Samsung's new Fan Edition tablets have borrowed an upgrade from the full-fledged Tab S9 flagship lineup. If the latter was Samsung's first non-rugged Tab S to adopt an IP rating for dust and water resistance in July, the new Galaxy Tab S9 FE and Tab S9 FE+ are the first in their respective Fan Edition lineups to boast these capabilities.
The FE tablets Samsung unveiled this week have an IP68 rating, just like their more expensive siblings. In theory, this means you can dunk the Galaxy Tab S9 FE or S9 FE+ in up to 1.5 meters of water for up to 30 minutes without them taking damage.
In practice, you probably won't go swimming with the Galaxy Tab S9 FE, but this IP68 rating offers extra protection if you spill water on the tablets. Rain shouldn't pose an issue, either, in case it catches you off-guard and you carry the Tab S9 FE in your hand, bag, or backpack.
Story continues after the video
Peace of mind for Samsung fans
If anything, this IP68 rating offers Fan Edition customers peace of mind and makes the tablets great candidates for young students. An IP rating isn't something users notice in their daily routines, but it may save your device if it happens to come into contact with water or an excessive amount of dust.
Samsung's new Fan Edition tablets were scheduled to hit the shelves in select markets on October 10. The lineup consists of the 10.9-inch Galaxy Tab S9 FE and the 12.4-inch Tab S9 FE+. Both have an aluminum build and a modern design with flat edges and individual camera cutouts.
Fan Edition tablets aren't flagships but cheaper alternatives to them. This means Samsung's dust and water-resistance treatment for tablets has now crossed over to the upper-mid-range segment. Nowadays, it almost feels like an IP rating is expected from every Samsung product, so it will be interesting to see which Galaxy device will get this kind of treatment next.
