With its dazzling screen and bags of power, iPad Pro alternatives don’t get much better (or bigger) than Samsung’s sprawling Galaxy S9 Ultra
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The new Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra has some stiff competition… not least from its predecessor, the almost identical-looking Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra. Since that tablet launched, though, so too has Lenovo’s Tab Extreme – another 14in-plus Android behemoth. Plus the 12.9in iPad Pro is also on hand, vying for your cash.
And the Android tab world has changed in the last year. Google launched its first Pixel Tablet, complete with booming speaker and Home Hub functionality, while OnePlus debuted its own first slate.
Out of the gate, the S9 Ultra is the only oversized tab loaded up with IP68 water-resistance, so if that scratches your (very niche) itch then it’s off to a good start. Samsung’s tablet software is also more impressive than that of any other Android tab maker, and this 14.6in screen is mesmerising. Enough to make it the best big tablet on the block? Let’s find out…
Big dipper
The Tab S9 Ultra is both huge and skinny (1). Its 14.6in screen beats many laptops, while its profile is slimmer than most phones at 5.5mm. But at 732g, it’s definitely not designed for one-handed use. The Gorilla Glass front is set in an aluminium frame and back, and it’s water-resistant.
Big bang
Samsung’s boosted the screen to a respectable 930 nits of peak brightness, so even in direct sunlight it’s easy to make out what’s on screen (2). With a resolution of 239ppi, the visuals are crisp – and thanks to the 120Hz refresh rate, those menus glide by.
Big shot
As for the cameras, there’s a 13MP main camera and an 8MP ultrawide (3), as well as two 12MP jobs on the front. None of these will capture masterpieces, but the front cameras are good for HD video calls and the rear ones can handle a document scan with respectable clarity.
Big easy
While the Tab S8 Ultra was powered by a Snapdragon 8 Gen 1, a chip known for getting hot under the collar, the S9 Ultra is packing a ‘For Galaxy’ version of the superior 8 Gen 2, which has been impressing on flagship Samsung phones like the S23 Ultra and Z Fold5.
Big data
With 256GB, 512GB or 1TB of storage and 12GB or 16GB of RAM, storage and multitasking won’t be issues – and a microSD card slot means you can easily more space. Samsung’s own keyboard isn’t a patch on the Apple one you can get for iPad Pro, so you’ll struggle to get a real laptop feel here.
Tech specs
Screen 14.6in 2960x1848 120Hz AMOLED
