The Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 is one of the most highly anticipated Android tablets of 2023. Samsung is expected to launch the Galaxy Tab S9 later this year as the successor to its popular Galaxy Tab S8 series.
Introduction
The Galaxy Tab S line has been Samsung’s flagship Android tablet offering for years. The Tab S tablets are known for their brilliant Super AMOLED displays, top-notch hardware and extensive software support from Samsung.
The Galaxy Tab S9 aims to continue this legacy with even more improvements and refinements. Samsung is expected to launch the Tab S9 in two sizes – 11-inches and 12.4-inches, similar to the Tab S8 series.
The Tab S9 models will likely compete directly with Apple’s newly launched iPad Pro 11 and iPad Pro 12.9. But how exactly does the Galaxy Tab S9 compare against the new iPad Pro models? Let’s take a detailed look.
Display and Design
The display will undoubtedly be one of the highlights of the Galaxy Tab S9. Samsung’s Super AMOLED panels are considered the best in the industry with their true blacks, vibrant colors, excellent contrast levels and high brightness.
The Galaxy Tab S9 is rumored to feature a 11-inch 2560 x 1600 pixel AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate. The larger 12.4-inch model is expected to have a 2800 x 1752 pixel AMOLED screen, also with 120Hz refresh rate support.
In comparison, the 11-inch iPad Pro has a 2388 x 1668 Liquid Retina display while the 12.9-inch version comes with a 2732 x 2048 Liquid Retina XDR mini-LED panel. Both iPad models also support 120Hz ProMotion technology.
While the iPad offers higher resolution displays, Samsung’s AMOLED panels are better suited for multimedia consumption with their stunning vibrancy and true blacks. The Galaxy Tab S9 is likely to have the best displays among Android tablets.
In terms of design, the Galaxy Tab S9 is expected to be marginally thicker than its predecessor to accommodate a larger battery. But it will retain the premium glass and metal sandwich design. An S Pen stylus will also come bundled similar to the Tab S8 series.
Hardware and Performance
Samsung is expected to power the Galaxy Tab S9 with the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset. This will make it the first Android tablet to utilize Qualcomm’s latest and greatest SoC.
The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 features one ultra-high performance prime core clocked at 3.2GHz, four high-performance cores at 2.8GHz and three efficiency cores at 2.0GHz. Compared to the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 found in the Tab S8, the new chip delivers superior CPU and GPU performance.
For memory and storage, the base Galaxy Tab S9 model is rumored to come with 8GB RAM and 128GB storage. Higher-end variants with 12GB RAM and up to 512GB storage are also expected.
The iPad Pro 11 and 12.9 in comparison are powered by Apple’s latest M2 chip. The M2 is built on an enhanced 5nm process for improved power efficiency over the already excellent M1.
Both the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 and M2 deliver cutting-edge performance. But Qualcomm’s chip is likely to be slightly ahead in benchmarks thanks to a newer manufacturing process.
Real world usage should be blisteringly fast on both tablets though, especially for tasks like web browsing, document work, media consumption etc. High-end gaming will also be smooth and fluid.
Software Experience
The Galaxy Tab S9 will ship with One UI 5.x based on Android 13 out of the box. Samsung has consistently been one of the fastest manufacturers to roll out new Android versions.
One UI offers a polished, feature-rich and intuitive software experience. The Tab S9 will come pre-loaded with exclusive tablet-centric features from Samsung. These include advanced DeX mode for PC-like multitasking, seamless continuity between Galaxy devices and the S Pen stylus suite.
Samsung is promising up to 4 generations of Android OS upgrades and 5 years of security updates for the Tab S9. This matches what the iPad Pro offers in terms of software support longevity.
The iPad Pro runs iPadOS 16, which is optimized specifically for Apple’s tablets. It offers a more refined and extensive tablet interface than Android. iPadOS also gets new features like Stage Manager multitasking before Android tablets.
However, Android on the Tab S9 beats iPadOS in aspects like true multi-user support, unlockable bootloader for hacking and theming, tighter Google ecosystem integration etc.
Cameras
For photography and video calling duties, the Galaxy Tab S9 is rumored to feature the exact same triple camera setup as the Tab S8 series:
- 13MP primary
- 6MP ultrawide
- 5MP front
The cameras offer software-enhanced features like Portrait mode, Pro video mode, panorama, AR doodling etc.
The iPad Pro has a similar dual camera setup on the back with a 12MP wide and 10MP ultrawide lens. The front camera resolution is expected to be upgraded to 12MP on the new iPad Pro models from 7MP previously.
Both tablets will offer decent camera performance for the occasional shot. But being productivity-focused devices, the cameras are not really a distinguishing factor.
Battery Life
One area where Samsung is expected to improve the Galaxy Tab S9 series is with regards to battery life. Rumors point to both models featuring larger batteries than their predecessors.
The 11-inch Tab S9 is tipped to house an 8,000 mAh battery compared to 8,000 mAh before. The 12.4-inch version is said to get a 11,200 mAh battery, up from 10,090 mAh.
Combined with more efficient Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip, the Tab S9 models should last comfortably for a full day even with heavy usage. Fast charging will also be supported.
The 11-inch and 12.9-inch iPad Pro packs 28.6Wh and 40.88Wh batteries respectively. Their battery life is very respectable at around 10 hours of use. 30W fast charging is supported on the new models.
S Pen Stylus
One of the biggest advantages Galaxy Tab S devices have traditionally held over the iPad is the bundled S Pen stylus. The Tab S9 will also come with an improved S Pen in the box for free.
Samsung is expected to reduce the latency and improve the overall writing experience. The stylus will continue to support air gestures and remote functionality via Bluetooth LE. Magnetic attachment to the side of the tablet is also expected.
The S Pen provides an excellent note-taking and creativity experience unmatched by the iPad Pro’s Apple Pencil which needs to be purchased separately. Artists and professionals who rely on pen input will find the Tab S9 more suitable.
Price and Availability
Samsung is expected to launch the Galaxy Tab S9 series in August 2023. Based on leaked pricing details, here is how the lineup may be configured:
- 11-inch Galaxy Tab S9 8/128GB – $850
- 12.4-inch Galaxy Tab S9 8/128GB – $1,000
- 11-inch Galaxy Tab S9 12/256GB – $950
- 12.4-inch Galaxy Tab S9 12/512GB – $1,200
The new 11-inch and 12.9-inch iPad Pro starts from $799 and $1099 respectively. More storage drives the prices higher.
So the Galaxy Tab S9 looks to have a slight price advantage over equivalent iPad Pro models. However, end pricing depends on promotions, markdowns and exchange discounts.
Verdict – Should You Wait for the Tab S9?
Based on all the rumors and leaks, the Galaxy Tab S9 is shaping up to be an impressive Android tablet that can take the fight to the iPad Pro.
It is expected to have the best AMOLED displays in the segment, extremely powerful Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 hardware that matches Apple’s M2 chip, refined One UI software experience and the bundled S Pen.
Battery life is also tipped to see noticeable improvements through hardware and software optimizations. If you want the best possible Android tablet for creativity, productivity and entertainment, waiting for the Tab S9 seems like a good idea.
However, the current Galaxy Tab S8 series is also no slouch. It still offers blazing fast performance, stunning AMOLED screens, S Pen support and a robust software package. Unless you want the absolute latest hardware and features, the Tab S8 is still a brilliant choice for most users.
So in summary, while the Galaxy Tab S9 is an exciting prospect, don’t ignore the already excellent Tab S8 if you need an Android tablet right now. But if you can wait, the Tab S9 is primed to be a category-leading tablet in 2023
