The "1-Minute" Review
Verdict
If you're looking for an Android tablet, the mid-tier Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 FE is capable but not without some compromises to reach its affordable price.What's good
- S pen supported (and included)
- Decent battery life
- Nice display
What's bad
- No fingerprint sensor
- Slow charging out of the box
- Sub-par performance
The Samsung Galaxy Tab series aims to offer a compelling alternative in a space dominated by Apple’s iPad lineup. With the Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 FE, it’s not the Plus version, but similar specs and advantages without the extra price. Let’s see how its options stack up!
Design
The Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 FE is only 6.3mm thick, making it one of the thinnest tablets available. Unfortunately, reviewers felt it may be too thin for some and it does make holding it tricky in some ways. The bezels help give you room to grip the tablet, but the back is quite slippery. If you’re accident-prone, a case will be mandatory.
Reviewers loved that the webcam is in the middle of the bezel when held in landscape mode.
If you like to add a little personality to your tablet without buying a case, Mystic black, Mystic silver, Mystic Green and Mystic Pink give you plenty of options.
Display
Samsung displays hardly ever disappoint and this one is no exception. Its 12.4-inch LCD provides vivid color and loads of detail. Reviewers were happy with the touch responsiveness as well as the sharpness of the screen.
They were, however, disappointed with the lack of a higher refresh rate and the lack of HDR support.
Performance
The Samsung Galaxy S7 FE is more than capable of day-to-day tasks such as media streaming and web browsing. But if you’re into any sort of competitive gaming or consider yourself a power user, this is likely not the tablet for you.
The cost-cutting Samsung did to lower the price of the S7 FE quickly becomes apparent when diving into hi-resolution gaming and processor-dependent tasks.
Software & Storage
Reviewers found the One UI skin Samsung loads over Android 11 to be quite useful. It integrates with Microsoft 365 and allows users to switch to a more laptop or PC view with floating windows and a taskbar.
Storage options range between 64GB and 256GB.
Cameras
Despite their ideal placement, the tablet’s cameras failed to impress reviewers. They definitely will not replace your smartphone for photography on the go, but they’re just enough for video calls or quick snapshots.
Battery Life
The battery life is one of the most impressive things about the Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 FE. Reviewers reported 6-8 hours of use through multiple days before it needed charging.
However, the charger that comes in the box is very slow. As such, reviewers suggested leaving the tablet to charge overnight every night to avoid being stranded without power when needed.
If you don’t mind spending more, the tablet supports fast chargers. But Samsung chose not to include one in the box.
Audio
The audio experience on the tablet was simply so-so. There were no complaints of tinny sound or weak volume, but most reviewers still recommended using headphones to really enjoy the experience.
Accessories
While a keyboard case is available for the Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 FE, reviewers were hesitant to recommend it.
In order to remove it from the case, the amount of force needed to do so worried reviewers that it would damage connections. Secondly, the kickstand feature only offered one position.
If these concerns aren’t an issue for you, the keys worked well, were evenly spaced, and had a nice audible tapping sound.
Specs at a Glance
- Plastic chassis
- 12.4-inch LCD display
- Qualcomm SM7225 Snapdragon 750G 5G processor
- 4 or 6GB of RAM
- Android 11 with One UI
- 64, 128, or 256GB of storage with MicroSD expansion slot
- 8+/5+MP cameras
- Multi-day battery
- Stereo speakers
- Official (but mediocre) keyboard case available
The Bottom Line
The Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 FE won't overtake the iPad anytime soon. But that doesn’t mean it’s a bad tablet. While there was some cost-cutting involved in the S7 FE, its multi-day battery life and beautiful display make it an interesting mid-tier tablet consideration if you prefer Android and the Google Play Store.
Tech Radar says, “The Galaxy Tab S7 FE expands Samsung’s tablet portfolio to a new lower price point with an offering that really doesn’t feel cheap. Essentials such as the battery life, display, audio and design are all well taken care of, while software additions make it great for productivity. Just be aware that the first-party keyboard and chargers are somewhat underwhelming.”
PC Magazine states, “Samsung's 12.4-inch Galaxy Tab S7 FE tablet is a more affordable, less powerful alternative to the Galaxy Tab S7+ and Apple's iPad Pro line for getting work done on the go.”
What the Critics Are Saying...
- Anyron Copeman, Tech AdvisorThere’s a lot to like about the Tab S7 FE, which impresses with its high-end design and excellent battery life. But the performance and display aren’t as impressive as Samsung’s newer tablets, so it’s only worth considering if you can find it with a big discount.
- What Hi-FiThe Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 FE is a really appealing tablet. By offering a big, bright screen in a cinematically suitable aspect ratio, it immediately stands out against the competition. Sacrifices have been made, though, and while the screen is big, it’s lacking the sophistication of the best in clas...
- Anyron Copeman, Tech AdvisorThere’s a lot to like about the Tab S7 FE, which impresses with its high-end design and excellent battery life. But the performance and display downgrades compared to the regular S7 and S7+ make it hard to justify - unless you find it with a big discount.
- Joseph Kaminski, CnetThe Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 FE is something aimed at people already invested in the Android ecosystem, and who want something between an iPad and an iPad Pro. It's a good alternative, and even costs a little less than the Pro, but it's also not going to sway anyone away from the competition.
- Aiman Maulana, Pokde.NetThe Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 FE is basically the more affordable version of the Plus variant, losing out on some of the premium features but still giving you a great multimedia tablet experience.
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