Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra Review
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The Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 series stands as Samsung’s direct competitor to Apple’s iPad Pro lineup. Leading the series is the Tab S9 Ultra, priced at $1,199.99, and featuring a stunning 14.6-inch display—the largest of the three Tab S9 models. This impressive tablet includes an S Pen stylus, a high-performance processor, extended battery life, and seamless integration with Samsung smartphones, ensuring productivity wherever you go. Although the Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra is priced higher than both the base 12.9-inch Apple iPad Pro ($1,099) and the Microsoft Surface Pro 9 ($999), it remains the top choice for those seeking a large Android tablet. However, despite Samsung’s efforts to optimize Android for tablets, the operating system can still present some challenges.
Big or Go… Slightly Smaller
The Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra is a sophisticated tablet that impressively incorporates a 14.6-inch display into a relatively compact frame. It measures 12.85 by 8.21 by 0.21 inches (HWD) and has a weight of 1.61 pounds. In comparison, the Lenovo Tab Extreme, priced at $949, features a slightly smaller 14.5-inch screen but comes in a slightly larger body measuring 12.9 by 8.3 by 0.23 inches and weighing 1.63 pounds. If the Ultra seems too large, the midsize Galaxy Tab S9+ offers a 12.4-inch screen, with dimensions of 11.23 by 7.30 by 0.22 inches and a weight of 1.28 pounds. The more compact Tab S9 features an 11-inch screen, measuring 10.01 by 6.53 by 0.23 inches and weighing 1.10 pounds. The Tab S9 series is available in two colors: Beige and Graphite.
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For the first time, the Galaxy tablet series, along with the included S Pen stylus, has achieved an IP68 rating, indicating that they are both dustproof and waterproof. This rating applies to all three Tab S9 models, which can withstand submersion in water for up to 30 minutes and be rinsed off when dirty. The screen is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 5, which, though not the newest version, can endure drops from nearly four feet onto hard surfaces and resist scratches. Unlike the Lenovo Tab Extreme and iPad Pros, which lack IP ratings, the Tab S9 series stands out in this regard, making it an ideal choice for use by the pool or at the beach.
The 14.6-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display on the Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra offers a resolution of 2,960 by 1,848 pixels, a refresh rate of up to 120Hz, and a peak brightness of 930 nits, with an aspect ratio of 16:10. Given the screen’s large size and its reflective nature, using the Tab S9 Ultra outdoors in direct sunlight can be challenging. However, indoors, the display provides ample brightness for typical lighting conditions. Additionally, the tablet is equipped with an in-screen fingerprint sensor located near the USB-C port, which performed effectively during testing.
The dual front-facing cameras are particularly optimized for video conferencing, ensuring clear and wide coverage, which is ideal for professional or casual video calls.
The top edge of the tablet houses the power button and volume rocker, positioned just to the left of the front-facing cameras, while the microSD card slot is located on their right. The device is equipped with four AKG-tuned speakers, each with Dolby Atmos support, with two speaker grilles placed on each of the tablet’s shorter edges. A USB-C (3.2 Gen 1) port, used for both power and data transfer, is also located on one of the short edges. On the opposite long edge, you’ll find two indentations along with three pogo plug connectors designed for attaching optional accessories, such as a keyboard.
The back panel of the tablet is predominantly a large, smooth expanse of metal. Near the top, there’s a designated area where the S Pen can be magnetically attached and charged, alongside two camera lenses that slightly protrude by about 1 to 2mm from the metal surface. Besides these features, the rear also includes a camera flash, the Samsung logo, and a few antenna lines.
The hardware quality is top-notch, consistent with what we’ve come to expect from Samsung’s premium Ultra series. The display truly stands out as the centerpiece, with minimal distractions surrounding it. However, its size can make it cumbersome to carry around, so it’s advisable to invest in a folio case or another protective solution.
Samsung’s Productivity Software is Essential
Samsung’s multitasking features are designed with power users in mind. While stock Android allows for two apps on the screen alongside a floating video window, Samsung takes it a step further by enabling up to three apps to be displayed simultaneously. One app can take up 50% of the screen, while the other two share the remaining 50% equally. There’s some flexibility in resizing these apps, and you can also save these app combinations to the desktop or taskbar for quick access, launching them together in your preferred layout.
The pop-up view feature lets you engage with additional apps by creating a floating, resizable window or video player that sits on top of your other apps. The taskbar streamlines the process of adding your favorite or recently used apps to the tiled interface, opening them as a pop-up, or seamlessly switching to another full-screen app.
Despite Samsung’s efforts to enhance the tablet experience on Android, the operating system still feels somewhat out of place on such a large screen, especially in landscape mode. For instance, opening an app like Google Docs in landscape results in significant empty space on either side of the document. While running three apps at once may feel cramped on a smaller screen like the Galaxy Z Fold 5’s 7.8-inch inner display, the 14.6-inch screen of the tablet can feel overly spacious.
However, portrait orientation offers a different experience. In portrait mode, Google Docs looks much better, filling more of the screen and allowing you to view a substantial amount of content at once, even with the on-screen keyboard active. As a comic book reader, the large display excels at showcasing detailed artwork without the need for zooming in on each panel. Yet, holding a tablet of this size in portrait orientation can be quite cumbersome.
Drawing on the screen with the included S Pen is an enjoyable experience, thanks to its responsiveness and natural feel. While it may not perfectly mimic the sensation of drawing on paper, it’s certainly close enough. The screen remains sturdy, with no noticeable flex, even when applying pressure. Additionally, the popular note-taking app Goodnotes has made its way to Android, and Samsung offers a free one-year subscription to the app with the purchase of a Tab S9.
Samsung’s Dex software transforms the tablet into a more traditional computing environment, featuring a desktop interface with a taskbar and resizable application windows. While you can interact with Dex directly on the tablet’s screen, using a keyboard and mouse or trackpad enhances the experience. You can also connect the Tab S9 Ultra to an external display via USB-C or wirelessly to compatible devices like Roku TVs. When connected to a secondary display, you can either mirror the tablet’s output or extend it to create separate desktops. Overall, Dex offers a computing experience that should feel familiar to anyone accustomed to modern computer interfaces.
While Dex does a commendable job of mimicking a desktop operating system, it falls short compared to the comprehensive capabilities of a Windows tablet like the Microsoft Surface Pro 9 or iPadOS 17 on an iPad Pro. The Tab S9 Ultra is an outstanding Android tablet with impressive features, but Android’s limitations mean it can’t fully replace a laptop.
In bright conditions, the 13MP main camera and the 8MP ultra-wide rear camera on the Tab S9 perform impressively. As with other Samsung devices, colors can be slightly oversaturated by default, but the detail remains sharp. However, in low-light situations, the rear camera struggles, resulting in some blurry details. Additionally, tablet photography continues to be an uncommon sight. During tests with this 14.6-inch tablet, even passersby in New York City took notice of the unusual use of such a large device for taking photos.
