Apple iPad tablet VS Samsung Galaxy Tab A9+: features, differences and price

In the Apple catalog, it is possible to find several models of tablets. Each of them with different specifications to adapt to each type of user. There are more powerful ones and others more modest, of course having different prices depending on the characteristics.

The iPad (2021) is Apple’s cheapest tablet. Although Apple launched its successor on the market almost two years ago, the brand continues to maintain it as the most affordable option, for users who want a device of this type with iPadOS 17 and the possibilities that ‘he offers.

However, in this category There are alternatives that are also worth it, especially if you are looking for an entertainment tool to watch series and movies. The Samsung Galaxy Tab A9+ is one of the latest new products in the South Korean firm’s catalog and promises a tablet with good value for money.

We put them face to face know their characteristics, differences and priceswith the aim of dispelling user doubts and enabling them to make a better purchase.

Features Apple iPad (2021) and Samsung Galaxy Tab A9+

• Screen: iPad (2021) features a 10.2-inch 4:3 aspect ratio Retina IPS LCD display with a resolution of 1620 x 2160 pixels and 500 nits brightness. The Samsung Galaxy Tab A9+ incorporates an 11-inch TFT LCD panel with a resolution of 1200 x 1920 pixels in 16:10 format and a refresh rate of 90 Hz.
• Chip: Apple’s tablet integrates the A13 Bionic, while Samsung’s is based on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 695.
• RAM and storage: The iPad comes with 3GB of RAM and can be configured with 64 or 256GB of storage, while the Samsung can be chosen with 4 or 8GB of RAM and 64 or 128GB of storage, expandable with microSDXC.
• Cameras: The Samsung device offers an 8 MP rear camera and a 5 MP front camera. The Apple one has an 8 MP rear and a 12 MP ultra wide angle front with Centered Frame.
• Battery: Apple promises around 10 hours of battery life with the iPad (2021)’s 8,557 mAh battery. The Samsung one is 7,040 mAh.
• Operating system: iPadOS 17 on the iPad (2021) and Android 13 with One UI customization layer on the Samsung.
• Connectivity: The Samsung Galaxy Tab A9+ integrates WiFi 5, Bluetooth 5.1, USB-C and there is the possibility of purchasing it with 5G. The iPad (2021) has WiFi 5, Bluetooth 4.2, 4G (optional), and Lightning.
• Others: The Apple tablet features the Touch ID fingerprint sensor and compatibility with the 1st generation Apple Pencil and Smart Keyboard case. The Samsung tablet has four stereo speakers with 3D sound and a 3.5mm headphone jack, just like the iPad.
• Précio: the Samsung Galaxy Tab A9+ starts at 249 dollars, while the iPad starts at 429 dollars (even if it is easy to find it around 350 dollars).

Samsung Galaxy Tab A9+ VS Apple iPad (2021), which tablet to buy?

Samsung has returned to the fray with two new tablets that, although they could be considered mid-range, They are not intended for particularly demanding usebut rather the consumption of multimedia content, everyday applications and games that do not have too high a graphics load.

The Samsung Galaxy A9+ is the more energetic of the two and promises a more than satisfactory experience for users who know what it offers and don’t ask for anything more. For its part, the iPad (2021) is a more versatile device if accompanied by the appropriate accessories, in addition to having good update support and a large catalog of suitable applications.

Then we will comment on the strengths and weaknesses of each model to resolve any questions and make a better purchasing decision.

Strengths and Weaknesses of the iPad (2021)

• + It is the most economical tablet in the Apple catalog
• + Its screen has a good resolution (even if it is not laminated, and it shows)
• + It is compatible with accessories such as the Apple Pencil
• + The front camera allows you to make very good quality video calls
• + Battery life is not bad at all thanks to the 8,557 mAh battery
• + Update support is very good (and is compatible with iPadOS 17)
• / The A13 Bionic chip is not the most powerful currently, but it complies
• – In terms of design, it is the least attractive in the catalog (large frames and physical button)
• – Knowing that it already has a successor and that it has been on the market for several years, it should be more cheap
• – Lightning connector

Strengths and weaknesses of the Samsung Galaxy Tab A9+

• + 11-inch screen with 90 Hz refresh rate
• + Expandable storage via microSDXC
• + Four stereo speakers with 3D sound
• + USB-C (although it is 2.0)
• +Android 13
• + Its price is quite attractive
• + There is a 5G version
• / The processor is from 2021 and mid-range at the time, so you can’t demand much from it either
• / Samsung’s One UI customization layer may or may not be liked
• – TFT LCD panel and resolution, although correct, 2K would have been better
• – Does not have WiFi 6

The screen

The screen is one of the most important parts of a tablet. Yes OK Neither the iPad nor the Samsung especially stands out at this stage

Starting with the iPad, well, with the resolution and brightness level it’s okay, but The panel is not plasticized and the 4:3 format has its advantages and disadvantages (Like everyone). Although being more square makes it more comfortable for reading or taking notes because it looks like a notebook, it is not the best option for consuming multimedia content because it has large black bands on the sides.

For its part, the Samsung has a TFT LCD panel and a resolution which, although correct, would not have been bad if it had been 2K. Its strong point is that the refresh rate reaches 90 Hzit therefore offers a feeling of fluidity when navigating menus that the iPad does not have.

The processor

One thing should be clear, and that is that Neither with the 9th generation iPad nor with the Samsung Galaxy Tab A9+ are we going to find the best of the best when it comes to tablets, neither in terms of screen nor in terms of performance. And even more so if we take into account that the iPad in this comparison was launched on the market in 2021 (and that Apple continues to sell it officially).

The Apple tablet relies on A13 Bionic chip, which is the same one the company used in the iPhone 11 a few years ago. It offers more than enough performance for everyday tasks, even in some games. It works quite well even for its “age”, partly thanks to the good optimization of the iPadOS operating system.

The Samsung Galaxy A9+ comes with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 695, which is a mid-range chip launched in 2021 and which, according to the manufacturer, offers a 15% improvement in CPU performance and 30% in GPU performance compared to the Snapdragon 690. Is this a tablet designed for games ? No, although it depends on the game or the correct setting of graphics options, since it is designed for everyday tasks such as content consumption, web browsing, email, office…

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