Taeki Chan In today’s fast-paced digital world, tablets have found a unique place. They offer more power and versatility than your smartphone while being more portable than a bulky laptop. In the world of Android tablets, Samsung has long been a trailblazer, and their latest offering, the Galaxy Tab S9 FE, is a testament to their commitment to innovation. This sleek device combines robust software, an elegant design, and a wallet-friendly price, making it an excellent choice in the competitive tablet market. We had the opportunity to spend a week with the Galaxy Tab S9 FE, and here’s our in-depth review.
Design and Build – Aesthetics Meets Durability
The Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE showcases a minimalist and elegant design. Its aluminum unibody, finished with a fine matte texture, adds to its premium feel and offers a secure grip, unlike the slippery nature of some glass-finished competitors. Notably, it’s a robust piece of tech with a strong metal frame and an IP6 rating, making it resistant to water, a first for the Galaxy S FE series.
Immersive Display – Sharp and Smooth
The tablet features a 10.9-inch IPS display with a QHD+ resolution of 2304 x 1440 pixels. Corning Gorilla Glass 5 protects the screen, ensuring durability and shielding it from minor scratches and accidental drops. What sets this display apart is its adaptive refresh rate, which can scale up to 90 Hz, providing an incredibly smooth viewing experience. You can customize the refresh rate in the settings according to your preference. Additionally, the Vision Booster feature optimizes color, contrast, and tone for better outdoor visibility, even in bright sunlight. The reduced blue light emission ensures your eyes stay comfortable during extended usage.
Capturing Moments – More Than Just a Tablet Camera
Tablets aren’t usually associated with stellar camera performance, but the Galaxy Tab S9 FE changes that perception. It boasts a 12MP f/2.4 selfie camera on the top bezel (in landscape orientation) and an 8MP f/1.9 rear camera. Our camera tests revealed that these cameras are more than capable of delivering quality photos, suitable for video calls and basic photography needs.
The SPen: Your Creative Companion – Where Function Meets Durability
The included SPen is a highlight of the Galaxy Tab S9 FE. This stylus isn’t just an accessory; it’s a versatile tool. It’s water and dust resistant with an IP68 rating, making it incredibly durable. During our tests, the SPen proved to be highly convenient and responsive, whether you’re taking notes, drawing, or annotating documents. It offers a lag-free experience, imitating the tactile sensation of writing on paper. The integrated software recognizes handwriting and converts it into text seamlessly, making it an ideal tool for a wide range of tasks.
Boost Your Productivity with the Book Cover Keyboard – A Seamless PC-Like Experience
One of the available accessories for the Galaxy Tab S9 FE is the Book Cover Keyboard. For a limited time, you can get it for free when you purchase the tablet before November 30, 2023. This keyboard transforms your tablet into a mini-PC, complete with function keys and a trackpad. It also supports DeX Mode, offering a seamless PC-like experience. You can even wirelessly connect to other Samsung Galaxy devices for enhanced productivity.
Impressive Performance – A Reliable Workhorse
Under the hood, the Galaxy Tab S9 FE runs on Android 13, with Samsung’s One UI layered on top. This combination provides a seamless experience, with tight integration into the Samsung ecosystem. The inclusion of the SPen stylus enhances the tablet’s overall usability. In our tests, the Samsung Exynos 1380 chip showcased its capability, handling everyday tasks with ease.
Impressive Battery Life – Power That Lasts
The Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE features an 8000 mAh battery that supports 45W fast charging. In our intensive tests, the tablet’s battery lasted approximately 12 hours on a single charge, even with heavy usage that included browsing and watching YouTube. Recharging is swift, taking only about an hour with the provided cable and 45W Samsung charger.
In Conclusion – Premium Features Without the Premium Price
In summary, the Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE offers a well-rounded tablet experience without the high price tag. It balances design, software features, and battery life, making it an appealing choice for a wide range of users. Priced at RM 2,399, it positions itself in between the Galaxy Tab A-series and Galaxy Tab S9 series, offering remarkable value. Don’t overlook this tablet; it has the potential to impress further as you explore its capabilities.
For more details and the latest updates about the Samsung Galaxy S9 FE, visit Samsung’s official website at https://www.samsung.com/my/tablets.
