Samsung Galaxy Tab A9 review -level tablet with GPS, LTE and 4 years of update

With the Tab A9, Samsung has revised its tablet lineup for consumers on a budget. The successor to the Tab A8 not only has become slightly smaller (8.7 inch diagonal screen size) but also carries a lighter price tag. The recommended retail price of the Galaxy Tab A9 starts at €179 (US$159), meaning the base configuration is around €50 (US$70) cheaper than its immediate predecessor. Tab A8 owners who don’t want to downsize can still look at the new Plus model for a 10.1-inch alternative in the Galaxy universe.

This time around, Samsung has also kept younger users in mind. The Tab A9 Kids Edition comes with a protective case and a stylus and features a modified One UI to simplify tablet use for children and help parents monitor their kids’ digital activities more easily. However, the Kids Edition is not yet available in Germany. 

Note: The manufacturer may use components from different suppliers including display panels, drives or memory sticks with similar specifications.

In terms of aesthetic, the similarity between the Galaxy Tab A9 and its predecessors is unmistakeable. The design strongly resembles a Galaxy Tab A7 Lite or Tab A8 with a modified camera module on the back. That said, the bezels around the 8.7-inch TFT panel have slimmed down considerably. The 81.7% screen-to-body ratio is appealing for a device in this price bracket and is much more efficient than what’s found on a Nokia T10 (72.4%), for example. 

Though the Galaxy Tab A9 is highly affordable, no sacrifice had to be made in the feel of the device thanks to its slim metal chassis. The Samsung tablet is also nice and light at just 332 g (0.71 lb), allowing you to hold it in one hand effortlessly. The chassis is available in three colourways (Graphite, Silver and Navy). Owing to the matt surface, fingerprints aren’t a huge problem, but they are still clearly visible.

The Galaxy Tab A9 has impressive workmanship. Moreover, the compact dimensions make the device feel sturdy and stiff.

      Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 2022       Samsung Galaxy Tab A9       Nokia T10       Amazon Fire HD 8 2022       Lenovo Tab M8 (Gen 4)       DIN A5 246.8 mm / 9.72 inch 161.9 mm / 6.37 inch 6.9 mm / 0.2717 inch 508 g1.12 lbs211 mm / 8.31 inch 124.7 mm / 4.91 inch 8 mm / 0.315 inch 332 g0.732 lbs208 mm / 8.19 inch 123.2 mm / 4.85 inch 9 mm / 0.3543 inch 375 g0.827 lbs202 mm / 7.95 inch 137 mm / 5.39 inch 9.7 mm / 0.3819 inch 337 g0.743 lbs198 mm / 7.8 inch 120 mm / 4.72 inch 9 mm / 0.3543 inch 320 g0.705 lbs210 mm / 8.27 inch 148 mm / 5.83 inch 1 mm / 0.03937 inch 2.9 g0.00639 lbs

During the review period, Samsung overlayed Android 13 with their One UI 5.1, complete with security updates dated August 2023. One major advantage of this entry-level tablet is the relatively long product care offered by Samsung. In this price bracket, no other manufacturers provide two generations of UI and Android OS upgrades as well as four years of security updates rolled out on a quarterly basis. That said, considering the last security patches were dated Q3 2023, Samsung doesn’t seem to always deliver on their promises.

Even though the Tab A9 doesn’t have access to Samsung’s DeX user interface, the in-house Knox Vault platform is supported. This means the entry-level tablet can make use of Samsung’s Security and Privacy Dashboard and encrypt contents before they are sent. The Galaxy Tab A9 is also integrated into the company’s ecosystem and thus offers wireless connectivity between Samsung Galaxy devices.

Fortunately, all variants of the Tab A9 can be used for navigation purposes because even the Wi-Fi version is equipped with a GPS module. Positioning is done using the satellite systems GPS, Galileo, Beidou and GLONASS – all in single band. It can be accurate down to two metres outdoors.

In our realistic test, we went on a bike ride with the tablet and took a Garmin Venu 2 along for comparison purposes. The A9’s positional accuracy was surprising high for an entry-level tablet. There are a few discrepancies between the recorded path and the actual route, though they are only minimal. Those looking for a large GPS device for driving are probably going to get slightly better results with the 4G version that has A-GPS.

On the front, the Tab A9 has a low-resolution 2 MP camera with fixed focus above the display. This means you shouldn’t expect much from the front cam apart from using it for video calls. Selfies look very soft, and exposure also doesn’t work reliably. Due to the low resolution, detail reproduction isn’t a strong suit of entry-level tablet.

The rear 8MP camera has autofocus at its disposal, which isn’t a given in this price bracket and may sometimes even be missing on tablets in the upper mid-range. However, its image sharpness is more adequate for taking pictures of documents and notes in everyday use. Photos lack vibrancy and are low in contrast; colours occasionally look washed out.

The rear camera lets you take 1080p videos at 30 fps, whereas the selfie camera only has an HD option.

For accessories, Samsung has only included a USB cable (Type C to C), a small tool to open the card slot, and documentation. If you want a case, you can get the optional Book Cover (RRP: €43, or around US$46) with adjustable angle. Samsung also doesn’t offer any screen protector for the Tab A9 despite the fact that no protective film is preinstalled on the 8.7-inch device out of the box.

Samsung provides a 24-month warranty on the budget tablet in Germany. You can also add the Care+ insurance package with a term of 12 to 24 months (RRP: starting from €24, or US$26). Warranty terms and conditions may vary depending on region.

The Tab A9’s capacitive touchscreen detects finger inputs without any perceptible delays – compatibility with the S Pen isn’t available. The TFT panel on board only supports a 60Hz refresh rate. As a result, animations and scrolling are less smooth and feel somewhat choppier than on a competing tablet capable of 90Hz, such as the Redmi Pad SE. 

Biometric security is provided using face recognition via the front camera, but it uses a 2D method that is not secure. The unlocking process works reliably in good lighting conditions. The registration of face data is limited to one user. The tablet doesn’t have any fingerprint reader.

The Galaxy Tab A9’s screen measures 8.7 inch diagonally and has a resolution of 1,340 x 800 pixels, equivalent to a pixel density of 179 PPI. The TFT display thus doesn’t make contents look very sharp and isn’t going cause people who are really particular about screens to jump for joy.

The Samsung tablet cuts a better figure in the brightness department. In our measurement, the TFT panel hit a peak brightness off 486 cd/m² when producing a completely white image. The APL 18 measurement, which is more representative of day-to-day use, didn’t yield a considerable increase in brightness, but this is normal for a tablet with LCD technology.

We didn’t detect any screen flicker (PWM) on the Tab A9. That said, weaknesses typical of LCDs (shadows, uneven backlight at the edges) are relatively pronounced on the Samsung device. Even in daylight, effects of backlight bleed are already noticeable on a dark background (see video footage on the Tab A9).

… smaller is better

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To dim the screen, some notebooks will simply cycle the backlight on and off in rapid succession – a method called Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) . This cycling frequency should ideally be undetectable to the human eye. If said frequency is too low, users with sensitive eyes may experience strain or headaches or even notice the flickering altogether.

We evaluated the colour calibration of the IPS panel using the CalMan analysis software. The Delta E values we measured for the sRGB gamut reveal an acceptable amount of deviation in both colours and greyscale reproduction for a tablet of this price. However, the Tab A9 doesn’t fall within the target level (Delta E < 3). Consequently, you will readily notice the difference between the displayed and reference colours, especially for white and red shades. The greyscale also carries a light blue tint, but we aren't really bothered by it.

The TFT panel’s black level of 0,35 cd/m² yields a great contrast ratio of around 1,400:1. The entry-level tablet is limited in terms of colour profiles. The Tab A9’s One UI only offers one colour mode out of the box. And you can’t even adjust the colour temperature.

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Display response times show how fast the screen is able to change from one color to the next. Slow response times can lead to afterimages and can cause moving objects to appear blurry (ghosting). Gamers of fast-paced 3D titles should pay special attention to fast response times.