Samsung Galaxy Tab S8+ vs Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE
The Verdict
Samsung's Tab S8+ delivers flagship tablet performance at a premium price, while the Tab S9 FE offers solid mid-range capability at half the cost. The S8+ features a stunning 12.4-inch Super AMOLED display running 120Hz, paired with the powerful Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chipset and 8GB RAM for seamless multitasking and gaming. Its 10090mAh battery handles 13 hours of video playback, and Wi-Fi 6E connectivity ensures future-proof speeds. The S9 FE counters with a more practical 10.9-inch LCD display at 90Hz refresh rate, lighter build at 523g, and sufficient performance via the Exynos 1380 with 6-8GB options. Battery life reaches 12 hours, though USB-C 2.0 and lack of cellular limit connectivity. Both tablets support stylus input and expandable storage. For creative professionals, content creators, or power users wanting top-tier performance and display quality, the Tab S8+ justifies its $449 premium with superior specs. Budget-conscious users seeking reliable everyday tablet functionality should choose the Tab S9 FE, which handles productivity and streaming adequately without the performance overhead most won't utilize.
Who Should Buy
Buy the Samsung Galaxy Tab S8+ if…
- →12.4" Super AMOLED display with vivid colors and deep blacks
- →S Pen included for notes, drawing, and navigation
- →MicroSD expansion up to 1 TB for massive media libraries
Buy the Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE if…
- →S Pen included at a budget-friendly price
- →IP68 rated for dust and water resistance
- →90Hz display is smoother than typical budget tablets
Category Scores
Pros & Cons
Samsung Galaxy Tab S8+
Pros
- 12.4" Super AMOLED display with vivid colors and deep blacks
- S Pen included for notes, drawing, and navigation
- MicroSD expansion up to 1 TB for massive media libraries
- In-display fingerprint sensor for seamless unlocking
- Samsung DeX for desktop-mode productivity
Cons
- Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 throttles under heavy sustained workloads
- Android tablet apps remain inconsistent compared to iPadOS
- $899 starting price competes with laptops
- No headphone jack on this model
Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE
Pros
- S Pen included at a budget-friendly price
- IP68 rated for dust and water resistance
- 90Hz display is smoother than typical budget tablets
- Expandable storage via microSD card
- Long Samsung software support commitment
Cons
- LCD instead of AMOLED at this size
- Exynos 1380 is mid-range and shows in heavy tasks
- USB-C limited to slow 2.0 speeds
- Only 6GB of RAM on the base model
- Single rear camera
Full Specifications
| Spec | Samsung Galaxy Tab S8+ | Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE |
|---|---|---|
| Software | Android 12 (One UI 4.1, upgradable to One UI 6+) | Android 13 with One UI 5.1 |
| Body | ||
| Weight | 567 g (Wi-Fi) | 523 g (Wi-Fi) |
| Dimensions | 285 x 185 x 5.7 mm | 254.3 x 165.8 x 6.5 mm |
| Battery | ||
| Battery life | Up to 13 hours video playback | Up to ~12 hours video |
| Capacity | 10090 mAh | 8000 mAh |
| Display | ||
| Size | 12.4 inches | 10.9 inches |
| Type | Super AMOLED | LCD (LTPS TFT) |
| Resolution | 2800 x 1752 | 2304 x 1440 |
| Refresh rate | 120Hz | 90Hz |
| Storage | ||
| Storage options | 128 GB, 256 GB | 128 GB, 256 GB |
| Expandable storage | ||
| Processor | ||
| RAM | 8 GB | 6 GB / 8 GB |
| Chipset | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 (Octa-core, Adreno 730) | Samsung Exynos 1380 |
| Connectivity | ||
| USB | USB-C 3.2 | USB-C 2.0 |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 6E | Wi-Fi 6 |
| Cellular | ||
| Stylus Support | ||
| Cameras | ||
| Rear | — | 8 MP wide |
| Front camera | — | 12 MP ultrawide (landscape) |
Want to compare a third product?
Add another product for a 3-way comparison.
Related Comparisons
- Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE vs Apple iPad Pro 13" (M5, 2025)
- Samsung Galaxy Tab S8+ vs Apple iPad Pro 13" (M5, 2025)
- Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE vs Apple iPad Pro 11" (M5, 2025)
- Samsung Galaxy Tab S8+ vs Apple iPad Pro 11" (M5, 2025)
- Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE vs Samsung Galaxy Tab S11
- Samsung Galaxy Tab S8+ vs Samsung Galaxy Tab S11
This comparison is based on verified manufacturer specifications covering display, performance, camera, battery, and build quality. Scores are generated by analyzing specs across weighted categories on a 10-point scale. Learn more about our methodology.
Explore more in tablets, see all Samsung products or all Samsung products. View full details for the Samsung Galaxy Tab S8+ or the Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE.