What is the deal?
The Galaxy Tab S9 FE is a robust, big-screen pill that is constructed for media, and it is presently promoting for $442.
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ZDNET’s key takeaways
- Samsung’s newest Galaxy tablets are available in two sizes, the 10.9-inch Tab S9 FE for $442, and the 12.4-inch Tab S9 FE+ for $549.
- When you’ve got your coronary heart set on a giant pill for watching motion pictures and multitasking on the go and need to maintain your spending in examine, the Tab S9 FE+ is a strong selection.
- Needless to say it’s possible you’ll expertise the standard Android pill quirks, corresponding to outstretched apps and the occasional slow-down.
The world of budget-friendly Android tablets continues to develop as extra firms attempt to attraction to those that do not feel like spending $1,000+ on a pleasant Netflix machine. Samsung is as soon as once more attempting to make one thing occur within the higher mid-range sector with the Galaxy Tab S9 FE collection, which consists of the regular S9 FE and the S9 FE+. I have been reviewing the latter, which usually retails at $599, and… it is fairly good!
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I am not going to inform you it is the best pill since sliced bread. Whereas it marks the return of Samsung’s Galaxy Tab FE line after a hiatus in 2022, the corporate’s mid-range tablets have not modified all that a lot, save for just a few tweaks right here and there to deliver them as much as 2024 requirements. The S9 FE+ is a chief instance of that, however regardless of being a boring replace, it is nonetheless an amazing possibility in case you’re after a giant display with lengthy battery life.
The display is actually what makes the Galaxy Tab S9 FE+. Samsung features a 12.4-inch 16:10 IPS LCD that, to my eye, appears to be like about as shut as you may get to OLED with out really making the leap to OLED. Content material appears to be like pin-sharp because of the 2560 x 1600 decision, whereas colours are vibrant and distinction is surprisingly ample. I’ve loved doing nearly all the pieces on this pill, from watching motion pictures to studying articles. All of it appears to be like very good, which is to be anticipated from a pill from Samsung.
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Is it as stunning as a straight-up OLED panel? No, probably not. It would not assist that there is a grey tint at any time when one thing tremendous darkish reveals up on the display (corresponding to nighttime in a film), however for this worth, it is forgivable.
The display sits on the entrance of an aluminum chassis that Samsung affords in 4 colours: Silver, Grey, Lavender, and Mint (the one I received — and yeah, it is undoubtedly one of the best one). There is no scarcity of similarities between it and the opposite members of the Galaxy Tab collection, with its flat sides, round speaker grilles, and antenna stripes. This additionally makes it look lots like Apple’s iPads, which you can not unsee the second you set them subsequent to one another.
Whereas the Tab S9 FE shouldn’t be probably the most comfy pill to carry for lengthy durations of time (no pill with flat edges is), it is not less than skinny and light-weight sufficient that you do not develop drained. After some time, it simply tends to dig into your hand, which is not nice. However then once more, that is with most fashionable tablets as of late. At the very least the bezels are thick sufficient so you might have someplace to place your thumbs.
Underneath the hood, Samsung packs in its Exynos 1380 processor, a mid-range chipset that is not positioned to tackle the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2s and Apple M1s of the world. As a substitute, it is a nice processor for the Galaxy Tab S9 FE+, with efficiency that is typically dependable throughout my testing. Apps and video games reply in a well timed method, with just a few slowdowns at any time when I change between apps quickly.
There’s 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage in my unit, which is completely nice for many shoppers. If you would like extra, there is a 12GB RAM/256GB storage option for $520, which provides you with a bit extra headroom that may come in useful in case you’re a severe pill multitasker.
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The system comes with Samsung’s One UI 5.1 on high of Android 13, and it is a nice working system. The Tab S9 FE+ dons the standard One UI aesthetic and everything-but-the-kitchen-sink strategy to options and settings, together with an array of multitasking options like split-screen, multi-window, and even DeX, which provides you a desktop-like interface for getting work achieved. That characteristic is greatest paired with a keyboard and mouse, which Samsung is blissful to promote you within the type of the E-book Cowl Keyboard. I did not get it to evaluation, however I guess it is good while you’re in DeX mode.
After all, that is Android on a pill, so you will must take care of all of the bizarre methods apps open and scale on the show. I am going to admit, the app assist scenario is not as unhealthy because it was a few years ago, because of Google pressuring extra builders to optimize their apps for bigger units. Nonetheless, it isn’t excellent, and customary apps like X (previously Twitter), Instagram, and Slack will both not stretch to fill the show or stretch too broadly and depart you with a bunch of white house. This is not Samsung’s fault, by the best way — it is a bigger downside with Android, which I really feel obligated to say at any time when I evaluation an Android pill.
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Oh, there’s yet another software-esque characteristic I’ve to say: drawing. The Tab S9 FE+ comes with an S Pen that magnetically attaches to the again to recharge. You possibly can write notes, signal paperwork, create drawings, sketch, and extra with strong accuracy and responsiveness. Samsung has been doing the S Pen factor for some time now, and it is perfected its approach.
Battery life has been actually good on the Tab S9 FE+, which is good to see. There is a 10,090mAh battery inside that may final two to 3 days on a full cost with my gentle use. In the event you take it on a airplane with you, you possibly can simply watch two motion pictures, play some video games, and skim an e book earlier than it dies. Standby can be surprisingly nice; I left this pill unattended all evening at 100%, and it solely dropped to 96 % by the following morning. It is harking back to the form of endurance you may get from an iPad Air.
ZDNET’s shopping for recommendation
In the event you’re contemplating selecting up the Tab S9 FE+, I’d advocate contemplating precisely what you want out of your subsequent pill. In the event you’re after a giant display and lengthy battery life, that is the one for you.
However in case you’d be OK with one thing a bit smaller or serves as a second system while you aren’t utilizing it, the Pixel Tablet is all the time an amazing possibility. It comes with a smaller 10.2-inch display and a Tensor G2 processor, and it bundles a speaker dock within the field that turns it into a wise show.
However if in case you have your coronary heart set on a giant pill for watching motion pictures and multitasking on the go and need to maintain your spending in examine, the Tab S9 FE+ is a strong selection. There’s nothing actually particular that stands out in regards to the system, however as a normal on a regular basis pill (that occurs to be bigger than common and comes with a stylus within the field), it is fairly good.
