Samsung's new Fan Edition range of devices is finally official, and this year, the company has not only refreshed the FE range but also expanded it with a few extra devices, including the company's first FE-branded pair of wireless earbuds and an additional Fan Edition tablet. This year, the Galaxy Tab S7 FE received two sequels rather than one, as the FE tablet range now consists of the base Galaxy Tab S9 FE and the Tab S9 FE+.
Even though there are two new FE tablets, you could say that the Plus model feels more like the intended follow-up to the Tab S7 FE on account of its 12.4-inch screen size. In contrast, the base Tab S9 FE has a 10.9-inch panel and exists to lower the barrier of entry into Samsung's Tab S series even further. It certainly seems like a more attractive device than the usual Tab A mid-range affair.
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Galaxy Tab S9 FE series hardware
Although the Fan Edition tablet series has yet to make the jump to AMOLED, both the Tab S9 FE and the Tab S9 FE+ have upgraded TFT LCDs with a refresh rate that now tops out at 90Hz instead of 60Hz. They also benefit from Vision Booster technology, ensuring better color accuracy in a wider range of external lighting conditions.
The tablets are powered by the Exynos 1380 chipset and offer 128GB and 256GB storage options. Storage is expandable. The base model comes with 6GB or 8GB of RAM, whereas the Galaxy Tab S9 FE+ offers a minimum of 8GB of RAM and an optional upgrade to 12GB.
The Tab S9 FE+ appears to have borrowed the Tab S7 FE's battery specifications. It's a 10,090mAh unit with 45W charging capabilities. Meanwhile, the base model offers the same 45W specification but in a smaller 8,000mAh package. Samsung rates the tablets for up to 20 hours of video playback on a single battery charge.
Samsung ensures that its latest tablets offer better video calls through an upgraded 12MP ultra-wide front-facing camera with auto-framing capabilities. A first for the range. And while the base model carries a single 8MP rear-facing shooter, the Tab S9 FE+ carries two 8MP cameras, the second of which is ultra-wide.
Both tablets ship with Android 13 and One UI 5.1.1, meaning they have access to the latest UI improvements and upgrades to multi-window, pop-up window, and the taskbar. They feature AKG dual speakers with Dolby Atmos, 5G, Wi-Fi 6, Wi-Fi Direct, and Bluetooth 5.3. They can also run in DeX mode, which improves mobile productivity through a desktop-grade UI.
Water resistance and a slightly better S Pen
The Galaxy Tab S9 FE series design hasn't changed much from the Tab S7 FE, but that's not inherently a bad thing. The Tab S7 FE already looked good enough to pass as a high-end tablet. The one big design difference this year is that the new FE tablets have circular cutouts for the rear-facing cameras, in line with Samsung's 2023 design language. The new tablets look modern and are sturdy thanks to their aluminum construction. And like the flagship Tab S9 models, these two Fan Edition slates have an IP68 rating for dust and water resistance.
Samsung continues to offer an S Pen with its Fan Edition tablets. It's available in the box, but it doesn't support BLE. It's a passive pen, but it does what it's supposed to do and works just like you would expect an S Pen to.
On a final note, Samsung did upgrade the S Pen slightly, although perhaps not in ways you might imagine. Based on user feedback, the company made the S Pen's side button a little harder to press to avoid accidental activations. In any case, the tablets ship with the usual productivity tools, including Goodnotes, LumaFusion, CLip Studio Paint, and more.
All in all, Samsung reinvented the FE tablet line this year with the addition of the 10.9-inch model, and the company also provides much-needed memory upgrades, performance boosts, display improvements, and a higher-quality build with water resistance to the lineup.
The new FE range is shaping up to be an interesting choice for prospective tablet buyers who may not want to spend money on a flagship but expect at least some flagship-grade features from their devices, such as an IP68 rating, a modern design and sturdy build, an S Pen, and enough power and battery life for a comfortable multimedia experience.
The Tab S9 FE series will be available in four colors: Mint, Cream, Graphite, and Purple, and will start at $449/€529.
