Samsung Galaxy Tab S9+ 12.4" Graphite Review

A refurbished Samsung Galaxy Tab S9+ offers flagship features at a lower price, but is it the right tablet for you? We dig into the data to see where it shines and where it falls short.

CPU Qualcomm Snapdragon® 8 Gen 2
RAM 12 GB
Storage 256 GB
Screen 12.4" 2800x1752
OS Android 13
Stylus Yes
Cellular No
Samsung Galaxy Tab S9+ 12.4" Graphite tablet
40.2 Overall Score

The 30-Second Version

The refurbished Samsung Galaxy Tab S9+ is a high-end Android tablet with a gorgeous 12.4-inch screen and useful AI features, sold at a discounted price. It's great for media and casual use, but its productivity scores are low, and it comes with a short 90-day warranty.

Overview

So you're looking at a refurbished Samsung Galaxy Tab S9+. It's a 12.4-inch Android tablet with a Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor, 12GB of RAM, and 256GB of storage. This is a high-end tablet, and the refurbished price is a big part of the story. It's loaded with Samsung's Galaxy AI features like Circle to Search, Transcript Assist, and Note Assist, which are designed to make it more useful for work and creativity. The big question is whether this refurbished model, with its 90-day warranty, is a smart way to get flagship tablet features without paying flagship prices.

Performance

The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 is a beast, and with 12GB of RAM, this tablet feels fast. Apps open instantly, and multitasking is smooth. Our benchmark data puts the CPU performance in the 41st percentile compared to all tablets, which sounds low, but that's because it's competing against newer chips like the M4 and Snapdragon X Elite. In practice, it's still plenty powerful for most tasks. The GPU sits in the 42nd percentile, so it's fine for casual gaming, but if you're into heavy 3D titles, you might want a device with a dedicated gaming GPU. For everyday use, streaming, and light creative work, the performance is more than enough.

Performance Percentiles

CPU 44.1
GPU 45.8
RAM 84.9
Screen 92.6
Battery 46.1
Feature 68
Storage 74.7
Connectivity 20.3

Pros & Cons

Pros

  • Refurbished price makes a flagship tablet much more affordable. 93th
  • 12GB of RAM is generous and helps with multitasking. 85th
  • The 12.4-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X screen is gorgeous and bright. 75th
  • Includes the S-Pen, which is great for notes and art. 68th
  • Galaxy AI features like Circle to Search are genuinely useful.

Cons

  • Only a 90-day warranty on the refurbished unit. 20th
  • Battery life percentile is average (49th), so it's not a marathon runner.
  • Productivity scores are its weakest area (27.3/100), hinting at Android's limits for serious work.
  • No cellular connectivity option in this Wi-Fi model.
  • It's still a heavy tablet at 581 grams.

Specifications

Full Specifications

Memory & Storage

RAM 12 GB
Storage 256 GB

Display

Size 12.4"
Resolution 2800
Panel AMOLED

Connectivity

Cellular No

Features

Stylus Support Yes
Stylus Model S Pen

Physical

Weight 0.6 kg / 1.3 lbs
OS Android 13

Value & Pricing

At around $795 for a refurbished model, the value proposition is clear. You're getting the core hardware and features of a tablet that originally cost well over $1,000. The trade-off is the shorter warranty and the fact it's not the latest model. If your budget is tight and you want a premium Android tablet experience, this is a compelling deal. If you need the absolute latest chip or a longer warranty, you'll need to look at new models, which cost more.

Price History

$740 $760 $780 $800 Mar 28Apr 2 $750

vs Competition

The most direct competitor is the newer Samsung Galaxy Tab S10+, which has a more powerful processor and longer battery life, but at a much higher new price. For productivity, the Microsoft Surface Pro (with the Snapdragon X Elite) and the Apple iPad Pro are far stronger, with proper desktop-class apps and better accessory ecosystems. Our data shows the Tab S9+ scores poorly in productivity (27.3/100), while those devices excel. The Lenovo Idea Tab Pro offers a larger screen for media at a lower price, but with weaker performance. If you're an Android fan who wants a big, beautiful screen for media and light work, and you're okay with the refurbished status, the Tab S9+ is a good pick. If you need a true laptop replacement, you should skip this and look at the Surface or iPad Pro.

Spec Samsung Galaxy Tab S9+ 12.4" Apple iPad Pro Apple 11" iPad Pro M4 Chip (Standard Glass, 2TB, Microsoft Surface Pro Microsoft 13" Surface Pro Copilot+ PC (11th Lenovo Idea Tab Lenovo - Idea Tab Pro - 12.7" 3K Tablet - 8GB RAM HP WIN MAX GPD Win MAX 2 2025 Handheld Gaming PC with AMD Xiaomi Pad 7 PRO Xiaomi Pad 7 Pro Ai WiFi Version Global (No Calls
CPU Qualcomm Snapdragon® 8 Gen 2 Apple M4 Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite X1E-84-100 MediaTek Dimensity AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 3 GHz
RAM (GB) 12 16 32 8 32 12
Storage (GB) 256 2048 1000 256 2048 512
Screen 12.4" 2800x1752 11" 2420x1668 13" 2880x1920 12.7" 2944x1840 10.1" 1920x1200 11.2" 3200x2136
OS Android 13 iPadOS Windows 11 Home Android 14 Windows 11 Home Android 14 HyperOS
Stylus true true true true true false
Cellular false false false false false false
Battery (Wh) - 31 53 - 67 -
Compare Compare Compare Compare Compare
Product CpuGpuRamScreenBatteryFeatureStorageConnectivity
Samsung Galaxy Tab S9+ 12.4" 44.145.884.992.646.16874.720.3
Apple iPad Pro 11" M4 Chip Compare 93.592.490.798.497.698.199.489.6
Microsoft Surface Pro 13" Compare 99.698.398.297.999.89494.389.6
Lenovo Idea Tab Pro 12.7" 3K Compare 44.145.874.99294.795.674.796.1
HP WIN MAX GPD Win MAX 2 2025 Handheld Compare 98.197.797.248.599.979.399.974.3
Xiaomi Pad 7 PRO Pad 7 Pro Ai Compare 82.182.384.999.246.153.488.654.2

Common Questions

Q: Is the refurbished Galaxy Tab S9+ good for drawing?

Yes, it's excellent for drawing. It includes the S-Pen, which is pressure-sensitive and very accurate, and the large, vibrant 12.4-inch AMOLED screen is perfect for artwork.

Q: How does the Tab S9+ compare to an iPad Pro?

The iPad Pro is much better for serious productivity and has a stronger app ecosystem, but it costs more. The Tab S9+ has a better screen for media consumption and includes the S-Pen in the box, which the iPad doesn't.

Q: Can I use the Galaxy Tab S9+ for work?

You can for light work, thanks to the AI features like Transcript Assist. However, our data shows its productivity score is quite low (27.3/100), so for heavy document editing or professional apps, a Surface Pro or iPad is a better choice.

Q: Is the battery life good on the Tab S9+?

Our percentile ranking puts its battery life in the 49th percentile, which is average. It'll get you through a day of mixed use, but it's not exceptional compared to some competitors.

Who Should Skip This

Skip this tablet if you're a power user who needs a device for real work. Our database shows its productivity score is weak (27.3/100). If you're constantly editing documents, running complex apps, or need a tablet that can truly replace a laptop, look at a Microsoft Surface Pro or an iPad Pro instead. Also, if you're wary of refurbished electronics with a limited warranty, you should buy a new model.

Verdict

Should you buy this refurbished Galaxy Tab S9+? Yes, if you're an Android user who wants a premium media and browsing tablet at a discount. The screen, S-Pen, and AI features are great, and the performance is solid for everyday tasks. No, if you need a tablet for heavy productivity work, want the latest chip for gaming, or are uncomfortable with a 90-day refurbished warranty. It's a fantastic entertainment device, but it's not a laptop replacement.