The Tab S8 came about 18 months after the Tab S7 did, it could be the same for the S9
While the recent unveiling of Pixel 7 and Pixel Watch may have taken some of the attention away from Samsung, that company is still hard at work developing its flagship phones for early next year – the Galaxy S23 series. While the company continues to dominate the Android smartphone segment, its tablets have not seen the same success. Whether it’s due to the huge popularity of the Apple iPad range or the availability of cheaper, top-quality Android tablets on the market, Samsung’s high-end Galaxy Tab S series has failed to impress. A report now suggests that the conglomerate may be adapting to broader market conditions by reportedly slowing down the development cycle for the Galaxy Tab S9 tablet line, which was originally slated to begin at the end of this year.
The uncertain outlook in the global economy is said to be behind the slowdown in the development of Samsung’s next flagship tablets. South Korean publication The Elec reports that a lack of demand for electronics following the easing of pandemic restrictions is another factor in the company’s decision.
Samsung was originally expected to begin development of the upcoming tablet series in December, with the company planning three Galaxy Tab S9 variants in a manner similar to its predecessor.
That drop in demand is likely to impact Samsung’s tablet sales this year as well. Research firm DSCC, which expected an 8% drop in shipments for the tablet segment this year. This is despite a predicted 22% increase in the shipment of premium products (consisting of tablets with OLED and mini-LED screens). This would consequently also lead to a marginal increase in the number of premium tablets on the market, which is expected to rise from a share of 3% in 2021 to 4% this year.
It’s worth noting that we don’t yet have an estimated timeline for the tablet’s arrival, but based on this new report, it’s likely that the Galaxy Tab S9 will arrive sometime in the second half of 2023, possibly alongside the successors to the Galaxy Z. Fold 4 and the Galaxy Z Flip 4 sometime in August.