The "1-Minute" Review
Verdict
A well-built tablet that balances price and functionality, offering solid performance and a good display.What's good
- Reasonable price
- Excellent build quality
- Includes S Pen
- IP68 water resistance
- Bright display
What's bad
- Weak performance
- No OLED screen
- No headphone jack
- Only USB 2.0
- Mediocre cameras
Design
The Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE has a sleek aluminum shell that is well-built and looks sophisticated. Reviewers appreciated its sturdy construction and seamless transitions, making the tablet both durable and visually appealing. The IP68 rating means you can use it without worrying about dust or water damage.
This is a solid choice for those who need a stylish and tough tablet. One reviewer from Notebookcheck noted, 'The construction quality is excellent, with seamless transitions and no obvious flaws.'
Display(s)
The Galaxy Tab S9 FE's 10.9-inch LCD screen might not match OLED standards, but it offers impressive brightness and decent refresh rates up to 90Hz.
Reviewers note that the display's color balance skews slightly warm, with some backlight bleed noticeable.
Despite these points, it remains highly usable in most conditions, especially indoors.
Performance
The Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE uses the Exynos 1380 processor with up to 8 GB of RAM, but many reviewers note lags and delays in everyday use. This tablet doesn't match the speed of Samsung's higher-end models or similarly-priced competitors, leading to slow app launches and occasional crashes.
During benchmarks, it consistently scored lower than other mid-range tablets, making it less ideal for gaming or heavy multitasking. “For users prioritizing top-notch performance, the standard Galaxy Tab S9 might be a more satisfying choice,” one review point out.
Software & Storage
One UI 5.1.1 offers a user-friendly experience that supports pen operation, making handwritten notes and sketches easy. Samsung's long-term update support ensures the tablet stays current and secure for years.
The interface includes many pre-installed apps from both Samsung and Google, with a total of 29 GB already occupied. These apps can be beneficial in multiple ways, but they do take up a significant portion of your storage right from the start.
The Fan Edition also includes Samsung DeX for enhanced productivity, turning the tablet into a desktop-like experience when needed.
Cameras
The rear camera on the tablet is an 8MP unit, suitable for scanning documents or snapping quick photos in good lighting. It struggles in low-light conditions, with textures and details fading away.
The 12MP front camera offers a wide-view option, perfect for video calls. Reviewers note, 'Selfies look quite soft compared to those of a good 8MP phone camera' (Trusted Reviews).
The camera app includes modes like night, food, panorama, and slow-motion, providing versatile options despite the hardware limitations.
Battery
The Galaxy Tab S9 FE shines with a battery life that can last up to 14.5 hours during heavy use, more than many competing tablets in its class. You'll find it convenient and reliable for all-day tasks, from streaming videos to browsing the web. While its battery life excels, charging speed is moderate. The tablet supports up to 45W charging, but in tests, it took almost three hours to fully recharge from zero using the optimal charger. Despite this, many users noted the excellent battery longevity as a key strength.
“In our everyday Wi-Fi test, it managed an impressive 14.5 hours,” experts remarked. This aspect ensures that you can trust the tablet to stay with you through your daily activities with minimal interruptions. However, plan to plug it in overnight or during extended downtimes to keep it ready for long sessions. The balance of long-lasting battery life and moderate charging speed makes it a solid choice for those who value endurance over quick top-ups.
Audio
The Galaxy Tab S9 FE impresses with its audio quality. Experts praise its stereo speakers, which offer a strong and balanced audio profile, enhancing your listening experience during gaming and entertainment. One reviewer noted that the speakers deliver “impressive audio experience, whether you're listening to music or engaged in gaming.”
The stereo setup, tuned for the FE edition, ensures clear mids and highs, making dialogues and soundtracks in movies crisp and immersive. However, it's worth mentioning that the tablet lacks a traditional headphone jack, requiring USB-C or Bluetooth headphones.
For calls, the Tab S9 FE's microphones perform reliably, ensuring clear voice capture even in moderately noisy settings.
The Bottom Line
This tablet is a strong mid-range option, providing a good balance of design, performance, and price. It features a durable aluminum design with excellent build quality and is IP68 rated for water and dust resistance.
The 10.9-inch LCD screen has good brightness and color accuracy, though it falls short of OLED displays in black levels.
The included S Pen offers a great digital drawing and note-taking experience, and the tablet’s performance is sufficient for everyday tasks despite its mid-range processor.
What the Critics Are Saying...
- Jon Gilbert, Android PoliceThe Galaxy Tab S9 FE offers decent value for money if you don't need heavy processing power. For daily entertainment, social media, and light gaming, it's possibly the best tablet on the market at this price point.
- Ryan Whitwam, Android AuthorityThe Galaxy Tab S9 FE can do almost everything that Samsung's more expensive tablets can, but it costs hundreds of dollars less.
- Karandeep Oberoi, Mobile SyrupThe Samsung Tab S9 FE is a good tablet for users who want a large-screen device for entertainment, productivity, and creativity, but don’t want to spend too much on flagship devices like Tab S9 or the Tab S9 Ultra. The tablet offers a sleek and slim design, a bright and sharp display, a smooth and i...
- Andrew Williams, TrustedReviewsDon’t buy the Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE if you want the most power you can get for your money. However, it’s ideal for time-wasting, video streaming and dabbling in digital artwork as it includes a good S-Pen stylus.
- Aarohan Niraula, GadgetbyteSamsung's Galaxy Tab S9 FE is a decent midrange tablet in vacuum. But, with the presence of the Xiaomi Pad 6 and the OnePlus Pad, it fails to justify its expensive price tag. It has a good screen, decent speakers, and a nice UI but underwhelming performance for the price.
Prices (Where to Buy)
Ask the Community
No questions for the moment.
Resources
Manuals / User Guides Helpful Links Share / Embed
Maybe one of your friends will find this review helpful? Please help us spread the word.
