On the back are two 8-megapixel cameras – one wide and another ultrawide – both of which do a decent job, as expected from a tablet. — Photos: Samsung
FE, or Fan Edition, is Samsung’s cost-friendly remix of its premium products.
For the Tab S9 tablet range, it has introduced not one but two FE models, the 10.9in Tab S9 FE and the 12.4in Tab S9 FE+, which this review will focus on.
The Galaxy Tab S9 FE+ stands out for two major things: a spacious screen and a robust battery, all without the hefty price tag.
The expansive 12.4in screen is great, whether you’re jotting down notes, enjoying movies, reading comics (at a size similar to the physical copy), or getting work done.
The tablet is also a good size for DeX, which switches the interface to desktop mode, allowing you to multitask better for productivity, as you can have multiple apps open simultaneously as “windows” like on a PC. Not all apps play nice in this mode, though.
DeX works best with a wireless keyboard and mouse, but unlike the Tab S9, you won’t be able to connect the tablet to an external monitor for a larger view.
As with all FE editions, compromises had to be made to keep the price low.
In this case, the screen is LCD, not Samsung’s much-touted Amoled, and it shows. The contrast is a bit lacking, with blacks that aren’t as deep, and the refresh rate is lower at 90Hz instead of the expected 120Hz.
Though it can’t rival the contrast of the pricier models, the display is still sharp with vibrant colours.
The write stuff
The tablet comes with an S Pen out of the box, like it did with previous models, which is a bonus. It magnetically attaches to the back and doesn’t get in the way of holding the tablet.
Of the styluses I have used, Samsung still makes one of the best when it comes to writing, as the thin nib offers enough friction not to make it feel like you are writing on slippery glass, even if technically you are.
On top of that, it doesn’t require charging – it’s always good to go when you are.
However, this also means that you won’t have access to Air Actions like with the Bluetooth stylus on the Tab S9, where you get to remotely trigger the camera shutter, play or pause YouTube videos, and more, but I didn’t miss those features much and prefer not to have another thing to charge.
Plus, you also get a one-year subscription to Goodnotes and a six-month subscription to Clip Studio Paint to get you started with note-taking and drawing, respectively.
Another difference is in the fingerprint sensor, which is on the power button instead of optical versions under the screen.
Over time, I actually got to like this, as all you have to do to turn on the tablet is gently slide your finger over the button, which proved to be both speedy and precise in most instances.
One cool thing about owning multiple Samsung products is that they are designed to work seamlessly.
For instance, Samsung earbuds will automatically switch from the smartphone to the tablet when you start using the Tab S9 FE+ to play another video source, and vice versa. It will also pause the video on the other device.
The tablet features two fairly loud AKG-tuned speakers, treating your ears to a satisfying audio experience.
The Tab S9 FE+ is powered by Samsung’s Exynos 1380 octa-core processor instead of Qualcomm’s high-end chip.
You get a one-year subscription to Goodnotes and a six-month subscription to Clip Studio Paint to get you started with note-taking and drawing, respectively. — Photos: Samsung
Other than some initial occasional hiccups – a judder here and there – it has been running smoothly, even with two apps open at the same time.
It had no issues running games like Cover Fire, Real Racing 3 or Genshin Impact, but it did get warm, but not to the point that it’s uncomfortable or worrying.
Additionally, with WiFi 6 support, the tablet downloads game assets fast, even those exceeding 1GB in size.
Those who find the storage to be too small can opt to get a microSD card – up to 1TB is supported – which is ample space.
As with most devices, the Tab S9 FE+ doesn’t come with a charger, and this is a bit of a bummer.
Because it has a huge battery, a smartphone charger will take longer to power it up. On my 25-watt charger, it took one hour and five minutes to hit 85% from 25%. For faster charging, you will need to get the 45-watt charger.
But once it’s charged up, this tablet will easily last you more than a day, as it has a huge battery.
On the camera side of things, it has a 12-megapixel front camera, the same as the Tab S9+. It’s positioned on the side instead of the top, which makes it ideal for virtual meetings, which is super handy in the post-pandemic world where it’s the preferred option.
On the back are two 8-megapixel cameras – one wide and another ultrawide – both of which do a decent job, as expected from a tablet.
Sizing it up
The Tab S9 FE+ is a slim and lightweight tablet for its size, and the IP68 rating for water and dust resistance means you have one less thing to worry about when using it outdoors. This is a first for the FE tablet range.
It comes in more colours than the Tab S9+, and there are four options: Gray, Mint, Silver or Lavender.
Colour me purple, but the FE+ doesn’t look like anything in the photos. The Lavender model, for instance, is more silver than purple, which is a nice touch as it doesn’t look tacky.
The decision to get the Tab S9 FE+ is an easy one. If you are on the hunt for a large tablet, beyond 11in, and don’t want to splurge, then this tablet is an ideal choice.
Despite a few minor compromises, they in no way detract from the overall enjoyment of using this device.
Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE+ 256GB
PROCESSOR: Exynos 1380 octa-core chip
MEMORY: 12GB RAM
CAMERAS: Back – 8-megapixel wide camera; 8-megapixel ultrawide camera; front – 12-megapixel ultrawide camera
DISPLAY: 12.4in QHD+ (1,600 x 2,560 pixels) at 90Hz
DIMENSIONS: 285.4 x 185.4 x 6.5mm
WEIGHT: 627g
BATTERY: 10,090mAh
RATING: ★★★★✰
PRICE: RM3,099 (WiFi); RM3,699 (WiFi + 5G)
PROS: Slim and well-designed with IP68 rating for water and dust resistance; big screen is a joy to use for most tasks; stylus included; long battery life; affordable.
CONS: Screen is not Amoled; mid-range processor.
