Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE

Build Quality

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE, launched on October 16, 2023, presents a solid build with dimensions of 254.3 mm in height, 165.8 mm in width, and a slim 6.5 mm depth. Weighing in at 523 grams, it feels substantial without being overly heavy. The device is not foldable, maintaining a traditional tablet form factor. The available colors include Silver, Gray, Mint, and Lavender, offering a variety of aesthetic choices. A side-mounted fingerprint sensor is included for secure unlocking.

Screen Quality

The tablet features a 10.9-inch IPS LCD display with a resolution of 2304 x 1440 pixels, resulting in a pixel density of 249 ppi. The display operates at a 90Hz refresh rate for smooth scrolling and transitions. While it does not include HDR10+, the screen does support features like Eye Care Display, DCI-P3, and full sRGB color standards. Touch interaction includes capacitive multi-touch. The aspect ratio is 8:5. The display also supports the S-Pen, enhancing productivity and creativity. The display does not have a notch.

Camera Performance

The Galaxy Tab S9 FE is equipped with a 12-megapixel standard rear camera with an f/2.0 aperture and a CMOS sensor. The camera includes features such as autofocus, touch focus, continuous shooting, geotagging, panorama, HDR, face detection, and a variety of settings for white balance, ISO, and exposure compensation. Video recording capabilities reach 4K at 30fps and 1080p at 30fps, with a slow-motion option at 60fps. The selfie camera is an 8-megapixel shooter using a CMOS sensor, with no specific aperture details disclosed. Optical image stabilization is not included and the rear camera does have an LED flash.

Software Experience

The tablet runs on Android 13, with a planned upgrade path to Android 17. The OS delivers a full range of Android features, with the potential to enjoy the software ecosystem for several years due to the available update support.

Battery Performance

Powering the device is an 8000 mAh Li-Polymer battery, which should provide ample use time for a tablet of this size. The tablet supports 45W fast charging, though wireless charging is not included. It features bypass charging, which allows the tablet to be powered while bypassing the battery to reduce wear and heat. The battery is non-removable.

Hardware and Performance

The Galaxy Tab S9 FE is powered by the Exynos 1380 (5 nm) chipset. The octa-core CPU uses a configuration of 4x2.4 GHz Cortex-A78 cores and 4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55 cores. Graphics are handled by a Mali-G68 MP5 GPU. The tablet comes in two configurations: 6GB of RAM with 128GB of storage or 8GB of RAM with 256GB of storage. The device scored approximately 507,000 on the Antutu v9 benchmark. It includes Dolby Atmos-tuned stereo speakers. There is no SD card slot available.

Connectivity includes Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.3. USB functionality comprises a USB Type-C 2.0 port with OTG support, but no display port, video output, or accessory connector. Additional sensors include an accelerometer, gyro, compass, and proximity (via accessories). The tablet has no LED notification.

Value for Money

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE is positioned as a medium-priced tablet. The 8GB/256GB configuration has a listed price of $349.99 at several retailers. The feature set offers a good balance of performance and features for the price. Given its inclusion of the S-Pen, a smooth 90Hz display, and a respectable processor, it sits competitively in the mid-range tablet market.