💻 Samsung Galaxy Tab A9+ Review: The Budget Big-Screen Contender for 2024
The tablet market is flooded with options, but for those seeking a large display and robust features without the flagship price tag, the Samsung Galaxy Tab A9+ (specifically the 11-inch, 128GB, US Version) emerges as a compelling choice for 2024. Positioned as an upper-entry to lower-mid-range device, the Tab A9+ manages to blend essential modern features—like a high refresh rate and quad speakers—with Samsung's reliable ecosystem, making it an excellent all-in-one device for family entertainment and everyday productivity.
| Samsung Galaxy Tab A9+ Review: The Budget Big-Screen Contender for 2024 |
Design and Build: Slim, Light, and Durable
One of the first things you notice about the Galaxy Tab A9+ is its premium feel despite its budget-friendly standing. Samsung has equipped it with a slim and light profile, featuring a two-panel metal (aluminum) back construction that offers a degree of durability and a comfortable grip. At 11 inches, it's a significant canvas that doesn't feel overly cumbersome, which is a major win for extended use, whether you're streaming movies or handing it over to the kids.
The design is also kids-friendly, though it lacks the ruggedness of a dedicated kids' tablet. The inclusion of the Samsung Kids mode in the software ensures that younger users have a safe, controlled environment, complete with parental controls and age-appropriate content. The Graphite color is sleek and understated, fitting well into any environment.
🖼️ Display: A Big Screen with a Smooth Touch
The headline feature for many budget-conscious buyers is the display. The Galaxy Tab A9+ boasts a large 11-inch TFT LCD panel with a resolution of 1920 x 1200 pixels. While it's an LCD and not Samsung’s signature AMOLED, the colors are generally vibrant and the brightness is adequate for indoor use.
The true upgrade here, and a standout feature in this price bracket, is the 90Hz refresh rate. This dramatically improves the experience of scrolling, navigating the UI, and casual gaming, making the tablet feel noticeably smoother and more responsive than its 60Hz competition. While outdoor visibility in direct sunlight is a minor drawback, the screen is otherwise an excellent space for streaming, reading, and light work.
🔊 Audio and Multimedia Experience: Quad Speakers Deliver
For a multimedia device, audio quality is paramount, and the Tab A9+ truly excels in this area. It features a quad-speaker setup with Dolby Atmos support, a significant feature for a tablet at this price point.
The speakers deliver a clean, loud, and immersive sound, making it fantastic for watching movies and shows. The spatial audio quality is impressive, easily filling a small room with rich sound. While the bass frequencies are, understandably, not as deep as high-end devices, the overall clarity and volume easily punch above the tablet's weight class. The continued inclusion of a 3.5mm headphone jack is also a welcome nod to user convenience.
🚀 Performance and Chipset: Upgraded for Multitasking
Under the hood, the Tab A9+ is powered by an Upgraded Chipset, the Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 5G. Coupled with the generous 128GB of internal storage and 4GB or 8GB of RAM (depending on the specific configuration, the 128GB model often comes with the higher RAM), the tablet delivers reliable everyday performance.
The Snapdragon 695 handles standard tasks like web browsing, social media, and video streaming with ease. Casual gaming is smooth, benefiting greatly from the 90Hz display. The tablet's capability for Multi Window Display (multi-active windows) is highly functional, allowing users to seamlessly use up to three apps simultaneously on the 11-inch screen. This makes light multitasking—such as taking notes while watching a lecture—efficient and effortless, leveraging the power of Samsung's One UI and DeX support (a desktop-like environment for enhanced productivity).
Battery and Storage
Equipped with a long-lasting 7,040mAh battery, the Tab A9+ is built for hours of use. Most users will find they can easily get a full day's worth of casual usage. Charging is handled via a USB-C port, though only at a modest 15W speed.
Storage-wise, the 128GB base is sufficient for most users, but the inclusion of a dedicated MicroSD slot allowing for expansion up to 1TB is an incredible bonus for families and media enthusiasts who need to store large libraries of movies, photos, and games.
Final Verdict: The Value Leader
The Samsung Galaxy Tab A9+ Plus 11” 128GB is a strong recommendation for anyone seeking a high-value, large-screen Android tablet in 2024. It carefully cuts corners in ways that matter least to the average user (like sticking to an LCD panel instead of AMOLED) while delivering on crucial features.
The combination of the vibrant 11-inch, 90Hz display, powerful quad speakers, reliable Upgraded Chipset for multitasking, and a user-friendly, Kids-Friendly Design makes it a versatile device. It's an ideal choice for a primary home entertainment hub, a secondary work screen, or a reliable first tablet for a student or child. If your priority is big-screen viewing and immersive sound on a sensible budget, the Tab A9+ is arguably the best entry-level tablet Samsung has ever produced.
