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Samsung Galaxy Tab S9: Everything we know so far
Update: June 1, 2023 (04:33 PM ET): We have updated the Galaxy Tab S9 hub to include the confirmed launch location of the next Galaxy Unpacked.
Original article: The Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 series should be the next set of flagship Android tablets from the South Korean tech giant. Samsung launched three new models in the Galaxy Tab S8 series last year. It was the first time that the company introduced an “Ultra” category tablet with the massive Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra, complete with premium specs and high-end pricing to take on Apple’s iPad Pro. Expectations are even higher for Samsung’s 2023 tablet flagships. Here’s everything we know about the Galaxy Tab S9 series so far.
Will there be a Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 series?
If rumors are correct, Samsung is indeed preparing three new models in the Galaxy Tab S9 line. According to GalaxyClub, a reputable source of Samsung leaks, the company’s new tablet series will mirror the Galaxy Tab S8 line and consist of the Galaxy Tab S9, Galaxy Tab S9 Plus, and Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra. The Dutch publication also posted the model numbers for the series. You can see those below:
- Galaxy Tab S9: SM-X710 (Wi-Fi), SM-X716B (5G Global), SM-X718U (5G US)
- Galaxy Tab S9 Plus: SM-X810 (Wi-Fi), SM-X816B (5G Global), SM-X818U (5G US)
- Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra: SM-X910 (Wi-Fi), SM-X916B (5G Global), SM-X918U (5G US)
What is the Galaxy Tab S9 series release date?
- Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 — July 31, 2019
- Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 — August 5, 2020
- Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 — February 9, 2022
Samsung debuted the Galaxy Tab S8 series alongside the Galaxy S22 series in early 2022. However, no new tablet announcements accompanied the Galaxy S23 launch earlier this year. That’s probably because Samsung is expected to launch the Galaxy Tab S9 series in the second half of the year, alongside the Galaxy Z Fold 5 and Galaxy Z Flip 5. This information comes courtesy of The Elec, which reported last October that Samsung postponed the development of the new tablets due to the economic slowdown and weakened demand for tech products. As a result, the Tab S9 series launch apparently got pushed further into 2023.
If the Galaxy Tab S9 series does launch at the next Galaxy Unpacked, that event is rumored to land on July 26. We also have confirmation from a Samsung exec that the launch will happen in Seoul, Samsung’s home city.
We’ll keep an eye out for more rumors regarding the launch of the Galaxy Tab S9 series and update this article with any potential release information.
What features and specs will the Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 series have?
Design
Until recently, the design of the Galaxy Tab S9 series remained a mystery. However, that changed after renders of the Galaxy Tab S9 Plus leaked. Based on the images, it seems Samsung may have decided to stick mostly with the same aesthetics as the Galaxy Tab S8 Series. The only difference appears to be the dual rear cameras that look a lot like the ones on the Galaxy S23 series.
Later on, in May 2023, we saw leaked renders for the Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra. As suggested by the Plus model leak, it doesn’t appear Samsung is changing much up design-wise for the Ultra model, either. For better or worse, that also means the continuation of the display notch:
We are still waiting to see renders of the vanilla Galaxy Tab S9. Judging by the fact that we’ve seen two out of the three models, it’s only a matter of time before the third one emerges.
Specs and features
An exclusive report from SamMobile claimed in February that the Galaxy Tab S9 series would have an IP67 rating. That’s a significant upgrade since Samsung’s flagship tablets haven’t featured water resistance. The S Pen received FCC certification in April. It was revealed that the stylus supports Bluetooth Low Energy and has a built-in 2.40V capacitor for quick recharging. As expected, it will also likely be attached to the tablet through a magnetic strip.
Meanwhile, a tipster named Revegnus on Twitter revealed that the Tab S9 Ultra would be powered by an overclocked version of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, the same one found on the Galaxy S23 series. Compared to the regular Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy increases the primary clock speed by 0.16GHz and the GPU clock speed by 39MHz.
Apart from the processor, the leaker also outed the Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra’s battery size. According to them, the tablet will be equipped with a 10,880mAh battery, slightly smaller than the 11,220mAh battery of the Tab S8 Ultra. It’s still bigger than the 2022 iPad Pro’s 10,758mAh battery and should make for a long-lasting tablet.
The Tab S9 series will likely be powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy.
A leak from Ice Universe claims that the Ultra could sport a 14.6-inch 2,960 x 1,848 display, 16GB of RAM (LPDDR5X), and an 11,200mAh battery with 45W wired charging. The leak also suggests that the Ultra measures 208.6 x 326.4 x 5.5mm with a weight of 737 grams.
Focusing in on that wired charging speed, the Galaxy Tab S9 Plus and S9 Ultra were spotted in the TUV Rheinland database — a certification and testing firm. The database appears to confirm that both versions of the tablet will indeed have 45W fast charging. The base model was not found in the database, but it’s possible it could also support the same fast charging speed.
Another leak from Revegnus suggests there will be three storage options for the Ultra model. These options include 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage, 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage, and 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage. The 12GB and 16GB variants are rumored to come with UFS 4.0 storage, while the 8GB will have UFS 3.1 storage.
Moving on to the Plus model, a leak — provided by WolfofTablets and OnLeaks — revealed that the tablet could have a resolution of 1,752 x 2,800. That display is said to be 12.4 inches, with the tablet measuring 285.4 x 185.4 x 5.6mm. It is also expected to have two rear cameras, a selfie camera, and a secondary front-facing sensor that could be another camera for landscape videos and pictures. Finally, it reportedly offers S Pen support, 45W charging, and an under-display optical fingerprint sensor.
In a surprising turn of events, it looks like the 11-inch base Galaxy Tab S9 model will sport an OLED display this time around. The information comes from DSCC head Ross Young. If true, this could be great news for prospective buyers since the previous two generations used LCD panels for the base model, reserving AMOLED panels for the higher variants.
That’s all we know about the specs of the Galaxy Tab S9 series for now. These and many more questions remain unanswered about the Galaxy Tab S9 series. Watch this space for more information as and when leaks reveal new details about the tablets.
What will the Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 series prices be?
Once again, there’s no information on pricing for the Galaxy Tab S9 series. However, we expect Samsung to ask for at least the same amount of cash as the Galaxy Tab S8 lineup. That means the regular Tab S9 model should cost around $699, the Tab S9 Plus could start at $899, and the Tab S9 Ultra should be the most expensive of the lot at $1,099+. Nothing is set in stone, though. Samsung may or may not alter the prices of the new tablets.
Have any Galaxy Tab S9 series leaks to share with us? Send us a tip, and we’ll be sure to check it out.