Summary
- The Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 lineup now comes with an IP68 water and dust resistance rating, providing reassurance to buyers about the device's durability.
- The IP rating measures a device's resistance to water and dust, with the first number indicating dust resistance and the second number indicating water resistance.
- While the Tab S9 tablets can withstand rain, accidental splashes, and brief submersion in freshwater, users should still be cautious as water and dust resistance can degrade over time.
The Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 is among the best Android tablets money can buy — it has plenty of tricks, but is water resistance one of them? The South Korean tech giant released the Galaxy Tab S9 series during the 2023 Galaxy Unpacked event, along with the fifth generation of Galaxy Z Fold and Z Flip phones and the Galaxy Watch 6 series. The Tab S9 lineup consists of three devices: the vanilla Galaxy Tab S9, Tab S9 Plus, and Tab S9 Ultra.
The Tab S9 takes after the Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 that came out last year. The Tab S8 had almost everything it took to be the best Android tablet, but it was lacking an IP rating, which made users think twice before getting an expensive tablet. However, Samsung changed that this year, as all the Galaxy Tab S9 lineup models come with an IP68 water and dust resistance rating. The IP rating is a reassurance for buyers as it increases the device's durability.
Galaxy Tab S9's Water Resistance Explained
The International Electrochemical Commission (IEC) devised the Ingress Protection (IP) ratings as a standard to measure a device's resistance to water and dust ingress and the damage caused. The different numbers that follow IP represent a device's level of resistance. The first number in an IP rating indicates how well it can withstand damage from dust or other minute solid particles. Dust resistance in a device ranges from 1 to 6 on the Ingress Protection scale.
The second number tells about a device's resistance to water ingress. It starts from 1 and goes all the way up to 8. All the models in the Tab S9 series feature an IP68 water resistance rating, which means that the device is dust tight and isn't likely to take any damage when submerged in five feet of freshwater for up to 30 minutes. Interestingly, even the S-Pen that comes with the tablet is IP68 rated, which, per the company, opens up "more possibilities for where users can capture and express their ideas."
It is great that the Galaxy Tab S9 lineup comes with an IP68 water and dust resistance rating, but users should still be careful when using the devices. Yes, the tablets can survive rain, accidental splashes of water, or drops in swimming pools. However, users should remember that water and dust resistance are not permanent and degrade with time. Nevertheless, while the Galaxy Tab S9 is not entirely waterproof, it is water-resistant to a good extent.