I purchased Samsung’s 8-inch tablet, the Galaxy Tab A9. While the official name is indeed Galaxy Tab A9, it’s often referred to as the Galaxy Tab A9 8.7 to distinguish it from the Plus version. Let’s discuss the Galaxy Tab A9 8.7, which has received less favorable reviews due to its resolution not supporting FHD, a bluish screen tint, and touch issues.
I’ve been using the Xiaoxin Pad 2022 with the Japanese ROM for a while now, and it’s been excellent for watching videos. However, as I started exploring other uses, its size and weight made portability an issue. So, I began looking into 8-inch tablets.
Limited Options in the 8-Inch Tablet Market
The selection of 8-inch tablets is quite limited. The options were the newly released Xiaomi Redmi Pad SE 8.7, Samsung’s Galaxy Tab A9 8.7, and Alldocube’s iPlay60 Pro LTE. All three are budget-friendly, ranging from around $150 to $200, depending on the model.
The Xiaomi Redmi Pad SE 8.7, despite supporting a 90Hz refresh rate, was ruled out due to its lower specs and being a Chinese product. The choice narrowed down to the Alldocube iPlay60 Pro LTE and the Galaxy Tab A9 8.7. Ultimately, I opted for the Galaxy Tab A9 8.7.
Reasons for Choosing the Galaxy Tab A9 8.7
Although the Alldocube iPlay60 Pro LTE supports FHD, the recent hacking incident involving Alldocube’s firmware update servers raised concerns about security. This, combined with the perceived limitations of a newer Chinese brand, tilted me towards the Samsung Galaxy Tab A9 8.7.
The Galaxy Tab A9 8.7 is officially released in Korea, but it’s not readily available to consumers. Resellers offer it, but at a $40 to $50 premium compared to direct imports. Since the imported version also comes with a 1-year warranty in Korea, I opted for the direct import. The price has now stabilized, making it a great time to buy.
I was considering the 8GB+128GB model but felt that 8GB wasn’t necessary. I purchased the 4GB+64GB LTE model for around $150.
Currently, due to exchange rate fluctuations, the price seems to be around $160.
Unboxing and First Impressions
The package was simple and compact. The box itself didn’t reveal much. It seems like it came from a region that uses Arabic, judging from the script on it.
I did take photos of the Galaxy Tab A9 8.7 after unboxing, but I’ll have to skip posting those as they reflect my face too clearly.
Galaxy Tab A9 8.7 LTE Review
Exterior
The 8.7-inch size is perfect for one-handed use and portability. However, at 330g, it feels a bit heavy.
My previous Galaxy Note 8.0 didn’t feel this heavy.
The build quality is excellent. It doesn’t look or feel cheap, which is great considering it’s produced by a Chinese ODM.
Display
The HD+ resolution isn’t bothersome; I don’t find it particularly inconvenient. However, the resolution’s limitations become apparent when browsing websites using a browser app.
As for the bluish screen tint, which I was most worried about, using dark mode has largely mitigated the issue.
Interestingly, the display color tone selection option is completely missing from the settings. I’m not sure if this is because it’s a budget tablet, or if the display itself doesn’t allow for easy color adjustment.
Nevertheless, there’s a noticeable difference in color when watching OTT content on the Xiaoxin Pad 2022 versus the Galaxy Tab A9 8.7.
Performance
I expected the 4GB of RAM to be a bottleneck, but it performs surprisingly well. The RAM Plus feature, set to 4GB by default, handles web browsing and reading documents without major issues. Checking email, reading articles, browsing social media, and watching videos are all smooth experiences. Perhaps the lower resolution contributes to the snappy feel. It seems the Helio G99 chipset, commonly found in budget Android devices, performs quite well.
Sound
The stereo speakers and Dolby Atmos support provide a satisfying audio experience. Listening to the audio made me realize how good the Xiaomi Pad 5’s sound was. Still, the Tab A9’s sound is adequate for watching videos. It’s not too quiet, either.
Battery Life and Charging
Battery life is decent. I don’t have exact measurements, but I haven’t experienced any discomfort during use. However, the 15W fast charging, though advertised, is a bit slow. It’s crucial to remember to plug it in before going to bed.
Camera
The camera with autofocus support is a welcome feature. I rarely use the camera on tablets, mainly for scanning documents. With autofocus, the camera should be quite useful for document capture.
Overall
Personally, I’m quite satisfied with the Galaxy Tab A9 8.7. I even wish it supported a stylus.
Despite being a budget tablet, it has a vibration motor, good sensors, and supports face recognition (though it doesn’t work in low light). It shouldn’t be criticized for not supporting FHD.
It’s supposed to receive three OS upgrades. It already updated from Android 13 to 14, so it should get updates up to Android 16, and security updates are promised until October 2027.
Being a Samsung product, I don’t have to worry about security, and linking with a Samsung account is possible. I expect to use it until 2027.
I’m not sure why Samsung doesn’t sell the Galaxy Tab A9 8.7 to consumers in Korea. Of course, the price would be $40-50 higher if it were officially released, but it’s still disappointing.
Overseas communities seem to have positive reviews of the Galaxy Tab A9 8.7. There are posts about people getting it for as low as $70 during promotions.
If you’re in the market for an 8-inch tablet, I recommend the Galaxy Tab A9 8.7.