Samsung devices with the note FE, or "Fan Edition" for short, are supposed to go to everyone - a fan of photography, entertainment or creative fun. I checked how these assumptions relate to one of the latest tablets in the manufacturer's offer, the Galaxy Tab S7 FE.
Tablet not exactly fan-made
I say this with a lot of sadness, but my expectations for the Galaxy Taba S7 FE were a bit higher. The tablet, rooted in the flagship series, should not, in my opinion, be deprived of some elements, even if the manufacturer wants to offer it at an affordable price at all costs.
But in order. Let's take a closer look at the specs.
AdvertisingSpecification and performance
On the day of publication of the review, there is a promotion in which you can buy the Galaxy Tab S7 FE for PLN 1999. That's as much as PLN 800 less than the regular price!
Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 FE in Media Expert
Important note regarding the specification - the version I tested is the Wi-Fi model (without the 5G modem) in the 4/64 GB memory variant. In Polish stores, you can find mainly models with 6 GB of RAM and 128 GB of internal memory. In addition, the 5G version of the tablet has a weaker processor (Snapdragon 750G 5G) and differs from the Wi-Fi model in a few small details. It is worth bearing this in mind when considering the purchase of the device.
What is probably the most eye-catching in the specification is the lack of a fingerprint reader. In equipment valued at nearly PLN 3,000, this is a significant disadvantage. If we were talking about a tablet half the price, such as the Xiaomi Pad 5, certainly at least some users would turn a blind eye to the lack of this biometric security.
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The heart of the device is the Snapdragon 778G, whose performance is completely satisfactory. However, there is one "but". The poorest version of the tablet, which I took for wallpaper, has only 4 GB of RAM, which noticeably suppresses the potential of the processor used. This is far too little nowadays and makes the Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 FE have multitasking problems.
Split-screen support for two applications can show that four gigabytes of memory is simply not enough. What's more, sometimes even when working with one app, there were performance problems that disappeared after clearing the RAM from the settings or the recent apps screen.
I had a much more positive feeling while playing on the Galaxy Tab S7 FE. The appropriate mode, which focuses the performance of the entire device on the running game, ensures that most titles are able to run without major problems.
The tablet works under the control of the One UI 3.1 overlay, which also has no major performance problems, of course in terms of running a maximum of one application at a time. All animations are smooth and system apps such as Settings, Samsung Internet Browser, and Samsung Keyboard worked flawlessly.
The tablet did not heat up to very high temperatures, even when playing at maximum screen brightness, and at most it got slightly warm at the back. Fortunately, this did not translate into practically any performance of the device during the game.
Synthetic benchmark results are as follows:
Look and build quality
The fan version of the Galaxy Tab S7, like its prototype, is made of aluminum. Despite this, I got the impression that the back of the device was a bit too slippery, which sometimes made it difficult to work comfortably. In addition, the back panel was incredibly easy to get dirty, so if I decided to buy this device, I would equip myself with an additional case as soon as possible. However, I had no major objections to the glass covering the front panel.
Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 FE is a large tablet, and at the same time extremely thin. At first, I was delighted with the negligible thickness of the device, which is only 6.3 mm, but over time it began to bother me. All because of the protruding rear camera, which made the tablet lying on the table not fully stable. At times, the small thickness of the device prevented me from holding the device comfortably in my hands, but the flat-cut frames that stick a little in my hand added to it.
The design element that also didn't really work for me was the placement of the front camera. The manufacturer probably decided that most users of the Galaxy Tab S7 FE will decide to buy a case with a keyboard and will use the tablet as a laptop, so placing the front lens above the long edge of the display will be reasonable. However, I used the device vertically very often, which meant that I covered the camera with my finger or it had a rather strange perspective.
Samsung decided to place the lock and volume buttons, the microSD card slot and one of the microphones along the long edge of the device - on the same side as the selfie camera. On the opposite side there are only connectors for connecting a dedicated keyboard case. As for the shorter edges of the device, on the one hand there is a USB-C port and the first of the speakers, and on the other a microphone and a second speaker.
Display and stylus
The Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 FE is equipped with a 12.4-inch TFT display with a resolution of 1600 x 2560 pixels and an aspect ratio of 16:10. The frames around it are not too large, and at the same time sufficient to use the device without additional, accidental clicks.
The maximum brightness of 520 nits is very good and allows for comfortable work even on sunny days. The minimum brightness could be slightly lower, although in this respect it is also not bad.
Due to the use of TFT LCD technology, the Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 FE does not offer the Always On Display function. There was also no screen refresh rate higher than 60 Hz. In return, the device boasts support for HDR 10+, which allows you to get the best color reproduction from it when consuming multimedia.
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Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 FE comes with an S Pen stylus. It can be attached magnetically to the long edges or back of the device. From the side, it holds quite firmly, but attached to the back, it often fell off when gently touching it. If we do not have a dedicated case with a keyboard in which we can hide the S Pen, we only have to attach it with a magnet or simply carry it separately.
Interestingly, the stylus included in the set is probably the same one that can be found in the set with the Galaxy Tab S7 and S7+. It surprised me, because I did not notice the state of charge of the S Pen anywhere. It also worked without a Bluetooth connection. It turns out that Samsung probably deprived the Galaxy Tab S7 FE of the stylus charging function, and thus also some of the functions that it would offer when connected using Bluetooth, leaving this accessory in passive mode.
You can also find options to connect to the S Pen Pro in your device settings. This means that the Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 FE also supports a slightly better version of the stylus, which must be purchased separately. This is an interesting option for people who deal with graphics seriously, and at the same time it does not leave drawing amateurs and home users in the cold.
The stylus itself, as in the case of the S Pen, resembles a ballpoint pen. It is completely flat on one side, and on the opposite side there is a place for a single function button, with which we can call various actions. The drop-down menu allows you to translate the text visible on the screen, or make a handwritten note on the screenshot. There is also a place for the AR Doodle function, which allows you to draw something on your face visible in the front camera. Oh, such fun for once.
The stylus detects 4096 levels of pressure - a very useful option for people who like to draw. The latency of the stylus is quite low, although it increases noticeably with more RAM. When drawing or handwriting in some applications, it could give me a hard time.
Is the S Pen absolutely necessary to use the Galaxy Taba S7 FE though? Of course not. People like me, i.e. completely unrelated to graphics or drawing, may consider the included stylus a nice gadget, and after a few days throw it into the depths of the drawer and forget about it for the next six months. After all, it's always better to have than not to have - a big plus for Samsung for including this accessory in the set.
Software
Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 FE runs on Android 11 with One UI 3.1 overlay and August security patches. As for the visual aspect itself, it does not look bad, but I have the impression that too much space has been wasted here and there. In terms of smooth operation of the overlay and system applications, I did not encounter any problems.
The overlay provides some interesting personalization features, such as side panels known from the Galaxy S series smartphones or the ability to select the leftmost home screen (Google Assistant or Samsung FREE).
The bundled applications include: a tool for creating graphics Canva, a program for learning how to draw PENUP or a pretty good replacement for Samsung Notes, i.e. Noteshelf. Without much surprise, Microsoft applications, i.e. Office, Outlook and OneDrive, have also been pre-installed.
I found the Samsung Notes app useful for taking notes in class, and using it with the S Pen was a pure pleasure. I also admit that it saved me during the lecture, because the stylus did not want to fully cooperate with OneNote, which I use every day.
What came in handy here was the handwriting-to-text option, which was able to recognize my scribbles with a fairly high degree of accuracy and make it almost a formality to transfer the content to Microsoft's program. Nevertheless, in the case of classes during which I have to take notes quite quickly, I definitely preferred to use a laptop, because the tablet did not always recognize some abbreviations correctly and very often mistook numbers for letters.
There is also a place here for the Samsung DEX interface, which makes the tablet can be used like a laptop. This is definitely a more convenient option for owners of a dedicated keyboard case, which unfortunately I did not have the opportunity to check. DEX also focuses on handling several applications at the same time, which in the case of the version with 4 GB RAM I tested was quite a poor idea. However, if you find yourself in possession of a keyboard and mouse that you can connect to the tablet, using the Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 FE can be much more pleasant.
If you are the owner of a Samsung smartphone, you will certainly be interested in the option of receiving calls and messages on the tablet. Not only the model with a 5G modem is equipped with this functionality, but also the one without it. I was also unable to check this function due to the lack of a compatible device (my main smartphone is an iPhone, and the old Samsung Galaxy S7 unfortunately does not support this function).
It's also worth mentioning the update policy that Samsung has put in place. According to its assumptions, the Galaxy Tab S7 FE as a member of the Galaxy Tab S family is guaranteed at least three major Android updates and receives security patches at least once a quarter. This is great news for the owners of this device, because hardly any manufacturer of devices with a green robot is able to provide such a long support for their devices.
Connectivity and biometrics
The Galaxy Tab S7 FE user has Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.2 connectivity that work flawlessly. The tablet is able to make the most of our connection and download content at high speeds. Accessories connected via Bluetooth work stably, the connection is not broken, and its range allows you to walk away from the device for several meters without worrying about interference.
The tablet is also equipped with a GPS module, which can be helpful when traveling. Its accuracy is very good and the device does not need much time to accurately determine our location. I would also like to remind you that a model that supports the 5G network is available for sale.
In terms of biometric security, the Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 FE disappointed me the most. As I mentioned earlier, the manufacturer did not find a place for any fingerprint reader in this device. This is the biggest disadvantage of this model compared to the base version of the Galaxy Tab S7, which has this element built into the power button (Galaxy Tab S7+ has a reader under the screen).
The only option to secure your device is therefore to use face unlock using the selfie camera or using traditional methods such as PIN, password or pattern.
The face unlock option is based only on an ordinary photo - we will not find any special sensors here to increase the security of this solution. Unfortunately, this translates into a very low efficiency of this solution. I was unable to unlock the device with a photo, but this is probably due to the fact that the tablet was averagely able to recognize even a real face. Moreover, the device did not recognize me after taking off my glasses if I registered my face in them and vice versa.
To increase the effectiveness, the device is able to illuminate our face with the display ... as if. When this function is enabled, the brightness of the screen during face detection increases by about 5-10%. This makes the function completely useless during the day, and at night its effectiveness is almost zero.
To sum up, unlocking the Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 FE with the face is a complete dud, which I would turn a blind eye to if there was a fingerprint reader here.
Audio
Here I had a very positive surprise. Although compared to the Galaxy Taba S7 and S7+, the S7 FE model has been reduced by a pair of speakers (the former are equipped with as many as four), it still plays very well. The stereo sound coming from the drivers tuned by AKG is really high quality for tablet audio.
Moreover, I was impressed with the maximum volume. The Galaxy Tab S7 FE plays so loud that I loved listening to music from it while cooking - even the kitchen hood operating at the highest speed could not drown it out.
If, however, I wanted to watch the series without disturbing the peace of the household, I had to use Bluetooth headphones. Unfortunately, the tablet is not equipped with a headphone output.
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Cameras
The cameras on the Galaxy Tab S7 FE, in short, do not impress. The manufacturer has provided users with a total of two lenses, the first on the back, the second on the front. As for the camera on the back, it is an 8-megapixel eyelet equipped with autofocus, but unfortunately not with optical image stabilization.
The color reproduction is good, but the detail of the photos could be better. The lack of OIS makes it difficult to take a clear photo. It is not easy to keep a 12.4-inch tablet weighing well over half a kilogram completely still. There is also no LED light here.
I am fully aware that a tablet is not a device for taking pictures, but the Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 FE let me down a bit with its photographic facilities.
The selfie camera located on the front panel offers only 5 Megapixels, and it also lost autofocus in relation to the rear lens. The quality of selfies in good lighting conditions is acceptable, but in low light it is really bad. In addition, the location of the camera along the long edge of the screen makes vertical selfies have a slightly strange perspective
The poor quality of the selfie camera makes the Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 FE a rather average device for video calls.
The Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 FE also offers additional camera modes, including a night mode. Unfortunately, when I tried to use it, the camera app crashed, so I didn't have the opportunity to test it.
Videos recorded with a tablet are very average, both when it comes to the front and rear cameras. Both offer 720p or 1080p recording at 30fps with optional digital image stabilization. This works quite well, but still does not noticeably increase the quality of the recordings.
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Battery
The battery in the Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 FE is quite a monster. Due to the large display, the manufacturer was able to place such a large battery, as much as 10090 mAh, in a very thin device. Combined with a reasonable resolution and an energy-saving processor, this translates into great working times on a single charge.
The tablet was able to withstand about two days of heavy use away from the charger. I mean watching movies at maximum screen brightness, playing games, listening to music and using applications that don't really care about the battery. However, if I used the tablet with moderate frequency, with medium or automatic screen brightness, this one was able to withstand up to 5-6 days without a charger.
For the sake of clarity, playing 1080p videos at maximum brightness drained the battery by about 15% in two and a half hours. A bit more battery drained while playing games, but it still performs remarkably well, and draining the entire battery in this device in one day is quite a challenge.
But if we finally manage to get the Galaxy Tab S7 FE battery down to just one digit, we should start looking for an outlet. The tablet can be charged with a 45 Watt charger. However, this does not mean that we will find one in the set. Customers who buy this tablet will find a charger with a power of only 15 W in the box, which, according to the manufacturer, will charge the device's cell in about three hours with a hook.
If you have, like me, a fast charger with a power of 45 W or more, you will be able to cut this time by more than half. In my case, Superfast Charging 2.0, because that's what the tablet informed me, took on average 90 to 100 minutes.
Summary
The Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 FE is full of extremes - it let me down in a few areas and positively surprised me in others. However, this does not change my opinion about this equipment: it is not a tablet that deserves to be called Fan Edition.
The lack of a fingerprint reader or weak cameras are, in my opinion, the biggest disadvantages of the tested tablet. Limited to the base S Pen model, it may not be a scandal or an extraordinary impediment, but the availability of all stylus functions would also not hurt anyone. It is impossible not to mention the charger included in the box, which is a bit too weak, especially with such a large link.
Big advantages of this device are great speakers and an excellent battery. In combination with a pretty good, for a TFT, display and a relatively good processor, they make using the Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 FE a pleasure.
The weight of the advantages and disadvantages you have to assess yourself according to your needs directed towards the device, which is a 12.4-inch tablet.
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