A Galaxy Tab S9, Tab S10 Ultra or Tab A9+ that empties too fast is usually feeding a big screen. Samsung's battery article for phones and tablets gives the order: update the software, close running apps, run Device Care's Optimize now, switch off notifications for apps you do not use, put rarely used apps to sleep or deep sleep under Battery, Background usage limits, turn on Power saving mode or the Light performance profile, and lower brightness or set the refresh rate to 60 Hz. Samsung also notes that restoring a lot of data raises consumption and heat for a while, and that on 5G tablets the modem holds a 4G connection alongside 5G.
Wikipedia lists 8,400 mAh for the Tab S9, 11,200 mAh for the S10 Ultra and 7,040 mAh for the A9+.
Differential
Likely causes of “Samsung Galaxy Tab S9, S10 Ultra and A9+ battery drains too quickly”, and how to tell them apart
- 1
A large bright display
What separates it The level falls fastest during video, drawing or games, most on the 14.6-inch S10 Ultra
How to confirm Samsung's article lists lowering brightness, adaptive brightness and a 60 Hz refresh rate as fixes
- 2
Apps running in the background
What separates it Battery, Background usage limits shows one app far above the rest
How to confirm Put unused apps to sleep or deep sleep, as Samsung describes
- 3
A recent restore or update
What separates it Warmth and drain for a few days after moving data onto the tablet
How to confirm Samsung says restoring large amounts of data raises consumption and temperature for a while
- 4
5G or a weak signal
What separates it A 5G tablet is warm and drains fast in a poor-signal room
How to confirm Samsung says a 5G device also maintains an LTE connection; use Wi-Fi where you can
- 5
Always On Display or S Pen and DeX use
What separates it The battery drops with the screen showing at rest, or while DeX is running
How to confirm Set Always On Display to tap-to-show or off and compare
- 6
A worn battery
What separates it Every app looks fine yet the tablet shuts down with charge showing
How to confirm Run Samsung Members diagnostics, then book a battery check at a service center
Before you touch a setting
Record this first — changing settings destroys the evidence
- Which tablet (Tab S9, Tab S10 Ultra or Tab A9+), Wi-Fi or 5G, and the One UI version
- The top apps under Settings, Battery and the hours of screen-on time
- Whether Power saving mode, adaptive refresh rate or Always On Display is on
- Whether the back looks lifted or the case is warm
Try in this order
0 of 7 completedUpdate the software
ReversibleUpdate the software, by opening Settings, Software update, Download and install, which Samsung lists as the first check.
Close apps and run Optimize now
ReversibleClose apps and run Optimize now, by closing all recent apps, then opening Settings, Device care, Optimize now.
Limit background apps
ReversibleLimit background apps, by opening Settings, Battery, Background usage limits, and using sleeping apps and deep sleeping apps.
Turn on Power saving or Light performance
ReversibleTurn on Power saving or Light performance, since both prioritize battery life over speed, as Samsung's article says.
Lower brightness and refresh rate
ReversibleLower brightness and refresh rate, by using adaptive brightness and setting the refresh rate to 60 Hz.
Test in Safe mode
ReversibleTest in Safe mode, and if the drain is normal in Safe mode, then a downloaded app is the cause.
Get the battery tested
ReversibleGet the battery tested, by running Samsung Members diagnostics, then booking a service if the drain persists.
Model-specific
What is true of this model and not of its siblings
- Battery and charging
- Tab S9 8,400 mAh; Tab S10 Ultra 11,200 mAh; Tab A9+ 7,040 mAh, per Wikipedia. The S9 supports 45 W USB Power Delivery (PPS).
- Displays
- Tab S9: 11-inch and S10 Ultra: 14.6-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X at 120 Hz; Tab A9+: 11-inch TFT LCD, per Wikipedia.
- Part numbers
- No part number is needed. Samsung identifies a tablet by model, such as SM-X710 for the Tab S9 or SM-X210 for the Tab A9+ Wi-Fi, shown under Settings, About tablet.
- Tools and supplies
- For a diagnosis, a soft towel, a flashlight and a known-good Samsung charger; iFixit's A9+ guide lists a heat gun, Phillips #00 screwdriver and spudger for an opening, which is a repairer's job.
- Repair cost
- iFixit gives the Tab A9+ a launch price of $220 to $320, so a battery quote should be weighed against that.
- Other models this page answers
- These steps also fit the Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra, Galaxy Tab A9+.
Stop boundary
When this stops being a self-service repair
- !If a full charge does not last a working session after Samsung's steps, contact Samsung Support or a service center
- !If the back lifts or the screen bows, stop using the tablet and get it inspected
- !If Safe mode drains normally, remove recently installed apps one by one
Evidence ledger
Sources behind this answer
Ambient range of 32 to 95 degrees F and the factors that warm a device.
Tab S9 8,400 mAh battery, 45 W USB Power Delivery PPS, Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, 11-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X, microSDXC up to 1 TB, IP68, S Pen and Wi-Fi with Bluetooth 5.3.
Tab S10 Ultra 14.6-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 11,200 mAh battery, 45 W fast charging, Dimensity 9300+, IP68 and dedicated microSDXC slot.
Tab A9+ 11-inch TFT LCD, 7,040 mAh battery, Snapdragon 695 5G, 64 to 256 GB storage and its update commitment of three OS upgrades and four years of security updates.
Exact questions
Common questions
Does the 120 Hz screen on the Tab S9 use more power?+
Samsung's article lists lowering the refresh rate to 60 Hz among the fixes. Wikipedia gives the Tab S9 and S10 Ultra a 120 Hz Dynamic AMOLED 2X panel, so lowering it saves battery.
Why is the S10 Ultra so long-lasting on paper?+
Wikipedia lists an 11,200 mAh battery, the largest of the three, but its 14.6-inch panel also draws more, so daily use depends on brightness and refresh rate.
Is the A9+ battery small?+
Wikipedia lists 7,040 mAh for the Tab A9+, less than the Tab S9's 8,400 mAh, though its TFT LCD is a less demanding panel.
What are sleeping and deep sleeping apps?+
Samsung says sleeping apps are put to sleep if unused, and deep sleeping apps never run in the background and only work when you open them.
Does the S Pen drain the tablet?+
The Wikipedia entry lists the S Pen as an input device on the S-series tablets.
Is restoring a backup the cause of drain?+
It can be. Samsung says restoring large amounts of data at once raises battery consumption and temperature, and both settle afterwards.
Should I turn off 5G?+
On a 5G tablet, Samsung says the device holds a 4G connection as well, so it drains faster than expected. Use Wi-Fi where you can.
Do I need to force restart the tablet?+
Samsung's article includes a forced reboot: hold the buttons for about 10 seconds until the Samsung logo appears. Have at least 5 percent charge first.
Will a factory reset help?+
Only if software is the cause. Samsung lists it last, needs the account password and warns that all data is erased, so back up first.
How much does a Tab A9+ cost new?+
iFixit gives a launch price range of $220 to $320 for the Tab A9+, so a repair that approaches that price is a decision to weigh.
Does Dark mode save power?+
Samsung's article suggests a darker color scheme to reduce eye strain and lists it among its display settings, so try it alongside lowering brightness.
What does Device Care do?+
Samsung's article uses Optimize now to close background activity, and says that if the device is already in good condition it cannot be optimized further.