Cheap Samsung tablets compared: Price, specs, and more

If you're looking to pick up a Samsung tablet on a budget, the Galaxy Tab A9 Plus is currently the only option. It's available in two variants (5G or Wi-Fi) with two storage configurations (64GB or 128GB). Regardless of which model you settle on, you're looking at an 11-inch FHD screen and a software experience powered by Android 14 and Samsung's One UI 6 skin.

With a Snapdragon 695 processor and 8GB of RAM under the hood, the Galaxy Tab A9 Plus is hardly a sloucher when it comes to performance. That said, the other specs here are likely to make it a better fit for content consumption than creation. Neither the 8MP camera on the back nor the 5MP one on the front are likely to blow you away but the set of Dolby Atmos, and 7040mah battery should make it a good fit for those who want a bigger small screen to watch Netflix on. There's even a headphone jack.

The TLDR; the Samsung Galaxy Tab A9 Plus makes the most of its lot in life. It's not the cheapest of cheap Android tablets, but the little bit extra you're paying here goes a long way. Those with modest appetites, as well as budgets, will likely find the Samsung Galaxy A9 Plus a great fit for their needs.

Depending on where you're shopping, the Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE is almost double the asking price of the more affordable Tab A9 Plus. Despite that, you won't find anything close to the high-end specs of the Galaxy Tab S9, Tab S9 Plus and Tab S9 Ultra here. However, you will find a few of the premium perks, including IP68 water resistance and a Vision Booster screen.

On the outside, the Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE has a 10.9-inch IPS screen with a 90Hz refresh rate. It's not OLED, but the WUXGA+ resolution here helps make up some of the difference. Then, there's a whopping 8000mAh battery on the inside.

You also get a free Samsung S-Pen stylus in the box, making it a better fit for thrifty creatives than many of its competitors. The cheaper version of the tablet comes with 6GB of RAM and 128GB of onboard storage. The more expensive model doubles the latter and raises the memory to 8GB of RAM.

The standard Galaxy Tab S9 FE might be the smaller version of Samsung's more affordable premium tablet, but that's not to say it doesn't have what it takes to deliver on bigger ambitions.

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE Plus is very much what it sounds like. It's a bigger version of the Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE. The most obvious and important difference here is that you're looking at a 12.4-inch screen rather than a 10.9-inch one. You also get a bigger battery, with the S9 FE Plus weighing in at 10,000mAh. The cheaper model comes with 8GB of RAM and 128GB to work with. The more expensive one doubles the on-board storage and adds another 4GB of RAM.

Otherwise, what's here is a close match for its sibling. There's a 90Hz refresh rate, an IP68 rating for water and dust resistance, Samsung's Vision Booster tech and an S-Pen stylus.

The Galaxy Tab S9 FE Plus isn't going to be the right size for everyone but if you want to get a little more adventurous with Samsung's mid-range tablets, it's a natural next step.

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 is technically where the brand's roster of premium tablets begin but it's something of an odd duck in the wider roster. With a starting price of $1299 and premium specs that include a Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor and an 11-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display, the Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 is good enough that it's easy to recommend but expensive enough that it's going to be something of a hard sell over its siblings.

The Galaxy Tab S9 FE has much of the same premium features and design at a better price. However, if performance is a concern, then this is a natural up-sell. The Galaxy Tab S9, Tab S9 Plus and S9 Ultra are all running the same silicon, so you can get the best performance at a much better price.

As you might expect given the name, the differences between the Galaxy Tab S9 and Galaxy Tab S9 Plus are relatively slight. On the inside, it's got an identical Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor plus 4GB of additional RAM that raises the total to 12GB.

There are two variants to choose from (128GB or 256GB), a bigger 10090mAh battery and the option of 5G connectivity. In short, if you're sizing up the Galaxy Tab S9 and unsatisfied but not willing to shell out the big bucks attached to the Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra, the Galaxy Tab S9 Plus sits in the sweet spot between the two and might be worth more than just a passing glance.

The Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra is the most excessive tablet that Samsung currently sells. You get the best premium design and all features across the Tab S9 range plus a larger 14.6-inch Dynamic AMOLED screen.

That last one gives the game away though. This monster of a tablet isn't built for lightweight usage. It's very much aimed at power users and professionals. Put another way, the Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra is built to cater towards the same crowds that would otherwise be interested in Apple's iPad Pro.

Like its predecessors, the Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra combines a massive screen with overkill specs. It's the kind of high-end tablet that's looking to compete with your laptop. In some cases, it might even be able to replace it. All that comes at a steep asking price, but on some level that's just the regrettable reality that comes with wanting to buy the best that Samsung makes.