Field Tested: Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra for Creative Work

▶️ YouTube

I’ve spent two weeks using the Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra as my primary creative device. Can Samsung’s flagship tablet compete with iPad Pro for creative work?

The Hardware

14.6” AMOLED display (2960x1848, 120Hz)—This is laptop territory
S Pen included—No $129 Apple Pencil purchase
12GB RAM—More than most laptops
IP68 water resistance—Can work poolside

Weight: 737g. This is hefty for a tablet but reasonable for its size.

Digital Art Testing

Clip Studio Paint

Brush lag: Imperceptible. S Pen has 2.8ms latency.
Canvas size: 4K canvas with 50+ layers—no slowdown
Pressure sensitivity: 4,096 levels. Excellent control

Hour 6 of drawing: Still comfortable. Palm rejection works perfectly.

vs iPad Pro + Apple Pencil:
Latency feels identical. The matte screen protector helps with drawing feel.

Procreate (not available, used Infinite Painter)

Android limitation: No Procreate. Infinite Painter is good but not equivalent.
Brush library: Smaller than Procreate
Workflow: 80% as polished

Reality: If you’re locked into Procreate, iPad wins.

Photo Editing

Adobe Lightroom Mobile

RAW editing: 45MP files from Sony A7R IV—smooth scrolling
Batch editing: Processed 200 photos—no issues
Export speed: 4K JPEGs, 3.2 seconds each

Screen quality: AMOLED is gorgeous but not color-accurate
Calibration needed: Exported photos looked different on my monitor

Affinity Photo (via DeX)

DeX mode: Desktop experience on tablet
Performance: Comparable to mid-range laptop
Stylus integration: Works well for masking/selections

Limitation: 12GB RAM is limiting for 100+ layer composites

Video Editing

Adobe Premiere Rush

4K timeline: 3 video tracks, 2 audio tracks—playback stutters
1080p timeline: Smooth. Color grading responsive
Export: 4K video (5 min), 8m 22s

Conclusion: Fine for social media edits, not serious video work.

CapCut

Optimized for mobile: Silky smooth
TikTok/Reels edits: Perfect for this
Transitions: Extensive library, renders fast

Best use case: Content creator making social media videos.

DeX Mode for Productivity

Connected to monitor (USB-C to HDMI):

Desktop experience: Surprisingly good
Window management: True multitasking, resize windows
External keyboard/mouse: Feels like a real desktop

Limitations:

Some apps don’t scale properly
Occasional lag when switching modes
Not all creative apps support DeX

S Pen: The Differentiator

Tilt recognition: Works in supported apps
Air gestures: Navigate without touching screen
Remote shutter: Great for photography
Screen-off memos: Instant note-taking

After 2 weeks: S Pen tip shows minimal wear. No lag introduced.

vs Apple Pencil 2:
Functionally equivalent. Preference comes down to ecosystem.

Battery Life

Creative workload (drawing, editing, 70% brightness):
Runtime: 8 hours 14 minutes

Video consumption:
Runtime: 12 hours+

Charging: 0-100% in 1 hour 48 minutes (45W charger)

Verdict: All-day battery for creative work. Excellent.

The iPad Pro Comparison

Tab S9 Ultra advantages:

✅ Larger screen (14.6” vs 12.9”)
✅ AMOLED display (deeper blacks)
✅ S Pen included
✅ MicroSD expansion
✅ $300 cheaper (comparable storage)

iPad Pro advantages:

✅ Procreate
✅ Better app ecosystem for creative work
✅ More powerful chip (M2 vs Snapdragon 8 Gen 2)
✅ Better color accuracy
✅ Longer software support

Real-World Creative Workflows

Process: Photo with phone → Import to Tab → Edit in Lightroom → Post

Time: 12 minutes per post
Bottlenecks: None
Verdict: Perfect for this use case

Workflow 2: Digital Illustration

Process: Sketch on Tab → Refine on Tab → Export for print

Time: 3-5 hours per illustration
Bottlenecks: No Procreate, app crashes occasionally
Verdict: Works but not optimal

Workflow 3: YouTube Thumbnail Design

Process: Design in Photoshop Express → Export → Upload

Time: 20-30 minutes per thumbnail
Bottlenecks: Photoshop Express limitations
Verdict: Good enough for quick work

What Surprised Me

Positive:

Screen size makes huge difference for creative work
S Pen latency truly imperceptible
DeX mode is more useful than expected
Water resistance eliminated anxiety

Negative:

AMOLED color accuracy issues for pro work
Android creative app ecosystem still behind iOS
12GB RAM limiting for complex projects
Occasional thermal throttling during long sessions

Who Should Buy This?

Perfect For:

✅ Android users in Samsung ecosystem
✅ Digital artists using Clip Studio Paint
✅ Content creators making social media content
✅ Students taking illustrated notes
✅ Photographers doing light editing on the go

Skip If:

❌ You’re locked into iPad-exclusive apps (Procreate, LumaFusion)
❌ You need color-accurate display for pro photo work
❌ You prioritize app selection over hardware
❌ You already own iPad Pro (switching cost not worth it)

The Verdict

Tab S9 Ultra is 90% as good as iPad Pro for creative work, at 75% of the price.

The hardware is arguably better—bigger screen, AMOLED, included stylus. But the software ecosystem gap is real. If your favorite apps are iOS-exclusive, you’ll feel that every day.

For Android loyalists and Samsung ecosystem users, this is the best creative tablet available. For everyone else, it depends on your app requirements.

After two weeks, I’m keeping it. The screen size alone justifies it for my workflow.

Final Score: 8.5/10 for creative work

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