Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra is the largest tablet in Samsung's 2023 Galaxy Tab S9 family, with a 14.6-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display, a Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip and an IP68 rating. Samsung announced the series on 26 July 2023 and began general sales on 11 August 2023. This article is based on the published specifications and manufacturer information. It covers where the Ultra sits among its siblings, what the display and hardware offer, what Samsung says about the S Pen and software, and where the compromises lie for a tablet of this size.

Where it sits in the lineup

The Tab S9 series has three members: the 11-inch Galaxy Tab S9, the 12.4-inch Galaxy Tab S9+ and the 14.6-inch Ultra. All three share the same processor, the same display technology, the same IP68 rating and the same in-box S Pen; what changes is screen size, battery, memory options and camera count. Samsung said that among customers who had pre-ordered the series, 60 percent chose the Ultra, so the largest model was not a niche choice. If you want a smaller and more affordable tablet from the same year, the Galaxy Tab S9 is the direct sibling, and Samsung's later fan-edition models, the Galaxy Tab S9 FE and the Galaxy Tab S9 FE+, give up the AMOLED screen and the flagship chip for lower prices.

In the United States, the Ultra started at 1,199.99 dollars for the 256GB Wi-Fi model, with 512GB and 1TB versions above that. The Ultra has since been succeeded by newer generations; for the current top model see the Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra, and the table Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra vs Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra shows what two generations changed.

Display

The 14.6-inch panel is a Dynamic AMOLED 2X at 2960 x 1848 pixels with HDR10+ and an adaptive refresh rate of 60 to 120 Hz. Samsung says Eye Comfort lowers blue light by more than 70 percent compared with a normal LCD, and it points to an SGS Eye Care certification as well as an SGS Gaming Performance certification that lists a response time of 0.2 ms or less. A new Vision Booster feature detects bright surroundings and adjusts contrast and colour so that the screen is easier to read outdoors. The 16:10 shape suits video and documents alike. The size is the point: this is a screen for spreadsheets, drawing, editing timelines and reading comics, and much closer to a small laptop display than to a typical tablet. Samsung measures it at 14.6 inches across the full rectangle and 14.5 inches with rounded corners.

Design, size and durability

The Ultra measures 208.6 x 326.4 x 5.5 mm and weighs 732 g for the Wi-Fi model and 737 g for the 5G version. At 5.5 mm it is thinner than many phones, but at over 700 g it is a device you rest on a table or a lap rather than hold in one hand for a long time. The body is Armor Aluminum. The headline durability claim is the IP68 rating, which Samsung says makes it the first Galaxy Tab S model to resist both water and dust; it is tested for immersion in up to 1.5 metres of fresh water for 30 minutes and dust ingress. Samsung adds that water resistance is not permanent and that it does not advise use at the beach or pool. Colours are Graphite and Beige.

The rear camera module was redesigned to echo the Galaxy S series, and the side buttons and speaker arrangement were rearranged. A fingerprint sensor is built into the display. There is no NFC. Optional accessories include the Book Cover Keyboard, which on the Ultra has backlighting, the Smart Book Cover with a stand, the Outdoor Cover and the NotePaper and Privacy screen protectors.

Performance, memory and storage

All three models use the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy, and for the first time in a Galaxy tablet Samsung added a vapour chamber to move heat away, with two-way heat dissipation intended to help sustain performance over a long session. The Ultra comes with 12GB of memory and 256GB or 512GB of storage, or 16GB with 1TB; a microSD card slot accepts up to 1TB more, which is rare in this class and valuable for anyone working with video or large libraries. Connectivity includes Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3 and optional 5G, with USB 3.2 Gen 1 on the port. For a large part of what people do on a tablet the chip is more than enough, and the stability of the cooling matters more than raw speed for editing and gaming.

S Pen and productivity

An S Pen is included in the box, and it is also rated IP68. Samsung describes tip improvements for fewer accidental clicks, a magnetic attachment and bidirectional charging, so the pen charges whichever way round it is attached. Handwriting-to-text is available across a wide range of apps, and Samsung Notes supports live collaboration between Galaxy devices. Multi Window shows up to three apps at once, Samsung DeX gives a desktop-style interface when used with the Book Cover Keyboard, and the Second Screen function can extend a Windows PC onto the tablet. Third-party apps from the launch included GoodNotes, with one year of the full version free, LumaFusion, Clip Studio Paint and ArcSite. The tablet launched with Android 13, and Samsung promises four generations of operating-system upgrades and five years of security updates, so support runs to the late 2020s.

Cameras and audio

The rear has a 13MP main camera and an 8MP ultrawide, and the front has a pair of 12MP cameras, one standard and one ultrawide, a setup aimed at video calls. Video recording is up to 4K at 30 frames per second. Cameras are secondary on a tablet of this size, and no one buys it for photography; the front pair matters more for video meetings, where the wider field of view keeps you in frame. Audio comes from four speakers tuned by AKG with Dolby Atmos support, and Samsung says they are 20 percent larger than on the previous generation.

Battery

The battery is 11,200 mAh (typical), with a rated minimum of 10,880 mAh. Samsung lists video playback of up to 16 hours in its specification and internet use of up to 10 hours, figures that should be read as manufacturer tests rather than guarantees. The tablet can also charge a Galaxy phone through a USB-C cable when the screen is off and the tablet is above 30 percent charge. Charging wattage is not stated in the pages used for this article, so check the box contents and the regional specification page for your market.

Who it is for and where it compromises

The Tab S9 Ultra suits people who want a drawing, note-taking or creative tablet with a large OLED screen, a water-resistant S Pen and the option of a laptop-like setup with keyboard and DeX. It is less convincing for casual viewing or reading in bed, where the size and weight become a burden, and for buyers on a budget, because the starting price was high and accessories are extra. Compare it with Apple's iPad Pro with M5 if you want an alternative ecosystem, or browse all tablets and the rankings to put it in context.