Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE+

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE+ is the larger of the two fan-edition tablets that Samsung introduced in October 2023 as a more affordable alternative to the Galaxy Tab S9 series. It takes the family look, a 12.4-inch screen and the included S Pen, and pairs them with a mid-range Exynos processor instead of a flagship Snapdragon. Samsung calls it the first water- and dust-resistant Galaxy S FE tablet with an S Pen. This page is based on the published specifications and manufacturer information; it explains what is in the tablet, how it differs from the smaller Tab S9 FE and where Samsung saved money.

Where it sits in the line-up

Samsung launched two fan-edition tablets together: the Tab S9 FE with a 10.9-inch display and the Tab S9 FE+ with a 12.4-inch display. Both share the Exynos 1380 chip, the 90Hz screen, the IP68 rating and the S Pen, so the main decision is size and battery. The FE+ is the bigger, heavier option with the larger battery, and the compact sibling has its own page for the Galaxy Tab S9 FE. Above them sits the flagship Galaxy Tab S9 with an AMOLED screen, and the line later continued with the Tab S10 FE generation. If you want to see how the successor changed the formula, the table at Galaxy Tab S9 FE+ vs Galaxy Tab S10 FE+ lists the specifications side by side. As a 2023 design, it is now a value choice rather than a current model.

Design and durability

The tablet has a full-metal frame, and a body that is only 6.5 mm thick. The back panel is flat and plain, with the Samsung logo, a small "Sound by AKG" mark and two cameras in the upper corner. Samsung offers it in Gray, Mint, Silver and Lavender, though availability varies by country, region and carrier. The tablet weighs 627 g and measures 285.4 x 185.4 mm, which makes it a two-handed device for long sessions: lighter than a laptop, but noticeably heavier than the 523 g smaller model.

The headline durability feature is the IP68 rating. Samsung says it applies both to the tablet and to the S Pen that comes in the box, based on laboratory conditions for submersion in up to 1.5 metres of fresh water for up to 30 minutes, and warns that it is not advised for beach or pool use and that water and dust resistance is not permanent and can diminish with normal wear. Samsung also states that the pen is available in colours that match the tablet and attaches magnetically to the back. For a tablet that tends to live in bags, on kitchen tables and in classrooms, a proper ingress rating is a practical advantage over many rivals at this price.

Display

The screen is a 12.4-inch TFT LCD with a resolution of 2560 x 1600 pixels (WQXGA) and a 16 million colour depth. It supports an adaptive refresh rate of up to 90Hz, which Samsung says makes scrolling, video and drawing look smoother. Brightness is listed as 600 nits at maximum and 720 nits in High Brightness Mode outdoors, and a feature called Vision Booster adjusts contrast and colour when the tablet detects bright sunlight. The panel covers the DCI-P3 colour gamut and has received a Low Blue Light certification from SGS, according to Samsung's footnotes.

The important point to understand is that this is an LCD, not the AMOLED panel used in the Tab S9 line. You get good sharpness and generous size, but you do not get the deep blacks and punch of an OLED screen, and 90Hz is lower than the 120Hz of the flagship. For reading, note-taking and video this is perfectly capable, and for colour-critical creative work the AMOLED models are the better match.

Performance, memory and software

The Exynos 1380 is an octa-core chip with two cores at 2.4GHz and the rest at 2GHz. It is aimed at smooth multitasking, streaming and casual gaming rather than benchmark records. Samsung offers the FE+ with 8GB of memory in the base version and up to 12GB in higher configurations, and with 128GB or 256GB of storage (the larger option varies by market). A microSD card slot supports cards up to 1TB, which is a genuine advantage over the flagship line for people who store downloaded films or large sketch files. Of the 128GB on the base model, Samsung lists about 99.9GB as available after the system software.

The tablet shipped with Android 13 and One UI 5.1.1. Samsung's product page highlights Circle to Search with Google, family accounts with parental controls, DeX support through the optional Book Cover Keyboard, and note-taking apps such as Samsung Notes and Goodnotes tuned for the S Pen. Reviews on Samsung's own page also mention later One UI versions arriving on the device, though you should check the current update policy for your region before relying on a specific support period.

Cameras, audio and connectivity

The cameras are the part Samsung kept simple: two 8MP rear lenses without flash and a 12MP front camera. Video recording goes up to 4K at 30 frames per second. These are cameras for document scanning, video calls and the occasional snapshot, not a replacement for a phone camera. Sound is handled by stereo speakers tuned by AKG. Connectivity includes Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax), Bluetooth 5.3 and a USB Type-C port that runs at USB 2.0 speeds, so file transfers over the cable are slower than on tablets with USB 3. There is no NFC, and the fingerprint sensor sits on the side.

Battery and charging

The battery is rated at 10,090 mAh (typical). Samsung quotes up to 18 hours of internet use over Wi-Fi, up to 20 hours of video playback and up to 131 hours of audio playback; these figures come from laboratory testing and real use will depend on brightness and workload. The tablet supports Super Fast Charging, with a compatible adapter, and it can also share power with a Galaxy phone through a USB-C cable at up to 15W when the tablet screen is off and the battery is above 30 percent, according to Samsung's footnote.

Who it is for

The Tab S9 FE+ suits students, note-takers and families who want a big, durable screen with a pen included and expandable storage, without paying flagship money. It is also a sensible media tablet for the couch or for travel. If portability matters more than screen size, the smaller model is easier to carry. Android tablets of this size are also available from other brands; you can browse every tablet on the site or check the rankings to see how this one compares.

Compromises to consider

• LCD, not AMOLED: blacks and contrast cannot match the Tab S9 line.
• Midrange chip: the Exynos 1380 handles everyday tasks well but is not built for demanding games or heavy editing.
• Modest cameras and USB speed: basic imaging and USB 2.0 transfers.
• Weight: 627 g gets tiring in one hand.
• Age: a 2023 model, so check software support and compare it with newer FE tablets.

In short, the Galaxy Tab S9 FE+ offers a large 90Hz screen, IP68 protection, an included S Pen and a big battery at a price below the flagship Tab S9, in exchange for an LCD panel and a mid-range processor.