Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra: A Goliath in the Tablet Market with Limited Appeal

For the past three years, Samsung has been releasing new versions of its large Galaxy Tab S Ultra. These tablets are notably big and weigh a significant amount, but they are equipped with some of the finest mobile AMOLED displays available. Such distinctive features attract a specific segment of users. If you are in the market for a large tablet, it likely serves as either an additional screen or a digital sketchpad. Its size makes it unsuitable for «light» productivity tasks, and when paired with its two keyboard options, the overall cost is on the higher side. I’ve had the opportunity to use the Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra for a few weeks, and I find it hard to justify the investment when you can opt for a Galaxy Tab S10+.

Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra Design: Perfect for Your Desk

• Dimensions — 208.6×326.4×5.4mm
• Weight — 718 grams (Wi-Fi), 723 grams (5G)
• Durability — IP68 dust and water resistance

Lying flat on my spacious work desk, the Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra has a noticeable heft. It’s even larger than my primary device, an Apple MacBook Air with a 13.3-inch screen. While Samsung has the opportunity to make it feel lighter, I doubt there is a viable way to reduce the weight of a tablet featuring a 14.6-inch display without opting for materials like titanium or altering its size and aspect ratio. In comparison, Apple’s 13-inch iPad Pro (2024) is considerably lighter at 582g, making it more manageable.

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra boasts four speakers, positioned two on each side when held horizontally.

 

In terms of design, not much has changed. Samsung has made the latest Ultra tablet 0.5mm thicker and 14 grams lighter than its predecessor. While these improvements are slight and the overall design remains consistent, I don’t see a compelling reason for anyone with the Tab S9 Ultra to upgrade.

The tablet is offered in two storage configurations. The 12GB RAM with 512GB storage version retails for Rs. 1,08,999 for the Wi-Fi variant, while the 5G version costs Rs. 1,22,999. The Wi-Fi only 512GB variant is priced at Rs. 1,19,999, with the 5G model available for Rs. 1,33,999.

The only notable features on the sleek and minimalistic design are the two rear-facing cameras.

 

Considering the expected weight of this tablet, Samsung might have benefited from designing a kickstand similar to that of the Microsoft Surface. Such a feature would significantly appeal to artists looking for a versatile canvas for their creations.

When you purchase a Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra, the package includes the tablet, a charging cable, and an S Pen. This is a bit more than what comes with an Apple iPad Pro, to be fair. However, Apple includes the necessary charger in the package. Given the tablet’s weight, you would require the optional Smart Book Cover (approximately Rs. 6,999) to keep it upright for watching movies or working. At the time of launch, Samsung also introduced two keyboard accessories.

Comparing the Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra to the Apple MacBook Air M1.

 

There’s a Book Cover Keyboard, which is a singular cover with a built-in keyboard. This particular cover does not include a trackpad, making it less suitable for productivity tasks. The alternative cover, known as Book Cover Keyboard Slim, consists of two parts: one to support the tablet and the other being the keyboard that connects via three flat pins at the bottom (when positioned horizontally). This option includes a trackpad but comes at a higher price point of Rs. 26,999. The drawback is the combined weight of both pieces, which is around 1,378 grams (or 1.3 kg). This leads me to suggest you might as well consider a Galaxy Book 4 360 instead.

Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra Display: Excellent!

• Display — 14.6-inch, 2,960×1,848, 16:10 aspect ratio
• Display type — AMOLED, 120Hz
• Display protection — Glass with anti-reflective coating

While it may seem like the same display featured in the older Tab S9 Ultra, Samsung has upped the brightness to 930 nits, ensuring it remains bright enough for outdoor use. The anti-reflective coating truly stands out, effectively reducing glare in both indoor and outdoor environments.

The large display provides excellent clarity, as demonstrated in this mock setup, thanks to its anti-reflective coating.

 

Colors appear natural in the default Vivid Screen mode. Samsung allows you to select between an energy-efficient 60Hz or a more fluid 120Hz (adaptive) refresh rate. Due to the display’s size, I also wished Samsung had included the ability to adjust the display to specific resolutions (similar to its Galaxy smartphones), which could have extended battery life even more.

Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra Software: Well Done

• Software — One UI 6.1.1
• Version — Android 14
• Latest security patch — 1 November, 2024

It’s somewhat disheartening to find such an expensive tablet running Android 14, but given Samsung’s track record, an update should be forthcoming. We have already had a sneak peek of One UI 7, which is anticipated to include numerous enhancements, and we have seen how effectively Samsung has managed its Galaxy AI capabilities on its smartphones.

On the tablet, the interface is not vastly different but is designed to be more S Pen-friendly. I enjoy the capability to sketch with the stylus and produce AI-generated images from my basic drawings, with impressive results. The Notes app is equally intriguing with various AI functionalities designed for those who prefer handwritten notes. The Sketch to Image feature allows the creation of custom images for your notes, while Galaxy AI can format, summarize, spell-check, translate, and even transcribe recordings into notes. Note covers can also be generated by AI.

The Notes app leverages the S Pen, Galaxy AI, and the expansive display well.

 

Given its large display, the tablet is best used in Dex Mode, which efficiently allows you to run multiple apps in windows that can be resized to your liking. The system handles this proficiently without lag, even while running 8-10 apps, one of which was playing a video while the Chrome browser had several open tabs.

This certainly offers a fun, productive experience, but it’s largely limited to that. Neither Chrome nor Samsung Internet is a desktop-class browser capable of scaling apps properly like you would find on a laptop, nor do they allow for plugin installations. Samsung Internet has only a handful of them available. Therefore, I wouldn’t recommend navigating any crucial web pages on this tablet.

Even outside of Dex mode, multiple apps (including games) can be run simultaneously. It’s advisable to use a controller for gaming.

 

Samsung’s Dex offers a solid workaround for the limited selection of tablet-compatible apps on Android, allowing users to change layout quickly. However, my experience with apps like Slack was less than satisfying. This is an inherent “Android problem,” as most apps available for tablets are not designed for optimal tablet use. Consequently, many apps still lack fundamental split-screen functionality like on Apple’s iPads, resulting in long messages stretching across the ultra-wide 16:10 aspect ratio display.

Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra Performance: Impressive

• Processor — Mediatek Dimensity 9300+ (4 nm)
• RAM — 12GB
• Storage — 256/512GB (MicroSD compatible up to 1.5TB)

The performance is commendable, as illustrated in the table below. It may not outperform a Snapdragon 8 Elite smartphone, but it provides adequately smooth performance, especially since One UI 6 runs without any issues.

 

Most of the Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra’s performance limitations stem from its considerable size. I would have liked to engage with AAA mobile games on it, but I settled for casual gaming instead. I primarily used a controller (gamepad) to enjoy most games due to the tablet’s cumbersome weight and size when attempting to play touchscreen games. I did try Asphalt Legends Unite with maxed-out graphics settings, and it ran smoothly with stunning visuals. The device barely heated up, even during lengthy play sessions.

Samsung’s Dex mode effectively transforms the tablet into a PC-like desktop for managing multiple Android applications.

 

For work-related activities while utilizing a Bluetooth keyboard and mouse, everything functioned seamlessly. Therefore, the Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra can be employed for light productivity tasks such as emailing or using Google Docs, Sheets, or Microsoft Office 365 applications, provided they are designed to make the most of the expansive display.

The quad-speaker system delivers clear and powerful sound. The speakers are loud enough for outdoor use and perform even better when enjoying content that supports spatial audio.

Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra Cameras: The Standard

• Primary camera — 13-megapixel, f/2.0, AF
• Ultrawide — 8-megapixel, f/2.2, FF
• Selfie cameras — 12-megapixel, f/2.2 (wide), 12-megapixel, f/2.2 (ultrawide)

The image quality from the rear cameras is average for a tablet, falling short even against budget smartphones released in 2024. The captured details and dynamic range are rather limited, resulting in soft photos that lack clarity.

Camera samples from the Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra: Top: Primary camera, Center: Ultrawide camera, Bottom: Primary camera in Night mode (Tap images to expand)

 

The camera system does not feature an automatic night mode, so users must manually switch to the dedicated Night mode. Results in this mode are significantly improved but still fall within the decent range. Video recording tops out at 30fps and maxes out at UHD (4K) quality. Overall, the rear cameras are better equipped for typical tablet tasks such as document scanning.

Selfie camera samples from the Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra: Top: Primary selfie camera, bottom: ultrawide selfie camera (Tap to expand images)

 

The front-facing cameras are quite decent. The images from the ultrawide camera appear slightly soft, while the primary camera takes good photos and videos for a fixed-focus unit. Therefore, it’s suitable for video calls or conference calls as long as there is good ambient lighting.

Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra Battery: Good, but Not Outstanding

• Battery capacity — 11,200mAh
• Wired charging — 45W
• Charger included — No

With moderate use for work and light productivity, the tablet can last up to two days (about 9 hours each day) on a single charge. For casual use like video viewing or general media consumption, the device can last 2-3 days before requiring a recharge. However, engaging in 3D gaming or watching HDR content significantly drains the battery more quickly. In our video loop battery test, the Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra achieved 10 hours and 25 minutes, which is considered low given its AMOLED display. This performance is inferior compared to the OnePlus Pad 2, which, despite having a smaller 11-inch LCD display, lasted 15 hours and 28 minutes under the same test conditions.

Since Samsung does not include a charger with the tablet, I used a 100W GaN charger for recharging. Predictably, the tablet charged slowly, reaching just 13 percent in 30 minutes and 26 percent in an hour, with a full charge taking exactly 4 hours. This charging speed is quite sluggish, even for a tablet. Samsung recommends purchasing its 45W charger for better performance.

Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra Final Thoughts

With the Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra, Samsung is catering to a distinct market. I predict it will attract a very limited audience, including creatives in search of a high-quality display paired with the S Pen stylus.

The smaller Samsung Galaxy Tab S10+ (starting at Rs. 90,999) is certainly a more prudent selection for average users unless an expansive touchscreen powered by Android is a necessity for desktop use. For those who are okay with an LCD screen, Samsung’s Galaxy Tab S9 FE+ (starting at Rs. 54,999) presents a practical option. Additionally, there is the OnePlus Pad 2 which offers great value along with faster charging and excellent software for just Rs. 39,999.