The Galaxy Tab S9 FE/Wala!
Technology, Yanon Ben Shoshan
In recent years, the tech giants have gradually abandoned the tablet market, which is dominated by Apple.
Samsung, on the other hand, never gave up on the category, and last October launched the Galaxy Tab S9 FE, a discounted model aimed at the mid-range market.
The FE series, or "Fan Edition", is designed to meet the needs of customers and offer a higher value device at a lower price.
The obvious question is whether the S9 FE is still a large-screen smartphone, or whether it heralds new hope for non-iPad tablets.
We checked.
Design
Samsung's Galaxy Tab series has evolved over the years, while adhering to a design language.
The Tab S9 FE takes the design of the Tab S9 - the tablet it's based on - and basically changes almost nothing.
The entire device is wrapped in an aluminum chassis and the gray color looks sharp and gives the tablet an elegant looking profile.
The edges are sharp but not pointed, and the antenna lines running along the back give it a unique style that we really liked.
The base of the tablet (in horizontal position) has a triangular connection point with two slots, for a better grip with a keyboard.
At the top are the volume buttons and the power button with a fingerprint sensor, as well as a magnetic area for the attached S Pen.
On both sides of the device there are speakers, on the right is a USB-C connection, and on the left is a SIM tray.
The Tab S9 FE is not particularly heavy (523 grams) and comes in a thickness of only 6.5.
Also, it has a single camera sensor on the back, and in fact, in all the two weeks I spent with the tablet I didn't find a good enough reason to pick up a 10.9-inch screen and shoot with it instead of the smartphone (we'll get to that later).
The antenna lines running in the back give it a unique style.
The Tab S9 FE/Wala!
Technology, Yanon Ben Shoshan
Screen: Not OLED, but still spectacular
Samsung's compromise is on the screen this time.
And now let's get things in order: the screen of the Tab S9 FE is an outdated TFT LCD, not AMOLED.
For those who are used to the top, it might feel low, but the truth?
After prolonged use, you forget about it.
The screen definitely does the job, the display is sharp and colorful, and you can definitely enjoy anything you run on it.
And of course, I would have preferred AMOLED, but then we would be talking about a completely different tablet, and at a completely different price.
Another weak point is the refresh rate - only 90 Hz and not 120 Hz, a refresh rate that has become a kind of standard even in intermediate devices.
And it's important to say: it doesn't greatly interfere with the day-to-day work and the average user probably won't notice the difference, so if a limited budget is a major consideration, it's not entirely okay.
The screen of the Tab S9 FE is an old-fashioned TFT LCD, and not AMOLED, but it's perfectly fine/whole!
Technology, Yanon Ben Shoshan
Performance and interface
Make no mistake, the Galaxy Tab S9 FE has nothing to be ashamed of.
It features Samsung's standalone processor, the Exynos 1380 - not quite what you'll find in premium tablets, but enough for everyday work.
Alongside this, it includes 6 gigabytes of working memory (there is also an 8 gigabyte version).
Granted, this combo doesn't scream "performance monster," but this spec handles everyday tasks admirably.
However, like any mid-market device, there are some stutters at times, but overall, the performance is great.
Out of the box, the Galaxy Tab S9 FE comes with an available update to One UI 6, based on Android 14 (you'll need to update manually).
Longtime Galaxy device owners will feel at home, as the interface is designed in the same way as the company's smartphones, with a better fit for tablets.
And we can say it for the first time: it feels less like a big smartphone.
On the other hand, if you are thinking of purchasing a tablet that will be used as your permanent work tool, you should know that it is not there yet, at least if you need to write documents on the touch screen or open certain programs that only work as applications.
True, it is possible to connect a dedicated keyboard to it that will improve the writing experience, but still, as of this writing, there is no Android tablet that can (really) replace a computer.
Galaxy Tab S9 FE: enough for daily work/wallah!
Technology, Yanon Ben Shoshan
battery
The battery here is powerful - 8,000 mAh.
In my use, I managed to squeeze in more than two days of work which amounted to about 15 hours in total, but of course this depends on the type of use.
There is not much chance that you will find yourself in a situation where you are without a battery, but a charger is not included in the kit, so you should be prepared in advance.
Camera?
Um... don't forget it's a tablet
The Galaxy Tab S9 FE includes a single 8-megapixel camera on the back, and a 12-megapixel sensor on the front (selfie camera).
Tablets, as we know, are meant for scrolling, viewing and consuming documents and for the life of me I can't think of too many reasons that would make you shoot something with such a large device, which makes the experience strange and unnatural.
And yes, the Tab S9 FE is no different from its brother, and does not pass the test in any way.
Actually, maybe for document scanning.
The Galaxy Tab S9 FE features a single 8-megapixel camera/wow!
Technology, Yanon Ben Shoshan
There is also a smart pen
Let's start with the happy part: you will receive the stylus pen (S Pen) together with the tablet in the package, so you don't have to buy it separately.
This is a big plus, as Apple still charges extra for its stylus pen, the Apple Pencil.
And don't get confused, this is not the pen you know from the ultra models or the Note series, but a completely different and enlarged version of it.
how is the performance
Drawing and drawing with a pen on the screen is very convenient and accurate.
The handwriting recognition works great, and even when the wrist is on the screen itself, the writing experience is not affected.
However, I found using the pen less often and for those of you who need a tablet that includes a smart pen and the price is a key consideration - the Tab S9 FE is an excellent choice.
You will receive the stylus pen (S-Pen) together with the tablet in the package/Walla!
Technology, Yanon Ben Shoshan
In the bottom line
Although we still remember that it is an LCD screen and not OLED, the Galaxy Tab S9 FE is a worthy intermediate tablet that offers similar functionality to the flagship model, Galaxy Tab S9, for much less money (NIS 2,499).
It boasts a quality construction and performance that is sufficient for daily use - consuming content, watching movies, writing documents and even playing light games.
Need a tablet for graphics or heavy games?
It will suit you less.
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