for managing multiple tasks.
- Quick Share: Samsung’s proprietary feature for fast and easy file sharing with other nearby Galaxy devices.
- Continuity Features: Seamlessly switch between Samsung Galaxy phones and the tablet for tasks like continuing Browse sessions or copy-pasting text.
- Samsung Kids Mode: A dedicated, safe, and engaging environment for children with parental controls, allowing parents to manage screen time and access to content.
It’s important to note that, as an A-series tablet, the Tab A9 Plus does not support Samsung DeX mode (the desktop-like interface) or the S Pen functionality found in the Tab S series or even the Tab S6 Lite/S7 FE. This is a key differentiator for Samsung’s budget tablets, as these features are reserved for higher-tier models. While the lack of S Pen support might be a drawback for artists or heavy note-takers, the tablet is still perfectly capable for touch-based interactions and can be paired with third-party Bluetooth keyboards and mice for a more laptop-like experience.
Capturing Moments: Cameras
Tablet cameras are generally not their strongest suit, primarily serving for video calls and basic document scanning rather than serious photography. The Samsung Galaxy Tab A9 Plus features a functional camera setup:
- Rear Camera: An 8MP wide-angle lens with autofocus. This camera is suitable for scanning documents, taking quick reference photos, or occasional casual shots in good lighting conditions. It’s capable of recording 1080p video at 30 frames per second.
- Front Camera: A 5MP wide-angle front camera. This camera is optimally placed on the longer bezel, making it perfect for landscape video calls, ensuring you’re centered and clear during online meetings, virtual classes, or video chats with family and friends. It also records 1080p video at 30fps.
While these cameras won’t compete with smartphone cameras, they are perfectly adequate for the tablet’s intended purpose, providing clear visuals for communication and basic image capture.
Immersive Audio and Robust Battery Life
For a tablet in its class, the audio experience on the Galaxy Tab A9 Plus is remarkably good. It features quad stereo speakers, which deliver a rich and immersive soundscape. These speakers are further enhanced by Dolby Atmos support, creating a more spacious and enveloping audio experience whether you’re watching movies, listening to music, or playing games. The inclusion of four speakers is a significant upgrade and provides a much better audio output than tablets with just two speakers.
A welcome addition that some higher-end tablets omit is the 3.5mm headphone jack, allowing users to connect their wired headphones for private listening without needing any adapters.
Battery life is another strong point for the Galaxy Tab A9 Plus. It is equipped with a substantial 7,040mAh Li-Po battery. This large capacity, combined with the power-efficient Snapdragon 695 chipset and the non-AMOLED display, translates to excellent endurance. Users can expect to get a full day of mixed usage, including several hours of video streaming, web Browse, and light productivity, on a single charge. It’s an ideal companion for long commutes, extended study sessions, or travel where charging points might be scarce.
When it comes to charging, the Tab A9 Plus supports 15W wired charging. While this isn’t the fastest charging speed available on Samsung devices, it’s a reasonable speed for a tablet in this price range. A full charge will typically take a few hours. It’s common for Samsung to exclude the charger brick in the box for its budget tablets, so users might need to use an existing compatible charger or purchase one separately.
Who is the Samsung Galaxy Tab A9 Plus (64GB & 128GB) For?
The Samsung Galaxy Tab A9 Plus, in both its 64GB and 128GB variants, offers compelling value for a diverse range of users:
- Students: The large screen is excellent for e-textbooks, research, and online learning. Its multitasking capabilities are beneficial for taking notes alongside lectures or presentations.
- Multimedia Consumers: If your primary use for a tablet is watching movies, TV shows, YouTube, or Browse social media, the 11-inch 90Hz display and quad stereo speakers make it an ideal entertainment hub.
- Families: With Samsung Kids mode, a durable build, and a reasonable price, it’s a great shared tablet for family entertainment and educational apps for children.
- Casual Gamers: The Snapdragon 695 and 90Hz display can handle most casual and moderately demanding games with good performance.
- Budget-Conscious Users: It delivers a surprisingly premium experience and robust features at an accessible price point, making it an excellent choice for those on a tighter budget who still want a capable tablet.
- Light Productivity Users: While it lacks S Pen and DeX, its large screen, capable processor, and multi-window features make it suitable for tasks like email, document viewing, and light office work when paired with an external keyboard.
For users who plan to download a lot of large games, store extensive video libraries, or keep many apps installed, the 128GB variant with 8GB RAM offers a smoother and more spacious experience and is highly recommended. However, for most casual users, the 64GB model is perfectly adequate, especially given the expandable storage via microSD.
In conclusion, the Samsung Galaxy Tab A9 Plus (64GB & 128GB) solidifies Samsung’s position in the budget and mid-range tablet market. It intelligently combines a stylish design, an impressive 11-inch 90Hz display, reliable performance from the Snapdragon 695 5G, immersive quad speakers, and excellent battery life. While it omits premium features like AMOLED and S Pen support to keep costs down, it delivers exceptional value for its target audience. For consumers in Kenya looking to purchase this versatile and well-rounded tablet, Mobihub Electronics is a highly recommended and trusted destination, known for offering genuine Samsung products and excellent customer service. The Tab A9 Plus truly punches above its weight, providing a satisfying and productive tablet experience without a hefty price tag
