An incredible pill that is laborious to suggest

For the primary time because the Galaxy Tab S2, Samsung’s Galaxy Tab S-series is again to an annual launch. The Galaxy Tab S10 lineup comes just a bit over 12 months after its successor, breaking the standard 18-month custom between Samsung’s flagship pill launches. Regardless of the frenzy to market, the largest change from Samsung is definitely an omission, as the usual 11-inch Galaxy Tab S10 is nowhere to be seen.

Meaning this mannequin, the Galaxy Tab S10+, is right here to fill in because the default expertise. Samsung is aware of make some nice tablets. Nonetheless, with little or no differentiation from this specific mannequin from its predecessor, the corporate can have issue convincing buyers to drop upwards of $1,000 on this 12.4-inch pill — particularly when its predecessor may be yours at a fairly steep low cost.

Worth, availability, and specs

How do I purchase this factor?

The Galaxy Tab S10+ was introduced alongside the Galaxy S24 FE as a part of Samsung’s fall lineup on September twenty sixth, 2024, earlier than hitting retailer cabinets one week afterward October third. You may choose one up by way of Amazon, Finest Purchase, or Samsung’s storefront. As with final 12 months, the 256GB mannequin begins at $1,000, whereas the 512GB mannequin prices an extra $120. Samsung additionally sells a 256GB mobile mannequin for $1,150 that’s suitable with all nationwide US carriers. The 512GB mannequin is Wi-Fi solely.

Design and show

Large, daring, and acquainted

Samsung’s smartphone design could have stagnated, nevertheless it has nothing on the corporate’s tablets. The Galaxy Tab S10+ appears to be like almost similar to the Galaxy Tab S9+, which was virtually unchanged from the Galaxy Tab S8+, which — you guessed it — regarded identical to the Galaxy Tab S7+. The one purpose I am unable to preserve going with this chain of gadgets is as a result of this specific 12.4-inch mannequin began with the Tab S7 collection, however in case you ignore the show measurement, the Galaxy Tab S6 falls into this group, too.

For those who’re maintaining observe, that is over half a decade of similar designs throughout Samsung’s flagship pill portfolio. Granted, that is widespread amongst pill makers — virtually each iPad launched prior to now six years has used the identical core design because the 2018 iPad Professional. However there are issues I might prefer to see Samsung change with its pill design in future generations.

For instance, I’ve lengthy disliked the location of the S Pen on the again. On multiple event, I’ve positioned the pill on a desk solely to unintentionally press the stylus’s shortcut button, launching an intrusive pop-up notice on my show. Likewise, whereas the 16:10 side ratio has benefits, I would not thoughts seeing Samsung transfer to one thing a little bit extra sq., just like the 7:5 OnePlus Pad 2. In your palms, this design feels a little bit too broad in panorama and a little bit too tall in portrait — it is robust to get comfy.

Above all, although, I feel Samsung must drop the digicam bumps from its tablets. At 5.6mm, this chassis is as skinny because it’s ever been — down from 5.7mm in earlier generations. Nonetheless, I might prefer to see Samsung discover digicam sensors which might be sufficiently small to create a very flat again. I do not significantly care if it comes at the price of photograph high quality; these lenses ought to be for scanning paperwork and never a lot else.

I do not suppose the Galaxy Tab S10+ is poorly designed, nevertheless. Its quad-speaker format is positioned completely so my palms do not muffle its sound by chance, and the Moonstone Grey hue I’ve appears to be like significantly sharp. At 571 grams, that is the second lightest 12.4-inch slate Samsung has ever shipped — the Tab S8+ was a number of grams lighter — making it simply comfy sufficient to carry for lengthy durations. Lastly, the Tab S10+ hasn’t fallen sufferer to a number of the QA points I’ve had with different Galaxy gadgets this 12 months; its microSD card slot, for instance, is completely flush with the remainder of the gadget.

Samsung additionally made good on an enormous mistake from the Tab S9 collection, making certain that earlier era equipment work with this specific mannequin. For those who’re upgrading from the Tab S9+ — a expensive determination, however you do you — your last-gen keyboard will nonetheless work, albeit with out the brand new devoted AI key.

It could be robust to inform on this photograph, nevertheless it’s a lot simpler to see by way of this glare than on a normal panel.

As anticipated, the show is the spotlight right here. Like in earlier years, this can be a 12.4-inch, 2800×1752 show, and it is most likely one of the best panel you may discover on an Android pill proper now. The everyday Samsung saturation ranges are out of the field right here, however I discover it fairly pleasing to browse the net or watch motion pictures. You would possibly need to tweak your coloration settings if you end up doing manufacturing work, however for informal use, it is a actually nice expertise.

Samsung added an anti-glare end to the Tab S10 collection, which could be the largest year-over-year change. It is delicate, however makes an enormous distinction in brightly lit or sunny conditions. That mentioned, this is not Gorilla Armor, as beforehand seen on this 12 months’s Galaxy S24 Extremely. Samsung tells me it is utilizing Gorilla Glass 5 with Corning’s Gorilla Glass DX coating to ship an anti-reflective expertise. Whereas I feel Samsung ought to most likely lean into the know-how it co-developed (particularly on such an costly piece of substances), the result’s shut sufficient to not actually matter.

All that mentioned, I do want the show was a little bit brighter. At a peak brightness of 650 nits, my overview unit was continuously hovering round max brightness. I am not going to match this show to what you may discover on smartphones, however the Tab S10 Extremely tops out at a way more respectable 930 nits, and contemplating the worth, I do not suppose it is an excessive amount of to ask for this panel to do the identical. Maybe a swap to a tandem OLED panel — just like the one on the newest iPad Professional — might’ve helped make up for this. Oh properly, perhaps subsequent 12 months.

Different {hardware} and what’s within the field

In some way, an AI secret is a marquee function this 12 months

I discussed the wonderful speaker placement, however I am happy to say Samsung’s audio system are pretty much as good as ever right here. It would not look like the corporate has modified something from final era, however to my ears, that is a great factor. Even at excessive volumes, Samsung’s audio system by no means sounded tinny or distorted. For those who’re shopping for this to make use of as a tiny transportable TV, it is an ideal expertise.

Samsung continues to make use of an in-display fingerprint sensor on the Tab S10 collection. Nonetheless, for no matter purpose, I had some fairly constant points with this scanner correctly detecting my finger, even after rescanning my thumb. Face unlock works properly sufficient that it normally did not get in the best way of unlocking the pill, however I am curious if the anti-reflective end performs an element right here, as it is not a difficulty I bumped into on final 12 months’s Tab S9.

That is pretty much as good of a spot as any for a mini-review of Samsung’s slim keyboard case for the Tab S10+. It is nearly unchanged from final 12 months’s dock, save for the addition of an AI instrument that may launch Bixby or Gemini with the contact of a button. I’d wager cash you may by no means apply it to function. The keys are, as anticipated, shallow, nevertheless it’s a good sufficient typing expertise — I wrote a few of this overview on that very keyboard.

For as a lot inspiration as the corporate has been pulling from Apple as of late, I want the Galaxy Tab S10+ had a lap-friendly keyboard with a built-in touchpad. Sadly, the (costlier) full-size keyboard dock makes use of a Floor-style kickstand within the again.

Within the field, you may discover the pill, an identical S Pen, a USB-C to USB-C cable, a SIM instrument for opening the microSD card slot, and the standard assortment of paperwork. For the worth, I nonetheless suppose Samsung ought to embody the non-compulsory keyboard dock within the field, however beggars cannot be choosers.

Software program and efficiency

New chip, similar expertise

Samsung desires you to think about the Galaxy Tab S10+ as its first pill constructed for the Galaxy AI period. This, I suppose, is technically true — the Tab S10 collection is the primary to launch with Galaxy AI options on-board, alongside a brand new devoted key on its non-compulsory keyboard dock. However the whole suite of instruments right here — Word Help, Chat Help, Interpreter, and so forth — have all arrived on the Tab S9 and Tab S8. For those who’re trying to purchase a pill for these options particularly, you possibly can choose up a tool from both of those earlier generations and get the identical degree of performance.

Now, it is doable — possible, even — that future Galaxy AI instruments do not come to older {hardware}. Nonetheless, Samsung has but to show that Galaxy AI is a real promoting level. There’s merely nothing right here that I discover compelling sufficient so as to add to my day by day routine. For instance, as somebody with little or no creative skill, Drawing Help’s skill to show my unhealthy sketches into slightly-less-bad items of artwork is amusing sufficient — as is the truth that it clearly knew I used to be attempting to sketch Pikachu from a black-and-white doodle — nevertheless it’s not like I really feel as if I created this.

Humorous the way it knew to make my Pikachu doodle yellow with purple cheeks, by the best way.

You are left with the identical pill expertise Samsung has supplied for generations now. One UI 6.1.1, in my view, feels extra at dwelling on tablets and foldables than it does on smartphones. Swapping into DeX Mode is nice, although you may want an exterior mouse to benefit from it. Operating a number of apps on a cut up display continues to be one thing Samsung excels at, although — it is most likely one of the best promoting level for this pill.

Nonetheless, I primarily used this pill to stream movies on YouTube or Netflix or show recipes whereas cooking. The 12.4-inch show means doing each concurrently is a superb expertise, nevertheless it’s one you might have with a pill half the worth of this one. One UI 6 is a recognized amount at this level, and I am extra curious to see if One UI 7’s drastic makeover brings alongside any points when it will definitely arrives on the Tab S10+ in 2025. Solely time will inform.

As for efficiency, I am unable to say the swap to a MediaTek chip was significantly noticeable. I do not usually put a lot inventory into benchmarks, however seeing as the brand new chipset right here is without doubt one of the few generational adjustments on the Tab S10+, I ran Geekbench on each the Tab S10+ and my Tab S9 unit from 2023.

In comparison with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2-powered Tab S9, MediaTek’s Dimensity 9300+ appears to be delivering a strong leap in year-over-year efficiency, particularly in multi-core and GPU checks. I do not suppose it’s essential to take too a lot inventory into this — relatively, all these numbers imply is that the swap to MediaTek chips is not detrimental to the general expertise.

By way of day-to-day use, this slate ought to be completely competent at something you throw at it. I am unable to say my gaming habits push the pill significantly laborious — essentially the most GPU-intensive sport I’ve run on this slate thus far is Balatro, which feels glorious right here — however in case you’ve fallen down the rabbit gap of no matter Hoyoverse sport has taken over the Play Retailer as of late, the Galaxy Tab S10+ will deal with it with out breaking a sweat.

Digicam

You may need to preserve your cellphone on you

Cameras — the Galaxy Tab S10+ positive has a number of of them. On the again, you may discover a 13MP principal sensor and an 8MP ultra-wide lens. They’re fairly unhealthy, abandoning tons of noise even in well-lit environments. Zooming in simply exacerbates the issue, leaving background textual content almost illegible. Finances Android telephones can take higher images than these lenses, which is why I discover the existence of digicam bumps so irritating right here. Simply throw within the smallest sensors you’ll find able to capturing textual content and depart it at that.

The front-facing digicam is, inarguably, extra necessary on a tool like this because you would possibly really use it for video calls or digital conferences. It is an ultra-wide lens, although you would not realize it by default, because it launches in a zoomed-in format. It is adequate at choosing up your face, although background particulars have been noisy and crammed with artifacts. It will do advantageous in your subsequent video name, however I would not depend on it for taking Instagram-worthy selfies.

Battery life and charging

Nearly as good as anybody might count on

I discover testing a pill’s battery life so difficult — except it is significantly unhealthy, you are nearly assured to see multi-day battery life in all however essentially the most strenuous conditions. To that finish, I have been largely proud of the battery life on the Galaxy Tab S10+. It hasn’t blown me away, nevertheless it’s caught to my expectations, particularly contemplating how vibrant the show normally is. Even with some prolonged flights arising, I am unable to think about killing this factor in a single day. Contemplating the SoC swap, that is excessive reward; transferring to a brand new chipset’s at all times a danger.

I am additionally significantly proud of how the Tab S10+ prices. Anybody with a inventory of beefy energy banks is aware of how lengthy it could actually take to energy up a large-capacity cell, and the ten,090mAh battery in right here actually qualifies. With the precise 45W PPS charging brick, I used to be capable of energy it up in lower than two hours. That may sound gradual — and in comparison with sure smartphones, it positively is — however I am a lot proud of it.

Competitors

$1,000 can rating you a variety of pc

For those who’re simply searching for an enormous — however not too massive — pill, you’ve gotten loads of selections. I might advise most individuals to search for offers on final 12 months’s Galaxy Tab S9+. I wrote this overview within the aftermath of Amazon’s most up-to-date Prime Day, which noticed the 256GB Tab S9+ marked right down to $745. It has been as little as $700, and I would not be shocked to see these costs reappear as we storm into the vacation season. In saving $300, you hand over the anti-glare show, swap to a Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, and… that is about it. Frankly, I do not see a lot of a purpose not to get the older mannequin — you possibly can even use the Tab S10+ keyboard with it if you really want the devoted AI key.

There’s additionally the Galaxy Tab S9+ FE, which drops the worth to only $600, albeit at the price of efficiency, show high quality, and different premium options. If all you are after is an enormous display to look at motion pictures on, it will be robust to beat.

For those who plan to make use of the Tab S10+ as a laptop computer substitute, issues get much more difficult, due to this summer time’s introduction of Snapdragon X Elite-powered laptops. For those who’re okay with ditching the hybrid idea, you possibly can seize one thing like the newest 13.8-inch Floor Laptop computer for $1,000. Factoring within the keyboard, it is cheaper than this slate whereas operating a full desktop app that may do issues Android merely cannot, DeX Mode or not. For those who do want a hybrid gadget, the Snapdragon X Plus-powered Floor Duo additionally begins at $1,000, or $1,179, when factoring within the keyboard. Simply take into account you may nonetheless want to select up a stylus.

Must you purchase it?

I actually just like the Galaxy Tab S10+, however it’s essential to know what you are entering into. Regardless of launching a little bit over a 12 months after its predecessor, Samsung’s newest flagship 12.4-inch pill is getting into into a very totally different market. On this worth vary, Android suffers from an absence of prosumer apps, which is not true on extra conventional desktop working techniques. Some folks would possibly have the ability to match their complete workflow into DeX, however I merely cannot.

For those who personal a earlier Galaxy Tab S-series slate, you must most likely preserve ready for a extra revolutionary improve — possible when it comes to energy, not design — or benefit from Samsung’s newly discounted inventory of last-gen Galaxy Tab S9 merchandise. There is not sufficient new right here to justify the sudden break within the normal 18-month cycle between releases. This appears to recommend the swap to MediaTek chipsets is primarily for Samsung’s profit, not yours.

The brand new silicon powering the Galaxy Tab S10+ is not a deal breaker by any sense of the phrase, however there’s additionally little right here for customers to seize onto that wasn’t in earlier fashions. On the finish of the day, I am left with a tool that’s overkill for normal customers and too restricted for pro-level customers. It is an ideal pill however a little bit tough to suggest to everybody at this worth level. Nonetheless, if cash’s no object and also you need one thing additional flashy, it will be robust to beat this show.