Galaxy Tab A11+ vs iPad (UK): Which Budget Tablet Should You Buy?

There is no such thing as a Samsung iPad. When people search for a “Samsung iPad” they nearly always mean a Samsung Galaxy Tab, and the closest Samsung match for Apple's entry-level iPad in our range is the 11-inch Galaxy Tab A11+. On price it is a clear win: the Tab A11+ Wi-Fi 128GB is from £171.99 (checked 5 October 2026), while a refurbished iPad (A16) 128GB starts at £314.00 in Very Good grade.

The Tab A11+ suits Android phone owners, families who mostly stream and browse, and anyone who wants a memory card slot and a headphone jack without paying iPad money. Choose an iPad instead if you live in the iPhone world or want to write with Apple Pencil. The biggest catch on the Samsung side is that it doesn't support the S Pen, and ours are Open Box (Activated), international stock, so The Tech Gadgets' 12-month warranty is your cover rather than Samsung UK's.

Quick decision: Galaxy Tab A11+ or iPad?

• Best for: Android phone owners, films and YouTube on a widescreen 11-inch display, families who want cheap extra storage through microSD, and buyers who want security updates into the 2030s for under £200.
• Choose something else when: you use an iPhone with iMessage, AirDrop and iCloud Photos every day; you want to handwrite or draw with an active stylus; or video calls matter more than films, because both iPads have a sharper 12MP front camera.
• Check before buying: the condition wording (Open Box (Activated) for the Galaxy Tab, graded refurbished for the iPads), that your must-have apps exist on Android or iPadOS, and whether you need Wi-Fi only or mobile data.

Galaxy Tab A11+ vs iPad (A16) vs iPad 9th generation: the buying facts

These are the manufacturers' published specifications for each model when new, from Samsung UK and Apple.

This second table shows what The Tech Gadgets sells, with the cheapest price in each storage size.

You can see all three alongside the other tablets in stock.

Is there a Samsung iPad, or is it a Galaxy Tab?

No, Samsung doesn't make an iPad. “iPad” is Apple's product name, and only Apple makes iPads. Samsung's tablets are called Galaxy Tab and run Android with Samsung's One UI, rather than Apple's iPadOS. If you searched for a “Samsung iPad”, you are really looking for an iPad-style tablet from Samsung, which at this budget means the Galaxy Tab A11+ or the smaller Tab A11.

For many people “iPad” has simply become the everyday word for a tablet. Samsung's budget range comes in two sizes: the 8.7-inch Tab A11 and the 11-inch Tab A11+, which adds a faster chip, 6GB of RAM and four speakers. Our Tab A11 vs A11+ comparison covers that choice; for an iPad-sized experience, compare the A11+.

What does a “Samsung iPad” cost in the UK?

The Galaxy Tab A11+ Wi-Fi 128GB is from £171.99 and the 256GB Wi-Fi model from £253.99 (checked 5 October 2026). The smaller 8.7-inch Galaxy Tab A11 starts at £137.00 for 64GB Wi-Fi. All are Open Box (Activated), international stock, and all qualify for free standard delivery. The cheapest iPad we sell that runs iPadOS 27 is the iPad 9th generation at £164.00 (64GB, Very Good).

Should you buy an iPad or an Android tablet if you already own a phone?

Match the tablet to your phone. If you use an iPhone, an iPad shares your iMessage conversations, iCloud Photos, AirDrop and App Store purchases, so it slots straight in. If you use an Android phone, the Galaxy Tab A11+ signs in with the same Google account, restores your Play Store apps and photos, and with a Galaxy phone can relay calls and texts through it.

That last feature is Samsung's “Call and text on other devices”: the tablet uses your signed-in Galaxy phone, so the phone does the actual calling. Google's own apps (Gmail, YouTube, Drive, Photos) run on both platforms, so a mixed household isn't locked out either way. What doesn't transfer is paid apps: anything bought on the App Store has to be bought again on Google Play, and vice versa.

For a shared family tablet, think about who uses it most: children with iPhones fit better with an iPad, while a mostly Android home gets Samsung Kids and separate user accounts on the Tab A11+.

Which has the better screen and sound for streaming?

On paper the iPad (A16) has the sharper screen: 2360 x 1640 pixels at 264ppi with a quoted 500 nits. The Galaxy Tab A11+ counters with a 90Hz refresh rate for smoother scrolling, a widescreen 16:10 shape that suits films, four Dolby Atmos speakers and a 3.5mm headphone jack that the iPad (A16) doesn't have.

Shape matters too. Widescreen films fill more of the 16:10 Samsung screen, while the squarer iPad screens suit reading and documents but leave more empty space around a film.

Sound is the Samsung's strongest area: four speakers against two on each iPad, plus the headphone jack. For a child watching cartoons in the car with cheap wired headphones, that jack saves buying an adapter or Bluetooth headphones. The iPad 9th generation also keeps a 3.5mm jack; the iPad (A16) does not. If you mostly read and browse, the iPad's pixel density gives crisper text. If you mostly watch, the Tab A11+ makes more sense for the money.

How much storage do you need, and does microSD matter?

For streaming, browsing and a few games, 128GB is enough. The Galaxy Tab A11+ adds a microSD slot for up to 2TB of photos, video and music, though not apps. Neither iPad has a card slot, so the storage you pay for is all you get, and the iPad 9th generation's 64GB can fill quickly with offline downloads and games.

Samsung UK lists about 105GB as available on the 128GB Tab A11+ once the system is installed. Download a series for a long flight, move it to a card, and internal storage stays free for apps and updates. On an iPad you buy more storage up front or pay Apple for iCloud space. The 256GB iPad 9th generation at £204.00 (Very Good) solves the space problem and is £32.01 more than the 128GB Tab A11+ (£204.00 − £171.99).

How long will the Galaxy Tab A11+ and each iPad get updates?

Samsung UK lists the Galaxy Tab A11+ security update period as valid until 30 November 2032, with patches arriving quarterly. Apple doesn't publish end dates, but both the iPad (A16) and the iPad 9th generation are on Apple's compatibility list for iPadOS 27, the current version. The 2021 iPad 9th generation is the older of the two, so expect it to drop off first.

Samsung's newsrooms in France, Malaysia and Australia also promise “up to seven generations” of software upgrades for the A11 range, but the Samsung UK security date is the one to plan around. Apple's pattern is to drop the oldest models when a new iPadOS arrives: Apple's list of iPad models compatible with iPadOS 27 includes the iPad 9th generation and iPad (A16), but not the iPad 8th generation, which iPadOS 26 supported. Don't assume the 9th generation has as long a runway as the A16.

Can you use a pen or keyboard with the Galaxy Tab A11+ or an iPad?

The Galaxy Tab A11+ doesn't support Samsung's S Pen. It works with basic capacitive styluses and any Bluetooth keyboard, and adds Samsung DeX, a desktop-style mode with windows and a taskbar. The iPad (A16) works with Apple Pencil (USB-C), or Apple Pencil (1st generation) with an adapter; the iPad 9th generation uses Apple Pencil (1st generation). Pens and keyboards are sold separately.

A basic stylus on the Tab A11+ works like a precise fingertip: fine for ticking boxes, simple sketches and children's drawing apps, and Samsung Notes accepts handwriting and can solve maths you write out. Don't expect pressure-sensitive shading or reliable palm rejection. For students who handwrite lecture notes, or anyone who draws seriously, the iPad is the better tool. Apple sells a Magic Keyboard Folio made for the iPad (A16), and the iPad 9th generation has a Smart Connector for compatible keyboard cases. On the Samsung, DeX with a Bluetooth keyboard and mouse handles emails and documents, though without DeX's dual-screen extended mode.

Performance, cameras and battery: where the differences show

The Galaxy Tab A11+ pairs an octa-core MediaTek chip with 6GB of RAM, and Samsung says it delivers 18% higher processor performance than the Tab A9+ it replaces. That covers streaming, video calls, split-screen apps and mainstream games. Apple's A16 is faster on paper, which shows in heavier games and creative apps rather than in email.

Cameras are where the iPads pull ahead. Both have a 12MP front camera with Centre Stage, which keeps you in frame as you move during video calls; the Tab A11+ has 5MP. Battery claims aren't directly comparable because Samsung and Apple test differently: Samsung quotes up to 15 hours of video, Apple up to 10 hours of web browsing or video. Our refurbished iPads have at least 85% battery health at dispatch, so expect a little less than new. None of these tablets comes with a plug from us, so use a charger you already own; the A11+ charges at up to 25W over USB-C.

Galaxy Tab A11+ vs iPad: price maths and value

All prices were checked on 5 October 2026, and each line compares named variants.

Against the current-design iPad (A16), the Tab A11+ saves around £140 to £145 at each storage size. Against the older iPad 9th generation the prices are close, so ecosystem, storage and update runway decide it. If you need mobile data away from Wi-Fi, the A11+ 5G takes a nano-SIM for data; our guide to Samsung tablets with a SIM card slot explains how that works on UK networks.

If you're looking for the best Android tablet to stand in for an iPad without spending iPad money, or simply the best Samsung tablet under £200, the Tab A11+ is the one we would point most Android users towards. Spend more only if you need S Pen support, which sits in Samsung's pricier Galaxy Tab S range. Our full Galaxy Tab A11+ guide covers the model in more depth.

• Choose the Galaxy Tab A11+ when you use an Android phone, mostly stream and browse, want a headphone jack and microSD, and want the lowest price for an 11-inch screen.
• Choose the iPad (A16) instead when you use an iPhone, want Apple Pencil (USB-C), make a lot of video calls, or prefer graded refurbished UK stock.
• Choose the iPad 9th generation when you want the cheapest way into iPadOS, like a Home button with Touch ID, and can live with Lightning and 64GB, or can stretch to £204.00 for 256GB.

Open Box (Activated) vs graded refurbished: what condition are you buying?

The Galaxy Tab A11+ is Open Box (Activated): the box has been opened and the tablet set up and activated once, then factory reset, checked and signed out of all accounts. It isn't sold as sealed new. The iPads are refurbished UK stock: previously used, then tested and graded Like New, Excellent or Very Good by cosmetic condition, with at least 85% battery health at dispatch.

The Galaxy Tab A11+ 11-inch Wi-Fi 128GB in Silver arrives in its Samsung box with a USB-C cable, an ejector tool and a quick start guide, after its screen, cameras, speakers, charging and connectivity have been tested. Our guide to what Open Box (Activated) means in practice goes through it step by step.

As international stock, made for sale in the UAE or Europe rather than supplied by Samsung UK, the box printing may be in another language and Samsung UK may not carry out manufacturer warranty repairs. Samsung UK's warranty page says that since 1 February 2026, tablets placed on the market outside the UK and brought in by third parties get at most one year of Samsung warranty, and non-European units aren't covered by its European policy. That is why the 12-month warranty from The Tech Gadgets is your cover. The Wi-Fi A11+ carries the model code SM-X230 in every Samsung market we checked.

For the iPads, our refurbished iPad buying guide explains the range, and the grades are defined on our page about how we test and grade refurbished devices: Like New shows little or no sign of use, Excellent may have light marks, and Very Good may have visible marks that don't affect use. The refurbished iPad (A16) Wi-Fi listing also shows a Brand New option at £418.99; this guide compares the refurbished grades.

Every tablet here comes with a 12-month warranty from The Tech Gadgets, starting on delivery, covering faults that develop in normal use (not accidental or liquid damage). The warranty policy lists battery defects and reduced capacity as exclusions, but your Consumer Rights Act 30-day right to reject still applies to a faulty battery. You also get change-of-mind returns within 30 days if unused and complete (you pay return postage), plus your 14-day right to cancel; see the returns and warranty policy. Orders placed by 3pm Monday to Friday are dispatched the same day from Manchester, and standard delivery is free on orders of £50 or more, which covers every tablet here.

What to check when your tablet arrives

• Galaxy Tab A11+: it should start at the welcome screen with no request for a previous Google or Samsung account. Once set up, check the model code under Settings, About tablet, run Software update, and test the speakers, headphone jack and charging.
• Any iPad: it should start at the Hello screen with no Activation Lock request. Check the model under Settings, General, About, and compare any marks with the grade you ordered.
• Both: look over the screen on plain white and black backgrounds, and contact the team within 30 days if anything isn't right.

Galaxy Tab A11+ vs iPad: buyer FAQ

Is the Galaxy Tab A11+ a good iPad alternative for a child?

For most families, yes, especially if the parents use Android. Samsung Kids is built in, with a PIN lock, a daily playtime limit, a bedtime and approved app lists, and each child can have their own user profile. The 3.5mm jack suits cheap wired headphones, and microSD gives room for downloaded shows. Keep Gemini for older users, as it has age limits. If the child already has an iPhone, an iPad links more neatly with it.

Will my iPhone work with a Galaxy Tab A11+?

Partly. You can share your iPhone's hotspot with the tablet, and Google apps such as Gmail, YouTube, Drive and Photos work on both. What you lose is the Apple glue: iMessage, FaceTime, AirDrop, iCloud Photos syncing and Handoff are Apple-only, and App Store purchases don't carry over to Google Play. If those are part of your day, buying an iPad is the simpler choice.

Does the Galaxy Tab A11+ have a SIM card slot?

The Wi-Fi model doesn't. The Galaxy Tab A11+ 5G 128GB, from £219.00 (checked 5 October 2026), takes a nano-SIM for mobile data, and Samsung's band list for that model includes UK bands such as 4G band 20 and 5G n78. Treat it as a data device: we don't advertise it for ordinary voice calls.

Why is the Galaxy Tab A11+ so much cheaper than a refurbished iPad (A16)?

Partly hardware: the iPad (A16) has a faster chip, a sharper screen, better cameras and Apple Pencil support. Partly source: our A11+ is Open Box (Activated), international stock, while the iPad is graded refurbished UK stock. At 128GB the gap is £142.01 (£314.00 − £171.99), which is what those extras cost.

Does the Galaxy Tab A11+ come with a charger?

No. Samsung UK states that the travel adapter isn't included with the Tab A11+. The box has a USB-C cable, an ejector tool for the SIM and microSD tray, and a quick start guide. Any USB-C charger you already own will work; one rated at 25W or more lets it charge at full speed. Our refurbished iPads also come without a power adapter.

Is the iPad 9th generation still worth buying in 2026?

It can be, if you want iPadOS for the least money. It supports iPadOS 27 and has a Home button with Touch ID, a 3.5mm jack and Apple Pencil (1st generation) support. The drawbacks are Lightning rather than USB-C, the 2021 design, and 64GB at the £164.00 entry price. Being older, it is likely to lose iPadOS updates before the iPad (A16).

Is the Galaxy Tab A11+ water resistant?

Samsung Australia lists an IP52 rating for the A11+, but Samsung UK's specification page doesn't. IP52 describes limited protection against dust and dripping water when a tablet is new, not resistance to spills or a dunk in the bath, so don't rely on it with an Open Box unit. Liquid damage isn't covered by the warranty, so a case is a sensible buy for family use.

Can I return it if I decide I prefer the other platform?

Within 14 days of delivery you can cancel an online order without giving a reason, even after opening the box, though a deduction may apply if the tablet has been handled more than needed to inspect it. Change-of-mind returns run to 30 days if the tablet is unused and complete, and you pay return postage. So settle on Android or iPadOS before you sign in and fill it with apps.

Verdict: which budget tablet should you buy?

If you were searching for a Samsung iPad, the Galaxy Tab A11+ is the tablet you were looking for, and for most Android households it is the better buy at this budget. From £171.99 you get an 11-inch 90Hz screen, four speakers with a headphone jack, microSD storage and Samsung UK security updates to 30 November 2032, for £142.01 less than a refurbished iPad (A16) 128GB.

Buying an iPad still makes sense for the right person. Choose the iPad (A16) from £314.00 if you use an iPhone, want Apple Pencil (USB-C) or care about video-call quality. Choose the iPad 9th generation from £164.00 if you want iPadOS for the lowest price and accept an older design.

Who should not buy the Galaxy Tab A11+: iPhone users who rely on iMessage and AirDrop, students who need an active pen for handwritten notes or drawing, and anyone who specifically wants a sealed new tablet with Samsung UK's own manufacturer warranty. Everyone else can browse every Galaxy Tab listing to pick a size, storage and connectivity.