The new Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE tablets are already starting to drop in price – it’s a small discount, but they were already cheaper than the main Tab S9 models. You could also pick up last year’s Tab S8 models.
Starting with the FE models, the small model – well, the 10.9” one – costs $420 for the base configuration (Wi-Fi, 6GB of RAM and 128GB of storage).
The larger Tab S9 FE+ with a 12.4-inch display costs $570. Keep in mind that this one has more RAM, 8GB. Plus, both models come with microSD card slots, so you can easily add more storage (we’ll get to that in a minute).
Instead of the S9 FE, you can get the Galaxy Tab S8. This also has an LCD display (an 11” panel) but has a slightly higher resolution and a higher refresh rate (120Hz versus 90Hz). Even better, it’s powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1, not the best flagship chipset, but it’s much more powerful than the Exynos 1380 on the FE slate. The batteries on both are the same, 8,000 mAh with 45W charging.
And instead of the S9 FE+, you can get the Galaxy Tab S8+. This one has a 12.4-inch screen, but this time it’s a Super AMOLED. It has an advantage over the FE display with a higher pixel density and higher refresh rate (again 120Hz vs 90Hz). Also in this case the SD 8 Gen 1 vs. Exynos 1380, because as far as the batteries are concerned, they are exactly the same. One thing that may or may not interest you is that the FE tablets have an IP68 rating for dust and water resistance, while the Tab S8 series has no rating.
As mentioned above, all four tablets have microSD slots. You can add 512GB for just $25 – much, much cheaper than buying additional internal storage. There’s also the more expensive Samsung Pro Ultimate microSD card. This promises faster transfer speeds of 200 MB/s sequential reads and 130 MB/s writes, while the Evo Select tops out at 130 MB/s. Both are rated A2, so you can move apps to them (the A2 rating is for random IOPS, so it helps apps run faster).
While looking at the FE tablets, we also noticed their siblings: the Samsung Galaxy S23 FE and paired Buds FE for $650. The FE uses the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chip in the US, so it’s behind the S23 series (which got Gen 2), but the S23 series is on its way out – the S24 phones are coming out in a couple of months. So either wait and get the new flagship or get the cheaper FE flagship now.
Foldable phones are finally accessible: not cheap, but convenient. The Motorola razr+ (also known as the Razr 40 Ultra) currently costs $700, not much more than the S23 FE (you won’t get the headphones, but still). This one has an even better Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chipset, although the 12+13MP cameras are a bit disappointing. At least the 3.6″ display is perfectly usable, which Samsung took a while to achieve.
If you’re not sure you want to spend that much money on a foldable, check out the Motorola Razr for $500. It has almost the same internal display as the razr+ (aside from the fact that it runs at 144 Hz and not 165 Hz), but the tiny display on the cover is much less usable. Additionally, this upgrades to the Snapdragon 7 Gen 1. The cover display and chipset are pretty big downgrades, but you save $200.
If you’re in the market for a new smartwatch, check out the Samsung Galaxy Watch6 pair. The Watch6 linked below is the Bespoke edition, meaning it comes with a premium wrist strap. The Watch6 Classic is the regular version, but these straps are interchangeable, so you can swap out the one you find in the box if you don’t like it.
Alternatively, there’s the Apple Watch SE (2022), which would be a better choice for iPhone users: the Watch6 won’t connect to iOS, and the Apple Watch won’t pair with Android (well, you could, but it’s a pain ). Keep in mind that the SE is based on older hardware, so it lacks ECG, which became standard on later Apple Watches.
If you want more battery and are fine with less smarts, the Amazfit Cheetah Pro promises up to 14 days of typical use and 7 days of heavy use. As you can tell from the name, this is designed for runners with features like Virtual Pacer, Race Results Prediction, and Track Running Mode.
We’ve also spotted some headphone deals. The Sony WF-1000XM5 are the result of continuous improvement of Sony’s TWS earphones. They have a smaller and lighter case than the XM4, better sound than the XM4, and top-of-the-line noise cancellation.
Apple’s AirPods Max are now quite advanced in their product cycle, but they are still Apple’s only over-ear headphones.
We’ll end with Meta Quest 2. We’ve reviewed both this and its successor, which is easily the best VR headset. Unfortunately it costs double. So if you just want to dive into VR to see if it’s for you, the $250 Quest 2 is a perfect choice for both standalone use and even connecting to a PC.
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