Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 vs Previous Models: A Deep-Dive Evolution
Design & Build: From Refined to Rugged
The Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 marks a significant philosophical shift in durability. While the Galaxy Tab S8 and S8+ continued the sleek, premium aluminum unibody design language established by the Tab S7 series, they remained susceptible to the elements. The Galaxy Tab S9, S9+, and S9 Ultra break this mold by introducing an IP68 rating for dust and water resistance—a first for Samsung’s flagship tablets. This means full immersion in fresh water up to 1.5 meters for 30 minutes, a feature absent in both the Tab S8 and Tab S7 families. This transforms the tablet from a strictly indoor or careful-outdoor device into a truly portable companion, resilient against spills, rain, or poolside anxieties.
Aesthetically, the lineage is clear. The Tab S9 inherits the clean, minimalist look with symmetrical bezels. The standout design carryover is the Ultra model, first introduced with the Tab S8 Ultra, with its distinctive notch housing dual front-facing cameras. The Tab S9 series refines this further, offering a slightly more compact footprint and reduced bezel size on the Plus and Ultra models compared to their S8 predecessors. The Tab S7 series, by contrast, featured a more angular camera housing on the back and lacked the Ultra variant entirely, representing a more traditional tablet form factor. All models support the redesigned S Pen, which now features a IP68 rating to match the Tab S9 series, whereas the S Pens for the S8 and S7 were not officially rated for water resistance.
Display: Pushing the Brightness Frontier
Display technology sees iterative but impactful upgrades. All three Tab S9 models feature Dynamic AMOLED 2X displays, a step up from the Tab S8 base model, which used an LTPS TFT LCD screen. The Tab S8+ and S8 Ultra already used Dynamic AMOLED 2X, so the upgrade here for the base S9 is substantial, offering perfect blacks, infinite contrast, and vibrant color. The more significant leap is in peak brightness. The Tab S9 series boasts a staggering 20% increase in peak brightness over the Tab S8 series, which itself was brighter than the Tab S7 line. This makes HDR content more luminous and ensures superior visibility in direct sunlight.
Refresh rates remain at a buttery-smooth 120Hz across all three generations, ensuring seamless scrolling and pen latency. The resolutions see minor tweaks; the Tab S9+ now matches the Tab S8 Ultra’s 12.4-inch screen size but with a slightly higher 2800 x 1752 resolution. The Tab S9 Ultra retains its massive 14.6-inch canvas. A key enhancement is the use of Vision Booster technology across the S9 line, which dynamically adjusts contrast and color tone based on ambient light, a feature more aggressively implemented than in prior models.
Performance & Chipset: The Generational Leap
The performance delta is defined by the transition to the 4nm Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy chipset in the Tab S9. This represents a major leap over the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 in the Tab S8 series and a monumental jump from the Snapdragon 865+ in the Tab S7 line. The improvements are multi-faceted: CPU and GPU performance see gains of approximately 35-40% over the Gen 1, with even more staggering gains over the S7’s chip. More critically, the efficiency of the 4nm process in the Gen 2 drastically reduces heat output and improves battery life consistency under load compared to the less efficient 4nm node of the Gen 1 and the older 7nm process of the 865+.
This translates to sustained performance during intensive tasks like video editing, 3D rendering, or extended gaming sessions—areas where the Tab S8 could throttle slightly and the Tab S7 more noticeably. All models are paired with ample LPDDR5X RAM and UFS storage, but the Tab S9 benefits from faster memory and storage controller speeds. For connectivity, the Wi-Fi 6E support introduced in the Tab S8 series is carried forward, with the Tab S9 adding Bluetooth 5.3 for more stable connections with peripherals.
S Pen & Creativity: Latency Refined
The S Pen experience has been consistently excellent, but with subtle refinements. The Tab S7 series introduced a groundbreaking 9ms latency, which the Tab S8 series matched. The Tab S9 series technically maintains this 9ms figure, but subjectively feels even more instantaneous due to the improved display refresh rate management and the raw processing power of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2. The nib design and pressure sensitivity (4,096 levels) remain consistent, preserving the natural writing feel.
The major S Pen upgrade is, as noted, its new IP68 rating, making it a truly durable tool. The software suite—featuring Samsung Notes, Screen-off Memo, and PDF annotation—has matured across One UI versions. The Tab S9 launches with One UI 5.1.1, offering better multi-window integration and taskbar functionality than the Tab S8’s initial software, and a world apart from the Tab S7’s earlier Android/One UI implementation. The Tab S9 also promises a longer software support window, with four generations of Android OS upgrades and five years of security patches, extending its usable life beyond the S8’s policy and far beyond the S7’s.
Software & Ecosystem: DeX and Multitasking Maturity
The software narrative is one of gradual maturation. The Galaxy Tab S7 series was a watershed moment for Samsung’s tablet vision, launching with an enhanced Samsung DeX experience and better keyboard integration. The Tab S8 series built on this with features like a resizable taskbar. The Tab S9 series arrives with One UI 5.1.1, focusing on refining this multi-app experience. New capabilities include a more flexible pop-up view, enhanced drag-and-drop between apps, and better integration with Samsung Galaxy phones via Connected Devices.
A critical advantage for the Tab S9 is its update promise. It will receive support into 2027/2028, whereas the Tab S7 series is nearing the end of its update cycle. This makes the Tab S9 a more future-proof investment. All models since the S7 support Second Screen functionality as a wireless display for Windows PCs, but the connection stability and latency have improved with each generation due to better Wi-Fi chipsets and software optimization.
Battery & Audio: Sustained Endurance
Battery capacities have seen a strategic increase. The Tab S9 houses an 8,400mAh battery, up from the S8’s 8,000mAh and the S7’s 8,000mAh. The Tab S9+ uses a 10,090mAh cell, compared to the S8+’s 10,090mAh (same) and the S7+’s 10,090mAh. The Ultra models both feature an 11,200mAh battery. The real-world endurance story is less about capacity and more about efficiency. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2’s superior power management means the Tab S9 consistently delivers longer screen-on time than the Tab S8 under similar usage, and a significant improvement over the Tab S7, especially for 5G models. All generations support 45W fast charging, though the charger is not included in the box.
The audio legacy remains stellar. The Tab S7 series introduced AKG-tuned quad speakers with Dolby Atmos. The Tab S8 series continued this. The Tab S9 series retains the quad-speaker setup but refines the audio tuning slightly, offering a marginally wider soundstage. All three generations provide a rich, immersive audio experience that leads the tablet market, with no headphone jack present since the S7 series.
Camera & Videoconferencing
Tablet cameras are often an afterthought, but Samsung has made incremental improvements. The Tab S9 series features a 13MP main + 8MP ultra-wide dual rear system, a configuration similar to the Tab S8. The Tab S7 also had a 13MP+5MP setup. The front-facing camera, however, is crucial. The Tab S9 and S9+ use a 12MP ultra-wide camera, an upgrade from the S8/S7’s 12MP standard front camera, enabling better group calls. The Ultra models continue with their dual front camera setup (12MP + 12MP UW), first seen on the S8 Ultra, offering both field-of-view options and auto-framing during video calls—a feature now enhanced by the Gen 2 chip’s better AI processing.
Value Proposition & Verdict
The Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 established the modern Android flagship tablet formula. The Tab S8 series refined it with better chipsets and the introduction of the Ultra model. The Galaxy Tab S9 series represents the most comprehensive evolution, not through one revolutionary feature, but through a series of meaningful, user-centric upgrades. The IP68 rating is a game-changer for durability. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 delivers a cooler, more efficient, and significantly more powerful experience. The display brightness jump enhances outdoor usability. The extended software support future-proofs the investment.
For Tab S7 users, the upgrade to the Tab S9 is highly compelling, offering improvements in every single category—performance, display quality, software longevity, and durability. For Tab S8 users, the decision is more nuanced. The IP68 rating and efficiency gains of the Gen 2 chip are the key differentiators; creative professionals and those who use their tablet in varied environments will find substantial value. The Tab S9 solidifies Samsung’s position at the apex of Android tablets, not by reinventing the wheel, but by perfecting its engineering and expanding its resilience.