Better all around
The Galaxy Tab A11 Plus is Samsung's latest budget tablet for the U.S. market, and it punches above its weight. You get a fast chipset, a good display, solid charging speeds, and the best long-term Android update support in this price range.
Pros
- Faster Mediatek MT8775 chipset
- Android 16 out of the box
- Up to 7 years of OS upgrades
- Faster 25W wired charging speed
Cons
- Higher starting price tag
- Same battery and display as previous generation
Still a worthy purchase
The Galaxy Tab A9 Plus may be older, but it still holds up well. With the same display and battery as the newer model, it remains a solid option, particularly given its lower price.
Pros
- Can be bought for a discounted price frequently
- Similar design and build as newer model
- Expandable storage via microSD and includes a 3.5mm headphone jack
Cons
- Slower 15W charging
- Base storage (64GB) feels limited
There are plenty of budget Android tablets on the market, but Samsung's Galaxy Tab A-series has quietly become a popular choice for users who just want something reliable. These tablets aren't meant for users who want a high-powered device for all-day gaming or video editing, but for those who need a big screen to watch YouTube, answer emails, and get some light work done without it feeling slow or cheap.
Samsung has now introduced the Galaxy Tab A11 Plus in the U.S. as an upgrade to the nearly two-year-old Galaxy Tab A9 Plus. While the Galaxy Tab A11 Plus may not appear to be a major generational leap on the surface, Samsung has introduced several meaningful under-the-hood upgrades that make the 2025 model the superior option.
If you're deciding whether to pick up the Galaxy Tab A9 Plus at a discounted price or want to understand what the Galaxy Tab A11 Plus improves over its predecessor, here is how Samsung's budget tablets compare.
Samsung Galaxy Tab A11 Plus vs. Galaxy Tab A9 Plus: Pricing and availability
Samsung introduced the Galaxy Tab A11 Plus in international markets on September 30, 2025, but it was not until December 30, 2025, that the company announced its U.S. launch. Post the announcement, the Galaxy Tab A11 Plus officially went on sale in the U.S. starting January 8, 2026.
The Galaxy Tab A9 Plus, on the other hand, was unveiled in October 2023 and became available in the U.S. on January 12, 2024. Since it has been on the market for some time, the Galaxy Tab A9 Plus can now be found at discounted prices as low as $160, which is approximately $60 less than its original launch price of $220.
In terms of pricing, Samsung has increased the base price of the Galaxy Tab A11 Plus compared to the Galaxy Tab A9 Plus. The Galaxy Tab A9 Plus launched at $220 with 64GB of storage, while the Galaxy Tab A11 Plus starts at $250 in the U.S. with 128GB of storage (although it offers more RAM as well).
Like the Galaxy Tab A9 Plus, the Galaxy Tab A11 Plus is available in Wi-Fi-only and Wi-Fi + cellular versions. The Wi-Fi-only model comes in 128 GB and 256 GB options and goes up to $310, while the 5G variant starts at $280 and is available only with 128 GB of storage.
Samsung Galaxy Tab A11 Plus vs. Galaxy Tab A9 Plus: Design and build
Looking at the Galaxy Tab A11 Plus and Galaxy Tab A9 Plus, you'll notice a lot of similarities between the two devices, partly because Samsung hasn't changed the design much from the 2024 model. Both tablets feature a unibody metal design with a simple, minimal back and a single rear camera.
Both models also share the same dimensions at 257.1 × 168.7 × 6.9mm. At 6.9mm, the Galaxy Tab A11 Plus is thin and easy to carry. While there aren't any major design changes compared to the Tab A9 Plus, there are three small but noticeable updates on the Galaxy Tab A11 Plus.
The first is the weight. The Galaxy Tab A11 Plus weighs 477g, which is about 3g lighter than the Galaxy Tab A9 Plus at 480g. This isn't a huge difference, but it's worth noting.
The second and more meaningful change is the IP rating. While Samsung didn't make major design changes, it says the Galaxy Tab A11 Plus now comes with IP52 water and dust resistance, which is an upgrade over the Tab A9 Plus that had no IP rating.
IP52 doesn't mean you can use it in the rain or take it swimming, but it does offer protection against splashes, making it safer to use in places like the kitchen or around kids.
The last design change is the color options. The Galaxy Tab A9 Plus came in Graphite, Silver, and Navy (blue). This time, Samsung has dropped the Navy option, replaced Graphite with a darker gray, and kept Silver.
On the front, both tablets use the same display. That means you still get the thick bezels introduced with the Galaxy Tab A9 Plus, which feel dated for a tablet in 2026.
Both models feature an 11-inch TFT LCD panel with a 1200 × 1920 resolution and up to a 90Hz refresh rate, with peak brightness reaching 480 nits. While Samsung devices often offer better displays than rivals at this price, neither the Galaxy Tab A11 Plus nor the Tab A9 Plus stands out here, though the screens are still fine for everyday use.
Samsung Galaxy Tab A11 Plus vs. Galaxy Tab A9 Plus: Hardware and specs
Samsung's Galaxy Tab A series doesn't compete with the company's flagship Galaxy Tab S lineup, so you should expect more budget-level specs here. That said, Samsung has made several meaningful upgrades to both the hardware and software that you don't usually see on budget Android tablets.
Inside the Galaxy Tab A11 Plus, you'll find MediaTek's MT8775 chipset. While it's not part of the more familiar Dimensity lineup, it's an octa-core chip with clock speeds up to 2.5 GHz. This should deliver a noticeable performance boost over the Snapdragon 695 used in the Galaxy Tab A9 Plus
Along with the faster chipset, Samsung has also increased storage and RAM across the lineup. The Galaxy Tab A11 Plus now starts with 128 GB of storage and 6 GB of RAM and goes up to 256 GB of storage with 8 GB of RAM, while the Galaxy Tab A9 Plus offered just 4 GB of RAM in its base model. Like its predecessor, the A11 Plus also supports microSD cards for storage expansion up to 2 TB.
Like the Galaxy Tab A9 Plus, the Galaxy Tab A11 Plus is also available in a 5G cellular version, though it costs more than the Wi-Fi-only model.
Category |
Samsung Galaxy Tab A11 Plus |
Samsung Galaxy Tab A9 Plus |
|---|---|---|
OS |
One UI 8 (Android 16) |
One UI 7 (Android 15) |
Display |
11-inch, TFT LCD, 480 nits peak brightness, 90Hz, 1920 x 1200 pixels |
11-inch, TFT LCD, 480 nits peak brightness, 90Hz, 1920 x 1200 pixels |
Stylus support |
No |
No |
Processor |
MediaTek MT8775 |
Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 |
RAM |
6GB / 8GB |
4GB / 8GB |
Storage |
128GB / 256GB Expandable up to 2TB via microSD card |
128GB / 256GB Expandable up to 2TB via microSD card |
Rear cameras |
8MP, AF |
8MP, AF |
Front camera |
5MP |
5MP |
Ingress protection |
IP52 |
— |
Connectivity |
5G, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.3, 3.5mm headphone jack |
5G, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.1, 3.5mm headphone jack |
Security |
Face unlock |
Face unlock |
Battery |
7,040 mAh |
7,040 mAh |
Charging |
25W USB-C fast wired charging |
15W USB-C fast wired charging |
Dimensions |
257.1 X 168.7 X 6.9 mm Weight: 477g |
257.1 x 168.7 x 6.9 mm Weight: 480g |
Colors |
Gray, Silver |
Graphite, Silver, Navy |
When it comes to battery, Samsung has kept the Galaxy Tab A11 Plus at the same capacity as the previous generation since it uses the same body and dimensions as the Galaxy Tab A9 Plus. That means both tablets pack a 7,040 mAh battery, which isn't the largest you'll find in an 11-inch tablet.
Thankfully, Samsung has increased charging speeds from 15W to 25W, so the Galaxy Tab A11 Plus will take much less time to fully charge compared to the older model.
The biggest upgrade, however, is in the software. The Galaxy Tab A11 Plus runs One UI 8 based on Android 16 out of the box, putting it ahead of the Galaxy Tab A9 Plus, which launched with Android 15-based One UI 7.
On top of that, Samsung is offering up to seven years of OS updates, which is unusual in this price segment. No other budget Android tablet offers this level of long-term software support. You also get some Google AI features out of the box on the Galaxy Tab A11 Plus, including access to Google Gemini, Circle to Search, and more.
Samsung Galaxy Tab A11 Plus vs. Galaxy Tab A9 Plus: Cameras
When it comes to cameras, you shouldn't expect much from an Android tablet since most people aren't using one to shoot concerts or take photos outdoors. They're usually used for scanning documents and taking the occasional photo or video at home.
With that in mind, the Galaxy Tab A11 Plus features an 8MP rear camera and a 5MP front camera for video calls and online meetings. This is the same setup found on the Galaxy Tab A9 Plus, so performance should be similar on both devices.
We haven't tested the Galaxy Tab A11 Plus yet, but we'll update this page if we notice anything worth mentioning.
Samsung Galaxy Tab A11 Plus vs. Galaxy Tab A9 Plus: Which should you buy?
All things considered, whether you should upgrade from the Galaxy Tab A9 Plus to the Galaxy Tab A11 Plus or buy the Tab A11 Plus as a new budget tablet depends on your situation.
If you're shopping for a new budget Android tablet, there's arguably no better option right now than the Galaxy Tab A11 Plus. It offers everything you need for casual use, and with up to seven years of OS updates, it'll stay supported for a long time, whether your kids use it or you do.
If you already own the Galaxy Tab A9 Plus, though, upgrading might not make as much sense since most of the core features and hardware remain similar. The main upgrade is really the software, which the Tab A9 Plus will also get eventually.
There are small improvements like faster charging, more storage, and longer software support, but if you already own the Tab A9 Plus, you're still getting most of what the new model offers.
The better pick
The Galaxy Tab A11 Plus brings everything you should look for in a budget Android tablet. A capable processor, big display, solid battery size, and fast charging, along with optional cellular support, give it a lot of value for the price.
Gets the job done
If you want an Android tablet on the cheap and don't care much about software updates, the Galaxy Tab A9 Plus is still a great option. It offers everything you need from a budget Android tablet at an even more attractive price.
