Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE vs Galaxy Tab S9: Which should you buy?

Samsung builds some of the best Android tablets on the market, with the Galaxy Tab S9 series headlining its current roster. But if you were to find fault with it, you might say it’s too expensive for most of the population. Enter the Galaxy Tab S9 FE series. The latest Fan Edition line drastically cuts the asking price by shedding some of the features of the top-line offering. Is this trade worth it? Find out in our Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE vs Galaxy Tab S9 comparison.

While the two tablet lines differ in price and hardware, the software experience is largely on par. You’ll find both the Galaxy Tab S9 and S9 FE running Android 13 with the One UI 5.1 skin on top. This has proven a great software package on the pricier tablets, packing more multitasking features for the larger screen devices. You needn’t worry about updates with either lineup. Samsung’s update policy is among the best in the business, even beyond its smartphone offerings. Both tablet lineups get four major OS upgrades with five years of software patches in tow.

As you might’ve guessed, several features are reserved for the more premium Galaxy Tab S9 series. Its big software party piece is DeX support. Samsung’s desktop mode saw a boost with the Galaxy Tab S9 launch. It now boasts more window multitasking features and a smarter taskbar. Users can also use the tablets to expand or mirror their PC’s display. The Galaxy Tab S9 FE series seemingly misses out on DeX. Grab the premiere Tab S9 series or an older Samsung flagship tablet if you want the feature.

Interestingly, the S Pen is bundled with all tablets in our comparison, allowing users to write, draw, and command their tablets with the click of the digital stylus.

Their core hardware specs accentuate the gulf between the two Samsung tablet families. For instance, the art experience on the Galaxy Tab S9 FE won’t be as riveting due to the less dense, 90Hz LCD screens employed. The premiere Galaxy Tab S9 line employs 120Hz AMOLEDs across the board, which dynamically adjust the refresh rate based on the content’s demands. Notably, LCD and AMOLED screens feature Samsung’s Vision Booster tech to improve outdoor or high-glare visibility.

At the heart of the Galaxy Tab S9, you’ll find the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy — the same chipset you’ll find in the Galaxy S23 series — powering the Galaxy Tab S9. The Tab S9 FE models get the Exynos 1380 SoC — the same silicon you’ll find in Galaxy A54 5G. It’s worth noting that we found this chipset more than capable in Samsung’s cheaper phone. It should yield adequate results in the FE slate, too.

In terms of battery, the Galaxy Tab S9 FE employs an 8,000mAh cell — it’s large but not as big as the 8,400mAh battery used in the base Tab S9. The battery life king of the entire series will likely be the Galaxy Tab S9 FE Plus. It packs the same 10,090mAh battery as its more premium Plus sibling but boasts the thriftier chipset. We were able to eke out a day of general use with the Galaxy Tab S9, so you can expect similar — if not better — numbers from the FE lineup. Samsung claims the larger slate will last up to 20 hours on a single charge.

Finally, let’s touch on cameras. While tablets aren’t designed with imaging in mind, the Galaxy Tab S9 series and the Galaxy Tab S9 FE take different approaches. While the pricier tablet line uses the more powerful camera at the rear (a single 13MP on the S9, with an additional 8MP on the Plus and Ultra models), the Galaxy Tab S9 FE models use the larger sensor up front. A 12MP selfie shooter occupies the front of the newer tablet.

Let’s play some spot the difference. If you place the Galaxy Tab S9 FE (Wi-Fi or 5G model) alongside the Tab S9, you’ll be hard-pressed to find any deviations between the two Samsung tablets. The tech giant seemingly utilizes the Galaxy Tab S9’s body for the Galaxy Tab S9 FE, so styling and measurements are mostly consistent across the two. There is one big change — instead of an in-display fingerprint sensor, you’ll get a physical sensor on the power key across the board. It’s arguably a more ergonomic setup.

It’s worth touching on the larger models momentarily. The Galaxy Tab S9 FE Plus also borrows the Galaxy Tab S9 Plus’ shell. The two devices share design, dimensions, and battery size, give or take a few millimeters in depth.

Beyond these differences, there aren’t many aesthetic changes to note. You’re essentially getting the same design across the two tablet families, and that is the point. Samsung’s newer mid-range smartphones look more like its flagships than ever before. The same can be said about the FE tablet lineup.

Samsung’s FE tablet range fills an interesting niche. They provide more functionality than even cheaper Android tablets in the Galaxy Tab family — such as the Galaxy Tab A8 — but won’t cost nearly as much as the flagship Tab S9 offerings. The Galaxy Tab S9 FE starts at $449.99 — a $350 discount on the cheapest Galaxy Tab S9. The slates were launched on October 3, 2023, but you can purchase the devices from select carriers on October 5, 2023. Availability on Samsung.com will come on October 10, 2023.

Colors on offer provide a much broader range for prospective buyers than the top-line series. If you opt for the Wi-Fi or Plus models, you can grab a tablet in Gray, Silver, Lavender, or Mint. The 5G model is only available in Gray.

The Galaxy Tab S9 series, in turn, is much pricier. It debuted on July 26, 2023, with three distinct models available. The base Galaxy Tab S9 starts at $799, while the premium Plus and Ultra models demand $999 and $1,199, respectively.

Samsung opted for a more conservative color array for its top-line tablets, with just Gray and Beige available.

Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE vs Galaxy Tab S9: Which should you buy?

There’s an obvious gulf here between the two tablet lines. On the one hand, you have the Galaxy Tab S9 series, which packs all the bells and whistles you could want in an Android tablet. Conversely, the Galaxy Tab S9 FE sheds some of these features to rein in the asking price. They are the best Android tablets you can buy within their respective weight classes. But which should you opt for?

Ultimately, that comes down to how much cash you’re willing to spend. We feel the Galaxy Tab S9 FE makes for a more sensible purchasing option for users simply looking for a companion tablet to a more powerful device. However, it does lose out on a fast, bright display, flagship silicon, a larger battery, and a desktop replacement experience. If you need these things, dropping the extra cash required for the Tab S9 might be worth it.

This answer gets trickier if you consider upgrading from an older slate. If you already own a Galaxy Tab S8, we don’t think it’s worth upgrading to either Galaxy Tab S9 family. You’ll still enjoy another three years of software updates, at least. However, if you want to one-up your mid-range tablet experience or want something more modern, the Galaxy Tab S9 FE is a solid starting point.

That’s it for our Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE vs Galaxy Tab S9 comparison. Which tablet do you think is best? Let us know in the poll below.