Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra vs. Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra

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Samsung’s Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra is no exception, coming into the spotlight with significant enhancements over the previous model, the Tab S8 Ultra. If you’re contemplating whether to upgrade or invest in a new tablet, our comprehensive analysis will guide you through the nuances of design, performance, display quality, and more.

Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra vs Tab S8 Ultra: Specifications

Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra vs Tab S8 Ultra: Design

Although both models look similar in size and have the same 14.6-inch screen, the camera placement and the spot where you charge the S Pen are different. This means you can’t use old Tab S9 Ultra cases with the new tablet, so if you’re planning to upgrade, remember that you might need to spend more on accessories like the keyboard covers.

Both tablets come with four speakers, and these are some of the best speakers on any tablet that I’ve ever used. Thus, these speakers will function flawlessly if you enjoy using them to watch movies or listen to music. Along with the same 3.2 USB-C port for charging and connecting accessories, we also get a micro-SD card slot that allows you to add up to one terabyte of additional internal storage.

The next important difference is that the S Pen that comes with the Tab S9 Ultra is IP68 rated. This is obviously important if you use the tablet outside, but it’s comforting to know that even indoors, your brand-new tablet can withstand the occasional spill of water.

Both tablets have a fingerprint sensor on the screen and can recognize your face to unlock. The fingerprint sensor works quickly and without problems, and the face unlock works well if the room is bright enough. It won’t work in a dark room.

Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra vs Tab S8 Ultra: Display

Taking a closer look at the displays, they are both 14.6 inches in size and share some specs, but they are not identical. Compared to the Tab S8 Ultra’s Super AMOLED display, the Tab S9 Ultra’s has a Dynamic AMOLED 2X display. This means that it has better contrast because it’s more capable of showing true black levels and depth. It also has better color accuracy and reduced blue light emission.

Now, the refresh rate of both screens is 120 Hertz, with a resolution of 1848 by 2960, an aspect ratio of 16 by 10, and nearly the same pixel density.

Both displays are outstanding. The image quality they offer is nothing short of spectacular, making them some of the finest tablet displays I’ve ever used for viewing content. The Tab S9 Ultra does edge out its predecessor slightly in terms of display quality. However, for me, the incremental improvement doesn’t justify an upgrade from the Tab S8 Ultra to the Tab S9 Ultra based solely on the display.

Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra vs Tab S8 Ultra: Performance

This time Samsung went with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip, which is newer, more powerful and more efficient than the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chip on the Tab S8 Ultra.

If you’re interested in benchmarks, you’ll see improved single and multi-core performance with the Tab S9 Ultra as well as an upgrade in GPU performance.

The actual impact of these improvements on day-to-day usage will vary based on individual needs. Users who engage in routine activities such as web browsing, using office applications, and streaming videos may not notice a drastic change. However, for power users who engage in intensive tasks, the newer chipset is clearly the superior option.

Furthermore, the increased performance capacity of the Tab S9 Ultra means it’s better positioned to handle future demands, particularly in gaming. Currently, both the Tab S8 and S9 Ultra can smoothly run casual as well as intensive games like PUBG, COD Mobile, and Genshin Impact. Yet, as games grow more resource-intensive, the Tab S9 Ultra’s advanced chip will maintain its speed and responsiveness for a more extended period.

Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra vs Tab S8 Ultra: Camera

Now looking at the camera systems, both tablets have two 12MP front facing cameras, one wide and one ultra-wide. As far as rear facing cameras, both tablets have a 13MP wide camera, but the Tab S9 Ultra has an 8MP ultra-wide vs 6MP on the Tab S8 Ultra.

Above are sample of the Tab S9 Ultra and the Tab S8 Ultra. This should give you a pretty good idea of the type of image quality that you’re going to get from each tablet.

Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra vs Tab S8 Ultra: OS & Battery Life

Now that both tablets are running the most recent OS version, all of your apps will work with them. They also have the same multitasking features, like three tiled apps at the same time and the super useful side panel.

Moreover, both tablets have DeX, which is fantastic. You get a task bar, desktop icons, and floating windows, just like on a desktop. For an exceptionally potent dual display setup, you can even pair a keyboard, mouse, and an external monitor.

Both tablets come with the promise of four years of operating system updates and five years of security updates. However, since the Tab S9 Ultra was released later, it will get these updates for a longer time into the future.

Both tablets have the same size battery (11,200 mAh) and support the same fast charging speed (45 Watts), but the Tab S9 Ultra last longer on a single charge because of more efficient processor (Snapdragon 8 Gen 2).

Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra vs Tab S8 Ultra: Pricing & Conclusion

When we look at the configuration options and pricing, we see an interesting change. The Tab S9 Ultra starts out at $1,199, but there’s no longer a 128GB version. The base model is now 256GB. It’s also available with 512GB and a 1TB model. The 256GB and 512GB versions of the Tab S9 Ultra come with 12GB of RAM. And the 1TB model comes with 16GB of RAM. With the Tab S8 Ultra, the 128GB model comes with 8GB RAM, the 256GB comes with 12GB RAM, and the 512GB with 16GB of RAM.

Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra	Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra
PROS	PROS
Lower price due to being an older model. Similar Multitasking Features. Adequate performance for everyday tasks.	The Dynamic AMOLED 2X display. The S Pen is IP68 rated. Enhanced performance. Longer battery life. Longer support for OS Updates. Base Model Storage is 256GB.
CONS	CONS
Less efficient processor could lead to shorter battery life.	Expensive. Incompatibility with older accessories.
Buy Here	Buy Here

For someone who does not already own a tablet or is looking to upgrade, the Tab S9 Ultra offers a suite of improvements that might be worth the investment, especially if there are trade-in deals or discounts available. However, for those who have the Tab S8 Ultra, the decision to upgrade would depend on how much they value the incremental improvements and whether the trade-in value significantly offsets the cost of the new device.

Jaskaran Singh

Jaskaran, a tech enthusiast from childhood, inspired by his father, began his tech journey by rooting Android phones. He now writes on various tech topics, aiming to simplify complex ideas for a broad audience. His writing is direct, concise, and flows effortlessly, making tech topics accessible and engaging.