Samsung Galaxy Tab S3 vs Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE

96 facts in comparison

Based on 477 Reddit opinions. S9 FE leads by 15 points.

477 opinions
S9 FE leads by 15pts
Samsung Galaxy Tab S3
73%
B-
Based on
682 Redditors

Samsung Galaxy Tab S3

~$99
119 opinions

tldr; The Android tablet for people who want an Android tablet - AMOLED, S Pen, DeX mode.

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VS
Reddit's Pick
Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE
88%
A-
Based on
1,290 Redditors
Winner

Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE

~$415
358 opinions

tldr; Mid-range Samsung with S Pen included and IP68 rating. LCD vs OLED tradeoff saves $150 over base S9.

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DisplayPerformanceBattery LifeStylus & Note-takingBuild Quality
🖥️DIS
PER
🔋BAT
STY
🔧BUI
13
Points
28
Points

Score by Category

Display
9%28%
Performance
13%25%
Battery Life
21%28%
Stylus & Note-taking
4%29%
Build Quality
13%29%

Why is Tab S9 FE better than Galaxy Tab S3?

  • Higher Reddit score (88% vs 73%)
  • Better value (28% vs 15%)
  • Better display (28% vs 9%)
  • Better stylus (29% vs 4%)
  • Better performance (25% vs 13%)
  • Better battery (28% vs 21%)
  • Better build quality (29% vs 13%)
  • ?? IP68 water/dust resistance like flagship
Based on 1,972 Reddit opinions
Clear Winner

Reddit prefers the S9 FE

Winning by 15 points (88% vs 73%)

Better value
Better display
Better stylus
High confidence (1,972 mentions)

💬Reddit Sentiment

Based on 1,972 Reddit mentions

Overall Rating

Tab S3
7.3/10
682 mentions
S9 FE
8.8/10
1,290 mentions
VALUE
Tab S31.5/10
S9 FE2.8/10
DISPLAY
Tab S30.9/10
S9 FE2.8/10
PERFORMANCE
Tab S31.3/10
S9 FE2.5/10
STYLUS
Tab S30.4/10
S9 FE2.9/10
BATTERY LIFE
Tab S32.1/10
S9 FE2.8/10
BUILD QUALITY
Tab S31.3/10
S9 FE2.9/10
⚔️

Head to Head

Head to Head

Tab S3: 0|S9 FE: 6
ValueS9 FE
Tab S315%
S9 FE28%
DisplayS9 FE
Tab S39%
S9 FE28%
PerformanceS9 FE
Tab S313%
S9 FE25%
StylusS9 FE
Tab S34%
S9 FE29%
Battery LifeS9 FE
Tab S321%
S9 FE28%
Build QualityS9 FE
Tab S313%
S9 FE29%
Tab S373%
S9 FE88%
S9 FE wins by 15 points

Key Specs

SpecSamsung Galaxy Tab S3Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE
Brand
Samsung
Samsung
Manufacturer
Samsung Electronics
Samsung
Color
Black
Gray
Weight
0.945625 Pounds
1.38 Pounds
Height
0.2 inches
0.26 Inches

Key Highlights

Samsung Galaxy Tab S3
📺 120Hz OLED display
🎯 Pen included in the box
🎯 Faster performance compared to S10 FE
💰 Open box great models available at good prices
Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FEWinner
✏️ S Pen included in box - great for notes
💧 ?? IP68 water/dust resistance like flagship
🔧 ?? 10.9-inch LCD at 90Hz - solid but not OLED
💰 ?? $300-350 range - best value Samsung with pen
⚠️ Exynos chip slower than Snapdragon in S9

Topic Battles

Tab S3: 0|Tied: 0|S9 FE: 5
🖥️Display
S9 FE wins
Tab S3
9%
S9 FE
28%
Performance
S9 FE wins
Tab S3
13%
S9 FE
25%
🔋Battery Life
S9 FE wins
Tab S3
21%
S9 FE
28%
Stylus & Note-taking
S9 FE wins
Tab S3
4%
S9 FE
29%
🔧Build Quality
S9 FE wins
Tab S3
13%
S9 FE
29%

Based on Reddit sentiment across 5 categories

📈Where They Rank

💬What Redditors Actually Say

What Redditors Say

Best praise vs top criticism for Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE

Best Praise
+14 pts
Yes, they made a 2022 Tab S6 Lite, but when they call it a Tab S6 Lite, they really mean it. It's the same price as it was in 2020 and it's only slightly better than the previous version. I was hoping for something with better specs. An Tab S9 FE with cost to performance comparable to the Tab S6 Lite would be great, preferably with the HD screen and S Pen support.
r/android
View
No negative quotes found
3 more quotes available below

What Redditors Say

Best praise vs top criticism for Samsung Galaxy Tab S3

Best Praise
+29 pts
Not to mention the sound quality that comes with a physical connection. Bluetooth headphones really took their time to mature. I remember carrying an extra battery in my wallet for an S3 mini. Good times.
r/android
View
No negative quotes found
3 more quotes available below

📈Historical Price Data

Samsung Galaxy Tab S3
Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE
$200$400Mar '25Apr '25May '25Jun '25Aug '25Sep '25Oct '25Nov '25Jan '26Feb '26Low: $99Low: $390Current: $99Current: $415
Samsung Galaxy Tab S3
All-time low: $88.15(2025-03)
$8 below 90-day avg
Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE
All-time low: $370(2026-01)

Which is Better?

Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE Wins
88%
FE
vs
73%
S3

Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE leads by 15 points based on 1,972 Reddit opinions.

Why S9 FEWinner
  • Better Value for Money (28% vs 15%)
  • More discussed (1,290 vs 682)
Why Tab S3
  • 📺 120Hz OLED display
  • 🎯 Pen included in the box

❤️The Love/Hate Breakdown

Sentiment Breakdown

25%Positive
Positive
25%
Neutral
72%
Negative
3%
Based on 1,286 Reddit opinions

Sentiment Breakdown

13%Positive
Positive
13%
Neutral
82%
Negative
5%
Based on 679 Reddit opinions

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is better, Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE or Samsung Galaxy Tab S3?
Based on 1,972 Reddit comments, Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE is the preferred choice with 88% positive sentiment vs Samsung Galaxy Tab S3's 73%. Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE leads by 15 percentage points.
Should I buy Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE or Samsung Galaxy Tab S3?
If you want the safer choice based on community sentiment, Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE has stronger approval ratings (88% vs 73%). However, Samsung Galaxy Tab S3 may still be better depending on your specific needs, budget, or use case.
What do Redditors love about Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE?
Reddit users highlight: S Pen included in box - great for notes. IP68 water/dust resistance like flagship. 10.9-inch LCD at 90Hz - solid but not OLED. With 1,290 mentions and 88% approval, it's a well-regarded choice in the community.
What do Redditors say about Samsung Galaxy Tab S3?
Reddit users highlight: 120Hz OLED display. Pen included in the box. Faster performance compared to S10 FE. With 682 mentions and 73% approval, it remains a popular alternative.
How many Reddit reviews were analyzed?
This comparison analyzed 1,972 Reddit comments: 1,290 about Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE and 682 about Samsung Galaxy Tab S3. Data was sourced from Tablets community discussions.
How accurate are these ratings?
Our sentiment analysis is approximately 80-85% accurate compared to manual review. Well-discussed products with many mentions tend to have more reliable scores than niche items with fewer data points.
Why trust Reddit over professional reviews?
Reddit users bought products with their own money and have no incentive to mislead. You're seeing hundreds of real opinions across different use cases, not just one reviewer's take. This crowdsourced approach surfaces both common praise and recurring complaints.

477 Reddit opinions analyzed · Last updated 3/7/2026