Samsung Galaxy Tab A9+

Expert Review: Samsung Galaxy Tab A9+ (2024, 11” Graphite, 64GB)

The Samsung Galaxy Tab A9+ has become one of the most talked-about budget Android tablets in 2024. With over 16,600 reviews on Amazon averaging 4.4/5 stars, and a price hovering around $157.99, it promises smooth visuals, strong audio, and Samsung’s reliable software updates. But what do actual users on Amazon, Reddit, Quora, and Samsung forums really say? Let’s dive into the honest feedback.

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Build Quality & Design

Samsung earns widespread praise for the A9+’s premium aluminum build. At just 6.9mm thick, the tablet feels far more expensive than it is. The graphite color is sleek and professional, and its lightweight design makes it comfortable for reading and streaming.

However, some compromises show up quickly:

• No Gorilla Glass → prone to scratches without a protector
• No water/dust resistance
• No fingerprint reader → security relies on PIN/pattern or face unlock (which fails often in low light)

For under $200, most users still call the design “best in class,” but durability and security trade-offs are real.

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Display & Visuals

The 11-inch TFT LCD with 90Hz refresh rate is the tablet’s headlining feature. Scrolling, browsing, and animations feel smoother than almost anything else at this price.

But quality has limits:

• Colors are muted, contrast is weak, and off-angle viewing causes distortion
• After One UI 6.1 updates, many users reported 90Hz stuttering and micro-lag
• Some fixed it by dropping to 60Hz, but that cancels the smoothness advantage

Samsung has released patches, and some users say the February 2025 update improved things—but others still complain of lingering stutter and higher battery drain after updates.

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Performance & Multitasking

Powered by the Snapdragon 695, performance depends heavily on which model you buy:

• 4GB/64GB model → repeatedly criticized as underpowered. Apps reload often, DeX struggles, and multitasking feels sluggish.
• 8GB/128GB model → much smoother, handling multiple apps with fewer slowdowns. Reddit users call this version “worth the upgrade.”

Either way, this is not iPad-level performance. For Netflix, browsing, and eBooks, it’s fine. For heavier multitasking or students relying on productivity apps, the 8GB model is almost mandatory.

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Software & Updates

Samsung promises 3 years of OS updates + 4 years of security patches, which is excellent for a budget device. But updates have been a double-edged sword:

• Pros: Keeps device secure, new features like Android 14/One UI 6.1
• Cons: Reports of lag spikes, UI bugs, and battery drain after updates

Many seasoned users recommend waiting a few weeks after new updates to see if bugs are reported before installing.

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Audio & Media

The quad speakers with Dolby Atmos punch far above the price tier. Movies, games, and music sound loud and clear. Families also appreciate the 3.5mm headphone jack, a rarity on modern tablets.

Audiophiles won’t find deep bass here, but casual listeners are consistently impressed.

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Connectivity

Wi-Fi is one of the most criticized features:

• Weak range compared to phones and laptops
• Dropped signals and slow reconnects
• Inconsistent fixes (e.g., toggling MAC address settings helps some, not all)

Bluetooth works fine, but premium codec support is missing.

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Battery & Charging

Battery life generally earns positive feedback—1 to 2 days of casual use. But charging is the Achilles’ heel:

• 15W only (no charger in box) → over 2.5 hours for a full charge
• Heavy users complain about being “tethered to the wall”
• Some updates introduced battery drain, though optimization sometimes stabilizes it

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Gaming Experience

This is where the A9+ struggles most. While casual games run fine, competitive titles (Roblox, PUBG, etc.) expose the multi-touch bug: the screen often ignores simultaneous inputs, making gameplay frustrating or impossible.

Users report bizarre “fixes” like plugging in wired headphones or removing screen protectors—but none are reliable. Samsung patches have helped some, but the issue remains widespread.

For gaming households, this flaw is almost a deal-breaker.

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Stylus & Creativity

The A9+ does not support the S Pen or active styluses. Only basic capacitive styluses work, without palm rejection or pressure sensitivity. Students, artists, and professionals relying on pen input should look at the Galaxy Tab S6 Lite instead.

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Cameras

The 8MP rear and 5MP front cameras are serviceable for Zoom calls or scanning documents, but grainy and washed out in low light. For tablets, this is expected, but don’t expect smartphone-level results.

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Pros & Cons Summary

Pros

• Premium aluminum build
• Smooth 90Hz display (when it works)
• Excellent quad speakers + headphone jack
• microSD expansion up to 1TB
• Long battery life
• Samsung DeX support for basic productivity
• Affordable at under $170

Cons

• 4GB model struggles badly with multitasking
• 90Hz stutter and lag after some updates
• Multi-touch bug ruins gaming
• Slow 15W charging, no charger included
• Weak Wi-Fi range & stability issues
• No S Pen support
• No fingerprint sensor
• Mediocre TFT display colors & viewing angles

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Final Verdict

The Samsung Galaxy Tab A9+ (2024) is an excellent budget tablet for streaming, browsing, reading, and casual use—especially if you choose the 8GB model. Build quality, display smoothness, and audio performance punch far above its price.

But it’s not for gamers, artists, or power users. The multi-touch bug, lack of S Pen support, weak Wi-Fi, and sluggish 4GB model are major drawbacks.

If you want an affordable, large-screen Android tablet for everyday use and can live with slow charging and occasional software hiccups, the A9+ is a strong choice.

👉 Check current deals on the Samsung Galaxy Tab A9+ on Amazon

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