Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE

Introduction

Samsung expanded its Fan Edition lineup with the launch of the Galaxy Tab S9 FE and the Galaxy Tab S9 FE+ in October 2023. The Galaxy Tab S9 FE is the smaller of the two tablets, and it is the spiritual successor to the Galaxy Tab S6 Lite, which was initially launched in 2020 and then updated in 2022.

The Galaxy Tab S9 FE brings a smoother display, improved cameras, a more powerful processor, more memory and storage, a bigger battery, and faster charging speeds. So, it's an all-around improvement compared to the Galaxy Tab S6 Lite.

Design

Being the Fan Edition of the Galaxy Tab S9 series, the Galaxy Tab S9 FE features essentially the same design, featuring a metal unibody and an almost bezel-less front. The bundled S Pen stylus can be attached to the side of the tablet for charging. More importantly, the Galaxy Tab S9 FE features the same IP68 rating seen on the Galaxy Tab S9. So, it is among the few tablets worldwide to feature a proper dust and water-resistance rating.

The tablet measures 165.8 x 254.3 x 6.5mm and weighs 523g. It comes in four colors: Gray, Lavender, Mint, and Silver.

Display

The Galaxy Tab S9 FE has a 10.9-inch screen with an IPS LCD panel and QHD resolution. It also features a 90Hz refresh rate, which brings a noticeable smoothness to the display compared to previous mid-range tablets from Samsung. It also has the Vision Booster feature to improve the screen's visibility under direct sunlight or high ambient light conditions. The tablet also features stereo speakers for immersive audio.

The bundled S Pen can be used to write, draw, and paint using Samsung's built-in Samsung Notes and PenUP apps. For creative needs, you can also use third-party apps like GoodNotes and Clip Studio Paint.

Specifications

Samsung has equipped the Galaxy Tab S9 FE with the Exynos 1380 processor. It is a higher-midrange chip with four high-performance Cortex-A78 CPU cores and four power-efficient Cortex-A55 CPU cores. It is a substantial performance upgrade compared to the Galaxy Tab S6 Lite.

The tablet has 6GB/8GB RAM and 128GB/256GB internal storage. The Galaxy Tab S9 FE has a microSD card slot to expand the storage space further. You can add up to 1TB microSD card to the tablet.

The Galaxy Tab S9 FE has an 8,000mAh battery with support for up to 45W fast charging. The tablet should last the whole day on a single charge.

Camera

The Galaxy Tab S9 FE has an 8MP rear-facing camera with autofocus and 1080p video recording. On the front, the tablet has a 12MP ultrawide-angle front-facing camera with 4K 30fps video recording.

Software and Features

The Galaxy Tab S9 FE comes pre-installed with Android 13-based One UI 5.1.1. It will get four major Android OS updates and five years of security updates, similar to the pricier Galaxy Tab S9 tablets. This is probably the best software support a mid-range tablet gets in the Android ecosystem. It also features on-screen Samsung DeX for a more desktop computer like approach to software when needed.

Availability and Price

The Galaxy Tab S9 FE is priced at $449 for the 128GB version with Wi-Fi connectivity. It will be available starting October 10 in select countries.

Downloads and Resources

As a SamMobile reader, you have free access to Galaxy Tab S9 FE's firmware files. These files can be used for manually installing updates. The firmware files for the tablet will be available once the device is released and available for purchase. If you have our optional premium plan, you can download firmware files at faster download speeds.

You also get ad-free browsing, expert support, giveaways, and more as a part of the optional premium SamMobile subscription plan.