It's a bit late, but it brings significant improvements. Samsung launched the Galaxy Tab S9 5G Series this time, not at the beginning of the year, but alongside the Galaxy Z Flip and Z Fold series. This is roughly a year and a half difference compared to the previous generation, when tablets were gaining popularity as laptop alternatives.
While the exterior isn't much different, Samsung has made several improvements and refreshes to both the software and hardware. So, the most affordable option, the Galaxy Tab S9 5G, now has specifications more on par with the others. This means you don't need to buy the higher end variant for the most complete and best features.
While I tried the Plus model last year, this time I tried the more compact option. After two weeks of use, I feel the Galaxy Tab S9 5G is still perfect for supporting productivity, despite its smaller dimensions. Here's the full review!
Design
The aluminum material feels solid, the beige color looks stylish, and the rear body accents are still similar. What's different? The Galaxy Tab S9 now has only one rear camera, and the stylus marker strip is separate from the camera. Another subtle difference is the IP68 certification. Yes, Samsung's best tablet this year is designed to be dust and water resistant.
I personally can't imagine a suitable scenario for using this tablet in clean water, especially if I use it with a keyboard cover on a daily basis. At least Samsung could provide more protection without having to make the device thicker or sacrificing other hardware. Even the stylus is IP68 rated!
The unit I'm reviewing this time also comes with a keyboard cover. What I like is that the back cover is separate from the keyboard so when you don't need the keyboard, you can just use the back to protect the stylus and function as a kickstand like a Microsoft Surface tablet.
The second thing I like is the touchpad! It's comfortable to use, supports multiple finger gestures, and the keyboard size is still relatively comfortable for fast typing (although it may take some adjusting in the first few hours). Because the tablet's physical dimensions are relatively thin and light, carrying the Galaxy Tab S9 5G with a case and stylus is still very easy, supporting on the go productivity.
Display
The 11 inch screen feels quite comfortable, still comfortable for running two apps in split screen. The 16:10 aspect ratio is more suitable for accessing two apps side by side and watching videos. However, it does feel a bit uncomfortable when held in portrait mode, as it feels tall. At least the four bezels are quite slim.
The high resolution of 2560 x 1600 pixels is perfect for viewing even the smallest text crisply, while the 120Hz refresh rate makes all content feel smooth when scrolling. The Galaxy Tab S9's screen is very comfortable to use, even outdoors. The fingerprint sensor is also in display, located to the right of the screen when viewing landscape with the keyboard or below in portrait mode.
The stylus's comfort is undeniable. Samsung has reduced touch latency to just 2.8 milliseconds, making it suitable for even professional use. By the way, the S Pen stylus is included in the package. Only the keyboard cover is still sold separately better than the iPad, but not as comprehensive as Huawei's in terms of package accessories.
Camera
One slight disappointment is the omission of the Galaxy Tab S9 5G's camera. The rear camera now has only one sensor, a 13MP f/2.0 sensor, with no ultra wide sensor. In my opinion, this sensor is more fitting for a smaller tablet than the two larger variants. Plus, the price is slightly higher.I don't think an ultra wide sensor is essential in a tablet, but it wouldn't hurt to have one on a premium tablet. The Galaxy Tab S9 5G's front camera sensor remains the same: 12MP f/2.4 with an extra wide 120 degree field of view. The quality? It's excellent for a tablet, both front and rear.
Even the Galaxy Tab S9's main camera has HDR capabilities that are as optimal as the Galaxy S23's possibly thanks to the use of chThe device uses the same ISP. The Auto Framing feature also now works slightly more optimally to detect and center faces during video calls.
For video recording, the Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 5G supports resolutions up to 4K at 30fps, from both the front and rear cameras. There's no 60fps option at 1080p. The quality is more than adequate and on par with other flagship class tablets. In my opinion, Samsung chose to retain noise, rather than smoothing the visuals like some of its competitors.
Features
Since reviewing the Galaxy Tab S8+ in early 2022, I've begun to believe that Android tablets have much better potential as productivity devices and alternatives to the iPad. One UI on Samsung tablets is highly optimized for large screens, allowing users to multitask via the taskbar and various smart shortcuts.For more serious or desktop like use, there's Samsung DeX, which allows all applications to run in a window similar to a Windows PC. Now, when connected to an external monitor, the DeX display will be "forwarded" to the monitor, while the tablet screen will display One UI without DeX.
The positive? You can perform different activities on the monitor and the Galaxy Tab S9 5G screen. However, it's not as flexible as an extended screen. I usually use this option when I get home and want to continue a document I was working on from the tablet. It's more practical and compact.
Another thing I need to mention is the audio quality, where the Galaxy Tab S9 5G's speakers are 20% larger on each of its four speakers. Coupled with Dolby Atmos support, I don't feel the need to route the output to an additional speaker. The volume is very loud and clear.
Performance
With the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy chipset, the Galaxy Tab S9 5G's performance is certainly excellent, especially paired with Samsung's highly developed software. Running multiple apps, both in standard mode and Samsung DeX, or connecting it to a monitor, won't slow down the tablet. Various demanding game titles will also run smoothly.To maintain performance, Samsung has, for the first time, introduced a dedicated vapor chamber to the Galaxy Tab S9 5G series. This cooling system is crucial, ensuring applications like video editors and visually complex games can continue to run smoothly for extended periods.
Only the Galaxy Tab S9 5G still comes in the lowest variant with 8GB of RAM, while other sizes already have a minimum of 12GB. Well, 8GB is still more than sufficient. However, again, considering the premium price, it should have been made more uniform to be more future proof and smooth when used for accessing multiple demanding applications simultaneously.
Battery
Although the dimensions are the same, the Galaxy Tab S9 5G's battery capacity is significantly larger, now reaching 8,400 mAh (vs. 8,000 mAh on the Tab S8). With an AMOLED display and a more power efficient chipset, its battery life is quite long. It took me at least two full days to fully deplete this tablet's battery.That's with the screen brightness, which I always set above average. I also noticed that standby power consumption is optimal. Oh, and this is a testimonial from using it without a SIM card. If you're actively using cellular data, the power will definitely drop significantly, although I'm sure it's still good enough for a full day.
The Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 5G supports fast charging up to 45W. When I charged it with a 65W GaN charger, it took almost 90 minutes to reach 100%. This is quite fast, considering the larger mAh battery on this device.
Conclusion
It's better and more refined than the previous generation. But that's to be expected, considering its increasingly expensive price. The Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 5G could be the best Android tablet option in 2023, for all the scenarios you could possibly use a tablet for. Entertainment, productivity, sketching as a creator everything.This year, you don't need to buy a more expensive variant to enjoy the best Samsung tablet experience. While the Plus and Ultra variants do have more cameras (and larger screen sizes), all the core features (and screens) of the Galaxy Tab S9 5G are the same.