The Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 series has landed! And that means a whole load of new all-in-one tablets for us to try out.
Whether you want one for binging your favourite shows, or need something that’ll whizz through tasks at work, there’s three for you to pick from. Here’s how the Tab S9, S9+ and S9 Ultra stack up…
How much does the Galaxy Tab S9 cost?
That depends on which one you go for. The S9 is the cheapest of the bunch. While the S9 Ultra costs the most, but comes with a bunch of extra bells and whistles. And if you want something that sits slap bang in the middle of the two, then you’ve got the S9+. Sorted.
What to expect from the Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 series
The S9 range combines speedy performance with a big screen. Making everything you work on, watch, or play run smoothly and look epic.
But is there actually much difference between the three tablets? Even though they do share a lot of features – like the processor, graphics card, connectivity etc – you’ll get more bang for your buck the more you spend. As you move up the range, you’ll get more storage, more RAM, and a bigger screen. It all really comes down to how large and powerful you want yours to be.
Samsung Galaxy Tab S9, S9+ and S9 Ultra specs
Let’s dig into the nitty gritty and have a look at the specs…
The Galaxy Tab S9
Heading off on a long flight? Or maybe you just want to level up your morning commute? Then the S9 is the perfect travel buddy. Built around an 11” AMOLED display, this small screen fits easily in your bag. And because it weighs barely anything, you’ll hardly even know it’s there.
And while that screen is the smallest in the series, it still packs a proper punch. Watching a movie. Playing games. Streaming the big match. All the fun stuff looks incredible, with plenty of detail, bright colours, and a smooth picture. Even when the action starts heating up. That’ll help make your journey go a bit quicker then!
Specifications:
Graphics card: Qualcomm Adreno 740
RAM: 8 GB
Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (Octa-core, 3.36 GHz)*
Storage: 128 GB or 256 GB
Screen: 11” Super AMOLED (touchscreen, 120 Hz refresh rate, 2560 x 1600p resolution)
Connectivity: Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3, USB Type-C, MicroSD card, Miracast
Camera: Rear facing 13 MP camera, front facing 12 MP camera
Sound: AKG Tuned Quad Speakers with Dolby Atmos
Weight: 498 g
Size: 253.8 x 165.3 x 5.9 mm (H x W x D)
OS: Android 13
Battery: Lithium ion
Extra features: S pen, IP68 water resistant, fingerprint scanner, kid safety feature, touchscreen keyboard
The Galaxy Tab S9+
Having that extra bit of space on the S9+ is super useful for getting creative. And you won’t need to lug any paper around either. With the included S Pen, you can doodle, design, and write straight onto the screen. So, if you do a lot of graphic design, or love writing short stories, you’ll be able to scribble away, all without a notebook. And when you’re done, just slot the S Pen magnetically onto the back of the tablet. Then there’s no chance of you losing it!
Samsung have made sure the S9+ (and the rest of the range) are nice and hardy too. All of them are IP68 water resistant, so they’re protected in up to 1.5 meters of freshwater for around 30 minutes. Perfect for when you’re sketching outside and accidentally drop it in the kids’ paddling pool.**
Specifications:
Graphics card: Qualcomm Adreno 740
RAM: 12 GB LPDDR5
Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (Octa-core, 3.36 GHz)
Storage: 256 GB or 512 GB
Screen: 12.4” Super AMOLED (touchscreen, 120 Hz refresh rate, Quad HD 2800 x 1752p resolution)
Connectivity: Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3, USB Type-C, MicroSD card, Miracast
Camera: Rear facing 13 MP + 8 MP camera, front facing 12 MP camera
Sound: AKG Tuned Quad Speakers with Dolby Atmos
Weight: 581 g
Size: 185 x 285 x 5.7 mm (H x W x D)
OS: Android 13
Battery: Lithium ion
Extra features: S pen, IP68 water resistant, fingerprint scanner, kid safety feature, touchscreen keyboard
The Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra
The S9 Ultra is the big brother of the range. And because everything about it is bigger, it’s an absolute machine when you’re in the office.
With it’s mega 14.6” high resolution screen and a massive 1 TB of storage, you’ll be able to easily work on and store all your important docs – with plenty of room left over. It’s all powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon® 8 Gen 2 processor too, so you can work across three apps at once using the multi-window function. Completely without lag. Any data hungry tasks and demanding programmes really won’t be a problem here.
And you won’t have to plug it in any time soon either. It’s got the chunkiest battery – clocking in at a huge 11,200mAh – giving you plenty of power to last the day. So, you can probably just leave the charger at home this time round.
Plus, because it’s a fully-fledged member of the Samsung Galaxy ecosystem, it’ll work with other gadgets. Meaning you can get even more productive by using it as a second screen with your laptop. How’s that for multitasking?
Specifications:
Graphics card: Qualcomm Adreno 740
RAM: 12 GB LPDDR5
Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (Octa-core, 3.36 GHz)
Storage: 256 GB, 512 GB or 1 TB
Screen: 14.6” Super AMOLED (touchscreen, 120 Hz refresh rate, 2960 x 1846p resolution)
Connectivity: Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3, USB Type-C, MicroSD card, Miracast
Camera: Rear facing 13 MP + 8 MP camera, front facing 12 MP + 12 MP camera
Sound: AKG Tuned Quad Speakers with Dolby Atmos
Weight: 732 g
Size: 326 x 208 x 5.5 mm (H x W x D)
OS: Android 13
Battery: Lithium ion
Extra features: S pen, IP68 water resistant, fingerprint scanner, kid safety feature, touchscreen keyboard
FAQs
Which Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 model is best for you?
It really boils down to a few questions:
How much storage do you need?
How big a screen do you want?
What are you going to use it for?
Where will you be using it the most?
If you like to travel – and want something you can easily sling in your backpack – then the S9 is your best bet. But if you need a tablet that’ll put your work laptop to shame, the extra power, storage, and screen size of the Ultra is the tablet for the job. And if you need something in between, and just want to fire up some films and games every now and then, then there’s the S9+.
What’s the difference between the Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 vs Tab S9?
Here are a few of the biggest upgrades worth checking out:
Design – the newer S9 is thinner and lighter than the S8. You’ll barely even know it’s there when you pop it in your bag after work.
Durability – with an IP68 rating – which was missing on the S8 – the S9 series has better protection against water and dust. So, if you accidentally knock your drink over it (we’ve all been there, don’t’ worry) you won’t have to panic.
Screen – an improved AMOLED panel (swapped in to replace the S8’s LCD one) looks even more vivid, making your favourite shows and big blockbusters really pop. And it’ll even help you squeeze a bit more juice out of the battery between each charge.
Processor – the S9 is fitted with a hefty new processor – the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2. And that’s going to give you even more oomph while you swap between apps to finish that work presentation. Or try to beat your high score on the way home.
Want to get your hands on a shiny new tablet, but still have some questions? Then check out our tablet buying guide. Or, if you’d prefer to speak to an actual human, head over to ShopLive. You’ll be able to chat with one of our experienced in-store colleagues – and find the right tablet for you.
*Snapdragon is a product of Qualcomm Technologies Inc. and/or its subsidiaries. Snapdragon is a trademark or registered trademark of Qualcomm Incorporated. 3. Available on Galaxy devices with One UI 2.1 or later versions installed.
**IP68 rating is based on lab test conditions for submersion in up to 1.5 meters of freshwater for up to 30 minutes. Not advised for beach or pool use.
