Samsung Tab S9 Ultra 11 MONTHS LATER: Real Day in the Life

All right, today we’re going to do a “Tab S9 Ultra Day in the Life” review. That means no desktop, no laptop—just a full day of using it as my primary device. I’ve had the Tab S9 Ultra since its release, almost a year now, and today, I’m going to share how I use it, some pros and cons, the new AI features, and battery life. I’ll focus on things that matter to real users. Also, thanks to Best Buy for sponsoring a portion of this video.

First, let’s talk about the form factor, which has two practical considerations. This is Samsung’s largest tablet, and I love it because it’s super thin and portable, making it easy to travel with. However, I always travel with a backpack, so the size isn’t a big issue for me. If you need a tablet that fits into a smaller bag or purse, the Tab S9 Ultra might not be ideal. Fortunately, Samsung offers two smaller versions with virtually the same features and great display. If you’re interested, you can watch my detailed comparison video on that.

Also, I’m not particularly careful with my gear, and after a year, I haven’t experienced any bending or issues with the Tab S9 Ultra, even after storing it in backpacks and suitcases. So, it’s held up well over time.

Now, let’s get this day started. I drove over to Phoenix Coffee to reply to your comments and handle some administrative tasks for the channel. The display on the Tab S9 Ultra is spectacular—it’s probably my favorite tablet display for watching content. It’s a dynamic AMOLED 2X display with fantastic color, contrast, and super-dark blacks. The 16:10 aspect ratio is close to most content dimensions, which means very small letterboxing or black bars at the top and bottom. At 120Hz, the display makes UI animations and scrolling smooth. For games like PUBG, it even supports up to 120fps, which I really enjoy.

However, I do think the anti-reflective coating could be improved. If you watched my S21 Ultra day-in-the-life video, you’ll know I wish Samsung had used the same tech in the Tab S9 Ultra. They went with the tech used in the new Flip6, so it’s a bit more reflective than the S24 Ultra, which was better in that regard.

Although I’m not using a laptop or desktop today, there’s an underutilized feature that’s a game-changer: You can use the Tab S9 Ultra as an additional wireless display with any Windows laptop or desktop. This has been a productivity boost for me, especially when traveling. Having a 16-inch laptop display alongside the 14.6-inch Tab S9 Ultra display allows me to run two apps maximized or multiple apps on both devices, making research or multitasking so much easier.

Now, back to just using the Tab S9 Ultra. For me, a keyboard is essential. I have no problem typing directly on the screen for short texts or emails, but for any serious work, I need a real keyboard. I’ve been using the Book Cover Keyboard Slim, which has been great. Keep in mind that the one from the Tab S8 Ultra won’t work due to changes in the camera module and S Pen charging strip. This keyboard works well on a desk, but it’s not ideal for lap use. It requires more space due to the back support design, and the connection isn’t super firm, so it moves around a bit. It’s doable but better on a flat surface. The function keys, detachable keyboard, and no-need-to-charge feature are big pluses.

As for the S Pen, it comes included with the Tab S9 Ultra, unlike other brands where you have to pay extra. The large canvas is perfect for sketches and document markup. A fun feature is Samsung’s Circle to Search, which lets you circle anything on your screen to instantly get Google search results—whether it’s a photo or a video frame. You can also do this with your finger, but the S Pen just makes it smoother, especially on the big screen.

If you want a large touchscreen, Galaxy features, and Microsoft Copilot but prefer a desktop OS, check out the Galaxy Book 4 Edge. It’s portable, has a 16-inch 120Hz 3K Dynamic AMOLED 2X touchscreen, and comes with a Snapdragon X Elite chip for laptops. Plus, it’s rated for 22 hours of battery life with fast charging.

Around 2:30 p.m., I checked the battery, and we were still at 85%, which is pretty impressive. As for biometric authentication, I love that the Tab S9 Ultra gives you options. There’s an under-display ultrasonic fingerprint sensor, which works great and is well placed. You also have face recognition, which is reliable as long as there’s enough light. The front-facing camera, housed in a notch, includes two 12MP cameras (wide and ultra-wide). Here’s a quick sample of the camera and mic quality. The notch itself isn’t an issue for me on such a large display. If it bothers you, consider the Tab S9 Plus.

The speakers are surprisingly good for a tablet. They’re loud and deliver full sound, which is great for my daily workouts—whether lifting or doing yoga. Samsung has also brought AI features, like Generative Edit, to the Tab S9, allowing you to remove, resize, or move objects in your photos with AI filling in the background. Object Eraser removes unwanted elements, and Galaxy AI can summarize web pages or assist with translations and writing styles. All of this is powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip, which has handled my editing and 4K content publishing with ease.

For gaming, the large screen is excellent, but your hands might get tired holding the tablet. With a controller or stand, the experience is much more comfortable, and the display enhances the gameplay.

The Tab S9 Ultra also supports DeX mode, providing a desktop-like experience with icons, folders, and taskbars. I can run multiple windows and even pair a mouse or external display for a dual-setup at home.

In terms of software updates, Samsung promises four years of OS updates and five years of security updates, which is solid. The tablet also has a microSD card slot, allowing you to expand storage up to 1TB, which has been handy for games and apps.

If you’re looking to buy the Tab S9 Ultra in the U.S., it starts at $1,049 for the 256GB version, $1,169 for the 512GB, both with 12GB of RAM. There’s also a 1TB model with 16GB of RAM for $1,399.

To wrap up my day, I treated myself to some ice cream. By 8:23 p.m., we were still at 41% battery, which is great considering the gaming and productivity tasks I did throughout the day. Battery life isn’t a major concern for me since I usually have time for quick charges and carry a power bank. If you’re more concerned about battery life, I’d recommend checking out my detailed battery drain test video for the full Tab S9 lineup.

After almost a year with the Tab S9 Ultra, I think it might be the best Android tablet out there right now. If you want a large display, good cameras, excellent speakers, the latest AI features, and solid software support, this is the tablet for you. Let me know in the comments which tablets you want me to compare it with. As always, buy it nice or buy it twice. Good luck and see you soon!

Make a one-time donation

Your contribution is appreciated.

Donate

Make a monthly donation

Your contribution is appreciated.

Donate monthly

Make a yearly donation

Your contribution is appreciated.

Donate yearly