Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE Review: Mid-range Tablet with Stylus

Value When Reviewed

From $449.99

Finest Costs Immediately: Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE

$419.00

$429

$449.99

$449.99

With a ten.9-inch show, a premium flat-edged design, and pricing that begins from $449/£449, the Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE clearly has the iPad (2022) firmly in its sights. Samsung even bundles a stylus with each pill, in contrast to Apple.

In fact, Samsung isn’t the one Android producer considering alongside these traces, because the OnePlus Pad and the Lenovo Tab P12 go to point out. However actually, solely Samsung is in any type of place to take the combat to Apple within the premium pill market. For a while now, should you’ve wished an aesthetic pill that isn’t an iPad, Samsung has equipped the first different.

The final FE (fan version) pill Samsung equipped, the Galaxy Tab S7 FE, didn’t fairly nail the components, with a barely excessive price ticket and disappointing efficiency. Having seemingly skipped a era, the Galaxy Tab S9 FE sees Samsung regrouping and making an attempt once more.

Has it managed to nail the transient for a compelling mid-range pill this time round?

Design & Construct

• iPad-like premium design
• Standout IP68 certification
• S Pen included

Samsung makes extra tablets than anybody, so it’s no shock that the corporate has gotten fairly good at it. The Galaxy Tab S9 FE seems to be and feels nice, with a design that ideas its hat to the iPad (to place it mildly) while really managing to beat its nice rival in a single explicit space.

The flat surfaces, curved corners, all-metal physique (aside from plastic antenna traces), and evenly proportioned show bezels are pure iPad. Samsung’s pill is much less sq., nevertheless, with a 254.3 x 165.8mm physique reflecting the choice to us a 16:10 facet ratio show.

As ever, this makes the Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE really feel nice while you’re watching panorama video content material, however a tad much less comfy when scrolling by means of content material in portrait.

Jon Mundy / Foundry

Even so, the fingerprint sensor stashed within the energy button on the highest left edge (in panorama) proves to be easy sufficient to function in both orientation, supplied you bear in mind to enrol each forefingers. You’ll get within the behavior (whether or not you realise or not) of orienting the pill by the texture of the digital camera module on the again. The Galaxy Tab S7 FE omitted a fingerprint sensor, so it is a welcome addition.

At 6.5mm, the Galaxy Tab S9 FE is similar thickness because the OnePlus Pad, which makes it about half-a-millimetre thinner than the iPad (2022) and the Lenovo Tab P12. At 523g, it’s lighter than all however the iPad.

Samsung’s number of colors is disappointingly restricted, particularly in comparison with the iPad (2022). The Gray and Silver choices are predictably drab, whereas my Mint mannequin needs to be essentially the most delicate model of cool inexperienced I’ve ever seen. I believed it was imagined to be Silver at first look. There’s additionally a Lavender choice if that takes your fancy, although it’s oddly not on the Samsung UK retailer.

Jon Mundy / Foundry

For all of the competent similarity that’s on present right here, the Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE has one stand-out design function in comparison with its mid-range rivals – IP68 certification. Even the iPad (2022) doesn’t provide this stage of water and dirt resistance.

When you’re somebody who continuously exposes your pill to the weather – or continuously makes it share bag area with a beverage – this could possibly be a severely compelling addition.

Just like the Lenovo Tab P12, the Galaxy Tab S9 FE additionally stands out for the inclusion of a stylus with each pill, which is a £46 accent when purchased individually. Samsung just about wrote the e book on digital pens, and its primary S Pen stays among the finest examples available on the market.

Jon Mundy / Foundry

It’s easy, sturdy, and it attaches to the again of the pill with magnets. Samsung’s software program implementation is extra mature than every other producer’s, too.

It doesn’t slap you across the face and demand for use, however the facility for pulling off fast, highly effective S Pen-driven duties is all the time there, lurking within the background. Press the button and double faucet to open up a fast notice, or faucet the floating pen icon to carry up additional shortcuts.

The writing expertise itself is unimpeachable, with 4,096 ranges of strain and a distinctly pen-like stage of resistance.

Display & Audio system

• 10.9-inch TFT LCD
• 90Hz refresh charge
• Stereo audio system

Samsung not often journeys up on pairing the suitable display with the suitable gadget, and the Galaxy Tab S9 FE doesn’t let the aspect down. It’s not precisely distinctive for the cash, nevertheless.

You’re getting a strong 10.9in TFT LCD right here. The supply of LCD fairly and AMOLED panel know-how is by the by – good luck discovering a pill with such a element for lower than $500/£500. You’ll be wanting the £800 Galaxy Tab S9 as a substitute.

Along with a 1440 x 2304 decision, nevertheless, it is a display that’s each smaller and fewer sharp than that of the OnePlus Pad and the Lenovo Pad P12, that are each across the similar worth.

Jon Mundy / Foundry

One benefit over the Lenovo, and certainly the iPad (2022), is the supply of a 90Hz refresh charge. That is energetic by default too, or fairly an Adaptive mode that extends as much as 90Hz when the state of affairs justifies it.

Even right here, nevertheless, the Galaxy Tab S9 FE’s show is pipped and even lapped by the OnePlus Pad and its 144Hz provision. That’s whole overkill, after all, but it surely’s one other benefit for this mid-range rival.

In isolation, I’ve few qualms in regards to the output of the Galaxy Tab S9 FE’s display. It hits a most brightness of 562 nits, which is method brighter than the Lenovo Tab P12 and the OnePlus Pad, although it’s nonetheless not what you’d name outside-friendly.

Jon Mundy / Foundry

I additionally discovered it to be extra colour-accurate than the Lenovo, not less than as soon as I set the display mode to the extra sRGB-tuned Pure fairly than the default Vivid. Even so, the obvious lack of strong HDR normal help is notable in a media-focused pill. In distinction, the OnePlus Pad wears its Dolby Imaginative and prescient and HDR10+ credentials proudly.

Not like its two Android rivals, you don’t get a full quad-speaker array with the Tab S9 FE. Nonetheless, what you do get is a powerful AKG-powered stereo speaker provision.

They gained’t blow your socks off with any superb Dolby Atmos tips or notably deep bass, however they get very loud while remaining clear and fairly full. They’ll do a great job with film playback should you don’t occur to have your headphones (and are in a secluded space, after all).

Specs & Efficiency

• Exynos 1380
• 6 or 8GB RAM
• 128 or 256GB storage plus microSD

Samsung has fitted the Galaxy Tab S9 FE with its personal home-brewed Exynos 1380 chip. That is the corporate’s 2023 mid-range provision, which first discovered its method into the Samsung Galaxy A54 5G earlier within the yr.

Provided that the Galaxy A54 5G comes with an equivalent RRP, I’d say that the chip’s inclusion provides up. We discovered the chip to be clean and dependable within the Galaxy A54 5G and so it proves right here in Samsung’s newest mid-range pill.

Jon Mundy / Foundry

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You’ll get simply 6GB of RAM within the entry mannequin that I examined, which isn’t a fantastic deal for an Android gadget promoting for this kind of cash. Upgrading will get you 8GB, in addition to 256GB of storage fairly than 128GB (there’s additionally microSD card enlargement), which might ideally be the default, particularly when utilising Samsung’s well-integrated split-screen multi-tasking UI.

In benchmarking phrases, the Galaxy Tab S9 FE trounces the Lenovo Tab P12 with its crusty outdated MediaTek Dimensity 7050, however is in flip trounced by the OnePlus Pad and its zippy MediaTek Dimensity 9000. It’s center of the middle-range pack, which appears in step with the overall sense of competence on present right here.

I had no complaints with the overall operating of the Galaxy Tab S9 FE, which appeared in a position to sustain with all the gentle media and web-heavy duties it’s clearly supposed for. A complicated 3D sport like Genshin Affect stays playable on Medium graphical settings, however chugs while you push issues into Excessive territory.

One level that’s all too simple to miss pertains to connectivity choices. Samsung holds a key benefit over many different (non-Apple) producers in that it reliably presents a 5G mobile choice for its higher tablets. The Galaxy Tab S9 FE additionally presents that choice, albeit at a $100/$100 premium.

Cameras

• 8Mp rear digital camera
• 12Mp ultra-wide selfie cam
• Helps 4K video

I’ll solely contact upon the Galaxy Tab S9 FE’s digital camera capabilities, partly as a result of they don’t actually matter, and partly as a result of there isn’t a lot to say about them.

You get a brutally easy 8Mp rear digital camera, and a equally modest 12Mp entrance digital camera. On this, it’s very very similar to its mid-range pill rivals.

Within the curiosity of professionalism, I stood taking a bunch of photographs with this full-sized pill so that you don’t must. The outcomes had been largely as anticipated: barely delicate and flat, with hints of overexposure, and with Samsung’s signature picture processing doing a variety of heavy lifting.

The latter lends its signature color pop, which I feel really serves extra of a function right here with such restricted {hardware} than it does with the corporate’s flagship smartphones.

Regardless of its larger pixel depend, the 12Mp entrance digital camera is much more restricted, capturing washed-out selfies and drab pores and skin tones. It’s positive in a pinch.

All in all, then, the Galaxy Tab S9 FE digital camera is considerably akin to that of a really low-cost smartphone, however with an additional twist of vibrancy and 4K video recording help.

Battery Life & Charging

• 8000mAh battery
• 45W charging help
• No charger within the field

Samsung has given its pill a chunky 8000mAh battery, which is fairly strong for a ten.9-inch pill. It’s a lot smaller than the Lenovo Tab P12 and OnePlus Pad equivalents, however they’ve received a lot larger screens to energy.

It is a pill with multi-day potential, assuming you’re utilizing it for the standard informal internet shopping, Netflix streaming, and lightweight gaming duties that such tablets had been constructed for.

Even when your use case is extra critical and intensive, Samsung’s mid-ranger ought to acquit itself admirably. In our standard PC Mark Work 3.0 battery check, which simulates on a regular basis working duties like internet shopping, video and photograph enhancing, writing paperwork, and knowledge manipulation, it lasted 10 hours and 31 minutes.

Jon Mundy / Foundry

This means that the Galaxy Tab S9 FE will final you a full working day with room to spare. Comparatively talking, this result’s fairly common. It’s broadly aggressive with the OnePlus Pad, and is a number of hours longer than the Lenovo Tab P12.

I attempted the check once more with the display set to 60Hz, and it lasted an hour longer, which is edging from ‘adequate’ to simply plain ‘good’ territory.

Samsung doesn’t provide you with a charger, however the Galaxy Tab S9 FE does help as much as 45W charging. Hooking up a more-than-capable 120W Vivo charger I needed to hand, I used to be in a position to get it from empty to 21% in quarter-hour, and to 42% in half-hour. A full cost took me a little bit over 1 hour half-hour.

Weirdly, hooking up a 65W Samsung laptop computer charger resulted in slower charging, so go determine.

Software program & Apps

• Android 13
• One UI 5.1
• Busy, however very practical Samsung additions

It’s an odd factor to say in regards to the greatest cell gadget maker on this planet, however Samsung’s method to software program is a little bit bit ‘Marmite’. For these of you not from the UK, which means there are those who like it and those who hate it.

On the love aspect, One UI 5.1 is an influence consumer’s dream, with loads of customisation choices, strong split-screen multi-app capabilities, and – as mentioned – a completely built-in set of S Pen controls and shortcuts. With a primary S Pen in tow, Samsung Notes turns into a really sensible sketching and scrawling instrument.

On the detrimental aspect, Samsung’s chosen look hasn’t actually modified in years, and it’s not as aesthetically pleasing (to those eyes not less than) as Google’s personal tackle Android discovered on the Pixel Pill, or certainly these UIs that stick nearer to it.

Jon Mundy / Foundry

One UI feels considerably busy, with a Settings menu I nonetheless get misplaced in in spite of everything these years of reviewing, and many further apps that don’t all the time really feel crucial. For each Samsung Notes there’s a Samsung Web – the corporate’s personal internet browser, which exists alongside the vastly superior Google Chrome. Equally, Microsoft Outlook (whereas an excellent e mail app) is preinstalled alongside Gmail, Gallery is right here with Google Images, and Galaxy Retailer is right here with Google Play Retailer.

For many individuals, although, that is merely Android as they’ve all the time recognized it. Samsung tablets are the most well-liked exterior of the iPad, so it’d be silly to say that the corporate’s method is flawed, and I’d argue that One UI makes for a greater pill interface than it does a smartphone one.

What’s extra, with 4 promised OS updates and 5 years of safety updates, this is without doubt one of the better-supported tablets for the value.

Value & Availability

UK and US consumers should buy the Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE straight from the Samsung web site, Amazon, and lots of different retailers nice and small for a beginning worth of $449/£449. This may get you the Wi-Fi-only mannequin with 6GB of RAM and 128GB, which is the mannequin I’ve right here.

Step that outlay as much as $519/£519 and also you’ll safe the 8/256GB Wi-Fi mannequin, whereas including £100 to each will add 5G connectivity into the combination. Solely the 6/128GB is offered in 5G within the USA.

As we’ve already talked about, one of many key benefits of Samsung’s pill vary is that it’s broadly out there world wide, together with the US.

Take a look at our greatest Android pill and finest pill charts for extra choices.

Must you purchase the Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE?

The Samsung Galaxy S9 FE is one other sturdy mid-range pill, and a a lot better proposition than the Samsung Galaxy S7 FE which got here earlier than it.

It may not have the big, sharp, show of the Lenovo Tab P12, nor the speedy efficiency of the OnePlus Pad, but it surely has its personal distinct charms. These embody a uniquely achieved waterproof design and one of the best stylus system within the enterprise bundled in as normal, including worth.

Its display, whereas unexceptional, is vivid and fluid, and its efficiency is equally solid-if-unspectacular. Battery life, too, doesn’t let the aspect down.

Whereas it doesn’t sing or shout, the Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE is a pleasingly full all-round pill bundle for $450/£450. It’s the type of succesful, pleasant-to-use pill that may fortunately sit there in your espresso desk performing easy duties for years to come back with out problem.

Specs

• Android 13, One UI 5.1
• 10.9in, 1440 x 2304, IPS LCD, 90Hz, flat show
• Aspect-mounted fingerprint sensor
• Exynos 1380
• 6GB/8GB RAM
• 128GB/256GB storage
• 8Mp principal digital camera
• As much as 4K @ 30fps rear video
• 12Mp front-facing digital camera
• Stereo audio system
• 5G mannequin out there
• Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6
• Bluetooth 5.3
• 8000mAh battery
• 45W charging
• 254.3 x 165.8 x 6.5mm
• 523g
• Launch colors: Mint, Gray, Silver, Lavendar