Samsung Galaxy Tab S9: Everything we want to see

Instead of alternating between its “Fan Edition” and S tablets, because it did in 2021 and 2022, Samsung allegedly has determined to launch each the Galaxy Tab S9 collection and Galaxy Tab S8 FE this summer season. Several rumors have already emerged surrounding the pill: SamMobile (opens in new tab) reviews the Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 could have IP67 mud and water resistance — a primary for the lineup exterior of the Active collection. And Galaxy Club (opens in new tab) claims that Samsung will as soon as once more launch three tablets (and three 5G variants), bringing again the 14.6-inch Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra.Whereas the Galaxy Tab S8 FE will goal extra frugal consumers, the Galaxy Tab S9 collection ought to have the cutting-edge efficiency and beautiful shows we have come to anticipate from the lineup. And with One UI 5 persevering with to enhance multitasking software program and extra Android apps getting higher pill optimization, we’re fairly proud of our present Tab S8s. So we’re not demanding that Samsung reinvent the wheel right here.Having reviewed the Galaxy Tab S8+ and consulted my colleague Andrew Myrick, who reviewed the Ultra, listed below are our concepts (each affordable and outlandish) for the latest Tab S9 era. Let the IP67 and 5G leaks be true(Image credit score: Android Central / Andrew Myrick)Waterproofing is extraordinarily uncommon for tablets, exterior of “rugged” choices that normally haven’t got one of the best specs in different areas like efficiency. If Samsung actually does add IP67 water resistance — SamMobile notes in its report that “it’s also not uncommon for preliminary device plans to change” — we might be completely thrilled. Both as a result of it might defend an costly funding from accidents and since different pill makers like Apple may comply with go well with. The different leak about six Tab S9 fashions additionally excites us. Last era, solely the Galaxy Tab S8+ had a 5G mobile possibility, which felt a bit arbitrary. The Galaxy Tab S9 is greatest designed for portability and is extra doubtless for use in public areas, whereas the Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra will goal productiveness consumers who may want 5G for work journey. Cellular connectivity on tablets is a distinct segment function not many individuals will purchase. Still, those who do will recognize not getting pigeonholed into one pill dimension (even when the Tab S8+ is our favourite Android pill).An S Pen Pro…or an S Pen slot?(Image credit score: Michael Hicks / Android Central)First, let’s focus on the extra affordable possibility. The Galaxy Tab S collection comes along with your run-of-the-mill S Pen, which is not a foul factor: latency on the Tab S8+ and Ultra is an absurdly low 2.8ms now, so clean and instantaneous that drawing on it feels completely pure. Plus, the pen design makes it fairly comfy to carry. The solely draw back is that the pen nub is not particularly sturdy, and Samsung would not ship its S Pens with alternative ideas anymore — one thing we would like to see modified, however will not essentially rely on.Ideally, although, Samsung would ship the Tab S9 with the S Pen Pro, or supply it as a bundled in-box improve quite than having to purchase it along with the bottom S Pen.The S Pen Pro, which is already suitable with the Tab S8 and S7, offers you three perks: Air Commands for gesture shortcuts, Bluetooth help, and compatibility with different Samsung Galaxy telephones in the event you’re a super-user. Bluetooth is most essential as a result of the usual S Pen may be simply misplaced, whereas you possibly can observe the S Pen Pro’s location utilizing SmartThings so long as the 16-hour battery lasts.The Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra with S Pen and S Pen Pro (Image credit score: Android Central / Andrew Myrick)In basic, the Galaxy Tab S Pen is definitely misplaced as a result of the magnetic strip on the Tab S8’s rear is not particularly robust. Put your pill down wherever, forgetting that the S Pen is positioned there, and it could not keep on the pill till you decide it up. You can have the pill notify you if the S Pen is dislodged, however chances are you’ll not discover till it is too late (with out correct Bluetooth monitoring that can assist you discover it).My colleague Namerah Faud Satmi prompt that Samsung add an S Pen slot to the Galaxy Tab S9 as a alternative for the feeble magnetic strip. Samsung has been making an attempt and failing so as to add an S Pen slot into its Z Fold collection for the final couple of generations, and it is an issue of physics for the Galaxy Tab collection as nicely: the S Pen is 6.7 x 5.5 x 130.4mm, whereas the Galaxy Tab S8 collection’ thickness ranges from 5.5mm to 6.3mm. Samsung would wish to make the Galaxy Tab S9 thicker and heavier to accommodate an S Pen slot, or else ship the pill with a smaller S Pen — neither of which is probably going. Sorry, Namerah! We’ll need to make do with Tab S9 instances that’ll preserve it safe in place, or an S Pen Pro improve to raised observe it. A greater (censored) keyboard cowl(Image credit score: Android Central / Andrew Myrick)Our Tablets Editor Andrew Myrick made the colourful request above, which tracks given his utter disappointment with the Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra Book Cover Keyboard. His assessment stated unequivocally that “there’s almost no circumstance where I would recommend this keyboard to anyone.” He appreciates it for the backlight, first rate typing expertise, and the automated swap to DeX mode if you join it to the pill; however it’s unreliable besides on flat surfaces, the trackpad is horrible, and it is simply too dang costly at $350.I used to be barely extra bullish on my Tab S8+ keyboard, just because it price lower than half that worth (I examined the keyboard-only accent quite than the trackpad possibility). But it is nonetheless a far cry in typing high quality from any Bluetooth mechanical keyboard you may purchase, because the Microsoft Surface-style design limits the important thing spacing and journey by comparability. Andrew’s advice is that Samsung “borrow” Apple’s Magic Keyboard fashion as an alternative for an improve, whereas I’m extra hopeful that Samsung will make its keyboard equipment a bit of extra inexpensive as an alternative. It tends to supply them totally free as a preorder perk, however anybody shopping for a Tab later should not need to spend a lot for an average-at-best expertise. A charger and a headphone jackThe Samsung 45W Fast Charger (Image credit score: Ara Wagoner / Android Central)These requests are each essentially the most affordable thus far, and in addition the 2 I’m pretty sure will not occur. First, Samsung is not distinctive in its option to neglect together with a charger with its tech. It did not present one with final 12 months’s Galaxy Tab S8, this 12 months’s Galaxy S23, or most of its units from the previous few years. But the very fact is, these S9 tablets could have huge batteries (round 8,000–11,200mAh in the event that they keep the identical dimension), and charging with something lower than 45W will take far too lengthy. A Samsung 45W Fast Charger prices $50, however nobody spending near a grand on a pill just like the Tab S9 Ultra ought to need to pay further on prime of that. It’s a laptop computer alternative, and no firm would dare promote a laptop computer and not using a charger. As for the 3.5mm headphone jack, Samsung hasn’t included one on a flagship pill for the reason that S4, and it is not coming again. Only low-cost Android tablets just like the Galaxy Tab A7 Lite appear to have them nowadays as a result of they’re designed primarily for streaming. Hmm, I’m wondering if anybody may use a pixel-rich AMOLED show with a 120Hz refresh charge for streaming video or gaming? Sarcasm apart, it is a disgrace Samsung will not buck its developments for both request, particularly the charger.Next-gen storage, and extra of it!(Image credit score: Nicholas Sutrich / Android Central)One refined perk of the newest Galaxy S23 Ultra and S23+ is that each telephones begin with 256GB of storage because the default. Specifically, they use UFS 4.0 storage that doubles the learn & write speeds (4,200MB/s and a couple of,800MB, respectively) to and out of your drive. It permits for sooner picture processing, shorter sport loading, and decreased energy consumption throughout transfers.Apparently, Samsung has solely developed the expertise for storage drives of 256GB and up, which implies the 128GB Galaxy S23 downgrades to the previous UFS 3.1 commonplace, one thing that many shoppers will not understand. That’s why we would like the Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 to only bounce to 256GB UFS 4.0 throughout the board — or a minimum of beginning with the Tab S9+. We know the Tab S collection comes with a microSD slot — one thing we severely hope by no means modifications — however Samsung ought to accommodate the vast majority of its customers that can by no means purchase a microSD card, and make further storage the default, quite than a preorder perk because it has completed prior to now.Stay the course on specs (with just a few upgrades)(Image credit score: Android Central / Andrew Myrick)Most of our requests concern equipment, area of interest options, and new upgrades that few tablets have supplied earlier than (like waterproofing). We have not had a lot to say in regards to the design or specs as a result of, frankly, we already beloved the Galaxy Tab S8 collection! Why rock the boat?We’re already fairly proud of the 120Hz refresh charges and excessive pixel-per-inch shows (between 240 and 276), the cumbersome batteries, the punchy quad-speaker audio, the upgraded ultrawide selfie digicam with auto-tracking, and different top-class perks that the Tab S9 will inherit from the S8.The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 improve is what we most sit up for, since final era’s 8 Gen 1 tended to overheat and underperform in lots of instances. It’ll give the Galaxy Tab S9 collection a formidable enhance for gaming and different intensive purposes — particularly in the event that they add UFS 4.0 storage.It’s even attainable the pill may sport the unannounced Snapdragon 8 Gen 2+ for an extra improve in efficiency, alongside the Galaxy Z Fold 5. If you needed to press us for enhancements, we would ask for Wi-Fi 7 future-proofing, Bluetooth 5.3 help, and a wider DCI-P3 shade gamut for the very best accuracy for inventive work. Perhaps our solely troublesome request is that the Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra begins with 12GB of RAM as an alternative of 8GB since a flagship pill at this worth ought to actually get an improve with out an upsell. Serious consumers can nonetheless pay further for 16GB in the event that they need to.Livelier colours(Image credit score: Michael Hicks / Android Central)I believe that Samsung, Apple, and different manufacturers held a secret assembly years in the past to make a sacred pact: all costly tablets have to be glossy, severe, colorless, and usually boring to have a look at. Generally talking, Samsung likes to launch its tablets in Black, Silver, a light-weight Bronze or Pink shade, and (very often) a fourth shade. Samsung begrudgingly launched a Mystic Blue Tab S7 a couple of 12 months after the remaining got here out, and hasn’t launched any new Tab S8 colours since launch. I would like Samsung to cater to individuals who like wealthy colours, the identical manner Apple does with its iPad and iPad Air (although not the iPad Pro). Give me Green, Blue, Purple, Yellow, or something with a bit of extra character than its common achromatic, muted look! I believe the Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 could have the identical colours as its predecessor, however I can hope.