Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Series review: A first look

One of the most hotly anticipated devices of this year, Samsung has just revealed their Galaxy Tab S9 Series. Featuring a wide range of hardware and display improvements, the new tablets are designed to help you capture big ideas with enhanced performance and durability.

The new Samsung tablets for 2023 are available in three variants:

• Samsung Galaxy Tab S9
• Samsung Galaxy Tab S9+
• Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra

I was lucky enough to test out these new tablets before their official launch and having gathered my thoughts, I can safely say that they set the new standard for Android tablets in the market to date. Sleekly designed with premium specs to back it up, the new Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Series is definitely one to consider if you’re looking for a new high-end tablet. 

Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Series stand-out features

• Three sizing variants – 11"(S9), 12.4"(S9+), 14.6"(S9 Ultra) ⁴
• Upgraded Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset for better performance³
• Dynamic AMOLED display for bright and vibrant visuals
• Multi Window flexibility for a customisable experience¹
• Water and dust resistance (IP68 rating)² combined with Armour Aluminium for improved durability
• Comes with an official Samsung S Pen

From the new high-powered Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset to improved Multi-Window flexibility¹, the Samsung Galaxy S9 tablets are perfect for both work and play. They’re great, everyday devices that support even the most demanding of online activities and can be used in all areas of your daily life.

After playing around with the latest Galaxy tablets myself, I imagine these new devices will be ideal for those who regularly work with screens but also enjoy digital hobbies such as mobile gaming, watching shows, digital art, reading eBooks, and so forth. Whether you’re a student taking notes while watching a lecture, or a professional artist working in the digital space, at least one of the three S9 tablets will suit your needs.

At a quick glance, the Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Series might not seem like a far departure from the previous year’s Tab S8 Series. Both sport large displays with 128GB, 256GB, and 512GB storage variants. However, the biggest differences between the Tab S9 and Tab S8 Series are in the internal specs and hardware.

The new Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Series features a Dynamic AMOLED 2X screen display with 120Hz refresh rate, giving you more vibrant, colourful, and bright images than the S8 TFT LCD screen panel. The S9 tablets also use the new and improved Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip (over the S8 Snapdragon 8 Gen 1), delivering better performance especially when it comes to resource-intensive tasks such as gaming and multitasking.

Another apparent upgrade in the new S9 tablets is their durability, now carrying an IP68 rating for dust and water resistance that the older models don’t have². The Galaxy Tab S9 tablets also have slightly bugger batteries than the S8, which when combined with the newer power-efficent CPU lets you enjoy a longer battery life⁵.

As you might expect, the new Samsung Galaxy Tabs cost slightly more than their predecessors, due to substantial improvements in design and features. The outright prices for the Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 devices are as follows:

• Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 price: $1,548.72
• Samsung Galaxy Tab S9+ price: $1,948.32
• Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra price: $2,248.56

If you buy a Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 from Optus, you can choose to pay it off in interest-free instalments with Optus Pay over a period of 12, 24 or 36 months as long as you remain on an eligible Optus month-to-month Data plan.

For example, you can purchase your new S9 tablet for $43.02/month over 36 months, plus your $20/month Optus Choice Plus Data Plan. If you’d prefer the 256GB S9 Ultra tablet, you can purchase it for $62.46/month plus your $20/month Data Plan. 

The newest S9 tablet devices in the Samsung Galaxy Tab Series are available for purchase at Optus.

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 tablets are nice to look at, with thin, sleek, and minimal designs available in graphite (simply grey) and beige. Like all modern tablets, there’s no home button on the front display and all that’s featured is the large, vibrant screen.

The selfie camera is hidden in a black border on the S9 and S9+, but you’ll be able to see it in a notch on the S9 Ultra. This is because the S9 Ultra has thinner borders (than the S9 and S9+) to highlight the largest display size available from the S9 Tab Series.

The back of the tablets are all incredibly similar, with the only difference between the S9 Series being the number of rear cameras. The Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 has one while the S9+ and S9 Ultra have two. All of the tablets have a thin indicator next to the flashlight to attach and charge the complimentary S Pen.

The S9 tablets are all decently light, weighing between 500g to 737g depending on the tablet model you choose and if it’s 5G or Wi-Fi compatible. They’re also small enough to fit comfortably in any standard backpack or large bag, although I’d recommend keeping it somewhere secure, so you don’t accidentally scratch the display. Having a protective cover may also be a good idea if you’re carrying your tablet outside often.

Arguably, the biggest improvement and most noteworthy feature of the Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Series is the display. Now sporting a Dynamic AMOLED 2X display, you can enjoy crisp, vivid, and bright images on your tablet. This new display may be especially enjoyable for those who are using the tablet to watch movies, play games, and create digital art.

The Dynamic AMOLED 2X display uses Samsung’s latest display technologies to deliver cinema-grade colour and contrast. It also reduces the level of harmful blue light emitted and is large in size to fit all your big ideas.

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Series features three display sizes – 11”, 12.4” and 14.6”⁴. Although the 11” is more than enough for everyday browsing and streaming online activities, one of the bigger displays may be better for professional and creative use. The 14.6” is a considerable size upgrade from the 12.4” though, so I’d recommend evaluating your needs before you opt for the ultra-wide screen.

I often find that cameras are put on the backburner when it comes to tablets so it’s no surprise that the Tab S9 cameras aren’t the most impressive for mobile devices. The 12MP UW front cameras and 13MP + 8MP UW rear cameras are simple enough to get the job done. I can comfortably use these cameras to take casual photos on the go, but you won’t catch me using them to record my favourite artist’s concert videos or taking important family photos I’d like to print.

With both processor updates that deliver premium performance and many convenient quality-of-life features, the Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Series is amazing for daily ventures and professional use.

First and foremost, the new Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 CPU means running multiple applications at once is a breeze, with next to no input lag or stuttering.

When it comes to quality-of-life features, the new Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 tablets are rated IP68², making them the most durable Samsung tablets on the market yet. They’re water and dust resistant so you can rest assured that your tablet is protected when you use it outside in the wild or give it to your kids for some entertainment.

The Multi Window feature is also a welcome bonus on the wide tablet displays, as it means you’ll never have to choose between your apps again¹. Multi Window also supports flexible layouts, meaning you can customise your experience and set up your device display however you’d like¹. While testing, this feature was simple and intuitive to set up, and on the large S9 Ultra display, it felt like I had multiple monitors working instead of just one.

What’s more, the tablets all come with an S Pen in the box, designed for writing, sketching, creating, or drawing all your big ideas. The S Pen’s low latency means you can seamlessly transfer your ideas onto the responsive tablet display, and the pen also magnetically snaps onto the back of your tablet for convenient charging. Although not a necessity, the S Pen is certainly a welcome addition to any tablet purchase.

Depending on the tablet model you purchase, you may enjoy 8,400mAh, 10,090mAh, or 11,200mAh⁵. From experience, this means the S9 tablet battery can last anywhere between 5 to 12 hours depending on the activities you’re using the tablet for.

While it’s not anything to run home about, the fact that the Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 series meets standard battery life expectations means it’s built to last and ready to go, whether you’re hard at work or winding down⁵.

And there you have it, a first look at the new Samsung Galaxy Tablet S9 Series and its offerings. Although not a drastic difference from the S8 Series, the S9 tablets certainly set a new standard for the industry, combining quality-of-life enhancements and all of the latest tech to deliver premium performance for great value.

The Samsung Galaxy Tablet S9 Series isn’t the end for new Samsung devices. In fact, the new Watch6 series adds to Samsung’s wide range of accessories, with two new variations of smartwatches available – Watch6 and Watch6 Classic. Take a first look at the new Watch6 with our exclusive review. Or check out how a new smartwatch may affect your health.

You can order your own Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Series tablet from Optus today.