Samsung Galaxy Tab vs Lenovo Chromebook: Which is better with Amazon’s £100 price drop

The tablet market can be tricky to navigate these days. As tech giants like Apple and Samsung unveil new devices each year alongside their somewhat smaller rivals like Lenovo and Acer, consumers can become overwhelmed when upgrading to a new model. Over at Amazon, we’ve spotted a mini tech sale that’s seen £100 cut from two highly-rated tablets, each offering slightly different features and functions. The retail giant has cut up to 27% off both the and , which are now reduced to £349 and £269.99, respectively.

Both tablets come highly rated and well reviewed by Amazon customers, but they are separated by an £80 price gap. On the surface, the Samsung is your run-of-the-mill tablet for general personal use, while the Lenovo provides a 2-in-1 between a tablet and laptop that would suit any student or professional. But aside from this standout difference, is one really better than the other?

We’ve dug a little deeper and broken down the key features of each device to see how they compare and what makes each worth your money.

Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE

The hit the market in 2023 as a more affordable version of the standard Tab S9. ‘FE’ stands for Fan Edition, with Samsung saying devices with this label offer some of the best features of its flagship tablets at a more affordable price.

This model features a 10.9” screen, 128GB storage that can be expanded with a MicroSD card and a 13MP camera. It has a 12-hour battery life and also comes with an S Pen, Samsung’s own stylus that allows users to draw, sketch and make handwritten notes.

It runs on the same Android operating system as other Samsung devices and is ideal for those with a Galaxy smartphone as it can seamlessly sync data between the two. The Tab S9 FE boasts an IP68 water and dust-resistance rating so it’s safer to use on the go.

The gadget has been awarded the Amazon’s Choice label, which the retailer uses to highlight highly rated and well-priced products that are ready to dispatch immediately. But what do the reviews say?

The  has achieved a 4.6-star rating after more than 430 reviews, 92% of which are four or five stars. Users have hailed it as an ‘excellent mid-range tablet’ that offers ‘high performance’ for a ‘medium cost’.

One buyer said: “All in all, a great mid-spec tablet, which beats all the entry-level competition and punches above its weight – to challenge the best in class. It’s also a great companion for a Samsung smartphone improving the experience of reading digital media and streaming content.”

However, some users have noted it doesn’t come with a headphone jack or charger plug, only a USB-C charging lead.

Lenovo IdeaPad Chromebook Duet

Lenovo’s was released last year and is ideal for those stuck between buying a new tablet or laptop as this offers the best of both worlds. One of the main selling points of this device is that it comes with a detachable magnetic keyboard.

This allows the device to be easily converted from a laptop to a tablet and vice versa. It also has a 10.95” screen, 5MP camera, 12 hour battery life and 128GB storage.

While this is usually enough storage for the average user to keep photos, videos and documents, keep in mind that it can’t be expanded as the device does not feature a built-in SD card slot. The Lenovo runs on the Google Chrome operating system, so it should be familiar to anyone who uses Google Chrome as their go-to web browser.

It’s ideal for professionals as it boasts business-friendly functions such as converting scanned documents into digital text that can be edited on screen. The device is currently the best-seller in Amazon’s ‘2-in-1 Laptops’ category, where customers have awarded it a 4.3-star rating from more than 280 reviews, 84% of which are four or five stars.

Standout reviews note the Levno’s processing speed could ‘rival any top-end laptop’, while the keyboard is ‘high quality and comfortable to use’. One user said: “It’s ultra-portable, versatile, and great for everyday tasks. The size is perfect and the price is a steal for the quality you get.”

However, as another user pointed out ‘the only downside is the absence of any memory card slot’.

The Verdict

While users of each device may not notice much difference while performing day to day tasks like browsing the web or streaming, there are some slight differences between the Samsung and Lenovo tablets. Both are slim, sleek and highly portable, with their screen sizes separated by only half an inch.

The does have a higher screen resolution, so it will deliver better quality images whether streaming Netflix, gaming or browsing the web. The Samsung also has a superior camera and around six hours extra battery life, depending on usage and can handle a little water and dust.

When choosing between the two, it ultimately boils down to personal needs. If you’re looking for a tablet for day-to-day tasks like browsing the web or streaming, then the Samsung is a great choice as it offers smooth performance on a decent sized screen.

But if you’re looking for something that does all this as well as a new device for work, university or school, then consider if you’d be better off with a device that has a physical keyboard. If you are, then the may be the better option.

Keyboard covers are available for the Tab S9 range, but these cost anywhere from £22 at to £199 for an official version. The Lenovo model comes with a keyboard as standard and also offers plenty of functions ideal for professionals like its document to screen feature.