Samsung Galaxy Tab A9+ vs Realme Pad 2: The Ultimate Student Tablet Battle (2025)
By The Tech Guru
If you are a student with ₹20,000 to spend on a tablet in 2025, your search has almost certainly narrowed down to two final contenders. This is the biggest rivalry in the budget tablet world.
In one corner, we have the Realme Pad 2, the undisputed "Spec Monster." On paper, it destroys everything else with a massive 120Hz display, huge battery, and super-fast charging.[Realme Pad 2 Review]
In the other corner, we have the Samsung Galaxy Tab A9+, the "Productivity King." It might not have the wildest numbers, but it packs the legendary One UI software and Samsung DeX, promising a laptop-like experience. We’ve already explored its productivity chops in our deep-dive [Samsung Galaxy Tab A9+ Review].
So, which one deserves your hard-earned money? Do you go for the flashy specs or the polished experience? Let’s settle this debate once and for all.
Round 1: Display (120Hz vs. 90Hz)
The screen is the most important part of a tablet. This is where you'll be staring for hours of lectures and Netflix.
Realme Pad 2: This tablet is a visual treat. It boasts a larger 11.5-inch 2K display with a buttery-smooth 120Hz refresh rate. It feels incredibly responsive when scrolling through notes or the UI. The colors are punchy, and the bezels are slim. It supports a billion colors, making it fantastic for media consumption.
Samsung Galaxy Tab A9+: Samsung brings a slightly smaller 11-inch WUXGA display with a 90Hz refresh rate. While 90Hz is smooth, it’s not as fluid as 120Hz. It uses a TFT LCD panel, which is good, but lacks the "pop" and sheer size advantage of the Realme.
Verdict: If you want the most immersive screen for movies and the smoothest scrolling, Realme takes the lead. Winner: Realme Pad 2
Round 2: Software & Productivity (One UI vs. Realme UI)
This is where the battle gets interesting. Hardware is nothing without good software, especially for a student trying to get work done.
Samsung Galaxy Tab A9+: This is Samsung’s superpower. It runs on One UI, which is optimized beautifully for tablets. But the killer feature is Samsung DeX. This mode transforms your tablet interface into a Windows-like desktop with a taskbar and windowed apps. Pair a Bluetooth keyboard, and you have a mini-laptop for typing assignments. The split-screen multitasking is also far superior, letting you run three apps smoothly.
Realme Pad 2: It runs on Realme UI 4.0 for Pad. It’s clean and fast, but it’s essentially just a blown-up phone interface. It supports split-screen (two apps) and floating windows, which is fine for casual use, but it lacks a dedicated desktop mode like DeX. It also comes with some pre-installed bloatware apps, which is annoying.
Verdict: For pure entertainment, Realme is fine. But for productivity—taking notes, writing assignments, and researching—Samsung is in a different league. Winner: Samsung Galaxy Tab A9+
Round 3: Performance & Gaming
You need your tablet to handle Zoom calls, 20 Chrome tabs, and maybe some BGMI or CODM on the side.
Samsung Galaxy Tab A9+: It is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 (5G capable). This is a tried-and-tested, reliable chip. It handles multitasking exceptionally well and doesn't heat up easily. Gaming performance is solid at medium settings.
Realme Pad 2: It uses the MediaTek Helio G99. In raw benchmarks, the Snapdragon 695 and Helio G99 are actually neck-and-neck, trading blows depending on the task. However, the G99 is a 4G-only chip (on the LTE model), whereas the A9+ gives you a 5G option if you buy the cellular version.
Verdict: It’s a tie on raw speed, but Samsung wins if you care about future-proofing with 5G connectivity on the cellular model. Winner: Draw (Samsung wins on 5G)
Round 4: Battery & Charging
Students are always on the go. You don't want to be tethered to a wall socket in the library.
Realme Pad 2: This is a massacre. Realme packs a massive 8360mAh battery and supports 33W SuperVOOC fast charging. You can charge it up quickly between classes, and the battery easily lasts a day and a half of heavy use.
Samsung Galaxy Tab A9+: Samsung falls behind here with a smaller 7040mAh battery and painfully slow 15W charging support. Worse, there is often no charger in the box (depending on the region/offer), meaning you have to buy one separately. Charging this tablet takes hours.
Verdict: Realme destroys Samsung here. Bigger battery, faster charging, and a charger in the box. Winner: Realme Pad 2
Final Verdict: Who Should Buy Which?
This battle proves that "Specs" aren't everything. The winner depends entirely on what kind of student you are.
You should choose the Samsung Galaxy Tab A9+ if:
You are a "Productivity First" student who wants to replace a laptop for typing assignments.
You need Samsung DeX and superior multitasking for research.
You want long-term software support and reliability.
You are already in the Samsung ecosystem (phone/buds).
You should choose the Realme Pad 2 if:
You are a "Media First" student who wants the best screen for Netflix and YouTube.
You want that buttery-smooth 120Hz feel.
You hate slow charging and want a battery that lasts forever.
You want a modern, flashy design with a bigger screen.
The Tech Guru's Take: If I had to write a 2,000-word essay, I’d pick the Samsung. If I wanted to binge-watch an entire season of Stranger Things, I’d pick the Realme.
Quick Comparison Table
| Feature | Realme Pad 2 | Samsung Galaxy Tab A9+ | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Display | 11.5" 2K 120Hz | 11" FHD+ 90Hz | Realme |
| Software | Realme UI for Pad | One UI + DeX | Samsung |
| Processor | Helio G99 (4G) | Snapdragon 695 (5G) | Draw |
| Battery | 8360mAh | 7040mAh | Realme |
| Charging | 33W Fast Charge | 15W Slow Charge | Realme |
| Best For | Media & Gaming | Work & Study | - |
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