Samsung has officially unveiled its new Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra and Tab S10 Plus tablets at a recent event in New York City. These tablets represent a significant step forward for Samsung’s tablet lineup, bringing some notable features and a first for the U.S. market.
The Galaxy Tab S10 series marks the first time a flagship device in the U.S. is powered by a MediaTek processor. Both tablets are equipped with the MediaTek 9300+ chip, which Samsung claims delivers impressive performance gains over the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor used in last year’s Tab S9 series. The company boasts an 18% increase in CPU power, a 28% boost in GPU performance, and a 14% improvement in NPU efficiency.
While the new MediaTek processor is undoubtedly a major highlight, the Galaxy Tab S10 series also carries forward many features familiar from previous generations. Both tablets feature a sleek design, with the Tab S10 Ultra boasting a massive 14.6-inch display while the Tab S10 Plus offers a more manageable 12.4-inch screen. Both screens utilize Samsung’s Dynamic AMOLED 2X technology, providing vibrant colors and a smooth 1Hz to 120Hz refresh rate.
Samsung has placed a strong emphasis on AI features in the Galaxy Tab S10 series. Live translation capabilities have been expanded to support 16 languages, making it easier to bridge language barriers during conversations. The larger displays and bundled S Pens, especially on the Tab S10 Ultra, are well-suited for Samsung’s Sketch to Image feature, which uses AI to turn simple prompts into images. Circle to Search allows for effortless searching of anything displayed on the screen, making it convenient for finding information quickly.
The Galaxy Tab S10 series is built with a familiar design, featuring a dual 12-megapixel front-facing camera array on the Tab S10 Ultra and a single 12MP ultrawide camera on the Tab S10 Plus. Both tablets sport a 13MP and 8MP ultrawide dual-camera setup on the rear.
Samsung has addressed one of the common criticisms of previous Galaxy Tab models by slightly dipping the S Pen’s magnetic docking station, preventing it from falling off as easily. The tablets also retain the IP68 dust and water resistance rating, making them durable and protected against the elements.
Despite the impressive features and improvements, the Galaxy Tab S10 series might not be a game-changer for users already owning the Tab S9 series. While the new AI capabilities are commendable, they are largely an extension of features already seen on other Samsung devices. The design and overall user experience are very similar to their predecessors, making a substantial upgrade less compelling.
The Galaxy Tab S10 series is available for preorder today and will launch on October 3.
While the Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra and Tab S10 Plus offer a compelling large-screen Android experience, especially for productivity and multimedia consumption, their similarity to the previous generation and the high price point might lead some users to reconsider their upgrade options.
