If you want the best Android tablet experience, you end up looking at Samsung. Between gorgeous AMOLED screens, long battery life, excellent S Pen support, and a maturing “Galaxy AI” feature set, Samsung’s lineup covers everyone from students and commuters to artists and power users.
Below I’ll walk you through what to look for, then rank the four Galaxy tablets you asked about—in plain language—so you can pick with confidence. My order prioritizes overall experience, longevity, and value for money.
Quick Picks (Best Samsung Tablets 2025)
- Best overall (most people): Galaxy Tab S10+ — Samsung’s most balanced premium tablet: brilliant 12.4″ AMOLED 120 Hz display, S Pen included, IP68 durability, and years of updates. If you want the “no-regrets” choice, get this.
- Best compact premium: Galaxy Tab S9 (11″) — Flagship performance in a smaller, lighter body with a superb AMOLED 120 Hz screen, IP68, and the S Pen in the box.
- Best mid-range value: Galaxy Tab S10 FE — Big screen, IP68, long battery life, and S Pen at a much friendlier price; ideal for students and casual creators.
- Best budget: Galaxy Tab A9+ — Solid 11″ 90 Hz LCD, Snapdragon 695, quad speakers, DeX and split-screen; perfect for families, streaming, and schoolwork on a budget. (No S Pen support.)
What to Look for in a Samsung Galaxy Tablet
Display Type & Refresh Rate
AMOLED (Samsung calls it Dynamic AMOLED 2X) delivers inky blacks and punchy colors—fantastic for movies and art. A 120 Hz panel feels noticeably smoother for scrolling, note-taking, and drawing. The S10+ and S9 use AMOLED 2X; the S10 FE and A9+ use LCD, with the FE at up to 90 Hz and the A9+ at 90 Hz.
Pen Experience
Samsung’s S Pen is included with the S10+, S10 FE, and S9—no extra spend. Pressure, low latency, and palm rejection are excellent for notes and sketches. The A9+ does not support S Pen.
Performance
Flagships (S9, S10+) use top-tier chips for heavier multitasking and creative apps. The S10 FE’s Exynos 1580 is tuned for smooth daily use and study work. The A9+’s Snapdragon 695 is perfectly fine for browsing, streaming, and light gaming.
Battery & Charging
All four do well. Samsung quotes up to 16–21 hours video playback on S10 family depending on model; the S9 11″ houses an 8,400 mAh pack. Real-world: a day of mixed use is very achievable.
Durability
IP68 water/dust resistance is rare on tablets—Samsung offers it on S9 and S10 families, including FE. Great peace of mind for commuters, students, and parents.
Updates & Longevity
Samsung’s 2025 policy extends support dramatically. The S10+ (and Ultra) are slated for seven years of OS/security updates; FE models have seven years of support as well. That’s tablet-class-leading longevity in Android land.
Galaxy AI Features
Circle to Search, Note Assist (summarize/format notes), Transcript Assist (auto-transcribe/summary), and photo tools now ship across S9 and S10 lines (availability can depend on One UI version). If you live in Samsung Notes or annotate PDFs, these seriously help.
Best Samsung Galaxy Tablets Ranked (Full Reviews)
1) Samsung Galaxy Tab S10+ — The Premium Android Tablet to Beat
Why it’s #1: The S10+ hits the sweet spot of big enough to replace a laptop sometimes without becoming unwieldy. You’re getting a stunning 12.4″ Dynamic AMOLED 2X display up to 120 Hz, the S Pen in the box, IP68 durability, and years of updates. For most people who want a high-end Android tablet, this is the one.
Highlights you’ll notice on day one
- Display: vivid, bright, low-glare OLED that’s brilliant for Netflix, Lightroom, and drawing apps. Resolution is 2800 × 1752.
- Pen & creation: S Pen feels natural for handwriting and sketching; latency is low, and palm rejection is excellent.
- Speed & multitasking: plenty of power for 10+ Chrome tabs, reference PDFs, and a drawing canvas—at once.
- Durability: IP68 water/dust resistance—still rare for tablets.
- Galaxy AI: Circle to Search, Note Assist summaries, math help on keyboard (with the Book Cover Keyboard).
- Longevity: seven-year update promise.
Good fits
- Creatives who value color accuracy and pen feel
- Students/researchers who annotate PDFs and juggle multiple apps
- Anyone who wants a partial laptop replacement with Samsung DeX and keyboard case
Potential downsides
- Premium price
- 12.4″ size is less portable than smaller models
Bottom line: If you want the best all-around Samsung tablet and don’t need the enormous Ultra, buy the S10+.
2) Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 (11″) — Compact Flagship That Travels Better
Why it’s #2: Everything that makes Samsung’s premium tablets special—AMOLED 2X, 120 Hz, S Pen included, IP68, Snapdragon 8 Gen 2—but in a lighter, easier-to-hold 11″ size. For many, this is the perfect couch-to-campus form factor.
What stands out
- Screen: 11″ Dynamic AMOLED 2X at 2560 × 1600—smooth at 120 Hz and excellent for HDR content.
- Performance: Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy is fast and future-proof.
- Connectivity: Wi-Fi 6E, IP68-rated S Pen in the box.
- AI tools: Circle to Search, Note Assist, and Transcript Assist.
- Battery: 8,400 mAh capacity.
Great for
- Travelers, commuters, and students
- Digital note-takers who want portability
Watch-outs
- Smaller canvas for artists compared to S10+
- S10 FE offers similar value for less cost
Bottom line: Want premium without the size or price of the Ultra? S9 11″ is an excellent choice.
3) Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 FE — Best Mid-Range Value (with Real Durability)
Why it’s #3: The FE gives you the Samsung tablet experience—IP68, S Pen included, 90 Hz big screen, long battery—for hundreds less than the flagships. Perfect for students, casual creators, and those who need a capable do-it-all tablet at a sensible price.
Where it shines
- Display: 10.9″ LCD up to 90 Hz with Vision Booster for outdoors.
- Pen included: Jot, sketch, annotate right away.
- Durability: IP68 rating.
- Battery: Up to 20 hours video playback, Super Fast Charging.
- AI & study tools: Circle to Search, Math Solver, Handwriting Assist.
- Storage: Up to 256 GB internal, plus microSD up to 2 TB.
Trade-offs vs S-series
- LCD instead of AMOLED
- Exynos 1580 is less powerful than flagship chips
Bottom line: For a great balance of price and features, S10 FE is the value king.
4) Samsung Galaxy Tab A9+ — Best Budget Tablet (Family-Friendly and Capable)
Why it’s #4: Affordable yet feature-packed: 11″ 90 Hz LCD, Snapdragon 695, quad speakers with Dolby Atmos, plus DeX and multi-window support.
What you’ll like
- Smooth 90 Hz screen
- Quad speakers for immersive sound
- Efficient Snapdragon 695 performance
- Family features: Samsung Kids, parental controls
Limitations
- No S Pen support
- LCD panel not as vibrant as AMOLED
Bottom line: For budget-conscious buyers, A9+ is a solid family and student tablet.
Feature Deep-Dive
Displays & Outdoor Visibility
- S10+ / S9: Dynamic AMOLED 2X, up to 120 Hz, Vision Booster for sunlight.
- S10 FE / A9+: LCD, up to 90 Hz.
S Pen Experience
- Included with S10+, S10 FE, S9; IP68-rated on S9.
- A9+ does not support S Pen.
Performance Tiers
- Flagships: Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 and similar flagship chips.
- Mid-range: Exynos 1580.
- Budget: Snapdragon 695.
Battery Life
- S10 FE: Up to 20 hours video.
- S10+: Up to 16 hours.
- S9: 8,400 mAh, all-day use.
Durability & Portability
- IP68: S9, S10+, S10 FE.
- No IP rating: A9+.
Connectivity & Storage
- S10 FE: microSD up to 2 TB, Wi-Fi 6/6E
- S10+: microSD up to 1.5 TB, Wi-Fi 6E
- S9: microSD up to 1 TB, Wi-Fi 6E
- A9+: microSD support, DeX on some configs
Software, Updates & AI
- Up to 7 years updates for S10+ and S10 FE.
- AI features: Circle to Search, Note Assist, Transcript Assist, Math Solver.
Which Samsung Tablet Should You Buy?
- Best Android tablet with pen: Galaxy Tab S10+
- Portable premium option: Galaxy Tab S9 (11″)
- Best mid-range: Galaxy Tab S10 FE
- Budget-friendly family tablet: Galaxy Tab A9+
Spec Snapshot
| Model | Screen | Refresh | Panel | Pen | Durability | Processor | Storage (Base) | MicroSD | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tab S10+ | 12.4″ | 120 Hz | AMOLED 2X | Yes | IP68 | Flagship-class | Up to 512 GB | Yes | Premium all-rounder/creators |
| Tab S9 (11″) | 11″ | 120 Hz | AMOLED 2X | Yes | IP68 | Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 | Up to 256 GB | Yes | Compact premium |
| Tab S10 FE | 10.9″ | 90 Hz | LCD | Yes | IP68 | Exynos 1580 | Up to 256 GB | Yes (2 TB) | Students, value buyers |
| Tab A9+ | 11″ | 90 Hz | LCD | No | — | Snapdragon 695 | 64–128 GB | Yes | Budget & families |
Buying tips & configurations
- RAM/storage: If you multitask with many tabs/apps, prefer 8 GB RAM or more. The S10+ configs with 12 GB RAM are ideal for creators.
- Keyboard cover: For DeX/laptop-like use, the Book Cover Keyboard (Slim) is worth it, especially on S10+. (S10 FE’s keyboard also exposes an AI hot key.)
- MicroSD still matters: FE and A-series buyers can save money by choosing smaller internal storage and adding a large microSD later. S10+ supports microSD as well.
- Deals: The A9+ frequently dips well below MSRP at major retailers; watch for seasonal promos.
FAQs
Does the S9 support Wi-Fi 7?
No, it supports Wi-Fi 6E.
Is S Pen included?
Yes on S10+, S10 FE, S9; no on A9+.
How long will updates last?
Up to 7 years for S10+ and S10 FE.
Are Galaxy AI features free?
Yes, currently through the end of 2025.
Final Recommendation
- Best Overall: Galaxy Tab S10+
- Best Compact: Galaxy Tab S9 (11″)
- Best Value: Galaxy Tab S10 FE
- Best Budget: Galaxy Tab A9+
If you want the safest long-term choice, pick the Galaxy Tab S10+. For portability, go for S9 (11″). For value without losing key features, get the S10 FE. If budget is your main concern, choose the A9+.
