The best Samsung Galaxy tablet in 2024

Wondering whether a Samsung tablet is right for you? There’s a wide variety of Samsung Galaxy Tabs (that's Samsung's name for them) at different prices, sizes and aimed at different users. 

If you're after a big, high-end laptop replacement with a screen as sharp as your TV, then Samsung has you covered. And if you just need something small and simple to do some reading or catch-up on your emails, Samsung has a tablet for that, too. 

Its expansive lineup ticks a lot of boxes, but which models are worth buying and which suit your needs? In this guide, we take you through what you can expect to pay for a Samsung Galaxy tablet, and reveal the top scorers in our tough lab tests.

Samsung makes more Android tablets than anyone else, but are they right for you? Check our best Android tablets to see what we recommend from the likes of Lenovo and Xiaomi

Samsung tablets: what you need to know

Martin Pratt, Which? tablet expert says:

Samsung has the expertise and marketing might to make a success of anything it turns its hand to and tablets are no different. After Apple, Samsung is the biggest tablet brand, despite stern competition from Lenovo and Amazon, particularly at the cheaper end of the market.

Samsung's knack for sharp design and even sharper screens helps its tablets stand out whether you're looking to spend £1,000 on a Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra or a fifth of that on a Samsung Galaxy Tab A9+. 

While more advanced Samsung tablets have beefier processors and higher resolution displays, all Samsung Galaxy Tabs use the same Android operating system (with a few Samsung tweaks). So they're functionally the same. 

It's easy to spend more than you need though, particularly when you see the entrancingly bright screens on its top-tier tablets, but one of Samsung's more basic models will be ideal for most people.

Best Samsung tablets

Samsung releases tablets that range from just over £100 to well over £1,000. We've picked the best models to suit your needs and budget, so if you don't need a cutting-edge, pricy model, you'll still find something suitable.

Like the look of a Samsung Galaxy tablet but want to compare more models? Don't miss our expert guide to the best Android tablets.

Which? members can login to see which Samsung Galaxy Tabs we think are the best. Not yet a member? Join Which? to unlock all of the best Samsung Galaxy tablet recommendations on this page and see if a Galaxy Tab A9 can compete with an S9 or if the Galaxy Tab FE models are worth the money. You'll also unlock all our tablet reviews and all of our online reviews - from TVs to phones, appliances and more.

Want to see more models? Check out all of our Samsung tablet reviews. They are also often on offer - take a look at our best tablet deals to find a great tablet at a great price.

What’s the cheapest Samsung tablet?

Samsung Galaxy tablets come in a range of prices and sizes. The cheapest is the Samsung Galaxy Tab A7 Lite Wifi, which is a tablet from 2021.

Here, we give you a quick guide as to what you can expect to pay for a Samsung Galaxy tablet. We've chosen the latest models for this, but you may be able to save by choosing one from a previous generation - such as an S8, rather than an S9.

If we look at Samsung's most recent releases you've got three ranges to choose from.

• Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 range - these are the most high-end models and have large screens. The S9 is the smallest with an 11-inch screen, while the S9 Ultra is the biggest at 14.6 inches.
• Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE range - simiular to the S9 models in look and size, but with less powerful processors, less Ram and lower resolution displays. They're a good option for people who want a bigger tablet, but don't need all the high-end components of a standard S9.
• Samsung Galaxy Tab A9 range - here you'll find Samsung's smaller tablets, although there are still 11-inch options. They lack the processing power and Ram of the S9 tablets, but are far cheaper and more suited to people who just want something to watch videos and browse the internet.

Check the summary of different models, their sizes and guide prices. For more information, including the best prices from reputable retailers, scroll past our table.

There are plenty of other tablets from the likes of Amazon, Lenovo and Microsoft. Take a look at all our tablet reviews to find the right model for your needs and budget.

Samsung Galaxy Tab A9 - typical price £139

It's an entry-level tablet around the same size as an iPad Mini, but not as powerful and less than half the price. It's positioned more to compete with models like the Amazon Fire Max 11. 

A weaker processor means it will struggle with demanding apps, such as graphically intensive games or video editing software. 

Read our Samsung Galaxy Tab A9 review to see if it's the tablet for you or if you need something beefier.

Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE - typical price £449

This one's aimed squarely at the iPad. It's a similar size, price and has similar specs, too. The iPad is a bit sharper, but this Samsung tablet has more Ram, which should help it load apps a bit quicker. 

It's a tablet designed to appeal to people who want something capable with a high-end feel but without a price closer to £1,000.

Check our Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE review to see how it compares to the iPad.

Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 - typical price £799

This is a tablet for people who don't want to compromise on anything. 

It's seriously quick and has a super-high resolution display. It's got a price to match its high-end components, too, so you really need to consider if you're going to make the most of them.

See our final verdict in the Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 review and learn if those high-end components take a toll on the battery.

What's the difference between a Samsung Galaxy Tab A and S?

Other than the size, shape and operating system... just about everything. The Tab A models are entry-levels while the S models are high-end.

This is reflected in the price and spec. 

• S models are far more expensive because they have high resolution screens that are far sharper than HD, have more powerful multi-core processors and more Ram to help multitask and cope with intensive software. They also come with a Stylus, known as the S Pen, which magentizes to the back of the tablet. This charges it, too.
• A range models are more basic and have screens that are roughly HD Ready. You shouldn't necessarily be put off by lower resolutions though as the pixels are more densely packed on smaller screens, so won't look as blurry as something TV-sized. Resolution doesn't account for colour or brightness either, so there's more to consider.

Ultimately, S range tablets are aimed at people who want top-of-the-range specs, apps that load in an instant and don't want to encounter any slowdown no matter how demanding the software is. A range tablets are for people who don't have those requirements, but still want something that feels snappy and looks crisp.

How much should you spend on your Samsung tablet?

As with iPads, Windows tablets or Android models from other brands, most people don't need a high-end, huge-screen tablet that costs close to or more than £1,000.

For most people, a 10-inch screen with modest specs will do the job just fine. If your needs don't extend far beyond watching videos, browsing the internet, reading books or playing the odd game, then you don't need a 12.4-inch Galaxy Tab S9+. 

If you're looking for something a bit beefier that you can use to work on, and plan on getting a keyboard to make it into a suitable laptop replacement, then something with a stronger processor and more Ram, such as the Samsung Galaxy Tab S9, would be a good option. Avoid one of the cheaper models with less powerful components, as you might have a more frustrating experience.

The top-tier £1,000+ tablets are niche and only really recommended for anyone who's after editing or design software, or wants a big screen for art.

Samsung Galaxy Tabs vs Apple iPads

Samsung and Apple have been nip and tuck ever since we first tested a Samsung tablet in 2014, as our table below shows. While other tablet brands have brought our overall test score average down, Samsung and Apple have stuck (mostly) to a strict diet of well-made tablets that are slightly more expensive than their rivals. 

Apple and Samsung haven't released any new tablets in 2024 yet, but we'll update this table when they do and we've tested them.

*Apple didn't release any tablets in 2023.

(Table last updated: April 2024. Only tablets released in the same year are directly comparable.)

The only consideration you should make is whether you’ll prefer a tablet running the Android operating system instead of Apple iOS. If you have an iPhone, for example, you might find an iPad more useful. iPads and iPhones work together, letting you keep your apps, files and messages synchronised across devices. 

Want to know more about iPads? Check out our guide to which iPad to buy.

How long does Samsung support its tablets?

Anything you connect to the internet is at risk of being hacked, which is why tablet manufacturers release regular software updates to prevent hackers gaining access to your tablet and sensitive personal data.

Tablets don't get updates forever, though, and depending on the brand, the length of support period can be anywhere from one to six years or more.

Samsung is one of the better brands when it comes to ongoing support, and tablets released after 2019 will get security updates for a minimum of four years.

See the tablet brands offering the best security support and learn more about why software updates are so important.