As an alternative of alternating between its “Fan Version” and S tablets, because it did in 2021 and 2022, Samsung allegedly has determined to launch each the Galaxy Tab S9 sequence and Galaxy Tab S8 FE this summer season.
A number of rumors have already emerged surrounding the pill: SamMobile (opens in new tab) stories the Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 can have IP67 mud and water resistance — a primary for the lineup exterior of the Energetic sequence. And Galaxy Club (opens in new tab) claims that Samsung will as soon as once more launch three tablets (and three 5G variants), bringing again the 14.6-inch Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra.
Whereas the Galaxy Tab S8 FE will goal extra frugal patrons, the Galaxy Tab S9 sequence ought to have the cutting-edge efficiency and lovely shows we have come to count on from the lineup. And with One UI 5 persevering with to enhance multitasking software program and extra Android apps getting higher pill optimization, we’re fairly proud of our present Tab S8s. So we’re not demanding that Samsung reinvent the wheel right here.
Having reviewed the Galaxy Tab S8+ and consulted my colleague Andrew Myrick, who reviewed the Extremely, listed below are our concepts (each cheap and outlandish) for the latest Tab S9 era.
Let the IP67 and 5G leaks be true
Waterproofing is extraordinarily uncommon for tablets, exterior of “rugged” choices that normally haven’t got the very best specs in different areas like efficiency. If Samsung actually does add IP67 water resistance — SamMobile notes in its report that “it’s additionally not unusual for preliminary machine plans to vary” — we might be completely thrilled. Each as a result of it might defend an costly funding from accidents and since different pill makers like Apple may observe go well with.
The opposite leak about six Tab S9 fashions additionally excites us. Final era, solely the Galaxy Tab S8+ had a 5G mobile choice, which felt a bit arbitrary. The Galaxy Tab S9 is greatest designed for portability and is extra seemingly for use in public areas, whereas the Galaxy Tab S9 Extremely will goal productiveness patrons who may want 5G for work journey.
Mobile connectivity on tablets is a distinct segment characteristic not many individuals will purchase. Nonetheless, those who do will recognize not getting pigeonholed into one pill dimension (even when the Tab S8+ is our favorite Android tablet).
An S Pen Professional…or an S Pen slot?
First, let’s focus on the extra cheap choice. The Galaxy Tab S sequence comes together with your run-of-the-mill S Pen, which is not a foul factor: latency on the Tab S8+ and Extremely is an absurdly low 2.8ms now, so easy and instantaneous that drawing on it feels completely pure. Plus, the pen design makes it fairly snug to carry.
The one draw back is that the pen nub is not particularly sturdy, and Samsung does not ship its S Pens with alternative suggestions anymore — one thing we would like to see modified, however will not essentially rely on.
Ideally, although, Samsung would ship the Tab S9 with the S Pen Pro, or provide it as a bundled in-box improve fairly than having to purchase it along with the bottom S Pen.
The S Pen Professional, which is already suitable with the Tab S8 and S7, offers you three perks: Air Instructions for gesture shortcuts, Bluetooth assist, and compatibility with different Samsung Galaxy telephones if you happen to’re a super-user. Bluetooth is most essential as a result of the usual S Pen may be simply misplaced, whereas you possibly can observe the S Pen Professional’s location utilizing SmartThings so long as the 16-hour battery lasts.
Typically, the Galaxy Tab S Pen is definitely misplaced as a result of the magnetic strip on the Tab S8’s rear is not particularly sturdy. Put your pill down anyplace, forgetting that the S Pen is positioned there, and it might not keep on the pill till you decide it up. You’ll be able to have the pill notify you if the S Pen is dislodged, however you could not discover till it is too late (with out correct Bluetooth monitoring that can assist you discover it).
My colleague Namerah Faud Satmi steered that Samsung add an S Pen slot to the Galaxy Tab S9 as a alternative for the feeble magnetic strip. Samsung has been trying and failing so as to add an S Pen slot into its Z Fold sequence for the final couple of generations, and it is an issue of physics for the Galaxy Tab sequence as nicely: the S Pen is 6.7 x 5.5 x 130.4mm, whereas the Galaxy Tab S8 sequence’ thickness ranges from 5.5mm to six.3mm.
Samsung would want to make the Galaxy Tab S9 thicker and heavier to accommodate an S Pen slot, or else ship the pill with a smaller S Pen — neither of which is probably going. Sorry, Namerah! We’ll need to make do with Tab S9 circumstances that’ll maintain it safe in place, or an S Pen Professional improve to raised observe it.
A greater (censored) keyboard cowl
Our Tablets Editor Andrew Myrick made the colourful request above, which tracks given his utter disappointment with the Galaxy Tab S8 Extremely Book Cover Keyboard.
His evaluation mentioned unequivocally that “there’s nearly no circumstance the place I’d suggest this keyboard to anybody.” He appreciates it for the backlight, respectable typing expertise, and the automated change to DeX mode while you join it to the pill; however it’s unreliable besides on flat surfaces, the trackpad is horrible, and it is simply too dang costly at $350.
I used to be barely extra bullish on my Tab S8+ keyboard, just because it value lower than half that value (I examined the keyboard-only accent fairly than the trackpad choice). However it’s nonetheless a far cry in typing high quality from any Bluetooth mechanical keyboard you may purchase, because the Microsoft Floor-style design limits the important thing spacing and journey by comparability.
Andrew’s advice is that Samsung “borrow” Apple’s Magic Keyboard model as a substitute for an improve, whereas I am extra hopeful that Samsung will make its keyboard equipment just a little extra inexpensive as a substitute. It tends to supply them at no cost as a preorder perk, however anybody shopping for a Tab later should not need to spend a lot for an average-at-best expertise.
A charger and a headphone jack
These requests are each probably the most cheap up to now, and likewise the 2 I am pretty sure will not occur.
First, Samsung is not distinctive in its option to neglect together with a charger with its tech. It did not present one with final 12 months’s Galaxy Tab S8, this 12 months’s Galaxy S23, or most of its units from the previous few years. However the reality is, these S9 tablets can have huge batteries (round 8,000–11,200mAh in the event that they keep the identical dimension), and charging with something lower than 45W will take far too lengthy.
A Samsung 45W Quick Charger prices $50, however nobody spending near a grand on a pill just like the Tab S9 Extremely ought to need to pay further on prime of that. It is a laptop computer alternative, and no firm would dare promote a laptop computer with no charger.
As for the three.5mm headphone jack, Samsung hasn’t included one on a flagship pill because the S4, and it is not coming again. Solely cheap Android tablets just like the Galaxy Tab A7 Lite appear to have them as of late as a result of they’re designed primarily for streaming. Hmm, I ponder if anybody may use a pixel-rich AMOLED show with a 120Hz refresh fee for streaming video or gaming?
Sarcasm apart, it is a disgrace Samsung will not buck its tendencies for both request, particularly the charger.
Subsequent-gen storage, and extra of it!
One refined perk of the newest Galaxy S23 Ultra and S23+ is that each telephones begin with 256GB of storage because the default. Particularly, they use UFS 4.0 storage that doubles the learn & write speeds (4,200MB/s and a couple of,800MB, respectively) to and out of your drive. It permits for sooner picture processing, shorter sport loading, and diminished energy consumption throughout transfers.
Apparently, Samsung has solely developed the know-how for storage drives of 256GB and up, which implies the 128GB Galaxy S23 downgrades to the outdated UFS 3.1 commonplace, one thing that many customers will not understand.
That is why we would like the Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 to simply leap to 256GB UFS 4.0 throughout the board — or at the very least beginning with the Tab S9+.
We all know the Tab S sequence comes with a microSD slot — one thing we severely hope by no means modifications — however Samsung ought to accommodate the vast majority of its customers that can by no means purchase a microSD card, and make further storage the default, fairly than a preorder perk because it has carried out up to now.
Keep the course on specs (with a couple of upgrades)
Most of our requests concern equipment, area of interest options, and new upgrades that few tablets have supplied earlier than (like waterproofing). We have not had a lot to say in regards to the design or specs as a result of, frankly, we already cherished the Galaxy Tab S8 series! Why rock the boat?
We’re already fairly proud of the 120Hz refresh charges and excessive pixel-per-inch shows (between 240 and 276), the cumbersome batteries, the punchy quad-speaker audio, the upgraded ultrawide selfie digicam with auto-tracking, and different top-class perks that the Tab S9 will inherit from the S8.
The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 improve is what we most look ahead to, since final era’s 8 Gen 1 tended to overheat and underperform in lots of circumstances. It will give the Galaxy Tab S9 sequence a formidable increase for gaming and different intensive functions — particularly in the event that they add UFS 4.0 storage.
It is even doable the pill may sport the unannounced Snapdragon 8 Gen 2+ for an extra improve in efficiency, alongside the Galaxy Z Fold 5.
Should you needed to press us for enhancements, we would ask for Wi-Fi 7 future-proofing, Bluetooth 5.3 assist, and a wider DCI-P3 shade gamut for the very best accuracy for artistic work.
Maybe our solely troublesome request is that the Galaxy Tab S9 Extremely begins with 12GB of RAM as a substitute of 8GB since a flagship pill at this value ought to actually get an improve with out an upsell. Critical patrons can nonetheless pay further for 16GB in the event that they wish to.
Livelier colours
I think that Samsung, Apple, and different manufacturers held a secret assembly years in the past to make a sacred pact: all costly tablets should be glossy, severe, colorless, and usually boring to take a look at.
Usually talking, Samsung likes to launch its tablets in Black, Silver, a light-weight Bronze or Pink shade, and (very sometimes) a fourth shade. Samsung begrudgingly launched a Mystic Blue Tab S7 a couple of 12 months after the remainder got here out, and hasn’t launched any new Tab S8 colours since launch.
I need Samsung to cater to individuals who like wealthy colours, the identical means Apple does with its iPad and iPad Air (although not the iPad Professional). Give me Inexperienced, Blue, Purple, Yellow, or something with just a little extra character than its typical achromatic, muted look! I think the Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 can have the identical colours as its predecessor, however I can hope.