Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Plus Review
The Galaxy Tab S9 Plus stands out as my top pick among the latest Samsung tablets. It perfectly balances a compact form with a display size that feels neither too small nor overwhelming. It finds itself comfortably between the more portable Galaxy Tab S9 and the larger Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra, offering the best of both worlds. Despite its compact design, the Galaxy Tab S9 Plus is a powerhouse, boasting an excellent display and surprisingly good battery life.
Table of Contents
In conclusion, if I were to choose an Android tablet in late 2023, the Galaxy Tab S9 Plus would undoubtedly be my first choice, surpassing all other non-iPad options.
Notable Enhancements and Features of the Device
- Equipped with the high-performance Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor, fine-tuned for Galaxy devices.
- Rear camera layout takes inspiration from the Galaxy S23 design.
- Offers superior water protection with an IP68 certification.
- Comes with an S Pen included for added convenience.
- Upgraded speakers deliver louder, richer sound quality.
- Supports optional cellular connectivity for on-the-go access.
- Features a new 8MP ultra-wide camera, perfect for capturing expansive scenes.
Spaces Galaxy tab S9 Plus
Price $1,119.00
Size/Weigh 12.4″ / 1.30 lb.
Resolution Dynamic AMOLED 2X 120 Hz
Processor Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2
Memory (RAM) 12GB
Storage (expandable) 256GB / 512GB
Battery 10,090mAh
Front Camera 12MP UW
Rear Camera 13MP | 8MP UW
S Pen Included ✔
Water and dust resistant Yes / IP68
Colors Beige | Graphite
Galaxy Tab S9 Plus Design & Colors
If you’re familiar with the Galaxy Tab S8 Plus, the design of the Galaxy Tab S9 Plus will look quite similar. Samsung has chosen not to make any drastic design changes, which makes sense given that the sleek and slim form factor of the Galaxy Tab S9 Plus is already highly refined and doesn’t require a major overhaul.
Constructed from Armor Aluminum, the tablet offers a stylish look paired with robust durability, ensuring it can withstand everyday bumps and scratches. With its 16:10 aspect ratio, the Galaxy Tab S9 Plus is slightly narrower than an iPad, making it an excellent choice for watching movies and TV shows.
Fortunately, the Galaxy Tab S9 Plus still includes an S Pen in the box, allowing you to start taking notes right away. A new feature is the omnidirectional magnetic attachment strip on the back of the tablet, which charges the S Pen regardless of how it’s positioned. This is a great improvement, as it removes the hassle of aligning the pen correctly for charging.
The Galaxy Tab S9 Plus is a sleek, ultra-thin, and lightweight tablet, especially considering its size. With well-proportioned side bezels for comfortable handling, it’s a delight to use and hold in everyday tasks.
Galaxy Tab S9 Plus Display
If you’re a fan of 12.4-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X displays offering an ultra-smooth 60-120Hz refresh rate, impressive brightness, and sharp resolution, you’re in luck! These are precisely the specifications of the Galaxy Tab S9 Plus display. Honestly, it’s hard to imagine needing anything more.
Keep in mind that, like its predecessors, the Galaxy Tab S9 Plus features a 16:10 aspect ratio, making it slightly wider and narrower compared to an iPad. This aspect ratio is ideal for watching movies and TV shows, as it allows the content to fill the entire screen, providing an incredibly immersive viewing experience. For cinephiles, the Galaxy Tab S9 Plus is arguably one of the top tablet choices in late 2023.
In practical use, the Galaxy Tab S9 Plus offers a fantastic display, delivering vibrant colors, excellent maximum brightness thanks to Vision Booster, and fluid scrolling that enhances any type of content. Everything seems to pop on the screen, making media consumption an absolute delight.
Display Measurements:
Screen Performance Metrics
- Color Accuracy & Brightness Levels
- Maximum Brightness: Higher values are preferred.
- Minimum Brightness (nits): Lower values are better.
- Color Temperature (Kelvins): Optimal for balanced color reproduction.
- Gamma
- Delta E (RGB & CMY): Lower values indicate better color accuracy.
- Delta E (Grayscale): Lower is better for grayscale accuracy.
| Max Brightness | Min Brightness (nits) | Color Temperature (Kelvins) | Gamma | Delta E (RGB & CMY) | Delta E (Grayscale) | |
| Samsung Galaxy Tab S9+ | 479 (Poor) | 1.6 (Good) | 6667 (Excellent) | 2.07 | 2.69 (Good) | 6.58 (Average) |
| Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 | 567 (Poor) | 1.6 (Good) | 6730 (Excellent) | 2.04 | 2.76 (Good) | 6.02 (Average) |
| Apple iPad Pro 12.9-inch (2022) | No data | No data | No data | No data | No data | No data |
| Google Pixel Tablet | 515 (Poor) | 1.8 (Good) | 6468 (Excellent) | 2.3 | 0.88 (Excellent) | 1.33 (Excellent) |
Galaxy Tab S9 Plus Camera
The tablet is equipped with a 13MP primary camera featuring autofocus, alongside an 8MP ultra-wide lens, which is a step up from the 6MP ultra-wide found on the Galaxy Tab S8 Plus. However, as is common with most tablets, the cameras are not a major focus, and Samsung hasn’t introduced many new features to this essential component.
Galaxy Tab S9 Plus Performance & Benchmarks
Similar to the Galaxy S23 series, the Galaxy Tab S9 Plus is powered by the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy processor. This version offers a slight upgrade, featuring a higher maximum clock speed of 3.36GHz, which is a modest 0.16GHz boost compared to the standard Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, capped at 3.2GHz. To manage heat and maintain peak performance, the device is equipped with a new vapor chamber with two-way heat dissipation, ensuring it performs optimally over extended periods.
The chipset delivers exceptional overall performance and excels in gaming as well. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 competes closely with Apple’s A16 Bionic chip in graphics processing, making it an excellent choice for gamers eagerly anticipating Samsung’s latest tablet. The Galaxy Tab S9 Plus is fast, responsive, and packed with potential, offering a seamless experience for users.
Galaxy Tab S9 Plus Connectivity
You can still opt for the Galaxy Tab S9 Plus with 5G support through carriers like AT&T, US Cellular, or Verizon. However, it’s important to note that the cellular version is only available in a single configuration, offering 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage. Unfortunately, the 512GB storage option is not available if you choose the cellular connectivity model.
Galaxy Tab S9 Plus Battery
Samsung has equipped the Galaxy Tab S9 Plus with the same battery size as its predecessor, the Tab S8 Plus. The 10,090mAh battery, combined with the new chipset, ensures long-lasting performance.
In our custom battery tests, where the display is consistently set to 200 nits of brightness and connected to Wi-Fi, the Galaxy Tab S9 Plus outperforms the smaller Galaxy Tab S9 in both web browsing and 3D gaming tests, showcasing impressive endurance overall.
Galaxy Tab S9 Plus Audio and Haptics
Samsung has equipped the Galaxy Tab S9 Plus, along with the rest of the S9 series, with speakers that are 20% larger. Featuring full Dolby Atmos support and sound tuning by Samsung’s partner AKG, these speakers deliver increased volume. However, the sound lacks some depth in the lower frequencies, resulting in a slightly tinny audio experience. While media consumption on the tablet is still enjoyable, I had hoped for a richer and more immersive sound quality.
Android version
The Galaxy Tab S9 Plus comes preloaded with Android 13, enhanced by Samsung’s One UI 5.1 interface. Samsung’s custom software offers a rich array of features and improvements that go beyond the standard Android experience. At its peak performance, One UI 5.1 delivers numerous functionalities and enhancements, making the tablet stand out from its competitors with its unique and useful additions.
Galaxy Tab S9 Plus Summary and Verdict
The Galaxy Tab S9 Plus represents a subtle yet effective upgrade to Samsung’s tablet lineup. This isn’t a bad thing, as the previous Galaxy Tab Plus models were already top-tier, and these small enhancements make a noticeable difference.
While I’ve always appreciated the mid-sized Galaxy tablets, this year I find myself more drawn to the compact Galaxy Tab S9, which offers the same powerful hardware and stunning display in a more portable size. The Galaxy Tab S9 Plus is by no means inferior, but its larger size and higher price make it harder to justify choosing over the smaller and more affordable Galaxy Tab S9.
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