Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 review

Trade in Samsung Galaxy Tab S9

(Image credit: Future)

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S9, starting at $799, has made its debut, marking Samsung’s first entry-level Galaxy Tab device equipped with a 120Hz AMOLED display.

This represents a notable advancement from the LED display seen in last year’s Samsung Galaxy Tab S8, bringing the superior AMOLED displays typically reserved for Samsung’s higher-end tablets to the entry-level Galaxy Tab S9.

While the Galaxy Tab S9 continues to share the stage with its pricier counterparts, the Galaxy Tab S9+ and the Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra, it stands out as the first entry-level Samsung tablet to offer an AMOLED screen without requiring an upgrade.

After using the Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 for both work and leisure over a few weeks, I can attest that the AMOLED upgrade significantly enhances day-to-day usage. However, our testing indicates that this upgrade has had a noticeable impact on the tablet’s battery life. Additionally, while the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset powering the device delivers ample speed, it falls short of surpassing Apple’s older, more affordable iPad Air (2022).

Nevertheless, if you’re seeking a top-notch tablet experience, the Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 stands out as one of the premier options in Samsung’s lineup and among Android tablets overall. Here’s why.

SAMSUNG GALAXY TAB S9 REVIEW: SPECS

SAMSUNG GALAXY TAB S9 REVIEW: PRICE AND RELEASE DATE

• $799 to start, less with trade-ins
• Maxed-out model costs $919

(Image credit: Future)

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 is currently available for purchase on Samsung’s website and select third-party retailers, starting at $799. This base model includes an 11-inch AMOLED 120Hz display with a resolution of 1,600 x 2,560 pixels, powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset, 8GB of RAM, and 128GB of storage. Additionally, the tablet comes bundled with an S Pen stylus at no extra charge, offering excellent value.

For users requiring more memory and storage capacity, there’s an option to upgrade to a Galaxy Tab S9 with 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage for an additional cost of approximately $120, bringing the total to $919 for the fully configured model.

It’s worth noting that Samsung often runs promotional pricing at launch, potentially offering discounts or incentives for early buyers. At the time of writing, there are promotions available, reducing the price of the upgraded Galaxy Tab S9 to $799, effectively making the cost of the higher-spec model equivalent to the base configuration.

SAMSUNG GALAXY TAB S9 REVIEW: DESIGN

• Slim, light and comfortable to hold
• Magnetic charging strip for S Pen remains a nice touch

(Image credit: Future)

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 maintains a striking resemblance to its predecessor in both appearance and dimensions. Measuring at 10.01 x 6.53 x 0.23 inches and weighing 1.1 pounds, it retains the same compact size and lightweight build. The tablet also features similar ports, including a USB-C jack located on one short side, with an additional port on the long edge to the left, intended for connecting accessories such as the Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Book Cover Keyboard (priced at $199).

Conveniently positioned along the top half of the right edge, when holding the Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 in a portrait orientation with the USB-C port facing downwards, you’ll find the power button and volume rocker easily accessible for intuitive control.

(Image credit: Future)

On the back of the tablet, there’s a subtle protrusion housing the camera module, slightly raised from the surface. Just beneath it, there’s a vertical magnetic charging strip designed to securely hold the included stylus when it’s not in use.

SAMSUNG GALAXY TAB S9 REVIEW: DISPLAY

• 11-inch WQXGA 120Hz AMOLED display looks great, nice and colorful
• AMOLED is a welcome upgrade over last year’s LED display

The Galaxy Tab S9 features an 11-inch WQXGA (2,560 x 1,600 pixels) display with a 120Hz refresh rate, a notable upgrade from its predecessors. What sets it apart is its adoption of an AMOLED screen, a feature previously reserved for the pricier Galaxy Tab Plus and Ultra models. Samsung’s decision to incorporate AMOLED technology across its entire Galaxy Tab S9 lineup marks a significant shift, making for a visually stunning display experience.

This enhancement likely contributes to the $100 increase in starting price compared to last year’s S8 model, which utilized a less advanced 11-inch WQXGA LED display.

(Image credit: Future)

During my extensive testing and review of the Galaxy Tab S9, I thoroughly enjoyed the experience of watching videos and playing games on the tablet. Although the performance didn’t present a noticeable leap from last year’s S8 model, the visual experience was significantly enhanced, particularly when indulging in movies such as Sorry To Bother You and Wonder Woman 1984. The AMOLED screen of the Galaxy Tab S9 truly shines, delivering vibrant colors and crisp details that elevate the entertainment experience to new heights.

When we subjected the Galaxy Tab S9 to our rigorous testing with the Klein 10-A colorimeter, we were impressed by its remarkably bright and vibrant display. Offering two display modes, Vibrant (the default) and Natural, we conducted tests in both settings, with the results from Vibrant mode showcased in the chart above, as it represents the default setting upon powering on the tablet.

In Vibrant mode, the Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 reached a peak brightness of 592 nits with adaptive brightness enabled, soaring to 749 nits when viewing HDR content. While Vibrant mode tends to impart a slightly oversaturated appearance to the display, our measurements confirmed its wide color gamut, displaying 185.2% of the sRGB color space and 131.2% of the DCI-P3 color space. These values drop to 111.3% sRGB and 78.8% DCI-P3 in Natural mode.

The results reveal that in Vibrant mode, the Tab S9 surpasses both Apple’s iPad Air 2022 and the larger, more expensive OLED-equipped Lenovo Tab Extreme in terms of brightness and color vibrancy. It even outshines Apple’s top-tier 12.9-inch iPad Pro 2022 in brightness, although the latter achieves greater brightness levels (1,577 nits) when viewing HDR content.

In essence, the AMOLED display on the Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 represents a significant improvement and a compelling reason to consider upgrading from the previous model.

SAMSUNG GALAXY TAB S9 REVIEW: PERFORMANCE

• Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 makes Android 13 feel plenty snappy
• Still can’t outpace the competition, including older, cheaper iPad Airs

(Image credit: Future)

Our Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 review unit boasts Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset paired with 8GB of RAM, which proved to be more than capable during my hands-on testing.

Throughout my review period, I encountered no issues with the tablet’s performance as it felt consistently responsive. Switching between applications, editing media, and playing demanding games such as Genshin Impact and Sid Meier’s Civilization VI were all smooth and seamless experiences. While there were occasional waits for complex games to load, once in-game, performance remained solid without any noticeable hiccups.

Our comprehensive performance testing corroborates my observations, revealing that the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 delivers incremental yet meaningful performance gains compared to the Gen 1 version found in last year’s Galaxy Tab S8.

However, as illustrated in the chart below, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 still falls short when compared to the more robust chips found in tablets from Apple and Lenovo. Despite the fact that last year’s iPad Air utilizes Apple’s older M1 chip, it still outperformed this year’s Galaxy Tab S9 in raw CPU performance tests.

Benchmark results

Similarly, the MediaTek Dimensity 9000 chipset driving the larger and pricier Lenovo Tab Extreme outperforms our $799 entry-level Samsung Galaxy Tab S9. While this outcome is somewhat expected given the higher price point of the $1,099 Lenovo OLED tablet, it’s still noteworthy. However, what’s more glaring is how last year’s iPad Air effortlessly outpaces the Galaxy Tab S9 despite being a year older and priced up to $200 cheaper.

Nevertheless, these disparities in performance among the tablets are relatively minor, and I believe users will still find the Samsung Galaxy Tab S9’s performance satisfactory. It remains an excellent Android tablet suitable for gaming and multimedia consumption.

SAMSUNG GALAXY TAB S9 REVIEW: AUDIO

• Surprisingly loud and full sound quality
• Almost no bass to speak of

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S9’s four built-in speakers may not deliver significant bass, but they offer a surprisingly loud and immersive audio experience.

Enabled with Dolby Atmos (though you’ll need to activate it in the Settings menu under Sounds and vibration > Sound quality and effects submenu), the tablet provides enhanced audio quality for media consumption and gaming. I found it enjoyable to have Dolby Atmos enabled while watching movies or playing games, as it adds depth to the audio experience.

(Image credit: Future)

While the Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 may not be suitable for DJing at parties, I found listening to a playlist featuring artists like Kamaiyah, Massive Attack, and Open Mike Eagle through its speakers to be quite enjoyable. While the bass response is minimal, I was pleasantly surprised by the overall sound quality of the S9, which remains consistent even at higher volume levels.

SAMSUNG GALAXY TAB S9 REVIEW: SOFTWARE

• Comes with Android 13, which works well
• Extra Samsung software great if you’re into Samsung, otherwise it’s bloatware

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 comes pre-installed with Android 13, and while I’m not the most enthusiastic user of Android, I find this version to be solid and well-suited for tablets.

Additionally, Samsung has included some of its own software on top of Android, such as Samsung Notes, Samsung Cloud, and Samsung Flow. These applications can be beneficial if you already own other Galaxy devices and frequently utilize Samsung’s ecosystem, as they streamline the process of sharing data across your devices. However, if the Galaxy Tab S9 is your sole Samsung device, you may not find much utility in most of these additional Samsung apps.

SAMSUNG GALAXY TAB S9 REVIEW: ACCESSORIES

• S Pen stylus works well with Tab S9
• Having it included at no charge is a great value add

Samsung does not include any accessories with the Galaxy Tab S9 apart from an S Pen stylus. However, this inclusion alone adds significant value to the tablet, transforming it from an entry-level device into a more versatile tool for tasks such as note-taking, sketching, and artistic creation.

(Image credit: Future)

The S Pen functions seamlessly with the tablet, consistently registering my input without any issues. I appreciate its design, which allows it to magnetically attach to the back of the tablet for charging, or to the side for convenient storage when not in use.

SAMSUNG GALAXY TAB S9 REVIEW: CAMERAS

• 12MP UW front/13MP rear cameras work well
• Loss of ultrawide lens on rear camera sucks but isn’t a huge deal

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 is equipped with a pair of cameras: a 12MP ultrawide lens on the front and a 13MP camera on the rear. Interestingly, this represents a downgrade from the previous model, the Galaxy Tab S8, which featured a 12MP ultrawide front-facing camera and dual rear cameras consisting of a 13MP auto-focus lens and a 6MP ultrawide lens.

Despite the removal of the ultrawide lens from the rear camera setup, I found that I didn’t miss it much in my day-to-day usage. Personally, I’m not inclined to use a tablet for photography, so the absence of the rear ultrawide lens didn’t impact my experience significantly. However, the photos and selfies captured with the Galaxy Tab S9 appeared sharp and vibrant, and I found no issues with the camera performance or the accompanying photo-editing software.

SAMSUNG GALAXY TAB S9 REVIEW: BATTERY LIFE AND CHARGING

• 9+ hours of battery life is good but not great
• Lasts 3 hours less than predecessor, likely in part due to AMOLED upgrade

Samsung claims that the Galaxy Tab S9 can deliver up to 15 hours of battery life on a full charge. However, in our battery test, where the tablet is continuously surfing the web over Wi-Fi with the screen brightness set to 150 nits, the Tab S9 lasted just under 9 hours before running out of power. This falls considerably short of Samsung’s claimed battery life and suggests that real-world usage may result in shorter battery endurance than advertised.

Even after disabling the adaptive refresh rate and locking the Galaxy Tab S9 at 60Hz to conserve battery, it still barely managed to last around 9 hours and 14 minutes in our battery test before running out of power. While this battery life is acceptable, it falls short of the performance of its predecessor, which lasted over 3 hours longer in the same test. This decline in battery life could be attributed to the more power-hungry nature of the AMOLED display compared to the LED screen on last year’s model.

Despite the decrease in battery life, many users may find the enhanced color, contrast, and brightness offered by the Samsung Galaxy Tab S9’s AMOLED screen to be worth it. However, it’s important to be aware that you shouldn’t expect the same exceptional battery life that was a highlight of the Galaxy Tab S8.

SAMSUNG GALAXY TAB S9 REVIEW: VERDICT

It’s undeniable that the Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 has raised the bar for Android tablets, particularly with its upgraded display. The transition to AMOLED technology enhances the visual experience significantly, making tasks on the tablet more vibrant and immersive compared to its predecessor.

However, the increased price tag of the Galaxy Tab S9 may give some potential buyers pause, especially considering its comparable performance and battery life to the previous model. For those seeking a more budget-friendly option with similar capabilities, the Galaxy Tab S8 remains a strong contender, offering slightly lower display quality but at a more affordable price point.

Alternatively, users may also consider the 2022 iPad Air as a viable alternative, especially if they are open to using iPadOS. The iPad Air delivers superior performance, camera quality, and access to the extensive Apple App Store, making it a compelling choice for those prioritizing these features over the Android ecosystem.

Source: Tom’s Guide