Visual excerpt from the YouTube channel Marques Brownlee. All rights belong to the original creator.
In the rapidly advancing world of technology, the battle for supremacy between major players is relentless. Samsung, a tech titan renowned for its innovations, has launched its latest challenger to the Apple iPad throne: the Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra. With its impressive specifications and new features, many are asking: can this powerhouse from Samsung finally topple the iPad’s dominance in the tablet market? Marques Brownlee, a renowned tech YouTuber, delves deep into the Tab S9 Ultra’s capabilities in a recent video, leaving viewers wondering whether it’s time to switch from Apple’s iconic device to Samsung’s latest offering.
The most striking feature of the Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra is its massive 14.6-inch display. At this size, it feels as though you’re holding a small television in your hands, offering an immersive experience whether you’re watching movies, gaming, or working. Despite its large screen, the Tab S9 Ultra maintains a slim profile, making it easy to hold and handle. It also houses an impressively large 11,200 milliamp-hour battery—the biggest ever seen in a Samsung tablet—ensuring long hours of use. Furthermore, the Tab S9 Ultra is built for durability, with an IP68 rating for both water and dust resistance. This gives it an edge over many other tablets in the market, including the iPad, by promising greater resilience against environmental elements.
Under the hood, Samsung has equipped the Tab S9 Ultra with the latest Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy processor, designed to provide superior performance across a wide range of tasks. The addition of a vapor chamber cooling system ensures the device stays cool even during resource-heavy activities such as gaming or video editing. Samsung has also incorporated a quad-speaker system—now 20% larger than before—which delivers excellent audio quality, matching or even exceeding the sound performance of the iPad Pro. This means that media consumption on the Tab S9 Ultra, whether listening to music or watching videos, is an experience that rivals that of Apple’s premium tablet.
The S Pen, which comes included in the box, is another major highlight of the Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra. It is also IP68-rated, making it resistant to water and dust. It now supports bi-directional charging, allowing it to charge both ways. Although the tablet does not come with a charging brick, it supports fast 45-watt charging. Marques Brownlee suggests that users consider third-party options, such as the Anker Prime desktop charger, for a more efficient charging experience—making the device even more convenient for power users.
Despite these impressive specifications, the main question that lingers is whether the Samsung Tab S9 Ultra is truly an iPad killer. On paper, the tablet’s combination of a 14.6-inch 120Hz display, massive battery, and up to 1 terabyte of storage offers a formidable package. However, the challenge lies in whether these features are enough to lure consumers away from the iPad’s well-established ecosystem. While Samsung’s tablet excels in media consumption, multitasking, and stylus features, it must overcome the significant brand loyalty and ecosystem lock-in that Apple users often experience.
One of the standout features of the Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra is its multitasking capabilities. The tablet’s multi-window mode and ability to run multiple apps simultaneously in split-screen views enhance productivity, making it ideal for both work and content creation. The device also supports DeX Mode, which offers a desktop-like experience that the iPad has yet to match. With DeX Mode, users can transform their tablet into a full-fledged workstation, using it similarly to a traditional laptop or desktop computer. This is a unique selling point for the Tab S9 Ultra, as it pushes the boundaries of what a tablet can do.
The tablet’s camera system also sets it apart from other devices in its class. It features a dual front-facing camera setup, allowing for a wider field of view—making video calls and selfies more dynamic. This is further enhanced by the largest camera viewfinder ever implemented on a tablet, elevating the Tab S9 Ultra’s multimedia capabilities. Whether used for personal enjoyment or professional purposes, the camera system offers a fresh take on tablet photography and videography.
However, despite its impressive features and performance, Marques Brownlee highlights an important factor that could limit the Tab S9 Ultra’s impact on the market: brand loyalty. In the smartphone world, where Android and iOS dominate, it's often observed that even when Android devices boast superior hardware, many users remain loyal to the iOS ecosystem. The iPad benefits from a highly integrated system—encompassing not only hardware but also iPadOS, the App Store, and Apple’s cloud services. This ecosystem lock-in is difficult to break, and for many users, the idea of leaving it behind in favor of a competing product is not an easy decision.
Moreover, Apple has spent years building a reputation for delivering high-quality, reliable products. For many, the iPad is more than just a tablet—it’s an essential part of their daily routine, whether for work, entertainment, or communication. While the Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra offers several features that arguably surpass those of the iPad—such as its expansive display and advanced multitasking features—the real challenge lies in changing user habits and overcoming Apple’s deeply rooted ecosystem.
Ultimately, the debate between the Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra and the iPad is not just about raw specifications. It’s about user experience, ecosystem integration, and brand identity. As both companies continue to innovate and redefine what tablets can offer, consumers are presented with more compelling choices than ever before. Samsung’s latest flagship tablet certainly raises the bar in many respects, but whether it can dethrone the iPad’s long-standing dominance remains uncertain. What is clear, however, is that the competition in the tablet market is fiercer than ever, and users stand to benefit most from this technological rivalry.
>>> Samsung tab s9 ultra specifications
