Better in just about each facet
Besides the chassis and display screen dimension, the Galaxy Tab S9 seems to be a greater total pill in each conceivable notion in comparison with the Tab S8. This contains the brand new AMOLED show, decrease S Pen latency, and upgraded processor.
For
- OLED show with 120Hz refresh price
- S Pen latency all the way down to 2.8ms
- Four years of Android OS updates
- Slightly-larger battery
- Built-in microSD card slot
Against
- Only two colours
- More RAM is barely accessible with 256GB mannequin
- More costly
Still fairly nice
The Galaxy Tab S8 isn’t any slouch on this planet of Android tablets, and we’re truly anticipating Samsung to maintain it round. However, it simply does not match as much as what the Tab S9 has to supply.
For
- Less costly
- Four years of Android OS updates
- Fingerprint scanner on Power button
- Built-in microSD card slot
Against
- LCD panel seems to be outdated
- S Pen latency is increased (6.2ms vs. 2.8ms)
- Smaller battery
It’s that point once we attempt to assist you determine whether or not it is price upgrading to a brand new system. This time round, we’re looking on the Galaxy Tab S9 vs. Galaxy Tab S8, as Samsung has introduced its refreshed flagship pill lineup.
The common Galaxy Tab S8 was overshadowed by the likes of the Tab S8 Plus and Tab S8 Ultra in 2022. But that is not the case with the Galaxy Tab S9, as this would possibly simply find yourself being the most effective Android pill for everybody.
Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 vs. Galaxy Tab S8: What’s the identical?
Why you can belief Android Central
Our knowledgeable reviewers spend hours testing and evaluating services and products so you can select the most effective for you. Find out extra about how we check.
Unlike the Galaxy Tab S9 Plus and Tab S9 Ultra, the “child” Galaxy Tab S9 solely matches up with its predecessor in a couple of methods. The most blatant is that each the Tab S9 and Tab S8 use 11-inch shows, full with a 120Hz variable refresh price.
They are additionally accessible with both 8GB or 12GB of RAM and 128GB or 256GB of storage, which might be upgraded courtesy of the built-in microSD card slot. As was the case with the Tab S8, the one manner that you can get 12GB of RAM on the Tab S9 is that if you go for the 256GB mannequin.
There’s additionally not a lot that has modified in the best way of the design, as you’ll nonetheless be greeted with an ultra-thin slab of aluminum with glass on the entrance. Samsung is even utilizing the identical 13MP rear digicam from the Tab S8 with the Tab S9, for many who wish to use their pill to take footage.
Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 vs. Galaxy Tab S8: What’s totally different?
There are fairly a couple of variations throughout the board when evaluating the Galaxy Tab S9 vs. Galaxy Tab S8. The most blatant is the introduction of an AMOLED show, which is an improve from the LCD panel on the Galaxy Tab S8. This feels prefer it was one thing that ought to’ve been accessible final yr, however we’re glad to see it now.
If you look throughout Samsung’s total lineup of flagship-tier units in 2023, they’re all now powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy chip. This goals to supply a slight increase in efficiency whereas additionally being rather more environment friendly in comparison with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 from final yr.
The Tab S9 additionally will get a slight bump in battery life, going from an 8,000mAh cell to an 8,400mAh battery. It stays to be seen whether or not it will truly equate to longer battery life, because the AMOLED show will certainly eat extra vitality than the Tab S8s LCD panel. Perhaps that is the place we’ll see the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy be capable of flex its muscle tissues to eke out extra juice.
| Category | Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 | Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 |
|---|---|---|
| Display | 11-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2x, 60Hz-120Hz), 2560 x 1600 | 11-inch TFT LCD (120Hz), 2560 x 1600 |
| Chipset | Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy | Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 |
| Memory | 8GB or 12GB | 8GB |
| Storage | 128GB or 256GB w/ microSD card slot (as much as 1TB) | 128GB or 256GB w/ microSD card slot (as much as 1TB) |
| Rear Camera 1 (primary digicam) | 13MP AF | 13MP AF + 6MP UW |
| Rear Camera 2 (ultrawide) | ❌ | ❌ |
| Front | 12MP | 12MP |
| Battery | 8,400mAh | 8,000mAh |
| Sound | Quad Stereo Speakers w/ AKG tuning, Dolby Atmos | Quad Stereo Speakers w/ AKG tuning, Dolby Atmos |
| Biometrics | On-screen fingerprint scanner | Fingerprint on energy button |
| Connectivity | 5G, LTE, Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3 | WiFi 6E (6GHz), Bluetooth 5.2 |
| Stylus | S Pen included w/ 2.8ms latency | S Pen included w/ 6.2ms latency |
| Weight | 498 grams | 503 grams |
| Dimensions | 10.01 x 6.53 x 0.23 in | 9.99 x 6.51 x 0.25 in |
| Colors | Beige, Graphite | Graphite, Silver, Pink Gold |
Another massive profit to creating the change to an AMOLED show on the Tab S9 is the included S Pen. Samsung did not return and attempt to reinvent the wheel right here, however utilizing the S Pen with the Tab S9 now affords a 2.8ms latency. This is an enormous soar from the 6.2ms of latency discovered on the Tab S8, which is nice for digital artists or those that similar to writing on their pill display screen.
Something to remember when evaluating the Galaxy Tab S9 vs. Galaxy Tab S8 is the worth. Samsung’s newest pill is now $100 dearer for the bottom mannequin, coming in at $799 with 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. This will get bumped as much as $919 for the mannequin with 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage, but when you handle to get your pre-orders in, you’ll get a free storage and RAM improve on the $800 value level.
We will not be stunned if Samsung retains the Tab S8 sequence round, and costs have already been slashed. At the time of this writing, the bottom mannequin Tab S8 might be had for $600, whereas the Tab S8+ and Tab S8 Ultra have additionally been discounted.
Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 vs. Galaxy Tab S8: Should you improve?
Unlike the Galaxy Z Fold 5 vs. Galaxy Z Fold 4, Samsung has achieved fairly a bit with the Tab S9 to warrant an improve over the Tab S8. The transfer to an AMOLED show is sufficient of a cause by itself, whereas the improved S Pen latency and new processor are actually simply cherries on prime.
But if you’re even contemplating making the transfer to the newer mannequin, we suggest doing so sooner somewhat than later. Samsung is providing some fairly nice trade-in offers, as you’ll be capable of save $500 when buying and selling in your “outdated” Tab S8. This knocks the worth down to simply $300, and Samsung is even together with the aforementioned free storage/RAM improve.
If you’re in search of an ultra-portable, but highly effective, Android pill, the Galaxy Tab S9 would possibly simply be good. Its 11-inch, 120Hz AMOLED show is gorgeous, and the improved efficiency is properly definitely worth the improve.
Whether you’re seeking to improve or simply need a new Android pill, the Galaxy Tab S8 continues to be fairly darn good. So good, in actual fact, that Samsung’s providing $500 if you commerce within the Tab S8 for the Tab S9.