Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE review

Value When Reviewed

From £449

Finest Costs Immediately: Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE

£449

£449.00

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, not like Apple.

In fact, Samsung isn’t the one Android producer pondering alongside these strains, because the OnePlus Pad and the Lenovo Tab P12 go to indicate. However actually, solely Samsung is in any sort of place to take the battle to Apple within the premium pill market. For a while now, in the event you’ve wished an aesthetic pill that isn’t an iPad, Samsung has provided the first various.

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

Has it managed to nail the temporary 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 relatively good at it. The Galaxy Tab S9 FE seems 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 strains), 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 side 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 via 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, offered 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 this can be a welcome addition.

At 6.5mm, the Galaxy Tab S9 FE is identical 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 must be probably the most delicate model of cool inexperienced I’ve ever seen. I believed it was speculated 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 supply this degree of water and dirt resistance.

In the event you’re somebody who regularly exposes your pill to the weather – or regularly makes it share bag area with a beverage – this may very well be a significantly 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 guide on digital pens, and its fundamental S Pen stays the most effective examples in the marketplace.

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 another 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 at all times there, lurking within the background. Press the button and double faucet to open up a fast observe, or faucet the floating pen icon to carry up additional shortcuts.

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

Display & Audio system

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

Samsung hardly ever journeys up on pairing the proper display screen with the proper system, 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 availability of LCD relatively 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 an alternative.

Along with a 1440 x 2304 decision, nevertheless, this can be a display screen that’s each smaller and fewer sharp than that of the OnePlus Pad and the Lenovo Pad P12, that are each across the identical worth.

Jon Mundy / Foundry

One benefit over the Lenovo, and certainly the iPad (2022), is the availability of a 90Hz refresh fee. That is lively by default too, or relatively an Adaptive mode that extends as much as 90Hz when the scenario 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 complete overkill, after all, nevertheless it’s one other benefit for this mid-range rival.

In isolation, I’ve few qualms concerning the output of the Galaxy Tab S9 FE’s display screen. 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, a minimum of as soon as I set the display screen mode to the extra sRGB-tuned Pure relatively 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.

In contrast to its two Android rivals, you don’t get a full quad-speaker array with the Tab S9 FE. Nevertheless, what you do get is a robust 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 superb job with film playback in the event 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 12 months.

On condition that the Galaxy A54 5G comes with an similar 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 an ideal deal for an Android system promoting for this kind of cash. Upgrading will get you 8GB, in addition to 256GB of storage relatively 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 line with the final sense of competence on present right here.

I had no complaints with the final operating of the Galaxy Tab S9 FE, which appeared capable of sustain with all the gentle media and web-heavy duties it’s clearly meant 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 straightforward to miss pertains to connectivity choices. Samsung holds a key benefit over many different (non-Apple) producers in that it reliably provides a 5G mobile choice for its higher tablets. The Galaxy Tab S9 FE additionally provides 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 need to. The outcomes have been largely as anticipated: barely mushy and flat, with hints of overexposure, and with Samsung’s signature picture processing doing a number of heavy lifting.

The latter lends its signature color pop, which I feel really serves extra of a objective 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 nice 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 greater screens to energy.

This can be a pill with multi-day potential, assuming you’re utilizing it for the standard informal net searching, Netflix streaming, and lightweight gaming duties that such tablets have been constructed for.

Even when your use case is extra severe and intensive, Samsung’s mid-ranger ought to acquit itself admirably. In our standard PC Mark Work 3.0 battery take a look at, which simulates on a regular basis working duties like net searching, video and photograph modifying, 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 take a look at once more with the display screen set to 60Hz, and it lasted an hour longer, which is edging from ‘adequate’ to only 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 capable of get it from empty to 21% in quarter-hour, and to 42% in half-hour. A full cost took me a bit of 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 useful Samsung additions

It’s a wierd factor to say concerning the largest cell system maker on the planet, however Samsung’s strategy to software program is a bit of bit ‘Marmite’. For these of you not from the UK, meaning there are people who adore it and people who hate it.

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

On the unfavorable aspect, Samsung’s chosen look hasn’t actually modified in years, and it’s not as aesthetically pleasing (to those eyes a minimum of) 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 extra apps that don’t at all times really feel vital. For each Samsung Notes there’s a Samsung Web – the corporate’s personal net 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 at all times recognized it. Samsung tablets are the preferred outdoors of the iPad, so it’d be silly to say that the corporate’s strategy 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 likely one of the better-supported tablets for the value.

Value & Availability

UK and US patrons should purchase 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 out there 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 around the globe, together with the US.

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

Do you have to 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 won’t have the massive, sharp, show of the Lenovo Tab P12, nor the fast efficiency of the OnePlus Pad, nevertheless it has its personal distinct charms. These embrace a uniquely achieved waterproof design and the very best stylus system within the enterprise bundled in as normal, including worth.

Its display screen, whereas unexceptional, is brilliant 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 sort of succesful, pleasant-to-use pill that can fortunately sit there in your espresso desk performing easy duties for years to return 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 foremost 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