The first iPad was announced in January 2010, and then, in September of the same year, Samsung announced its first tablet: the Galaxy Tab 7. 0 (via Wired). From the start, Samsung faced a rather difficult pill fest with Apple, a logo well known then (and now) for its smart touchscreens. Compared to what Samsung’s tablets offer today, the original Galaxy Tab pales in comparison, however, it’s desirable to take a look at the company’s original design and see how much its tablets have improved.
Since the first Galaxy Tabs, Samsung’s tablets have noticed internal specs a step ahead, such as more RAM and internal memory, larger amounts of expandable storage, a much clearer and brighter display, and, of course, sturdier and more efficient processors. Samsung has also brought a number of LTE or 5G-capable tablets, allowing you to use it more like a mobile phone and fully integrate it with your Galaxy smartphone or Galaxy Watch.
Tablets are quite practical in the professional sense. They allow users to take care of workplace tasks, such as sending emails and executing documents. Specialized apps are also available that can perfectly tailor a pill to meet the desires for a specific function. Unfortunately, the easy-to-use devices are quite fragile. Samsung has attempted to solve this challenge with the Galaxy Tab Active, a more rugged edition of the popular tablets designed for use in the field.
That said, the Galaxy Tab Active isn’t strictly enterprise, anyone can buy one. Still, its target customer base includes the likes of first responders, construction workers, mechanics, people working outdoors, and anyone else operating in an environment where a standard tablet would be handy but may not survive.
So far, Samsung has made the original Galaxy Tab Active, as well as its LTE version, a Galaxy Tab Active 2, a Galaxy Tab Active Pro, a Galaxy Pad Active3, and a Galaxy Tab Active4 Pro. Under the hood, the tablets are largely the same as the popular version, with a few exceptions, with some models featuring some useful tweaks beyond increased durability. On the Galaxy Tab Active4 Pro, for example, the touchscreen is designed so that gloved users can navigate it while the batteries are heavier and easily replaceable, and there are customizable keyboard shortcuts that allow the Active4 Pro to serve as a walkie-talkie.
Samsung’s newest flagship tablet is the Galaxy Tab S9, which launched in August 2023. The device comes with a hefty price tag and will cost you a maximum of $1,500 if you opt for Ultra and 1TB of internal storage. Its price and features mean that the Galaxy Tab S9 goes toe-to-toe with the iPad. Although Apple has long had the upper hand in the tablet market, the Galaxy Tab S9 comes with a number of features that may make it the most attractive option.
These features come with a larger screen and facet ratio, IP68 waterproof and dustproof coverage, and a generation that improves vision and makes it more visual in direct sunlight. Its cooling formula has also gained momentum, with the S9 being the first tablet in Samsung’s lineup to use the vapor chamber generation to lower the temperature of the device.
Under the hood, a Qualcomm SM8550-AC Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset with an octa-core processor and 8 or 12GB of RAM. This processor is capable of speeds of up to 3. 36 GHz and there is a thirteen MP main camera and a 12 MP selfie camera, either of which is capable of recording 4K video. The Galaxy Tab S9 also has a Micro SD slot so that storage can be expanded further.
As with previous generations, the Galaxy Tab S9 has a cheaper and more accessible little brother in the Galaxy Tab A9. The A9 is likely to appeal to those on a budget, especially for users who don’t need all of the power and features that come with Samsung’s flagship tablet.
There are two features with the A9, a popular edition with an 8. 7-inch display and the 11-inch A9. Both devices come with 8GB of RAM and 128GB of built-in storage on the tablet. This storage can be increased up to 1TB if you load a Micro SD card. For connectivity, 5G is popular on the tablet, as well as other non-unusual connectivity features like Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. Some of Samsung’s flagship software, such as the ability to split the screen and a secure folder encrypted via Knox, are also included.
The 8 MP main cameras and 2 MP selfie cameras are likely to be underwhelming, especially compared to the cameras Samsung is installing on its low- and mid-range phones today. The processor is octa-core, so it will be convenient for multitasking. However, its actual speed, 2. 2 GHz or 1. 8 GHz, depends on the precise chip used in devices in your area. Overall, the Galaxy Tab nine has some counterfeit features on paper, as well as the compromises you’d expect from a recently introduced device that many stores sell for around $250.