Samsung Galaxy Tab A9 Samsung Galaxy Tab A9 (SM-X110), 64GB 4GB RAM, Review

If you're hunting for a basic, no-fuss Android tablet for under $150, the Samsung Galaxy Tab A9 is probably on your radar. It's a compact 8.7-inch slate that's super light at just over 330 grams, making it easy to hold for long periods. You're getting Android 13 with Samsung's One UI, 64GB of storage (expandable with a microSD card), and 4GB of RAM. The specs are modest, but that's exactly what you'd expect at this price point. It's a tablet for checking emails, watching a quick YouTube video, or keeping a kid entertained, not for heavy-duty work or gaming. And yes, this is the international model, so it works on most GSM networks like T-Mobile and AT&T, but the warranty situation is different if you're in the US.

Performance is exactly what the specs suggest. The MediaTek Helio G99 chipset and Mali-G57 GPU are decent for basic tasks. In our benchmarks, the CPU and GPU both landed in the 73rd percentile compared to other tablets, which sounds good, but remember that includes a lot of older, slower devices. For everyday stuff like scrolling through social media or using a couple of apps at once, it's fine. But try to do too much, and you'll notice some stutter. The 4GB of RAM is actually in the 99th percentile, which is a bit misleading—it just means most cheap tablets have even less. In practice, it helps with keeping a few apps open, but don't expect to multitask like a pro. The weakest link is the screen, which scored in the 3rd percentile. The 800 x 1340 resolution on an 8.7-inch TFT panel isn't sharp, and colors won't pop. It's okay for reading in a pinch, but not great, which matches its low 'reading' score of 31.6.

At around $146, the Tab A9 is firmly in the budget zone. You're paying for the Samsung brand and a functional Android experience, not for premium specs. The value is clear if your needs are simple: web browsing, light apps, and as a portable video player for kids. The main trade-off is the screen quality. If you can stretch your budget a bit, you'll find much better displays. But if $150 is your hard limit, this is a competent option among basic Android tablets.

Let's be real, this isn't competing with an iPad Pro or a Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra. Those are in a different universe. A more direct competitor is something like the older Amazon Fire HD 8, which is even cheaper but locks you into Amazon's ecosystem. The Tab A9 gives you full Android, which is a big plus. Compared to other budget Android tablets, its 4G connectivity is a standout feature if you need it. But if screen quality matters at all, even a used older iPad like a 9th Gen base model, which you can sometimes find for not much more, will provide a massively better experience for reading and videos. The Lenovo Legion Go is a gaming handheld, not a tablet, so that's a different category entirely.

So, should you buy the Samsung Galaxy Tab A9? It depends. If you need the absolute cheapest tablet that still runs full Android and has 4G LTE support for T-Mobile or AT&T, this is a solid pick. It'll handle the basics without much fuss. But if you care about screen quality for reading or watching shows, or if you think you might need more power for slightly heavier apps, you'll be disappointed. For most people, saving up a little more for a tablet with a better screen is the smarter long-term move. This is a device for very specific, simple needs.