Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 vs Galaxy Tab S9 FE: Which should you buy?

With the exception of Google’s Pixel Tablet, there might as well be one name in town when it comes to quality Android tablets, and that’s Samsung. If you have Samsung’s Galaxy Tab A8 from 2022, you might be considering a step up to the new Galaxy Tab S9 FE, which is costlier but not as expensive as a full-fledged Tab S9. Is it worth the jump?

Update, Jan. 2024: Updated with new prices following the launch of the Galaxy Tab A9.

Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 vs Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE: Specs

As you’d predict leaping from an early 2022 budget tablet to a late 2023 mid-range option, there’s a lot to gain here. For starters the display grows slightly from 10.5 to 10.9 inches, and you get a sharper 2304 x 1440 resolution paired with a smoother 90Hz refresh rate. The A8’s screen is fine, but you’ll notice the difference.

The Tab S9 FE also combines Samsung’s Exynos 1380 processor with at least 6GB of RAM, and 8GB on some models. The A8 performs well enough with its Unisoc Tiger T618 chip, but that and no more than 4GB of RAM puts a low ceiling on what the tablet can achieve — the S9 FE is a much better device for things like gaming or image and video editing.

Storage options on the S9 FE switch to 128 or 256GB, completely ditching 32 and 64GB, which is fine considering that those are too small to do much with in 2024. There’s still a microSD slot with support for cards up to 1TB, which is good news if you have a large app or media collection.

Other upgrades on the S9 FE worth mentioning are a fingerprint scanner on the power button — there are no biometrics at all on the A8 — and improved wireless tech including Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.3, and (on cellular models) 5G instead of just 4G. There’s also a sharper 12-megapixel front camera for video calls, and you get an S Pen in the box instead of having to buy one.

Battery tech has also been improved, but we’ll cover that in a later section. We’ll end this one by noting a couple of downsides — there’s no 3.5mm headphone jack on the S9 FE, and no bundled charger, so you may need to buy some accessories.

Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 vs Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE: Design and size comparison

There isn’t much to talk about here, but that’s actually a good thing. A tablet should be little more than a window into your apps and media, and that’s what you get with both products. There isn’t much aesthetic difference between the two, and some people might even prefer the A8.

The S9 FE (above) is a bit wider, taller, and heavier, but not in any meaningful way. The A8 (below) was already 508g (about 1.1 pounds), so neither tablet is something you want to hold one-handed for more than a few minutes.

Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 vs Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE: Battery life and charging

Samsung claims the S9 FE is capable of 18 to 20 hours of video playback. Most people aren’t going to use a tablet that way, so we’ll point out that it has an 8,000mAh battery, substantially larger than the one in the A8, which can already last two days under a mix of streaming, web browsing, and social media. The S9 FE could potentially be more power-hungry owing to its superior display and processor technology, so don’t expect a dramatic leap.

While the new tablet doesn’t ship with a charger, it does offer much faster charging capacity, topping out at 45W versus the A8’s meager 15W. You should be able to fully recharge the S9 FE in as little as 90 minutes — assuming of course you have a USB-C adapter capable of 45W or higher.

Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 vs Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE: Price and availability

Since Samsung is already selling a Galaxy Tab A9, the A8 is being phased out, available for as little as $129 if you want a renewed 32GB Wi-Fi model. That’s about $100 less than at launch.

The Galaxy Tab S9 FE started shipping to some retailers on October 5, 2023, with wider distribution on October 10. Samsung has been cagey on the roster of countries it’s targeting, but chances are that if Samsung sells electronics in your country, you should be able to get an S9 FE.

Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 vs Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE: Should you upgrade?

Perhaps. You’re vaulting from a budget tablet to a mid-range one, and you’ll definitely enjoy the improvements in display, processor, and charging technology. It’s a shame that the S9 FE doesn’t have a 3.5mm jack, but that’s par for the course these days, and you do get a bundled S Pen. That lets you dive straight into notetaking and drawing, or at least leaving fewer fingerprints on your screen.

Of course, the obstacle here is that the S9 FE can easily be twice as expensive, despite being relatively cheap next to an iPad Air, an iPad Pro, or a regular S9. If you want to stay within budget territory it may be better to get an A9, which starts at $156. Just don’t expect any radical improvements if you go that route — in fact, it’d be wiser to wait for an A10 or A11 if you want to see meaningful feature advances in the budget realm.

Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 vs Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE: FAQ