Samsung Galaxy Tab 12.4" SM-X610NZAEXAR Gray 2023

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE+ is a chunky but charming Android tablet with a gorgeous 12.4-inch screen, a fantastic S Pen, and battery life that stretches past 20 hours. Refurb prices around $370 make it an absolute bargain, though the dim display holds it back if you plan to use it outside a lot. For note-taking, streaming, and light gaming on the couch, it's hard to beat.

If you're shopping for a big-screen Android tablet that won't break the bank, the Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE+ has a lot going for it. This 12.4-inch slate sits in Samsung's "Fan Edition" lineup, which basically means you get many of the premium features from the flagship Tab S9 series at a much friendlier price. Our test unit is the Geek Squad Certified Refurbished model with 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage, but the specs apply to all Wi-Fi variants of the S9 FE+. You get the S Pen in the box, a durable IP68 water- and dust-resistant build, and a battery that Samsung claims can last up to 20 hours on a charge. For note-takers, students, and anyone who just wants a big screen for streaming shows, it's an easy recommendation on paper.

Real-world use backs that up. The 2560x1600 LCD looks crisp for text and comics, and the S Pen feels natural thanks to a soft-tip design. Multitasking with the Exynos 1380 chip and 12GB of RAM is smooth for everyday apps, though don't expect it to replace a laptop for heavy work. We also love that Samsung added a microSD slot, so you can bump up storage without paying a premium. And at a refurb price that hovers around $370 from Best Buy, it undercuts most iPads by a wide margin while including the pen.

A couple of quirks keep it from being perfect. The display brightness tops out at just 162 nits, which is dimmer than most phones and tablets we've tested. Indoors it's fine, but you'll struggle in direct sunlight. Some owners also report the occasional software glitch out of the box, though a factory reset usually sorts it. Still, for the money, the S9 FE+ carves out a compelling sweet spot in the jumbo tablet space.

Under the hood, the Exynos 1380 octa-core chip handles daily tablet duties without breaking a sweat. Our database places its CPU and GPU in the 82nd to 83rd percentile for tablets, which translates to snappy app launches, smooth split-screen multitasking, and the ability to play games like Call of Duty Mobile or Genshin Impact at medium settings. The 12GB of RAM is a standout, landing in the 81st percentile and letting you keep a ton of browser tabs and apps open without reloading. For students juggling a PDF, a note app, and a video lecture at the same time, this much memory is a real quality-of-life upgrade.

Battery life is one of the tablet's biggest strengths. The 10,090mAh cell hits the 90th percentile and easily delivers two long workdays of note-taking and streaming. Samsung's Super Fast Charging tops it off in under 90 minutes, which is handy when you're racing out the door. We did notice the screen brightness cap of 162 nits is a weak spot—it's not just middle-of-the-pack, it's legitimately dim for a tablet in this price range. If you plan to use it outdoors often, you'll want to look elsewhere or crank the brightness to max and deal with the battery drain.

The price story here is wild. We've seen listings from $370 up to an eye-watering $167,010—clearly some sellers are either confused or hoping a buyer makes a very expensive mistake. The real-world refurb price at Best Buy is the one to pay attention to: around $370 for the Geek Squad Certified model. That puts the Tab S9 FE+ firmly in budget territory while delivering flagship-level extras like the S Pen and IP68 rating. Compared to an iPad with a similar screen size and a Pencil, you're saving hundreds. The Xiaomi Pad 7 Pro and Lenovo Idea Tab Pro offer comparable hardware for a similar price, but neither matches Samsung's water resistance or included stylus. If you can snag one at the low end, it's a steal.

The elephant in the room is the Apple iPad Pro M5. Apple's tablet boasts a far brighter, higher-refresh-rate display and the M5 chip that absolutely crushes the Exynos 1380 in raw performance. But you'll pay double the price and still need to buy a Pencil separately. For most people shopping the S9 FE+, that price gap is the whole argument. The Xiaomi Pad 7 Pro is a closer competitor, often matching the S9 FE+ on price while offering a higher-quality LCD or even an OLED panel. However, it lacks IP68 protection and doesn't include a pen in the box. The Lenovo Idea Tab Pro is a solid alternative if you want a more laptop-like experience with an optional keyboard, but again, no water resistance. The Microsoft Surface Pro 11 runs full Windows, making it better for desktop apps, but it's in a different weight class and budget. If durability and a bundled pen are your priorities, Samsung wins.

We also spotted the HOTWAV R9 Ultra 5G in the mix—a rugged tablet with built-in 5G that's cheaper but significantly slower and bulkier. It's for a totally different crowd, like field workers who need cellular data in a tough shell. The S9 FE+ feels refined and polished next to it.

Skip the S9 FE+ if you need a tablet that can double as a laptop for heavy-duty work—the Exynos chip and Android interface aren't ideal for full desktop apps. Outdoor enthusiasts and anyone who sketches in bright sunlight will be disappointed by the dim 162-nit screen; you'll want an iPad Pro or a Surface Pro with a much brighter panel. Gamers looking for high-framerate performance should also look elsewhere, as the GPU strains with demanding titles. And if you're already all-in on Apple's ecosystem, the seamless integration of an iPad might be worth the extra cost.

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE+ is the tablet we'd recommend to anyone who wants a big, reliable screen for note-taking, drawing, and media without paying flagship money. The included S Pen, IP68 build, and marathon battery life make it a no-brainer for students, artists, and casual users who'll mostly use it indoors. Yes, the low brightness is a real bummer, and we wish Samsung had pushed even 100 more nits. And if you're used to an OLED phone, the LCD's contrast will feel a little flat. But those trade-offs are easy to swallow when you see the refurb price tag.

If you need a tablet for outdoor sketching or a laptop replacement, look at the iPad Pro or a Surface Pro instead. For everyone else, the S9 FE+ delivers way more than you'd expect from a "Fan Edition" product. Grab the Geek Squad version to save cash and enjoy a tablet that's built to survive coffee spills and backpack abuse.