Apple iPad (6th generation) vs Samsung Galaxy Tab A9

101 facts in comparison

Based on 203 Reddit opinions. Close race—(6th generation) edges ahead.

203 opinions
(6th generation) leads by 4pts
Reddit's Pick
Apple iPad (6th generation)
75%
B
Based on
31 Redditors
Winner

Apple iPad (6th generation)

~$159
23 opinions

tldr; 2018 iPad still mentioned for budget use. A10 chip showing age but 'leaves Android tablets in the dust.'

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VS
Samsung Galaxy Tab A9
71%
B-
Based on
346 Redditors

Samsung Galaxy Tab A9

~$159.99
180 opinions

tldr; Samsung's budget entry - good for streaming and light use. No S Pen support, skip for note-taking.

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DisplayPerformanceBattery LifeStylus & Note-takingBuild Quality
🖥️DIS
PER
🔋BAT
STY
🔧BUI
93
Points
60
Points

Score by Category

Display
100%39%
Performance
67%54%
Battery Life
100%88%
Stylus & Note-taking
100%6%
Build Quality
0%78%

Why is Galaxy Tab A9 better than iPad (6th generation)?

  • ?? Around $150-200 - affordable Samsung option
  • No stylus support - A9+ doesn't either
Based on 377 Reddit opinions
Too Close to Call

Reddit prefers the (6th generation)

Winning by 4 points (75% vs 71%)

Better performance
Better stylus
Better battery
High confidence (377 mentions)

💬Reddit Sentiment

Based on 377 Reddit mentions

Overall Rating

(6th generation)
7.5/10
31 mentions
Tab A9
7.1/10
346 mentions
PERFORMANCE
(6th generation)6.7/10
Tab A95.4/10
STYLUS
(6th generation)10.0/10
Tab A90.6/10
VALUE
(6th generation)10.0/10
Tab A99.5/10
BUILD QUALITY
(6th generation)0.0/10
Tab A97.8/10
BATTERY LIFE
(6th generation)10.0/10
Tab A98.8/10
DISPLAY
(6th generation)10.0/10
Tab A93.9/10
⚔️

Head to Head

Head to Head

(6th generation): 5|Tab A9: 1
Performance(6th generation)
(6th generation)67%
Tab A954%
Stylus(6th generation)
(6th generation)100%
Tab A96%
Value(6th generation)
(6th generation)100%
Tab A995%
Build QualityTab A9
(6th generation)0%
Tab A978%
Battery Life(6th generation)
(6th generation)100%
Tab A988%
Display(6th generation)
(6th generation)100%
Tab A939%
(6th generation)75%
Tab A971%
Close race - (6th generation) edges ahead by 4 points

Key Specs

SpecApple iPad (6th generation)Samsung Galaxy Tab A9
Display Size
9.7-inch Retina
Processor
Apple A10 Fusion
Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 5G Octa-Core
Ram
2 GB
4GB
Storage Options
32 GB, 128 GB
Rear Camera
8 MP

Key Highlights

Apple iPad (6th generation)
🎯 'Pretty good Apple hardware'
💰 ?? Low budget option with Apple Pencil
⚠️ iOS file transfer 'isn't too bad with wire'
📌 ?? Works for basic productivity
📌 ?? Retina display still holds up
Samsung Galaxy Tab A9Winner
💰 ?? Around $150-200 - affordable Samsung option
📌 ?? LCD display adequate for streaming
⚠️ No stylus support - A9+ doesn't either
📏 ?? Compact 8.7-inch size for portability
🔋 ?? Good battery for basic streaming

Topic Battles

(6th generation): 4|Tied: 0|Tab A9: 1
🖥️Display
(6th generation) wins
(6th generation)
100%
Tab A9
39%
Performance
(6th generation) wins
(6th generation)
67%
Tab A9
54%
🔋Battery Life
(6th generation) wins
(6th generation)
100%
Tab A9
88%
Stylus & Note-taking
(6th generation) wins
(6th generation)
100%
Tab A9
6%
🔧Build Quality
Tab A9 wins
(6th generation)
0%
Tab A9
78%

Based on Reddit sentiment across 5 categories

📈Where They Rank

💬What Redditors Actually Say

What Redditors Say

Best praise vs top criticism for Apple iPad (6th generation)

Best Praise
+3 pts
The iPad is really my daily driver because it's so portable: I haven't seriously used a laptop in years, so basically everything you'd do on a normal laptop I do on that. But, I'm testing the Android tab as a largely offline device even though it has the usual WiFi and 4G LTE. I added a 512Gb microSDHC for all my files, which include a lot of Kiwix ZIMs, music, movies and ebooks. The task you mention was that I was able to run Termux, so I have Linux available for commandline tasks, including GPG encryption testing, TOR, things like that. I've degoogled it as much as possible and have lot of apps from F-Droid. I originally started with a Lenovo M8 tablet but the Oukitel is more powerful, ruggedised and has an 11000mAh battery. I use a USB-C hub to connect things like an SDR dongle, GPS dongle. I can't do any of that with the iPad, unfortunately. Oh, and the 4G SIM lets me use it as a phone whereas the iPad Mini is data only via an eSIM.
r/tablets
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Top Criticism
+3 pts
I bought a ipad years ago and it collects dust while i mainly use my macbook. Now im going back to school and i want a ipad for notes and such. Will need to upgrade mine but tbh i dont like carrying my MacBook to school for various reasons
r/tablets
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3 more quotes available below

What Redditors Say

Best praise vs top criticism for Samsung Galaxy Tab A9

Best Praise
+4 pts
Samsung Tablets A9+/8GB ram is good, see my reviews. Lenovo M9 is light enough to be good and under $110 at 4gb Ram. I also have a review on it. 
r/tablets
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Top Criticism
+6 pts
Firstly,take the Tab A9 off the list.
r/tablets
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3 more quotes available below

📈Historical Price Data

Apple iPad (6th generation)
Samsung Galaxy Tab A9
$120$160$200$240Apr '25May '25Jun '25Jul '25Aug '25Sep '25Nov '25Jan '26Feb '26Mar '26Low: $131.9Low: $159.99Current: $159.99
Apple iPad (6th generation)
All-time low: $115.98(2025-09)
$39 below 90-day avg
Samsung Galaxy Tab A9
All-time low: $132.99(2025-07)

Which is Better?

Apple iPad (6th generation) Wins
75%
generation)
vs
71%
A9

Close race, but Apple iPad (6th generation) edges ahead by 4 points based on 377 Reddit opinions.

Why (6th generation)Winner
  • 🎯 'Pretty good Apple hardware'
  • 💰 ?? Low budget option with Apple Pencil
  • ⚠️ iOS file transfer 'isn't too bad with wire'
Why Tab A9
  • 💰 ?? Around $150-200 - affordable Samsung option
  • 📌 ?? LCD display adequate for streaming
  • More discussed (346 vs 31)

❤️The Love/Hate Breakdown

Sentiment Breakdown

55%Positive
Positive
55%
Neutral
26%
Negative
19%
Based on 31 Reddit opinions

Sentiment Breakdown

36%Positive
Positive
36%
Neutral
48%
Negative
16%
Based on 346 Reddit opinions

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is better, Apple iPad (6th generation) or Samsung Galaxy Tab A9?
Based on 377 Reddit comments, Apple iPad (6th generation) has a slight edge with 75% positive sentiment vs Samsung Galaxy Tab A9's 71%. The difference is small, so both are solid choices.
Should I buy Apple iPad (6th generation) or Samsung Galaxy Tab A9?
Both have similar approval ratings (75% vs 71%), so focus on specific features, pricing, and what matters most to you.
What do Redditors love about Apple iPad (6th generation)?
Reddit users highlight: Pretty good Apple hardware'. Low budget option with Apple Pencil. iOS file transfer 'isn't too bad with wire'. With 31 mentions and 75% approval, it's a well-regarded choice in the community.
What do Redditors say about Samsung Galaxy Tab A9?
Reddit users highlight: Around $150-200 - affordable Samsung option. LCD display adequate for streaming. No stylus support - A9+ doesn't either. With 346 mentions and 71% approval, it remains a popular alternative.
How many Reddit reviews were analyzed?
This comparison analyzed 377 Reddit comments: 31 about Apple iPad (6th generation) and 346 about Samsung Galaxy Tab A9. Data was sourced from Tablets community discussions.
How accurate are these ratings?
Our sentiment analysis is approximately 80-85% accurate compared to manual review. Well-discussed products with many mentions tend to have more reliable scores than niche items with fewer data points.
Why trust Reddit over professional reviews?
Reddit users bought products with their own money and have no incentive to mislead. You're seeing hundreds of real opinions across different use cases, not just one reviewer's take. This crowdsourced approach surfaces both common praise and recurring complaints.

203 Reddit opinions analyzed · Last updated 4/4/2026

Apple Ipad 6th Generation vs Samsung Galaxy Tab A9: Which Is Better? | Reddit Says... | reccs.co