Samsung has launched its latest generation of cheap tablets, with a surprise addition to the family in the form of the Tab A9+ alongside the expected Tab A9. Here’s all you need to know about the successor to the Samsung Galaxy Tab A8.
Read our Galaxy Tab A9 review and Galaxy Tab A9+ review for our verdicts on each model.
When can you buy the Samsung Galaxy Tab A9 and A9+?
The official launch date of 23 October 2023 is for India, South Korea, and Australia.
While we don’t have a confirmed release date for the US, we do know that the new tablets will debut in the UK on 27th November 2023.
The Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 launched initially in the UK in December 2021 with other regions following on in January 2022, so if the same scheduling appears this time around then we should see the full global release achieved by the end of November 2023, which seems to be borne out by the UK launch date.
How much do the Samsung Galaxy Tab A9 and A9+ cost?
We don’t yet have US pricing for the new models, but we know that in the UK the Tab A9 will start at £169 while the A9+ pricing begins at £239.
Samsung has launched the tablets in Australia, we can use those figures as a clue. At the time of writing, only the Tab A9+ prices have been confirmed though, so here’s how they line up.
Samsung Galaxy Tab A9+
- Galaxy Tab A9+ Wi-Fi, 4/ 64GB: AU$379 (approx. $238/£195)
- Galaxy Tab A9+ Wi-Fi, 8/128GB: AU$479 (approx. $302/£248)
- Galaxy Tab A9+ 5G, 4/ 64GB: AU$529 (approx. $334/£274)
- Galaxy Tab A9+ 5G, 8/128GB: AU$629 (approx. $397/£326)
Samsung
What features are in the Samsung Galaxy Tab A9 and A9+?
The most interesting new addition in terms of features, is an entirely new model in the Galaxy Tab A9+.
This offers much of the same specs and capabilities as the standard A9, but goes from an 8.7in LCD 60Hz display up to 11in LCD 90Hz panel. The larger model also offers 5G capabilities (in certain models and regions), while the A9 sticks with 4G LTE (again, if you buy that variant).
The standard Tab A9 has some advantages of its own, with the more future-proofed Bluetooth 5.3 onboard, while the A9+ sporting the older 5.1. The A9 is also smaller and lighter, mainly due to the difference in the size of the display. However, the A9+ has quad speakers with Dolby Atmos onboard.
Both will be available in Graphite, Silver, and Navy liveries.
“the series combines immersive video and audio with hyper-fast connectivity — supporting everyday entertainment and productivity needs in a portable package,” said Samsung.
They will be available in two configurations for memory and storage – 4GB/64GB or 8GB/128GB – which can be expanded by a further 1TB via Micro SD cards. The large size of the A9+ means it can also accommodate a 7040mAh battery instead of the 5100mAh cell in the A9, but powering that 11in panel may make the differences between them negligible.
Samsung equips both devices with Android 13, presumably with its OneUI skin running on top to make it the same experience that users of Samsung’s other devices will be accustomed.
Here’s a breakdown of the specs:
We’re hoping to get the new tablets in for a full review very soon, so be sure to check back to see how the Tab A9 series performs when we put them through their paces.
In the meantime, check out our best tablets and best budget tablets charts to see what they will be up against.
Author: Martyn Casserly, Contributor, Tech Advisor
Martyn has been involved with tech ever since the arrival of his ZX Spectrum back in the early 80s. He covers iOS, Android, Windows and macOS, writing tutorials, buying guides and reviews.
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