Galaxy Tab S9+ vs Galaxy Tab S8+: Are there enough improvements?

During the Galaxy Unpacked event today, Samsung unveiled three new high-end tablets—Galaxy Tab S9, Galaxy Tab S9+, and Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra. All three new tablets have faster processors, louder speakers, a more durable body, and an improved S Pen. They also get a newer version of One UI for better multitasking and productivity.

However, are these improvements worth an upgrade if you already have a Galaxy Tab S8 series device? This article compares the specifications and features of the Galaxy Tab S9+ with the Galaxy Tab S8+.

Galaxy Tab S9+ vs Galaxy Tab S8+: Display, speakers, and durability

The Galaxy Tab S8+ and the Galaxy Tab S9+ are very similar. They have 12.4-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X screens with QHD+ resolution, a 120Hz refresh rate, and HDR10+. The Galaxy Tab S9+ features Vision Booster for producing better colors in outdoor conditions. They both have an in-display fingerprint reader and a bundled S Pen that magnetically attaches itself to the back for charging.

The Galaxy Tab S9+ has a more rugged design, though, with an IP68 dust and water resistance rating. Even the bundled S Pen has an IP68 rating. So, if you travel a lot or spend time on the beach or by the pool, the Galaxy Tab S9+ would be a better purchase.

Both tablets have quad-speaker setups with Dolby Atmos, but the ones on the Galaxy Tab S9+ are 20% bigger for a more impactful experience. However, this is not such a significant upgrade that you should consider the new tablet over the Galaxy Tab S8+. The speakers on last year's model are loud enough for most use cases.

Galaxy Tab S9+ has a slightly improved S Pen with an IP68 rating

The S Pen on the Galaxy Tab S9+ charges wirelessly regardless of its orientation. The Galaxy Tab S8+'s S Pen charges only in one direction. The Tab S9+ is also compatible with the S Pen Creator Edition, which has a grippy surface and a wider tilt angle for a better drawing experience.

Galaxy Tab S9+ has faster and more reliable performance under sustained loads

Samsung has equipped the Galaxy Tab S9+ with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 For Galaxy processor. This new chip is more powerful and a lot more power-efficient than the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chip inside the Galaxy Tab S8+. The South Korean firm has also used a newer vapor chamber system for much better two-way heat dissipation in the Galaxy Tab S9+. It results in stable performance even under sustained loads like long gaming sessions or video editing.

The Galaxy Tab S8+ and the Galaxy Tab S9+ have 12GB RAM, 256GB/512GB internal storage, and a microSD card slot. The Galaxy Tab S8+ also has a variant with 8GB RAM and 128GB storage. They have 5G (cellular models), GPS, Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth, and USB 3.2 Type-C port. They also feature Samsung DeX and Wireless DeX.

The Galaxy Tab S8+ was launched with Android 12 and is eligible for four OS updates (up to Android 16). The Galaxy Tab S9+ runs Android 13-based One UI 5.1.1 out of the box, and it will get four OS updates (up to Android 17) and five years of security updates.

Galaxy Tab S9+ has a slightly better ultrawide camera than Galaxy Tab S8+

Both tablets have a 12MP ultrawide front-facing camera and a 13MP rear-facing primary camera, capable of recording up to 4K 60fps videos. The rear ultrawide camera on the Galaxy Tab S8+ has 6MP resolution, while the one on the Galaxy Tab S9+ has 8MP resolution. The rest of the things remain the same.

Galaxy Tab S9+ vs Galaxy Tab S9+: Which is better for you?

Most people don't need to upgrade from the Galaxy Tab S8+ to the Galaxy Tab S9+ unless someone has issues with the performance of the Galaxy Tab S8+ or absolutely needs an IP68 rating. Yes, the newer tablet has slightly better speakers and a slightly tweaked S Pen, but that's about it.

If you want to buy a new tablet, you can skip the Galaxy Tab S9+ and save some money by getting the Galaxy Tab S8+, as it will be heavily discounted now. If you still want to buy the Galaxy Tab S9+, you can pre-order it here to get a free Slim Book Keyboard Cover worth £200.

• Pre-order Galaxy Tab S9+

Samsung
Galaxy Tab S9+

Select model SM-X810 Buy Full specs

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Galaxy Tab S8+

Select model SM-X800 Buy Full specs