Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE SAMSUNG Galaxy Tab S9 FE+ (12.4-inch, 128GB, WiFi) Review

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE+ is a solid mid-range Android tablet that tries to do a bit of everything. It's got a big, bright 12.4-inch screen, comes with a handy S Pen, and it's even IP68 rated for dust and water resistance, which is a nice touch you don't see often.

But it's not a powerhouse. The Exynos 1380 processor and 8GB of RAM are decent for everyday stuff, but don't expect it to keep up with the top-tier tablets. It's built more for casual use than for heavy lifting.

Performance is fine for the basics. Scrolling through apps, watching videos, and light multitasking with 8GB of RAM feel smooth. The 90Hz screen helps with that. But the Exynos 1380 chip lands in the 34th percentile for CPU power, and the GPU is even lower at the 36th. That means it'll start to chug if you push it with more demanding apps or games. The 8GB of storage is a massive weak spot, ranking in the 1st percentile. You'll need to rely on cloud storage or expand it with a microSD card immediately.

The value really depends on the deal you find. Prices swing from $309 to $425 across different vendors. At the lower end, around $309, it's a pretty good pick for the screen and S Pen combo. At $425, it starts to feel overpriced for the performance and storage you're getting. Shop around.

Compared to an iPad Pro or a Surface Pro, this tablet is in a different, more casual league. They'll run circles around it in performance. Against something like the Lenovo Legion Go, the Tab S9 FE+ has a much better screen for media but can't compete on gaming power. Its real competition is other mid-range Android tablets, where its IP68 rating and included S Pen are standout features that others often lack.

Buy this if you want a big-screen Android tablet mainly for media, light browsing, and note-taking with the S Pen, and you really value that water resistance. Don't buy it if you need serious performance, lots of built-in storage, or plan to use it as a real productivity machine. It's best for students or casual users who treat it as a fancy notebook and video player.