I Tried the Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE Plus: Here’s What I Found

I Tried the Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE Plus – A sleek design, powerful performance & S Pen support. Here's what I found!

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Samsung’s tablet lineup can be confusing but here’s a simple breakdown. Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 is a high-end tablet, competing with iPad Pro. If you’re looking for something closer in price to the basic iPad or iPad Air you should check out Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE and Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE Plus. These tablets offer features you wouldn’t expect at this price.

The Tab S9 FE Plus directly competes with the iPad Air 2022, but they’re very different. The iPad Air is thin and powerful, while the Galaxy Tab S9 FE Plus is bigger, heavier, and has more features for its price. One key feature is IP68 water and dust resistance, a durability feature usually reserved for Samsung’s active tablets but now available on the Tab S9 series. You can even use it in the bath or by the pool without worrying about spills or dirt.

Another advantage is the Wacom-powered S Pen, which is better than Apple’s Pencil because it doesn’t need charging. Samsung even includes the S Pen in the box, unlike Apple, which makes you buy it separately.

Even with the ‘FE’ name, the Tab S9 FE offers premium features like One UI, easy multitasking, and DeX desktop support when you connect a mouse and keyboard. However, the performance is a downside. It uses the Exynos 1380 chipset, which is good for multitasking but not for professional video editing.

Galaxy Tab S9 FE Plus gives you more features, storage (including microSD support), and a larger display, making it a solid choice for those looking for more at a competitive price.

Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE Plus Specification

Feature	Details
📅 Released	2023, October 16
⚖️ Weight	627g or 628g (1.38 lb)
📏 Dimensions	285.4 x 185.4 x 6.5 mm (11.24 x 7.30 x 0.26 in)
💻 Operating System	Android 13, up to 4 major upgrades, One UI 6
💾 Storage	128GB/256GB, microSDXC
🧠 RAM	6GB/8GB/12GB
🖥️ Display Type	IPS LCD, 90Hz
📱 Display Size	12.4 inches, 445.8 cm² (~84.3% screen-to-body ratio)
🔲 Display Resolution	1600 x 2560 pixels, 16:10 ratio (~243 ppi density)
📸 Main Camera	Dual: 8MP (wide) + 8MP (ultrawide)
🎥 Video (Main Camera)	4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps
🤳 Selfie Camera	12MP (ultrawide)
🎥 Video (Selfie Camera)	Yes
🔊 Audio	Stereo speakers, Tuned by AKG
🔌 3.5mm Jack	No
📶 Network	GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G
📱 SIM	Nano-SIM + eSIM (cellular model only)
🏗️ Build	Glass front, aluminum back, aluminum frame
💧 IP Rating	IP68 dust tight and water-resistant (immersible up to 1.5m)
🔋 Chipset	Exynos 1380 (5 nm)
⚙️ CPU	Octa-core (4×2.4 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4×2.0 GHz Cortex-A55)
🎮 GPU	Mali-G68 MP5
🌐 Wi-Fi	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct
📲 Bluetooth	Bluetooth 5.3, A2DP, LE
📍 GPS	Yes (cellular model only)
🔌 USB	USB Type-C 2.0, magnetic connector
🧭 Sensors	Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, compass, proximity (accessories only)
🔋 Battery Type	Li-Po 10090 mAh
⚡ Charging	45W wired, QC2.0
🎨 Colors	Mint, Silver, Gray, Lavender
📱 Models	SM-X610, SM-X616B
💡 SAR	0.77 W/kg (body)
💡 SAR EU	0.50 W/kg (body)
💰 Price	€941.73

Galaxy Tab S9 FE Plus price and availability

I tried the Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE Plus, which costs $599.99/£599/AU$849 for the 8GB RAM and 128GB storage version. You can get up to 256GB storage and 12GB RAM if needed. It doesn’t have 5G in the US, but you can get it in the UK and Australia. In the US, the smaller Tab S9 FE might be a better choice.

Samsung’s tablets are priced higher because they compete with the iPad Pro, not the regular iPad. But the Tab S9 FE Plus offers great features for the price, like a water-resistant frame, the S Pen included, a microSD card slot, more storage, and a bigger screen.

While the iPad Air has a more powerful chip and better performance for things like video editing, the Tab S9 FE Plus gives you more for your money with a bigger battery and extra features. The iPad Air also gets longer software updates, while the Tab S9 FE Plus may only get a few years of security updates.

The 128GB version has 8GB RAM, which is enough for regular tasks. If you plan on multitasking or using it for professional work, the 256GB version with 12GB RAM would be better. My review unit worked well, but it could run a bit smoother with more apps open. If you’re just browsing or streaming, the 8GB model is fine.

Display

When I first saw the Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE Plus, I was impressed by its large, bright display. It’s bigger than most tablets, except for the biggest iPad Pro. Although it’s not OLED, it’s still pretty good, with solid contrast and brightness. In fact, it’s much brighter than the iPad Air (2022). I was scrolling through web pages and navigating the home screens, and the 90Hz refresh rate made everything feel smooth.

The Tab S9 FE Plus gives you more screen space than the iPad Air, offering an extra 13 square inches, even though it’s only 1.5 inches larger. If you don’t need a huge display, the regular Galaxy Tab S9 FE has a 10.9-inch screen, which is the same size as the iPad Air, and it costs the same as the basic iPad 10.9.

Even though it’s not OLED, the Tab S9 FE Plus’s LCD display looks great, especially for the price. It’s brighter than the iPad Air, hitting 760 nits, while the iPad only reaches 485 nits.

If you want something fancier, the Galaxy Tab S9 offers an OLED screen and faster performance, but it’s $100/£100 more.

Disign

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE Plus has a design I really like – it’s sleek and not just a plain black tablet. The front is mostly screen, but the bezel is just wide enough to comfortably hold it without touching anything by accident. The back has a cool, futuristic look with some antenna lines and mirrored branding, giving it a clean finish.

One thing I love is how it’s made to be used in landscape mode. The selfie camera sits in the middle of the top bezel, and it feels much better in this orientation than portrait. The USB charging port is on the side, and the AKG stereo speakers are positioned above where you hold it.

Now, this tablet is a bit bulky. It’s not thicker than the iPad Air, but it’s definitely heavier – 166g more, which is almost six ounces. You really feel that extra weight, especially with the official Samsung Book Cover, which I’d recommend using.

The Galaxy Tab S9 FE Plus comes with an S Pen, but unlike the Galaxy S24 Ultra, there’s no built-in slot. The pen attaches to the back with magnets, but it’s a bit impractical – it tends to fall off when you slip the tablet into a bag.

Samsung also sent me the Book Cover, which is a two-piece case and stand. The front cover wasn’t too useful for me, but the back cover is handy. It has a spot for the S Pen, so I didn’t have to worry about losing it, plus a stand that folds out like origami. I kept the back cover on all the time, even though it added extra weight, just to keep the pen safe.

It’s a nice design, but I wish the pen stayed in place more securely.

Software

Samsung’s OneUI is great for tablets – way better than on phones. It’s designed specifically for bigger screens, so everything feels more natural on the Galaxy Tab S9 FE Plus. Honestly, I think OneUI 6 works better here than it does on smaller phones like the Galaxy S24.

Usually, I complain about Samsung’s software being too overloaded with features, pop-ups, and extra windows. But on the Tab S9 FE Plus, with its big 12.4-inch display, it feels organized and less cluttered.

Managing multiple windows is super easy. I can snap apps to the sides, pop them into frames, or minimize them into buttons to use later. It’s all done with simple finger gestures – no learning curve.

For more serious tasks, you can connect a keyboard and mouse to enter Samsung’s DeX mode. It changes the interface to look like a Chromebook, with a traditional toolbar and easy-to-move windows. Plus, you don’t need to connect to an external monitor like with some Galaxy phones – you can use DeX with just the tablet, keyboard, and mouse.

Performance

The Galaxy Tab S9 FE Plus performs pretty well for most tasks, even without the super-fast Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip found in the regular Tab S9. I had no trouble browsing, multitasking, or running most apps. It even works great in DeX mode for desktop-like tasks.

However, I did find a few hiccups when pushing the tablet to its limits. Editing photos in Adobe Lightroom felt a little sluggish, especially when using the S Pen to adjust sliders. I didn’t have this issue with the Tab S9 Ultra.

For gaming, casual games like Marvel Snap ran fine, even in the highest performance settings. But for more demanding games like Call of Duty or Genshin Impact, I had to lower the settings to medium for smoother gameplay.

If you’re not a hardcore gamer or professional editor, the Galaxy Tab S9 FE Plus should work just fine for you. It’s also perfect for drawing and artwork, thanks to its responsive stylus with Wacom’s EMR technology.

Battery life

Galaxy Tab S9 FE Plus impressed me with its battery life. Despite having a larger display than the iPad Air, it outperformed it by lasting a whole workday longer. During our tests, the iPad Air lasted about 10 hours, while the Tab S9 FE Plus lasted an impressive 18 hours.

It also charges faster than the iPad Air, though just by a few minutes. The mid-range processor in the Tab S9 FE Plus seems to be a big reason for its great battery life.

In my daily use, like watching shows, checking emails, and browsing the web, Tab S9 FE Plus easily lasted for days, even surpassing the iPad’s battery life in casual use.

Pros and Cons of Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE Plus

✅Pros	❌Cons
🕒 Long battery life	🎮 Not great for heavy games or work
🌊 Water and dust resistant (IP68)	⚖️ Heavier than others
✍️ Comes with an S Pen	🔒 S Pen can get lost easily

Conclusion

Galaxy Tab S9 FE Plus is a surprise hit. It’s packed with features that make multitasking easy, and its big, bright display gives Samsung’s software room to shine. While it may not have the same power as the iPad Air, it offers so much more that you might not even miss the extra horsepower, especially if you’re not looking for a full laptop replacement.