Galaxy Tab S9 FE: Samsung’s best value-for-money tablet? | Analysis / Review

The Galaxy Tab S9 FE was launched in Brazil in October 2023, as a cost-benefit tablet option. It promises premium features without having to charge the same as the more expensive models in the family.

Is the practical experience positive for this device? What highlights does he deliver? TudoCelular tells you in detail, in this complete analysis.

The Galaxy Tab S9 FE has a body with the same dimensions in width and length as the conventional Tab S9. The difference is that it is 6.5 mm thicker and heavier, at 524 grams. Despite this, you won’t feel uncomfortable holding this device in your hand.

Samsung offers an aluminum construction, both on the sides and back. Furthermore, it comes with IP68 certification, to resist dust and water. Overall, the product provides good durability to the user.

The front usability is satisfactory, with thin edges without compromising the space to support your fingers while you hold the tablet. The front camera is located at the top, when in landscape mode.

Above it, on the frame, are the volume and power buttons, where the fingerprint reader also appears. On the left side, there is still a microSD slot with no space for the SIM card, as this version does not support mobile networks. On the right is the USB Type-C connector.

In connectivity, the model offers sixth generation Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 5.3. NFC was also left out, for contactless payments.

In the box, you will find an S Pen stylus, a protective cover with holder, the USB-C cable, the plug adapter, user manuals and a chip drawer extractor.

The Tab S9 FE comes with a 10.9-inch screen, practically the same size as the conventional Tab S9. The main difference to its “brothers” is that the FE variant has an LCD-type panel, not an AMOLED.

This has an impact in practice. You won’t see infinite contrast or a high level of brightness here. At least, the viewing angle is above average for the type of display, without distorting the colors when viewing from the side.

Samsung has included a Full HD resolution, which allows you to view content in good definition. Furthermore, the device has a refresh rate of 90 Hz, which guarantees a slightly greater fluidity in the experience, but we still miss the 120 Hz present in the other models in the line.

In terms of sound, there are two speakers on each side, to form a stereo system. This helps the user to have a great immersive experience. We saw no differences between them in maximum volume or quality.

Overall, you will get good sound power and little distortion at maximum volume. They provide a good balance between bass, mids and treble, although far from perfect. But you can make the sound even richer, thanks to the full equalizer with Dolby Atmos.

The Galaxy Tab S9 FE is equipped with Samsung’s Exynos 1380 mobile platform, the same one found in the Galaxy A54 mid-range cell phone. The version that came to Brazil is the one that has only 6 GB of RAM and 128 GB of internal storage.

Even so, we noticed good software management when it came to helping things flow smoothly, as well as keeping multiple apps open in the background. We also didn’t notice any difficulty opening any application, from a browser to a document editing tool.

When we analyze the benchmarks, the tablet surpasses 580,000 points in AnTuTu and reaches almost 3,000 points in the Geekbench multi-core. The numbers are at the level of premium intermediary cell phones. In fact, above what we had in these same indicators on the Galaxy A54, which has the same chip.

As for games, this device’s GPU is capable of running the lightest games with maximum quality at 90 fps. In Call of Duty, you will still be able to perform well on Very High with extras enabled. In PUBG, you can configure HDR with high graphics without any harm.

The Galaxy Tab S9 FE comes with Android 13 as its native operating system, but it can now receive version 14 of the “little robot”. It will be updated for several years, but the security package was three months behind when we tested it.

The software flows well and does not present any choking or slowness in the commands. It can be configured in light or dark mode and even adapts the location of the notification bar according to the position of your hand on the screen, to make it easier to access.

Among the main features, we have the Edge Screen, to deliver shortcuts to your favorite apps on the side of the screen. There is also Samsung DeX, which turns the tablet into a portable PC, without needing an external monitor. It’s a shame that the Galaxy AI features were left out of this device.

With the S Pen that comes with the model, you can use common navigation commands to replace your finger, even write notes, draw on the screen or use smart selection on an element on display.

The Korean company also added an app called Kids. It changes the interface to a child-friendly appearance. Here there is a dedicated browser, some children’s games and a special camera application, with animated filters to increase your child’s fun, while still prioritizing safety with parental controls.

Samsung has inserted a battery with a capacity of 8,000 mAh in this tablet, the smallest on paper than all other models in the Korean brand’s most advanced family. Will it do well in practice?

We ran our tests with direct video playback to find out. After a full hour, the tablet was at 97% full charge. After the second hour, there was still 92% left. Proportionally, this means that the tablet would spend more than a full day playing some video content.

And when we go to charging, the Korean company supports adapters with up to 45 W of power. However, you will only find a more basic 15 W model in the package. It is connected via the tablet’s USB-C port.

In our tests with the original charger that comes in the box, the Galaxy Tab S9 FE took 2 hours and 54 minutes to complete the process. A negative point, as it would have been able to take a shorter time if it had come with a more powerful accessory.

The manufacturer left only one main camera on the back of this device. The sensor has an 8 MP resolution and takes decent photos in well-lit places. The images have automatic HDR to avoid darker spots and blown-out backgrounds. The colors come out warmer, for those who enjoy more vibrant tones, but without as much saturation.

Don’t expect a great level of sharpness when capturing in dark places. Night mode helps make recordings clearer, in exchange for more noise. It’s worth keeping in mind that this tablet will only be used for basic photography without major commitments.

The focus was on the 12 MP front camera. This is an ultrawide lens, which allows you to capture more of the scenery. There is little distortion at the edges, while the level of detail is higher than what we got on the rear.

The night images on the front are not disposable, even with a sharp drop in sharpness. At least portrait mode has few errors, despite making selfies a little darker in low-light locations.

The great strength of the front camera is in video calls and common recordings. It shoots footage in 4K at 30 fps and has efficient electronic stabilization. On the back, the tablet is limited to Full HD resolution at 30 fps. But here the device also deals well with shake and has agile focusing, as well as good quality sound capture.

For which audience does the Galaxy Tab S9 FE seem most interesting? It is a good choice for those who need it in studies and even in entertainment. It can also be used efficiently at work, whether with good quality video calls, or on Samsung DeX, to have an interface similar to a PC.

The model also features a premium construction and resistance against dust and water, which allows for good durability of its body, in addition to the longevity guaranteed by system updates.

The performance is on par with a premium mid-range cell phone, which guarantees sufficient performance for all tasks, even though it lacks a better quality screen and greater fluidity.

The battery is also another positive point, but we understand that it could come with a more powerful charger, so you don’t have to spend almost three hours plugged in until the process is complete.

Samsung launched the Galaxy Tab S9 FE in Brazil for a suggested price of R$3,500, in the version with Wi-Fi, and R$4,000, in the variant with 5G support. Is it more interesting to buy the newest one or its predecessor, Galaxy Tab S7 FE? The old model has a larger screen with better resolution, as well as a superior battery. However, it will have a shorter system lifespan and lack the quality of the front camera.

If you’re willing to invest a little more, the 10th generation iPad could be a good alternative. It has a screen the same size as the Tab S9 FE and higher resolution, but limited to 60 Hz. This model also offers a rear camera with better definition and a lighter body, but lacks protection against water and dust.

Do you think the FE is the best value for money in the Tab S9 family? Which characteristic of him caught your attention the most? Tell us everything in the space below.

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE is available on Amazon for R$ 2,549. To see the other 3 offers click here.

(updated on April 26, 2024, at 13:02)