Samsung Unveils New Galaxy Tab S9 Series with OLED Screens and Water Resistance
Samsung has introduced its latest high-end Android tablets, the Galaxy Tab S9, S9 Plus, and S9 Ultra. These new models follow the Tab S8 series from last year, featuring similar designs and features. The Tab S9 starts at $799.99, while the larger models are priced at $999.99 and $1,199.99, respectively. Preorders for all three tablets begin on July 26th, with shipping scheduled to start on August 11th.
While the Tab S9 lineup retains its focus on productivity, offering features for multitasking and power users, the tablets now sport OLED screens across all models. Previously, only the largest models had OLED displays. With refresh rates of up to 120Hz, these screens provide smooth scrolling and lower pen latency. However, Samsung maintains the 16:10 aspect ratio, which may limit portrait-oriented use cases compared to the iPad.
A notable upgrade is the addition of IP68-rated dust and water resistance across the Tab S9 lineup, making them the first in the series to offer this feature. Along with the OLED screens, this helps differentiate Samsung’s tablets and justifies their premium pricing.
Under the hood, all Tab S9 models are powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy processor, Samsung’s exclusive version of Qualcomm’s top-tier chipset. Memory options range from 8GB on the base 11-inch S9 model to 12GB on the rest of the lineup and 16GB on the S9 Ultra. Storage choices vary from 128GB to 1TB, with support for expandable storage via microSD cards.
While only the Tab S9 Plus comes with 5G connectivity, all three models support Wi-Fi 6E for high-speed home networking. Other hardware features include the S Pen stylus, quad-speaker system with Dolby Atmos, and in-screen fingerprint scanners. The tablets come in beige or graphite gray colors, with the S Pen Creator Edition offering an advanced writing and drawing experience.
Samsung’s software provides robust productivity and multitasking options, allowing users to run up to three apps simultaneously in a split-screen setup or switch to a full desktop environment with the Dex feature. The new Multi Control feature enables wireless copying and pasting or image dragging to a compatible Samsung phone.
While the Tab S9 series offers excellent performance and top-notch displays, the price may remain a barrier for some customers, as more affordable options are available in the market. Despite increased competition, Samsung’s tablets continue to be a strong contender in the high-end Android tablet market.