Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE SAMSUNG Galaxy Tab S9 FE+ (12.4-inch, 128GB, WiFi) Review
The Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE+ offers a great screen and a useful S Pen, but its performance and tiny storage hold it back from being a true all-rounder.
Overview
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
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.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Strong screen (67th percentile) 94th
Cons
- Below average storage (1th percentile)
- Below average cpu (34th percentile)
Specifications
Full Specifications
Processor
| CPU | 2 GHz |
Memory & Storage
| RAM | 6 GB |
| Storage | 128 GB |
Display
| Size | 12.4" |
| Resolution | 1600 |
Connectivity
| Wi-Fi | WiFi 5 |
Features
| Stylus Support | Yes |
Physical
| Weight | 0.6 kg / 1.4 lbs |
| OS | Android |
Value & Pricing
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.
vs Competition
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.
| Spec | Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE SAMSUNG Galaxy Tab S9 FE+ (12.4-inch, 128GB, WiFi) | Apple iPad Pro Apple - 13-inch iPad Pro M5 chip Wi-Fi 256GB with | Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 Samsung - Galaxy Tab S10+ - 12.4" 256GB - Wi-Fi - | Microsoft Surface Pro Microsoft - Surface Pro - Copilot+ PC - 13” OLED | Lenovo Lenovo - Idea Tab Pro - 12.7" 3K Tablet - 8GB RAM | HP GPD Win MAX 2 2025 Handheld Gaming PC with AMD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CPU | 2 GHz | Apple M5 | Mediatek MT6989 | Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite X1E-84-100 | MediaTek Dimensity | AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 |
| RAM (GB) | 6 | 12 | 12 | 16 | 8 | 32 |
| Storage (GB) | 128 | 256 | 256 | 1000 | 256 | 2048 |
| Screen | 12.4" 1600x2560 | 13" 2752x2064 | 12.4" 2800x1752 | 13" 2880x1920 | 12.7" 2944x1840 | 10.1" 1920x1200 |
| OS | Android | iPadOS | Android 14 | Windows 11 Home | Android 14 | Windows 11 Home |
| Stylus | true | true | true | false | true | false |
| Cellular | false | false | false | false | false | false |
Verdict
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.