How much do Samsung tablets cost in 2016 compared to 2016? 2026

Samsung may be well known for its line of smartphones and TVs, but it also produces a series of tablets. The company has been making what it calls its Samsung Galaxy Tab series for several years. Over time, Samsung tablets have become not only more innovative, but also more expensive. If you bought one in 2016, you probably spent a lot less than you did today, and there are several reasons for that.

In 2016, Samsung offered several tablets for purchase. Each was priced differently to reflect features like screen size, storage, and row. Ten years ago, it wasn’t uncommon to see prices for low-end Samsung tablets approaching $179.99. Mid-range tablets cost between $379.99 and $599.99, with more premium models costing between $699.99 and $999.99. For comparison, in 2026, lower-end Samsung tablets start at $249.99, mid-range ones start at $549.99, and more expensive tablets start at around $1,499.99.

Back then, tablets featured smaller screens, lower resolution screens, less storage, and lower quality cameras. Today, all of this has been upgraded for modern Samsung tablets, making them more efficient, faster and more stylish when used for working, gaming or streaming. To provide a better overview of Samsung’s different tablets, we’ve listed each Samsung Galaxy tablet by price.

Over the past decade, Samsung tablets have fluctuated in size, features, and various aspects that have impacted their overall price. If you wanted a tablet, Samsung developed several such devices, which the company called its Samsung Tab series. The Tab line continued through 2026, with new iterations that expanded on the technology available in 2016.

Samsung tablets in 2016 included the Galaxy Tab 4 7.0 (Wi-Fi), Galaxy Tab 4 8.0 LTE, and Galaxy Tab S 10.5 (Wi-Fi). These varied from low to mid-tier options, but worked differently. All had the ability to connect to Wi-Fi, but many also had LTE cellular service. Tablets with LTE were more expensive then and still exist today, but may not be as expensive, depending on the model. Samsung also makes a few affordable tablets for work and home, like the Tab 9.

The top-of-the-line Galaxy Note Pro 12.2 in 2016 cost around $999.99 for the 64GB option. It has a 12.2-inch screen and a resolution of 2,560 x 1,600. Compared to the current Samsung Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra, you’ll spend around $1,499.99, but you get a 14.6-inch Dynamic AMOLED display, up to 1TB of storage and 2560 x 1600 pixels. You’ll notice price increases when it comes to screen size, resolution, and especially RAM, which is a big part of why Samsung tablets cost a lot more now.

Lower-end Samsung tablets are priced this way due to their smaller screen. This makes them more practical and easier to carry with you to work, school or play. Mid-range Samsung tablets are at their price points due to faster processors and larger screen sizes. More expensive tablets made by Samsung cost a lot, in part because of even larger screens, better resolutions and expanded storage capacities.

However, the price of all three tiers has increased significantly as RAM requirements are higher today, especially to power computers in AI data centers. All Samsung tablets require powerful RAM cards to operate. If you want to enjoy streaming your favorite show, working on the device, or even gaming, reliable RAM is important. As AI data centers invest in more space, they require more RAM, which drives up the price of consumer gadgets such as tablets.

RAM may be back in production, but it’s not going to magically solve the situation facing tablet makers. As data center production continues and more are built and discussed at town meetings, the AMR crisis will continue. If you’re in the market for a new tablet, you can find more affordable ones from Samsung or other manufacturers, but you’ll still spend a lot more than you did in 2016.