Quiet debut: Samsung Galaxy Tab A9 and A9+ hit Amazon, featuring 5G connectivity

Last week, Samsung introduced its latest FE series, featuring the Galaxy S23 FE, the Galaxy Tab S9 FE and S9 FE+, and the Galaxy Buds FE. These devices offer a more budget-friendly alternative to their flagship counterparts, although some might still find them a bit on the pricey side. If you are one of them, we have good news as Samsung has also launched its new Galaxy Tab A9 and Tab A9+.

In an unexpected move, the Galaxy Tab A9 and Tab A9+ quietly made their debut on Amazon in India without any official event (via Android Authority). While initial rumors pointed to an October 5 release date, the tablets showed up over the weekend. Global release details remain unclear, but sightings in Guatemala suggest a broader launch is imminent.

Galaxy Tab A9 and Tab A9+ design, colors and camera

Both the Galaxy Tab A9 and Tab A9+ come in three color options: Dark Blue, Grey, and Silver. According to the Amazon India listing, the Galaxy Tab A9 boasts an 8.7-inch LCD with a resolution of 1,340 x 800 and a 60Hz refresh rate. It features an 8MP rear camera with autofocus and a 2MP front camera.

The Galaxy Tab A9+, with its larger 11-inch LCD, offers a 90Hz refresh rate and a higher resolution of 1920 x 1200. It sports an 8MP rear camera and a 5MP front selfie camera. Design-wise, both tablets show minimal differences from the previous Galaxy Tab A8, with slightly smaller bezels being the main change.

Galaxy Tab A9 and Tab A9+ performance and battery

The Galaxy Tab A9 runs on a MediaTek Helio G99 processor paired with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage. In contrast, the Tab A9+ is equipped with a faster Qualcomm Snapdragon SM6375 Processor, 8GB RAM, and expandable 128GB storage. Both tablets come with Android, likely version 13, out of the box.

Both tablets are listed to come with a 5,100mAh battery, which appears to be either a mistake or a rather strange decision on Samsung’s part. Previous rumors suggested that at least the Tab A9+ would pack a 7,040mAh battery with 15W charging support, which would be more in line considering the larger size of the tablet. Also, the previous generation Galaxy Tab A8 packs a 7040mAh battery, so a downgrade like that might be a listing mistake (let’s hope).

Both the Galaxy Tab A9 and Tab A9+ are listed with a Wi-Fi-only version, which is a bit cheaper, and a Wi-Fi and 5G version.

Product listings reveal some uncertainties, such as the mention of an S Pen in the Galaxy Tab A9+ package, contradicting the pictured box contents. There is also confusion regarding physical SIM and eSIM support for both variants, with the Wi-Fi-only version unlikely to have telephony capabilities. That is not all, as the Galaxy A9 is listed to support 5G, but the MediaTek Helio G99 processor it packs supports only 4G, so we believe the 5G support for the Galaxy A9 is a listing mistake.

Galaxy Tab A9 and Tab A9+ price and availability

The pricing details for both tablets are least certain, with the Wi-Fi-only Galaxy Tab A9 priced at ₹14,999 ($180), and the 5G variant at ₹15,999 ($192). The Galaxy Tab A9+ starts at ₹20,999 ($252) for Wi-Fi only, while the Wi-Fi and 5G version is not yet available on Amazon India.

When the Galaxy Tab A9 and Tab A9+ will become available in the US and Europe is still unclear, so stay tuned for updates.