In the past when Samsung would launch new Galaxy tablets there would always be a notable difference between them with the main distinguishing factor being the display size or the battery size of the tablet. This year wasn’t any different, as Samsung Galaxy tablet S 9 Plus’s main differentiator from its predecessor is the high-end AMOLED display unlike the LCD that will be found in different versions plus in the Galaxy Tab S8 Plus has a lower chipset.

 In 2023, Samsung launched three versions of the Tab 9 series that are a bit costly but still pose as an amazing device. Launched alongside some of Samsung’s best work yet, such as the  Galaxy Z Fold 5, Galaxy Z Flip 5, the Galaxy Watch 6, and Galaxy Watch 6 Classic. The Galaxy Tab S9 Plus poses a delicate balance of everything amazing between the Galaxy Tab S9 and the Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra. Let us review this device to check if it is worth your purchasing.

Design

Starting off with the overall design of this sleek tablet, with body dimensions of 285.4 x 185.4 x 5.7 mm gives the tablet a premium look while the materials used to build the device the aluminum frame and glass front make it perfect for enduring any bumps and scraps when they happen. If you had a chance to hold the  Galaxy Tab S8 Plus you will realize that it has a very minimal difference in terms of the overall design with the  Galaxy Tab S9 Plus. This tablet weighs 586 g  making it light for you to carry in your hands when using it.

In the box, you are going to find the S Pen that you can use to take notes as soon as you are done setting up your new tablet. What I realized that was new on the S Pen is the omnidirectional magnetic that firmly holds onto the pen when it is not in use. The unique selling factor of the Galaxy Tab S8 Plus is the  IP68 dust/water resistant rating giving you peace of mind that your device is protected for up to 1.5m for 30 min even when it is not covered without a case.

The screen of the tablet is covered in a corning gorilla, giving you peace of mind that your display is taken off, on the right side you will notice the volume button and power button and a sim card slot for microSD cards on the Wi-Fi model. At the bottom, you will notice the speaker. The aluminum build gives it an elegant design.

Display

The screen display of the Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 is phenomenal with a 12.4 inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display that has a decent screen resolution of 1752 x 2800 pixels providing you with an excellent display when you are viewing content on your device. Coupled up with a 120Hz refresh rate it gives you a smooth scrolling experience when you use the display. You can always change the refresh rate back to 60Hz if you want to conserve your battery life. Keep in mind that the screen resolution is perfect for watching TV shows because it has an aspect ratio of 16:10 making it wider and  more narrow compared to that of an iPad 

Samsung also ensured to include a Vision Booster feature that automatically adjusts the contracts and brightness of the content on your display depending on the light environment where you are. If you are considering purchasing this device for work it will serve you well, but the display is perfect for watching movie shows especially when you are commuting or just don’t want to turn on the TV.

Speakers

You get a double treat with the Galaxy Tab S9 Plus because, on top of the dynamic AMOLED 2X display that is perfect for viewing content on your tablet, you also get four omnidirectional speakers that are powered by AKG providing you with a rich and detailed sound. You will absolutely enjoy the experience when playing movie trailers or music with the balanced stereo speakers and attention to detail that has been placed by Samsung.

Camera

The Galaxy Tab S9 Plus camera has a dual main camera of a 13MP wide camera and an 8 MP ultrawide camera, nothing much to brag about the quality of images captured but the camera but the camera is decent. Plus at the front, you get a 12 MP ultra-wide camera that comes in handy for documenting events happening or used for video calls. If you want amazing photos then consider getting the Galaxy S23 that has been built for photography in mind.

Performance

The Samsung Galaxy tablet S9 series has the same chipset that we find in the Galaxy S23 series, with the Tab S9 Plus containing the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset that provides a great performance coupled with a maximum clock rate of 3.36GHz. What I loved most was knowing that Samsung has a vapor chamber that has a two-way heat dissipation that ensures your tablet temperature is well balanced even during maximum performance for a long period of time without overheating.

You can purchase the Galaxy Tab S9 Plus in two storage options either the 12GB of internal storage and 256GB of ROM or the 12GB of RAM with 512 GB of ROM. Keep in mind that the tablet comes with a dedicated slot on the bottom right that provides you with extra storage if you need to expand from what Samsung provides. On top of the  Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset, you also get an Android 13 operating system with Samsung’s own interface One UI 5.1 that helps with the smooth running of applications. The operating system also comes with many added features that give you the best functions while using the tablet.

S Pen

Inside the box, you will get the S Pen matching the color of the tablet that you buy. The Spen comes in handy when you are taking notes on the tablet or simply doodling. The S Pen can be hosted on the backside with the magnetic features that come with the back body. However, you have to be careful when carrying your tablet around that the Pen doesn’t fall out because the magnetic mechanism provided by Samsung isn’t the strongest.

The S Pen comes in handy when you want to multitask between the different features on the tablet, allowing you to operate up to 3 different applications all in a split window and you can increase the number of applications you are using when you are using the free-floating features but be careful because your display might get clattered real quick.

One upgrade we have seen with the S Pen this year with the S9 tablet series is that it can be charged from any direction you place it on the back. Unlike what we saw on the Galaxy Tab S8 series where the S Pen had to be placed in a specific direction to charge. One other thing that we love seeing is the S Pen comes with an IP69 rating protecting it against water and dust. Giving you the freedom to note down a thought if you are in the bath or by the beach.

Battery

The same battery size that we saw in the previous model the Tab S8 Plus is the same battery capacity size of 10,090mAh that we see on the Tab S9 Plus. This battery can keep your tablet running for a long period of time, especially considering the fact that the chipset has been designed to conserve the battery life of your tablet. In the event that you need to charge your tablet, the Galaxy Tab s9 Plus comes with a 45-watt fast charging capacity that can charge your device to full capacity in less than 2 hours.

Conclusion

The Galaxy Tab S9 Plus is obviously an upgrade from the previous model Galaxy Tab S8 Plus with the major improvements being on the camera, and display plus a faster and a better processor. This tablet acts as a perfect substitute for a laptop and you should consider purchasing it in the two storage options provided for you.

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