Tech review: Samsung Galaxy Tab A9+
Back in 2019, I bought a sixth-generation, entry-level iPad, replacing the several Android/Fire tablets I used through the 2010s. At the time, I was tired of the mediocre quality of most Android tablets (the software, the OS, and/or the physical tablet itself), so I thought I’d give Apple’s famous tablet a go. While the iPad’s worked fine, it’s started to greatly show its age over the past year or so; the 32GB of storage has definitely become problematic. Also, it’s likely to lose new iPadOS system updates from Apple either this year or next year (more likely the former). Overall, it’s clearly the end of the line.
I looked at buying another iPad, but the best options consisted of an entry-level iPad with only 64GB of storage (meaning I’d just run into the same capacity problems in a few years) or the next step up, a 256GB model for $400, more than I wanted to spend. As such, after a lot of thought, I decided to buy an Android tablet instead. Reasons: it's cheaper than an iPad; my Android phone (a Samsung Galaxy A54) has worked fine since buying it last year; and Android itself seems to have improved since I last used an Android tablet. I also limited my tablet search to the few companies I trust to handle Android OK, and provide actual security/OS updates: Google, Samsung, and (maybe) OnePlus. I ultimately went with the Samsung Galaxy Tab A9+, Samsung’s mid-tier tablet that was on sale.
Impressions so far: it’s OK
My main use for a tablet is as a secondary device at home, mainly for media consumption. Uses include: reading comics and ebooks; watching videos; and some web surfing. I don’t really play mobile games, and have a “real” computer to do actual work on, so a high-end tablet isn’t really necessary. I don’t see the appeal of spending what a regular laptop costs for a tablet and wireless keyboard (as some ersatz laptop).
Still, I did buy the higher-end A9+ version with 8GB of memory and 128GB of storage; a cheaper lower-end model with 4GB of memory and 64GB of space is available, but A) some reviews note it runs sluggish on 4GB, and B) I want to “future-proof” things as much as possible. Unlike my iPad, the A9+ comes with a MicroSD card slot, in case I do need more storage space.
So far, my main impression is it’s my Samsung Galaxy A54 phone in tablet form. (Though I set it up from scratch, versus copying the phone’s data/apps over.) The tablet works OK; Samsung’s OneUI user interface works the same as on my phone, and most of the usual Samsung default apps are included. For some reason, the default email apps included are Outlook and Gmail, not Samsung’s email app. Fortunately, there aren’t many “bloatware” apps to uninstall.
The battery life seems fine so far. The screen is adequate for my usage (1260 x 1900 / 206 ppi resolution), though it won’t please someone picky. Hardcore gamers, etc. might want to consider Samsung’s flagship S-series tablets instead.
Like recent Samsung phones, Samsung will provide OS and security updates for the next several years. That’s a big shift from my previous Android tablet experience, including my last Samsung tablet a decade ago (system updates were dropped months after I bought it).
The biggest downside so far: the A9+ doesn’t include a fingerprint reader. Thus, it’s back to the old-fashioned way: entering a PIN number. I note the A9+ does have facial recognition as a screen unlock option, but I haven’t set it up.
Apps installed
Some of the apps I’ve installed include:
Samsung’s default email app.
Firefox as a web browser, instead of the default Chrome and Samsung browsers. Unlike iOS and iPadOS, Firefox on Android also allows you to install plugins, including an ad blocker (I use uBlock Origin).
Gboard, Google’s default keyboard app.
Simplenote, a simplistic note taking app made by Automattic (of WordPress fame).
Inoreader, a cross-platform RSS reader.
Perfect Viewer, a comic reader that works with CBR, CBZ, and PDF files.
ReadEra, an EPUB reader.
Conclusion
While I haven’t had the tablet for long, so far it’s working OK. Basically, it’s my mid-tier Android phone in tablet form… which is probably all I really wanted, given my usage demands. That said, we’ll see how the Samsung Galaxy Tab A9+ holds up over time.