Will you adore the Galaxy Tab S9+ Plus "Fan Edition"? Depending on the amount of power required
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| (Image: © Future |
The Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE+ is a less expensive, more compact version of the Galaxy Tab S9 that retains some of the high-end charm but loses too much in our opinion.
Pros:
- Premium, polished design
- Big, bright screen
- Epic battery life
- Bundled S Pen stylus
Cons:
- Lacking power
- Feels overpriced
- No 5G version
A less priced variant of Samsung's Galaxy Tab S9 Android tablet, the Galaxy Tab S9 FE+ ($599), does away with high-end features like the S9's OLED display in favor of less costly substitutes.
This is what a Samsung FE tablet should look like. If you're not acquainted, Samsung's Galaxy FE smartphones—"FE" stands for "Fan Edition"—take the luxurious appeal of the company's most expensive phones and scale back on the features, giving users a fancy-looking but more affordable gadget. That also applies to tablets.
Once again, the Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE+ offers a well-known combination. It has the appearance and feel of a premium Android device, but it lacks some features, especially in terms of performance. As a consequence, you get an attractive gadget that is generally quite functional but lacks a lot of power.
In contrast to its namesake, the S9 FE+ is not ranked among the finest Android tablets or the best Samsung tablets available due to the compromises made in order to obtain it. However, it's not too far off, and this tablet is worth looking at if you're looking for a decent, affordable Android tablet. In this review of the Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE+, I'll explain why.
SAMSUNG GALAXY TAB S9 PLUS REVIEW: SPECS
| Header Cell - Column 0 | Specifications |
|---|---|
| Price | $599 |
| CPU | Samsung Exynos 1380 |
| Display | 12.4-inch 2560x1600 90Hz LCD Touch |
| RAM | 8GB |
| Storage | 128GB |
| Ports | USB-C, microSD |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3 |
| Accessories | S Pen stylus included |
| Dimensions | 11.24 x 7.3 x 0.26 inches |
| Weight | 1.38 pounds |
Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Plus: Price & Release Date Review
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| (Image credit: Future) |
Starting at $599 is the Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE+.
With a lower screen, the entry-level Galaxy Tab S9 FE costs $449.
The Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE+ with 8GB RAM and 128GB internal storage, which is the device we tested, starts at $599 on Samsung's website. For an additional $100, there is a variant with double the internal storage (256GB) and 12GB RAM. Samsung provides the tablet with backing colors in lavender, mint, silver, and gray (the color we tried).
The FE+ is a bigger version, as the name would suggest. The basic Galaxy Tab S9 FE model has a smaller screen and a lower battery capacity, but it could still have a comparable uptime in the end.
The 10.9-inch screen of the Galaxy Tab S9 FE, which retails for $449.99, is larger than the 12.4-inch screen of the FE+. Also, the FE+ only has Wi-Fi connectivity, although the normal FE model has access to 5G cellular service.
Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Plus: Design Review
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| (Image credit: Future) |
The Galaxy Tab S9 FE+ has the feel of an extremely high-end tablet.
Despite having a huge 12.4-inch screen, it doesn't seem overly big or heavy.
Looking at the Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE+, you would never guess that it is a scaled-down version of a more expensive tablet. Its upscale appearance alone makes it seem quite appealing. It feels really polished and is thin and svelte, which makes sense given that this is still a $599 tablet. But it feels and looks a lot like the more expensive Samsung phones.
The Galaxy Tab S9 FE+, measuring 11.24 x 7.3 x 0.26 inches and weighing 1.38 pounds, is a huge screen smartphone that doesn't seem heavy. The large 12.4-inch display is the true star of the show, with the black bezel being similarly understated.
Though with a narrower 16:10 display, the rounded rectangular shape seems very much in line with what Apple has been doing on its iPad models for years. Samsung's tablet doesn't particularly stand out from the competition in terms of design, but it still has a high-end feel. Furthermore, the IP68-rated dust and water resistance is definitely valued in this situation.
When held sideways in landscape mode, the device features a microSD slot for more storage, a volume rocker, a power button with an integrated fingerprint sensor, and a selfie camera in the upper bezel. In my tests, the fingerprint sensor proved to be dependable and swift; however, facial scanning is an alternative.
The USB-C connector is on the right, and the speakers are on the upper right and left sides when the device is oriented landscape. Magnetized connections for coverings and keyboard attachments are located on the bottom.
Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Plus Display Review
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| (Image credit: Future) |
The screen of the Galaxy Tab S9 FE+ is large, brilliant, and exquisite.
Even though it isn't an AMOLED display, it is nevertheless striking.
On the cheaper, regular Galaxy Tab S9 FE models, Samsung switched to AMOLED displays; on the FE variants, such as the 12.4" FE+, this was replaced with LCD. Generally speaking, LCD panels fall short of similar OLED displays in terms of vibrant colors and deep black depths.
However, I find it difficult to identify any significant issues with the Galaxy Tab S9 FE+'s screen without comparing them side by side. It has an impressive color gamut and a high brightness of 760 nits when using adaptive brightness and 637 nits when using HDR.The color accuracy met the desired mood with 152.4% of the sRGB color gamut, 108% DCI-P3 result, and a Delta-E score of 0.15 while using the default Vivid screen option. However, the ordinary Galaxy Tab S9's AMOLED screen outperformed it in every way.
| Header Cell - Column 0 | Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE+ | Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 | iPad Air (2022) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nits (Brightness) | 760 (adaptive), 637 (HDR) | 592 (adaptive), 749 (HDR) | 485 (adaptive) |
| sRGB | 107.4% | 185.2% | 111.8% |
| DCI-P3 | 76.1% | 131.2% | 79.2% |
| Delta-E | 0.19 | 0.26 | 0.29 |
This is a powerful screen, and I was pleased with the vivid colors and brightness on their own. In comparison to the fully functional Galaxy Tab S9 versions, Samsung has obviously made several deliberate downgrades. While none of these are fatal or even particularly evident, they will undoubtedly affect any value comparison you may be doing.
Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Plus Performance Review
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| (Image credit: Future) |
It's unfortunate that the Galaxy Tab S9 FE+ uses less power than an iPad from 2021.
Even with basic operations, the tablet may be clumsy when playing 3D games.
This is where there is a clear disappointment with the Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE+, but one that not all users may even notice. The gadget seems rather snappy when used for everyday tasks like web browsing, viewing movies, and playing light games. That's definitely where the Exynos 1380 CPU and 8GB of RAM come in handy.
However, you'll notice that the Galaxy Tab S9 FE+ performs far worse than the competitors on benchmark testing, especially when playing 3D games. The gadget scored a pitiful 2,657 on the multi-core test of Geekbench 5, and a pitiful 761 on the single-core benchmark. That is almost 50% of what the full-featured Galaxy Tab S9 (1,555 single-core, 5,164 multi-core) showed us.
The fact that it is inferior to both the present $449 iPad from 2022 (1,580/4,400) and the $599 iPad Air from 2022 (1,707/7,151) is what really sticks out, though. In fact, it's less expensive than even the 2021 regular iPad (1,384/3,387), which is still on sale for $329, or nearly half as much as this more recent Samsung tablet.
| Device | Processor | Geekbench 5 single-core CPU | Geekbench 5 multi-core CPU | 3DMark Wild Life Unlimited |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE+ | Exynos 1380 | 761 | 2,657 | 2,953 |
| Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 | Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 | 1,555 | 5,164 | 14,831 |
| iPad Air (2022) | Apple M1 | 1,707 | 7,151 | 17,966 |
To be sure, the many 3D games I played all functioned rather well, despite having reduced visuals. Fortnite can be played at about 30 frames per second (fps), but the visuals are pixelated. Nevertheless, it's quite playable and preferable to fuzzy than choppy.
I was able to increase the graphic settings to a fluid 60 frames per second and higher detail using the role-playing game Genshin Impact, although the game cautioned me that the tablet may overheat and the game could crash. The tablet did, to its credit, get warmer than normal, but the game continued to operate. Both the shooter Call of Duty Mobile and the racing game Asphalt 9 performed rather well.
The Galaxy Tab S9 FE+ has much less graphics power onboard than other alternatives, according to gaming benchmark testing. The FE+ scored 2,953 on 3D Mark's Wild Life Unlimited test, which is much lower than the 14,831 on the regular Galaxy Tab S9 and the 17,966 on the previous iPad Air.
Although not everyone need a tablet for high-quality 3D gaming, the device's lack of power still worries me, especially in light of how future Android upgrades will perform over time.
SAMSUNG GALAXY TAB S9 PLUS: Audio Review
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| (Image credit: Future) |
The dual speakers are better than expected, but lacking bass.
The S9 FE+ delivers a powerful performance with two speakers that can become loud and sound rather clear, even though it only has half the speakers of the more powerful Galaxy Tab S9 variants. Dolby Atmos compatibility adds a pleasingly atmospheric kick to the output. Although it performs better than anticipated, the bass is still lacking—but the Galaxy Tab S9 left us with similar feelings.
Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Plus Software Overview
- Samsung’s tablet riff on Android is clean and easy to use
With Samsung's proprietary One UI 6.0 interface, the Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE+ is presently running Android 14. On top of Android, it's a tidy and appealing shell that includes a plethora of Samsung apps, including the Galaxy Store, in addition to Google's Play Store.
Other Samsung applications that come pre-installed are the SmartThings connected home hub, the Gaming Hub, and Health. The interface is designed for a tablet-sized screen, and I had no trouble navigating around it. For better access, the navigation keys are located in the lower right or left corner.
REVIEW: SAMSUNG GALAXY TAB S9 PLUS ACCESSORIES
- includes a free S Pen pen that attaches to the rear of the
- Additionally, Samsung sells keyboard adapters and alternative casings.
An S Pen pen is included with the Galaxy Tab S9 FE+ and connects magnetically to the upper back of the tablet, next to the rear camera module. In contrast to the Galaxy Tab S9, this stylus model lacks an integrated battery.
This S Pen claims to have the same feature set and sensitivity even when it is not charged. In my experience as a casual user, it was just as responsive as Samsung's S Pen versions that run on batteries. I don't think this one is any less competent.
In addition, Samsung offers supplementary accessories, such the two-piece Book Cover ($90) that may be seen in several of these pictures. The rear piece features a smart fold-down stand, a tiny bulge to hold the pen in place, and it stays magnetically attached to the tablet.
When not in use, the front flap covers your screen by connecting to the connection. When using the tablet, I usually took the front cover off completely, but I usually left the rear cover on since I loved the way it felt and fit.
If you want a more laptop-like style, Samsung also sells a few keyboard case attachments in normal ($230) and thin ($160) versions.
Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Plus Cameras: Review
- These tablet cameras are sufficient, nothing more.
Although Samsung has included good cameras on the Galaxy Tab S9 FE+, they aren't nearly as good as the jaw-dropping ones that are usually seen on the company's flagship devices. That's to be anticipated, though, and these snappers should work just fine for most individuals. In addition to taking good selfies and performing well during video chats, the 12-megapixel front-facing camera can track your movements within the picture.
There are two 8-megapixel cameras on the back: a wide and an ultra-wide (0.5x) variety. These cameras do well in well-lit environments, but they suffer in less lit ones. While the ultra-wide camera captures less detail but tends to yield punchier results, shots taken with the primary wide-angle camera are usually a touch subdued.
Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Plus: Battery Life & Charging Review
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| (Image credit: Future) |
- This tablet's 18-hour battery life means it will last for a while.
On the Galaxy Tab S9 FE+, you undoubtedly gain in battery life what you lose in sheer power. This device is a beast, making amazing use of its large 10,090 mAh battery. The Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE+ lasted for 18 hours and 6 minutes in our usual battery rundown test, which involves the tablet continually surfing the web over Wi-Fi with the screen set to 150 nits of brightness.
Battery Test Results
| Header Cell - Column 0 | Time (min:secs) |
|---|---|
| Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE+ | 18:06 |
| Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 | 9:06 |
| Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra | 9:27 |
| Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 | 12:52 |
| Lenovo Tab Extreme | 9:28 |
| Apple iPad Air (2022) | 1:09 |
| Apple iPad Pro (2022) | 10:37 |
That is almost twice as good as the 9:06 result from the regular Galaxy Tab S9 (not the bigger S9+ model, mind you), and almost exactly twice as good as the 10:09 score we noted on the 2022 iPad Air model. You'll definitely knock a few hours off that estimate if you play 3D games or use a higher brightness level. However, this pill lasts a very long time when used generally and lightly.
Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Plus: Final Verdict
I enjoyed spending a lot of time on Hearthstone card fights, online surfing, and YouTube watching with the Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE+ propped up with the Book Cover covering.
It's an impressive tablet with an opulent feel, but at $599, it's difficult to justify a device that can't even match the performance of an iPad that is almost half the price and two years older. However, for those who don't play many games, the long battery life and included S Pen stylus might help offset the lack of sheer power.
Nevertheless, it's difficult to defend the $599 price tag, and I have serious doubts about this low-powered tablet's capacity to keep up with upcoming Android upgrades. If it were on sale, it may be more alluring, or the marginally smaller Galaxy Tab S9 FE, at $449, might provide a better value in terms of both power and cost.