After Samsung unveiled the Galaxy S23 sequence earlier this 12 months, sans any pill bulletins, I used to be shocked to see the Tab S9 lineup introduced alongside the Galaxy Z Fold 5 and Flip 5. A number of it’s because the Tab S8 Ultra was already just about the right pill, save for just a few annoyances which were remedied in subsequent software program updates.That being stated, I’m a sucker for big-screen tablets, so I could not wait to get my fingers on the Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra. The thought of having the ability to use a pill for the whole lot from taking part in video games or watching movies to utilizing it as a desktop substitute is what I take pleasure in probably the most. And whereas some fairly spectacular tablets have been launched for the reason that Tab S8 Ultra hit the market, I could not wait to see what Samsung had up its sleeve this time.On the floor, there aren’t many upgrades, however we’ll dive a bit deeper to see if Samsung has executed sufficient to warrant spending your hard-earned money on the most costly Android pill.Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra at Samsung for $1,199.99Immediately’s finest Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra offersSamsung Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra: Price and availability(Image credit score: Nicholas Sutrich / Android Central)Much like its predecessor, there are three completely different configurations to select from when deciding on which model of the Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra to get. The base mannequin comes with 12GB of RAM and 256GB of expandable storage and is available in at $1,199. If you need to double the interior storage, it’s going to set you again $1,319 whereas retaining the identical 12GB of RAM. And if you would like probably the most RAM and storage present in an Android pill at this time, it’s going to price an eye-watering $1,619 for 1TB of storage and 16GB of RAM.Unlike the Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra, this 12 months’s Tab S9 Ultra is available in both Graphite or Beige, and there aren’t any limitations on storage or RAM relying on what shade you decide. All of those fashions are presently out there out of your favourite retailers, whether or not it’s on-line or in shops.Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra: What I like(Image credit score: Andrew Myrick / Android Central)Something you will rapidly discover is that there’s a lot of overlap between the Tab S9 Ultra and its predecessor. That’s merely attributable to the truth that there are only some variations between the 2. This begins from the large 14.6-inch laptop-like Dynamic AMOLED show, full with its 120Hz variable refresh price.Swipe to scroll horizontallyCategorySamsung Galaxy Tab S9 UltraShow14.6-inch Super AMOLED (120Hz), 2960 x 1848ChipsetQualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for GalaxyReminiscence12GB / 16GBStorage256GB, 512GB, or 1TB (expandable by way of microSD)Front Cameras12MP (broad) + 12MP UWRear Cameras13MP AF + 8MP UW + FlashBattery11,200mAh Li-Ion with 45W Fast ChargingAudioQuad Speakers + Dolby AtmosBiometricsFace Unlock, on-display fingerprint sensorConnectivityWiFi 6E (6GHz), Bluetooth 5.3S Pen✔️ (2.8ms latency)microSD card slot✔️ (as much as 1TB)3.5mm headphone jack🚫Water resistanceIP68Dimensions12.85″ x 8.21″ x 0.22″Weight1.61 lbColorsGraphite, BeigeSoftwareOne UI 5.1 (based on Android 13)Simply put, this thing is not only massive, but it’s absolutely stunning to look at, provided that you don’t suffer from PWM like my colleague Nick Sutrich, but more on that later. I’ve been using the Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra for the past couple of weeks and I keep finding different reasons to pick it up and use it.(Image credit: Andrew Myrick / Android Central)The screen gets more than bright enough, even if you’re sitting in the passenger seat on your way home from vacation on a sunny day. If anything, it’s a bit too bright, even if you dim the screen all the way down as to not disturb your partner after they’ve fallen asleep, but you want to finish a level on a game that you started.When it comes to processing power, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy is at the helm, so there’s really no surprise to see a boost in performance. The real story of this latest chipset is in efficiency, which is important for those who plan on using the Tab S9 Ultra with the Book Cover Keyboard as a laptop replacement. I’ve been pleasantly surprised to be able to leave the tablet in my backpack, only to find that there’s still plenty of juice to head to the coffee shop.(Image credit: Andrew Myrick / Android Central)I’ve been slowly getting back into the world of emulation thanks to my affinity for the Steam Deck, ROG Ally, and other gaming handheld devices. So what better way to put the Tab S9 Ultra to the test than trying to see what this beast can handle? On the bright side, I haven’t run into any issues loading up some favorites from the N64 and even the PS1.The only trouble I’ve run into was when I try loading up Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom in Yuzu. I’m able to make it through the beginning of the game, but I’m met with a few crashes shortly after that, making me go back and tinker around with the graphical settings. Unfortunately, I haven’t been able to get a stable 30fps, but I chalk that up to Yuzu for Android still being in early development and don’t really put the onus on the Tab S9 Ultra.Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra: A true laptop replacement(Image credit: Andrew Myrick / Android Central)I’m a sucker for a good tablet, and there’s been a bit of a renaissance in the Android tablet space over the past year. Google, OnePlus, and even Amazon have released some incredible tablets, but none of them have really been able to dethrone the Galaxy Tab S8 lineup. It probably doesn’t come as a surprise, but I don’t think Samsung has anything to worry about from any other company besides Apple in this space.My reason for this way of thinking comes simply comes down to Samsung DeX. Using the Tab S9 Ultra with the “conventional” Android interface is fine, but it’s definitely pretty comical. It’s an instant reminder that Android wasn’t designed with larger displays in mind, let alone one that’s as massive as what Samsung has included with its flagship tablet.(Image credit: Andrew Myrick / Android Central)Because of this, I spend about 90% of the time in DeX mode, even if the keyboard cover isn’t connected. Windowed apps just make more sense when using this screen, and it’s a more enjoyable experience unless you’re watching YouTube or Netflix or just want to use an app in full-screen.Samsung has also been making little tweaks here and there to improve the overall experience, such as improving the taskbar to show controls that you want to see and hide the ones that you don’t. But with the keyboard attached, it really does feel like a regular laptop, albeit an extremely expensive one.Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra: What I don’t like(Image credit: Andrew Myrick / Android Central)Frankly, the Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra isn’t the tablet that the majority of people should consider if they want the best Android tablet. For one, the 14.6-inch screen is rather unwieldy, unless you are using it as a laptop replacement. And using it as a “common” tablet is comical, with the caveat of this being incredible as a note-taking device or drawing tablet.Then there’s the question of price, as the Tab S9 Ultra starts at $1,199 and goes up to more than $1,600. For the base model price, you could grab the Pixel Tablet, Pixel 7 Pro, and have money left over for some other accessories like a stylus and cases for both your phone and tablet. Even better, you could grab the Pixel 7 and one of the best Chromebooks, like the Acer Chromebook Spin 714. Putting it simply, you’re better off looking for other solutions if you have the money and are looking for a laptop replacement.I would also be remiss if I didn’t make mention the PWM or Pulse Width Modulation issues that plague many of the best Android phones and tablets. For the unaware, here’s Nick’s explanation on the matter:”If you have ever been taking a look at your telephone late at night time and questioned why your eyeballs ache, it is in all probability not since you’re drained. As most fashionable telephone screens dim, they flash an increasing number of usually, leading to your eyeballs perceiving the show as getting dimmer.The actuality is that your show possible is not “dimming” in any respect — not the best way you’ll anticipate an outdated incandescent lightbulb to. Instead, your telephone is flickering between the brightest the LED diodes can get and the darkest they’ll get, normally at a price of lots of of instances per second.”(Image credit: Andrew Myrick / Android Central)While I don’t suffer from these problems, that doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist, meaning that even a subset of users can’t enjoy devices like the Tab S9 Ultra, Galaxy Z Fold 5, and other devices. So keep that in mind if you have been experiencing issues with your devices, as it might be the display itself.The last complaint I have with the Tab S9 Ultra is something that I’ve already covered. Samsung introduced the Book Cover Keyboard with last year’s Tab S8 Ultra, and I’m extremely disappointed to find that I can’t just use the same keyboard with the new tablet. And it’s all because the rear camera module was slightly altered, meaning that I can’t take advantage of the built-in kickstand of the case.Even if I find a different way to prop up the Tab S9 Ultra, I’m immediately prompted with a warning message letting me know that “the related keyboard is not designed for this pill, so you might get surprising outcomes.” It’s simply stupid that you should have to spend another $350 just because of some minor design changes, turning last year’s keyboard cover into e-waste for no reason.Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra: The competition(Image credit: iMore)The stiffest and most obvious competition to the Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra is Apple’s 12.9-inch iPad Pro. Of course, Samsung gets the nod with the larger display and using AMOLED as opposed to mini LED. But the iPad Pro is unrivaled in terms of performance, and with iPadOS 17, Apple is seemingly working out the annoyances of Stage Manager to offer a multi-windowed experience. On the other hand, Samsung offers a microSD card slot, so unless you really want 16GB of RAM, you can get away with 256GB of storage and just add your own additional storage after the fact.From there, the only competition in the “flagship” Android pill area comes from Lenovo, of all corporations, with its Lenovo Tab Extreme. Currently, this is not out there for buy, but it surely encompasses a 14.5-inch show, together with 12GB of RAM, and 256GB of storage, and Lenovo even features a new keyboard and stylus. We’re presently reviewing the Tab Extreme and can present a extra concise comparability as soon as that evaluation is full.Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra: Should you purchase it?(Image credit score: Andrew Myrick / Android Central)You can purchase this if:You’re on the lookout for probably the most highly effective and performant Android pill.You need an Android pill that doubles as a laptop computer.You have already got (or plan to get) different Samsung units.You should not purchase this if:You’re on a funds.You want a laptop computer, as there are higher choices for much less.You do not plan on utilizing this with Samsung DeX.You need a pill with mobile connectivity.I’m form of in a bizarre spot relating to the Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra. On the one hand, I plan on utilizing this for the foreseeable future when I’m not testing new Chromebooks or different tablets. It’s a powerhouse of a tool that may pull double-duty as a laptop computer once I need to go sit in a espresso store or if I need to have one other display screen for my desktop PC at dwelling.But the fact is that almost all of individuals are going to be higher suited with both the Galaxy Tab S9 or the Tab S9 Plus. For one, each of these units are a lot inexpensive than the Ultra whereas providing most of the identical expertise. Samsung even presents keyboard circumstances, and you may nonetheless discover the S Pen within the field, so you will not lose something however display screen measurement with these smaller units.That being stated, in the event you’re somebody who actually desires probably the most highly effective Android pill that cash should purchase, you then’ll be greater than happy with the Tab S9 Ultra. Just be ready to empty your pockets for it and a keyboard case.
Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra
Mammoth display screen, even higher efficiency
There’s so much to love in regards to the Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra, from its 14.6-inch show to the assorted software program options comparable to Samsung DeX. But at this value, you are in all probability higher off on the lookout for a Chromebook or “regular” laptop computer and saving some cash.
Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra: Price Comparison