CHOICE verdict
Whether you like Samsung’s Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra will primarily come down to whether you believe bigger is always better. Many people like Samsung’s capacious “phablet” phones, enormous TVs and chunky smartwatches. But it’s not yet clear whether a critical mass of consumers will embrace a tablet that always requires two hands (Samsung released its first 14.6-inch tablet – the Tab S8 Ultra – in 2022 and while it’s reportedly sold better than Samsung expected, it’s too soon to draw any definitive conclusions). The big selling points of the S9 Ultra are its dimensions – it’s a conventional width but a whopping 14.6 inches (about 37cm) tall – and its resistance to water and dust. Will this tablet emerge unscathed if you accidentally drop it in the bath? We put it to the test to find out.
Price: $2199
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samsung.com/auThere’s plenty of exciting tech in Samsung’s range of S9 tablets (there’s also an 11-inch Tab S9 and 12.4-inch Tab S9+). But what everybody will focus on with the S9 Ultra is its size, so let’s start there.
It’s thin (5.5mm) and, all things considered, not especially heavy at 732 grams. But when you unbox it, it’s immediately apparent why Samsung boasts this is the biggest tablet in the world. Initially, you’re likely to swoon over all that screen real estate. But over time, you might start questioning whether you constantly want to be gripping a gigantic tablet with both hands.
That being said, if you want a massive tablet that can double as a laptop or a second monitor, the S9 Ultra may meet your needs. The base model offers 256GB of storage and 12GB of RAM, but that can be upgraded to 1TB of storage and 16GB of RAM.
Back in 2017, Samsung introduced “DeX” software. It allows both Samsung phones and tablets to function with, or similarly to, desktop computers. But be warned: the S9 Ultra doesn’t come with a keyboard or mouse and you’ll have to fork out another $549 for the suggested Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra Book Cover Keyboard.
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A durable, sometimes delightful device
You can’t take the S9 Ultra with you on a scuba dive. But despite it having all the standard openings, its “ingress protection” means it is essentially waterproof for a short period. It has an IP68 rating, which means a device can be fully submerged in a bucket of fresh water for up to 30 minutes without sustaining damage (a claim we put to the test below).
As well as being impressively water resistant, it’s also “dust tight” – the S9 Ultra’s IP68 rating means it has top marks for both water and dust resistance. In practice, that means you won’t need to worry too much about liquid or dirt infiltrating the tablet and wreaking havoc with the wiring.
Given its other features, the S9 Ultra’s (included) stylus struggles for attention. But if you like to write on tablets, you’ll love how it feels like an elegant fountain pen gliding across finely grained paper. If you don’t like writing on tablets due to past squeaky experiences, this might be the stylus that wins you over. It’s also waterproof, so you can even jot down notes while relaxing in the bath. Or on an inflatable pool lounge.
