Samsung has something for everyone, whether you’re looking for a tablet to binge-watch, play games, or edit photos. The good thing is that you don't have to spend a fortune to get a nice Samsung tablet.

The company has really good options that offer a great balance of performance and affordability, making them perfect for anyone looking to upgrade their tablet without breaking the bank.

Here are the best budget-friendly Samsung tablets available today.

Getting a Samsung tablet needn't cost you a fortune, thanks to some great budget-friendly options. Samsung's impressive roster of budget tablets offers a cost-effective solution to suit almost every need, whether you're a student, a creative professional, or simply looking for something to keep yourself or the kids entertained.

Best Budget Samsung Tablet Overall: Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE

Launched at the tail end of 2023, the Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE is an elegant multipurpose tablet that ticks a lot of boxes. It has a 10.9-inch 1440 x 2304 LCD, dual speakers with support for Dolby Atmos, and a decent front-facing camera. Powered by the Samsung Exynos 1390 processor, there's enough oomph to make this tablet a good choice for gaming, too.

The Tab S9 FE is available in 128GB and 256GB versions, with 6GB and 8GB of RAM, respectively. With up to 1TB of expandable storage, you'll have plenty of space to download your favorite movies, TV shows, and games. A fast-charging 8,000mAh battery supplies 18 hours of juice on a full charge, and 5G connectivity ensures a reliable performance across the board. Plus, it's one of the few water- and dust-resistant tablets on the market.

Best Value Samsung Tablet: Samsung Galaxy Tab A9+

The Samsung Galaxy Tab A9+ is an ideal budget tablet for more casual use. It has an 11-inch 1920 x 1200 LCD, up to 128GB of storage, 8GB of RAM, and quad speakers. It's fitted with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 chipset and provides impressively smooth performance, allowing for fast, fluid web browsing.

It's great for multitasking, too. With the Samsung Multi-Active Windows feature, you can browse, take notes, and make video calls simultaneously with the handy split-screen functionality. Battery life is good, putting in a solid 12-13 hour shift on a full charge, and it has a slim and lightweight design that makes it easy to transport. At around the $200 mark, the Galaxy Tab A9+ provides exceptional value for money.

Best Budget Samsung Tablet for Kids: Samsung Galaxy Tab A7 Lite

A great tablet for kids doesn't have to be one of the more costly, feature-rich options. Instead, you should be looking for something sturdy, with a good battery life, and easy to operate. Chuck in a bunch of kid-friendly content to explore, and you're on to a winner. And the Samsung Galaxy Tab A7 Lite delivers all of this with aplomb.

The smaller 8.7-inch 1340 x 800 screen is ideal for kids, and there's 32GB of expandable storage for downloading their favorite mobile games or the odd episode of their favorite shows. It's small and light enough for kids to easily hold in their hands and robust enough to handle the odd few knocks. There's a wealth of age-appropriate content here, courtesy of the Samsung Kids app, which has plenty of educational and recreational games and puzzles for the kids to immerse themselves in.

Best Budget Samsung Tablet for Students: Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite has a sharp 10.4-inch Full HD 2000 x 1200 LCD, up to 128GB of expandable storage, and offers reliable performance, thanks to its Qualcomm Snapdragon 720G processor. It weighs a whisker over one pound and supplies around 12 hours of use on a full charge.

Note-taking during lectures is easy with the Tab S6 Lite, as it comes with a handy S Pen. For students already invested in the Samsung ecosystem, it allows the syncing of multiple devices, with the S6 Lite acting as the control hub. Ideal for handling a full-on day on campus, it's also great for streaming movies and music after all that studying, thanks to its impressive dual AKG speakers. It even comes in a choice of color tones to match your style.

Best Budget Samsung Tablet for Drawing: Samsung Galaxy Tab S9+

Admittedly, the Samsung Galaxy Tab S9+ looks out of place in a roundup of budget Samsung tablets. This tablet screams premium quality all the way, featuring a dynamic 12.4-inch AMOLED 2X screen with Vision Booster, superfast Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip, and up to 512GB of expandable storage. But for anybody looking for the best possible drawing experience on a Samsung tablet, we'd be doing you a disservice if we didn't recommend this tablet to you.

That beautiful AMOLED screen is tailor-made for bringing your creations to life, showing off exquisite colors and contrasts that make it a joy to draw or sketch with. It's great for note-taking and annotating, too, with the S Pen allowing for pixel-perfect control, gliding across the screen with ease.

It may not be a budget Samsung tablet, but it's a damn good one. And if you want the ultimate Samsung tablet for drawing without having to shell out on its larger, more expensive brother (the Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra), this is the one for you.

FAQ

Q: What's the difference between the Samsung Tab A and Tab S series?

The main difference between the Tab A and Tab S series is processing power. Typically, the Tab S models are the more top-end models and feature faster, more powerful processors. In contrast, the Tab A models are better known for offering a more cost-effective or budget alternative, catering to basic functionality.

Q: Can I use a tablet as a laptop replacement?

The short answer is yes, you can. The longer answer is that it all depends on what you use your laptop for and what operating system its software uses. Tablets can be used as a viable alternative to laptops in many regards, though their comparative lack of power could mean that some tasks cannot be completed as efficiently as with a dedicated laptop.

Generally speaking, tablets are used for more passive activities rather than for anything productivity-based.

Q: Should I buy a Samsung tablet or an iPad?

Naturally, there are pros and cons for either choice. However, an iPad will probably appeal to someone already invested in the Apple ecosystem, as it provides a seamless and user-friendly experience for Apple aficionados.

Samsung tablets, on the other hand, arguably offer greater scope for customization, with a wider range of hardware options to consider. Both are important factors to think about, as are the respective operating systems, performance, design, and compatibility with your existing devices.

Q: How do you know when your tablet needs replacing?

Tablets are generally expected to have less shelf life than a conventional laptop, but that depends on your usage. A lot of people use tablets as secondary devices, and the overall wear and tear will likely not be as significant in that case.

Aside from the obvious (cracked screen, not powering on, etc.) you may notice a considerable slowdown on booting up, experience a fast-draining battery, or see signs of malfunction on the screen itself. If any of these factors are persistent, it's probably time to put your tablet out to pasture and consider replacing it.