Design and Build
The Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra follows in the footsteps of its predecessor, the Tab S8 Ultra, boasting a sleek and slim design with a stunning 14.6-inch OLED display. Despite its substantial size, the tablet maintains a relatively lightweight profile, weighing just 1.6 pounds. However, handling a tablet of this size with one hand can be a challenge, making it a two-handed device. One notable upgrade in design is its IP68 waterproof rating, offering better dust and moisture resistance, making it a great choice for outdoor use.
Display
The centerpiece of the Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra is undoubtedly its massive 14.6-inch OLED display with a resolution of 2,960 x 1,848 pixels. The display offers vibrant and vivid visuals, perfect for a wide range of content consumption, including movies, games, and browsing. The addition of a 120Hz refresh rate ensures smooth video playback and overall user experience. The tablet provides two color modes, Natural and Vivid, allowing users to choose between realistic or more saturated colors based on personal preferences.
Performance
Powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor and equipped with 12GB of RAM, the Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra delivers fast and responsive performance. Multitasking is a breeze, and even demanding applications run smoothly. During our testing, the tablet exhibited excellent performance, especially when it came to running graphics-intensive games, such as Genshin Impact. Its benchmark scores highlight its robust processing capabilities. However, it’s important to note that it falls short of the iPad Pro in terms of CPU and GPU performance.
(Image credit: samsung)
Audio
The tablet comes with speakers that are 20% larger than its predecessor, which results in louder sound and more bass. While these speakers are excellent for dialogue-focused content, they may not be the best choice for music enthusiasts. At maximum volume, music playback can sound garbled and tinny, which might disappoint those looking for high-quality audio.
Software
The Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra runs on Android 13, which offers a snappier and more responsive user interface compared to its predecessor. Samsung includes its suite of apps, which can be useful for those already entrenched in the Samsung ecosystem. However, if you predominantly use Google apps, you might find the pre-installed Samsung apps to be redundant. One noteworthy software feature is DeX mode, which aims to provide a laptop-like experience. While it does improve productivity, it still lacks the full functionality of a traditional desktop operating system.
Accessories
The tablet comes with an included S Pen stylus, offering improvements in tactile feedback for note-taking and drawing. However, the optional Book Cover Keyboard accessory, priced at $349, doesn’t live up to expectations. The keyboard is flimsy compared to competitors like the Apple Magic Keyboard, and it makes propping the tablet up a bit challenging due to its thin kickstand and large size.
(Image credit: samsung)
Cameras
The Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra boasts a set of cameras, including a pair of 12MP UW front-facing cameras and 13MP and 6MP UW rear cameras. While tablets aren’t typically used as primary cameras, the Tab S9 Ultra offers sharp and vibrant images with its cameras, making it a suitable choice for casual photography and video calls.
Battery Life and Charging
The tablet offers decent battery life, with our test yielding approximately 9 hours and 27 minutes at a 60Hz refresh rate. While the battery life is acceptable, it falls slightly short of its predecessor. Charging speeds are also relatively slow, with the tablet reaching only 14% in 15 minutes and 28% in 30 minutes using the included 45W charger.
Verdict
The Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra is a powerful and versatile Android tablet, with its stunning display and robust performance. However, it is more of an incremental upgrade from its predecessor, making it a less compelling option for Tab S8 Ultra owners. It shines as an alternative to the Samsung Galaxy Book 3 Ultra, offering a laptop-like experience, especially when paired with the Book Cover Keyboard. Still, it falls short of replicating the full functionality of a traditional laptop. For artists or those seeking a large tablet for media consumption, the Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra is worth considering.
If the Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra doesn’t quite fit your needs, alternatives like the 12.9-inch iPad Pro or Microsoft Surface Pro 9 are worth exploring, depending on your ecosystem preferences. For those looking for a laptop, the 13-inch MacBook Air M2 and the Acer Swift X are strong contenders in terms of performance and value. Ultimately, the Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra stands out but comes with some trade-offs, making it essential to evaluate your specific needs and priorities when considering this tablet.
