Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE Series review: An inside look

15 December 2023

Image credit: Supplied

True to its “Fan Edition” namesake, the new Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE series is sure to be a fan favourite. The new FE and FE+ tablets feature immersive displays, everyone’s favourite S Pen, and multi-tasking capabilities, all at an affordable price.

If you’re not too fussed on performance and simply want a tablet for your leisurely and creative endeavours, the Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE Series may be for you. Discover everything you need to know about these new mid-range Samsung tablets with our inside look.

Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE Series stand out features

Two display sizing variants - 10.9” (FE), 12.4” (FE+)¹
Built for multitasking with flexible Multi Window² feature
Low latency S-Pen for creation on the fly

Unleash your creative potential with the new and affordable Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE Series. Featuring flexible multi-tasking capabilities and immersive wide displays to bring your imagination to life, these latest tablets are great for both work and play, especially if you’re already part of the Samsung Galaxy ecosystem.

Whether you’re looking to expand your workplace, share files between your other Samsung devices or take calls from your synced phone, the FE tablets offer a connected experience like no other. They are new members of the epic Galaxy family that integrate seamlessly with your Galaxy smartphones, buds, and other tablets.

Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 vs Tab S9 FE comparison

The biggest noteworthy difference between the regular S9 tablets and the FE editions is their performance. While the bespoke Galaxy S9 tablets use the industry-leading Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor, the FEs are designed with 2023’s signature mid-range Exynos 1380.

In simpler terms, the Galaxy S9 tablets have higher performance capabilities, although come at a steeper price than the FEs. Don’t get the wrong idea though, the FEs are still capable of supporting your everyday productivity activities and creative endeavours - they simply may not be the best choice for using demanding apps and competitive gaming.

Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE: Price

Compared to the Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Series, the FE tablets are much more affordable. You can purchase a Galaxy Tab S9 FE and Galaxy Tab S9 FE Plus across 12/24/36 month payment terms at Optus with Optus Pay. T&Cs apply.

Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE review: Physical design

The physical design of these S9 Tab FEs is unmistakably Galaxy, with a sleek and lightweight design perfect for travel and use on the go. The tablet features IP68-rated water and dust resistance, making it one tough device to take (almost) everywhere³. The Tab S9 FE Series is the first dual dust and water resistant Galaxy S FE tablet with the S Pen ever, making it one of the newest tablets you can take into the great outdoors, worry-free.

Weighing between 520g and 625g, the two Android tablets are also easy to carry around in a handbag or backpack, and comfortable to hold for hours at a time. They’re also compatible with many case and keyboard accessories.

Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE review: Display

The S9 FE sports a 10.9” TFT LCD screen while the FE+ has a generous 12.4” TFT LCD display.

Both have adaptive refresh rates of up to 90Hz to make streaming and scrolling seamless, as well as an automatic Vision Booster which adjusts the brightness, contrast and tone of your display to enhance visibility. With such wide displays, both tablets offer an immersive viewing experience as well as plentiful space for you to expand your creative ideas and bring them to life.

When paired with the low-latency S Pen, the FE tablets become a playground for artists, students, and writers. The large displays also make for great gaming experiences, although demanding FPS and open-world style games may not run at peak performance.

Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE review: Camera

While certainly a good-to-have on any device, cameras aren’t exactly the show-stealer when it comes to tablets. This applies to the Galaxy Tab S9 FE Series, where the cameras are average and mid-range - good enough for casual photo-taking and video recording but nothing to run home about.

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE features one 8.0MP rear-facing camera and a 12.0MP (UW) front-facing camera, making it decent for video calls and quick HD photo-taking. The FE+ has an additional secondary 8.0MP (UW) rear camera for ultra-wide photo-shooting.

Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE review: Performance and processor

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE uses an Exynos 1380 (5nm) chipset which is known for supporting powerful performance and photo-processing. Its octa-core CPU makes for efficient and high performance, making multitasking on the device quick and reliable⁵.

Although not the absolute best with HD graphics and real-time gaming, the Tab S9 FE can keep up with your standard mobile games just fine. The Exynos 1380 offers steady performance and can even deliver on modern augmented reality games⁶.

Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE review: Battery

The batteries on the new Galaxy Tab S9 FE Series are “built to last”, with the FE sporting 8,000mAh of power⁴ and the FE+ offering 10,090mAh⁴. This means you can watch up to 18 hours⁷ of entertainment on the FE and 20 hours⁷ on the FE+. The tablets’ long-lasting batteries keep you in charge - it means your tablet is ready, whenever an idea strikes.

Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE review: Conclusion

Overall, the Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE Series is an excellent option to consider if you’ve got a creative interest or are just looking for a recreational tablet. Capable of multitasking support, basic camera functions, and of course, streaming immersive entertainment, there’s much to enjoy with the Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE and FE+.

Get in on the tablet fun and b sure to check out Optus deals for more information on our latest tablet offers. You can purchase tablets on a plan or outright depending on your preferences.

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Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE Disclaimers

^{1. Measured diagonally, Galaxy Tab S9 FE’s screen size is 10.9” in the full rectangle and 10.8” accounting for the rounded corners. Galaxy Tab S9 FE+’s screen size is 12.4” in the full rectangle and 12.4” accounting for the rounded corners. Actual viewing area is less due to the rounded corners and the camera hole.}

^{2. Certain applications may not support Multi Window}

^{3. Consistent with IP68 rating, water resistant in up to 5 feet of fresh water for up to 30 minutes. Rinse residue / dry after wet.}

^{4. (For Tab FE) Battery rating based off typical battery capacity for Tab FE. Average capacity is 7738 mAh depending on usage. (For Tab FE+) Battery rating based off typical battery capacity for Tab FE+. Average capacity is 9816 mAh depending on usage.}

^{5. When compared with previous Galaxy Tab S8 FE.}

^{6. Based on internal test result compared to the Exynos 1280.}

^{7. Based on Samsung internal lab test conditions with a pre-release version of a given model connected to earphones via Bluetooth under default settings over LTE. Estimated against battery capacity and measured voltage over battery power consumption during video playback (video file resolution 720p, saved on device). Actual video playback time varies by network connection, settings, video file format, screen brightness, battery condition and many other factors.}

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