Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 vs S9+ vs S9 Ultra specs, price & value
We compare the specs, price, and value for money of the Samsung Galaxy Tab S9, Galaxy Tab S9 Plus, and Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra
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Comparing the Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 vs S9+ vs S9 Ultra there’s a surprisingly small amount of difference in the specifications, they all even come in the same colors! There are however some key variances you need to be aware of when making your purchase.
Following their reveal at the Samsung Galaxy Unpacked Event 2023, we now know almost all the specs plus pricing of the three different SKUs. Read below for a comparative breakdown of all the specs and features, plus our verdict on which one you should buy. Let’s get into it!
Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 vs S9+ vs S9 Ultra specs
Below you can see the breakdown of the specifications of the Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 series. As you can see, there’s actually quite a lot of commonality between the devices this year.
| Galaxy Tab S9 | Galaxy Tab S9+ | Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Display | 11″, Dynamic AMOLED 2X 120Hz | 12.4″, Dynamic AMOLED 2X 120Hz | 14.6″, Dynamic AMOLED 2X 120Hz |
| CPU | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 |
| Graphics | Qualcomm Adreno 740 with Ray Tracing | Qualcomm Adreno 740 with Ray Tracing | Qualcomm Adreno 740 with Ray Tracing |
| Memory | 8GB/12GB LPDDR5 RAM | 12GB LPDDR5 RAM | 12GB /16GB LPDDR5 RAM |
| Storage | 128GB / 256GB & MicroSD expansion | 256GB / 512GB & MicroSD expansion | 256GB / 512GB / 1TB & MicroSD expansion |
| Ports | USB Type-C 3.2 Gen 1 | USB Type-C 3.2 Gen 1 | USB Type-C 3.2 Gen 1 |
| Camera | Front: 12MP UW Rear: 13MP | Front: 12MP UW Rear: 13MP + 8MP UW | Front: 12MP + 12MP UW Rear: 13MP + 8MP UW |
| Battery | 8,400mAh | 10,090mAh | 11,200mAh |
| Weight | 1.10lbs | 1.30lbs | 1.62lbs |
| Dimensions | 10.01″ x 6.53″ x 0.23″ | 11.23″ x 7.30″ x 0.22″ | 12.85″ x 8.21″ x 0.21″ |
| OS | Android 13 | Android 13 | Android 13 |
| Other Features | S Pen included, Fingerprint reader, Quad speaker array | S Pen included, Fingerprint reader, Quad speaker array | S Pen included, Fingerprint reader, Quad speaker array |
| Color options | Graphite, Beige | Graphite, Beige | Graphite, Beige |
Screen/Display
We’re not sure as of yet what the exact difference in resolution will be between the three devices, but they all have the same AMOLED panel with 120Hz maximum refresh rate, meaning they’re all equally suitable for creative use and/or gaming in terms of the actual screen.
CPU/Processor & graphics
As with last year’s S8 series, the CPU/chipset/processor is the same across all versions, as is the integrated graphics. This means that the cheapest S9 will perform as well in processor-intensive tasks (running any kind of software, games being the most demanding). The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 should handle these kind of programs substantially better than the Gen 1 from the last line.
RAM & Storage
As you can see above, only the Ultra version has access to the maximum memory and storage loadout of 16GB RAM and 1TB SSD, so if you’re likely to need either of these in the functions you intend to use the tablet for, the Ultra is your only option. Upgrading your RAM and storage can cost you a pretty penny generally, though if you pre order one of these devices from the Samsung Store you can get a free or reduced cost storage and/or RAM upgrade.
Battery life
As you can see above, the battery sizes increase as you go up the SKUs, however so does the display size which you’d expect to draw more power, so we’re not actually sure how this translates to battery life yet until independent tests and reviews can take place. If we had to guess, we’d say the Ultra would probably have the best battery duration of the three, but we’ll have to wait and see!
Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 vs S9+ vs S9 Ultra price
The pricing for the different variants is listed below, with the price range covering the MSRP from the lowest spec in terms of storage and RAM loadout, to the highest spec. There are different price ranges depending on whether you go for the Wi-Fi version or the 5G variant.
- Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 price: $799-$919 (Wi-Fi variant), $949 -$1,049 (5G variant)
- Samsung Galaxy Tab S9+ price: $999-$1,199 (Wi-Fi variant), $1,149 -$1,249 (5G variant)
- Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra price: $1,199-$1,619 (Wi-Fi variant), $1,349 -$1,699 (5G variant)
Final Word
So in the battle of Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 vs S9 Plus vs S9 Ultra – which should you pick? Summarising all the above, there’s actually not a great deal of difference between the three. The cheapest Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 variant equipped with 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage will probably be the best pick for most people – having a sufficient amount of both to browse the web and store typical files on the hard drive. The only reason you’d want to upgrade to the other two variants is for the bigger screen size, or if you definitely need more disk space and RAM.
Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 vs S9 Plus vs S9 Ultra FAQs
Which Galaxy Tab S9 should I buy?
If your only interests are in processing power or the quality of the display, then you might as well opt for the cheapest Galaxy Tab S9 variant.
If you’re looking for a bigger sized display, more RAM and storage options, or better cameras, then picking the S9+ or S9 Ultra could be the better option for you.
What screen does the Galaxy Tab S9 have?
All variants of the Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 have an AMOLED display panel with a maximum 120Hz refresh rate, making them all equally suitable for creative use and/or gaming.
All models come with S Pen touchscreen support for those interested in using a stylus.
