Samsung Galaxy Tab A Series
The Samsung Galaxy Tab A series is Samsung’s affordable entry-level line: tablets for streaming, reading, video calling, and doing homework—without the price tag of the top-of-the-line models. Here you’ll find both the compact and larger models, sold separately or in bundles. If you’re looking for a better screen and more processing power, check out the Galaxy Tab S series or the other Samsung tablets. We compare the current prices from all retailers, 100% independently. Use the filters for screen size, storage, or price to instantly find the right Galaxy Tab A.
Who is the Samsung Galaxy Tab A series designed for?
The Galaxy Tab A is designed for people who primarily use a tablet for watching, reading, and browsing, rather than for work or drawing. The lineup currently consists of the Galaxy Tab A11 with an 8.7-inch screen and the larger Galaxy Tab A11+ with an 11-inch screen. Both feature an LCD screen with a 90 Hz refresh rate, making scrolling appear smoother than on older entry-level tablets.
Tab A or Tab S: What’s the difference?
The difference lies in the screen, chip, and stylus. The Galaxy Tab S series has an AMOLED screen with a 120 Hz refresh rate and comes with the S Pen; the Tab A has an LCD screen with a 90 Hz refresh rate and does not include a stylus in the box. In practice, this means that movies and games look richer and smoother on a Tab S, and resource-intensive apps continue to run smoothly for longer. For streaming, social media, and school assignments, that difference is smaller than the price tag suggests, since the Tab S series easily costs several times as much as a Tab A.
Choose the Galaxy Tab A if the tablet is mainly for watching videos, playing games, reading, and video calls, or if it will be used by multiple family members and can therefore take a bit of a beating.
Choose the Galaxy Tab S series if you want to draw or take notes with a stylus, use it outdoors frequently, or use the tablet as a laptop replacement.
What you’re sacrificing for that price
To be fair: there are two areas where you can clearly tell this is the entry-level line.
- The screen is basic: LCD instead of AMOLED. As a result, black appears more like dark gray, and the screen is harder to read outdoors in bright sunlight.
- The chip is modest: the Tab A11 runs on a MediaTek Helio G99, an entry-level chip. Heavy 3D games and dozens of tabs open at once will cause lag. The Tab A11+ with the Dimensity 7300 is noticeably more powerful in this regard.
- No stylus included: the S Pen isn’t included. If you want to draw or take handwritten notes, you’re in the wrong series.
- Slow charging: the Tab A11 charges at 15 watts, while the Tab A11+ charges at 25 watts. So you’ll want to charge it fully overnight, not between appointments.
Strength: battery life and family use
The Galaxy Tab A11+ has a 7,040 mAh battery, while the Tab A11 has a 5,100 mAh battery. With the light use these tablets are designed for, that means you won’t need to plug them in for days on end. Handy for a family tablet that sits on the coffee table and gets picked up by everyone. Android also supports multiple user profiles, and with Samsung Kids, you can create a separate, protected environment for children with their own apps and a time limit.
How long will the Galaxy Tab A receive updates?
Samsung promises seven years of operating system and security updates for the Galaxy Tab A11 and A11+, through 2032. That’s remarkably long for an entry-level tablet and on par with what the much more expensive Tab S series receives: so you’re not compromising on this front. One caveat: Samsung doesn’t communicate that promise equally clearly on every product page, and Notebookcheck openly questioned it. Check the specific model of your choice to see what the manufacturer actually promises.
Which size is right for you?
The 8.7-inch Tab A11 is light enough to hold in one hand for long periods: great for reading, train travel, and little hands. The 11-inch Tab A11+ is the better tablet for watching movies and the better choice if you’ll occasionally type or work on it. If you’re torn between Samsung and another brand, compare it with the other Android tablets.
