Coming to premium tablets, we left with a handful of options and the Samsung Galaxy Tab S-series is one of them.
Samsung released its newest Galaxy Tab S10 series alongside the Galaxy S24 FE, and the company dropped the based model and moved into the Plus and the Ultra. I have to be upfront that the incremental compared to its predecessor is rather minimal. If you plan to upgrade from the Galaxy Tab S9 series, I wouldn’t recommend it unless you are upgrading to a bigger display.
After having the Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 Plus for over a week paired with the new Samsung Back Cover Keyboard Slim with AI Key, here’s my review of this tablet.
First, a quick unboxing video of the Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 Plus
Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 Plus Specifications
- CPU: MediaTek Dimensity 9300+, 4nm
- GPU: Mali G720 Immortalis MC12 GPU
- Memory: 12GB of LPDDR5x
- Storage: 256GB UFS 4.1 (microSD slot)
- Display: 12.4″ 2,800 x 1,752 Dynamic AMOLED 2X, Adaptive Refresh Rate (60Hz/120Hz), HDR10+, Anti-reflective Coating, 650 nits Peak Brightness
- Rear Camera: 13MP f/2.0, Auto Focus + 8MP f/2.2, 123˚ Ultrawide
- Front Camera: 12MP f/2.4, 123˚ Ultrawide Fixed Focus
- Connectivity: Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3, 5G*
- Battery: 10,090mAh @ 45W Samsung Fast Charging 2.0
- Dimension & Weight: 285.4 x 185.4 x 5.6mm @ 571g
- Others: Corning Gorilla Glass 5, IP68 Water Resistant, Optical In-display Finger Scanner
- Color: Moonstone Gray, Platinum Silver
- Price: RM4,599 (Wi-Fi) | RM 5,249 (5G)
Design & Build
For myself who has hands on a few of the Galaxy Tab S-series, I really can’t distinguish them even up close, especially the Galaxy Tab S10 Plus and Galaxy Tab S9 FE Plus.
This doesn’t mean they are bad; it is finely crafted from quality materials and the rounded corners are comfortable to hold.
It has a minimal back cover design and you can only see the Samsung branding on the top left corner with antenna lines across the back panel, and a magnetic charging groove for the S Pen, which is included in the box. Oddly I see no Harman-Kardon branding like its other Galaxy Tabs, does this mean it’s not tuned by Harman-Kardon anymore?
According to Samsung, the Galaxy Tab S10 series uses an Armor Aluminium frame that is 10% more resistant to dents and scratches. Not gonna try that as I need to return this review unit, but so far it’s pretty alright.
The symmetrical 12.4″ display may only be protected with Corning Gorilla Glass 5, but it is robust enough to protect from scratches. A front ultrawide camera is centered on the top bezel.
The Power and volume rocker buttons are on the top along with a hybrid microSD card slot.
Surrounded by quad speakers on both the left and right sides. Equipped with a fast USB C 3.2 Gen 1 on the right.
On the bottom, you will find pogo-pin connectors for accessories like the Samsung Back Cover Keyboard with AI Key.
You will also find an optical in-display fingerprint scanner sensor on the right side of the screen and they are fast.
Display
The 12.4″ Dynamic AMOLED 2X is sharp, vibrant, and buttery smooth with a 120Hz refresh rate. The 16:10 aspect ratio has a resolution of 2,800 x 1,752 and a peak brightness of 650 nits.
Samsung updated the Galaxy Tab S10 Plus display with anti-reflective coating. Glares are greatly reduced without sacrificing the color contrast with the matte finishing used by competitors.
Dimensity 9300+
The Galaxy Tab S10 series is the first Samsung tablet to be powered by a MediaTek chip, the Dimensity 9300+. Paired with 12GB of RAM and for the Malaysia region we only get one storage size, 256GB. This is justified with a microSD slot that can support an additional 1.5TB of storage.
The Mediatek Dimensity 9300+ is still a flagship chip tailing behind the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3. Running and switching between open apps is a breeze with this chip.
It is also a gaming powerhouse, capable of running resource-intensive 3D games like Genshin Impact with minimal frame drop even at the highest graphics settings. The heat dissipation is good and remains lukewarm to the touch after an hour of Genshin Impact. What impacted the most *pun intended* is the battery life. It definitely devours more power to keep the huge display on and graphics-intensive game.
Book Cover Keyboard Slim – AI Key
The Samsung Book Cover Keyboard Slim is a lightweight battery-less keyboard that also works as a portable case that protects your tablet. It also has a dedicated AI Key that allows faster access to Bixby or Gemini.
This setup isn’t the most ergonomic, especially with its non-adjustable angle, which can be uncomfortable for taller users over long periods. Like most matte finish keyboards, it tends to have oily stains on the keys, but fortunately, these can be cleaned off easily.
Currently, Samsung is offering free Samsung Book Cover Keyboard Slim when you purchase the Galaxy Tab S10 series tablet which would save up to RM 949.
Samsung DeX Mode
If you’re familiar with Samsung DeX mode, you’ll notice some small UI changes in One UI 6.1.1. Samsung has introduced a simpler interface option. While the new DeX still provides a desktop-like experience, it now feels more like a standard Android tablet layout. If you prefer the classic version, you can easily switch back to it in the settings.
Galaxy AI
Samsung may promote the Galaxy Tab S10 Plus as its first tablet for the AI era, featuring tools like Note Assist and Interpreter, along with a new AI key on the optional Book Cover Keyboard Slim. While these features also appeared on the Galaxy Tab S9 series with the newest update.
The Galaxy Tab S10 Plus comes pre-installed with the latest One UI 6.1.1, which gets all the latest Galaxy AI features that appeared on the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6 and Z Flip6. This includes the Portrait Studio, Sketch to Image, Smart Writing/Composer, Interpreter, Summary, and Translation.
No other Android tablet manufacturer matches Samsung when it comes to software and security. The Galaxy Tab S10 series is set to receive seven years of major OS upgrades and security updates, giving it a significant edge in long-term support over its competitors.
Battery Life
There is no upgrade in the battery and charging department, still has a sizable 10,900 mAh battery that supports Samsung Fast Charge 2.0 at up to 45W.
Based on PC Mark 10 battery life, it can deliver up to 10 hours 30 minutes and takes close to 2 hours to fully charge from 0% to 100% with a SFC 2.0 compatible charger.
Unlike a phone, I’m using the Galaxy Tab S10+ mainly for script writing and video streaming with an average of 3-4 hours and I could use it for two or three days before I need to tether it to the power wall.
Camera
Cameras would be the last thing to mention, equipped with dual rear cameras; a 13MP primary assists with an 8MP ultrawide and a 12MP ultrawide front camera that features auto-framing that keeps you framed in the center when you move around.
The photos and videos captured with the tablet are decent and suitable for tasks like document scanning or office-related shots. I highly doubt you will be using it for activities like taking photos or recording videos at concerts or at your kids.
Verdict
If you’re in the market for a powerful premium Android tablet, you won’t go wrong with the Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 Plus. It’s powerful, well-built, and has excellent software packaged with AI. Not having Snapdragon doesn’t mean it will cause performance to suffer, the Dimensity 9300+ is nowhere short compared to the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3.