## Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra Review: A Big, Beautiful Android Tablet With Some Quirks
The Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra is a bold statement in the tablet world. This 14.6-inch behemoth is Samsung’s latest attempt at creating a tablet that can truly compete with the iPad Pro in both power and productivity. But while it boasts a gorgeous display, stellar performance, and a handy S Pen, the Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra’s biggest hurdle isn’t its hardware—it’s the limitations of Android itself when dealing with large screens.
A Big Display, A Familiar Design
The Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra is a handsome tablet with a premium feel. It’s thin, light (for its size), and boasts IP68 dust and water resistance, a welcome feature missing from the iPad Pro. The design is largely unchanged from previous generations, but Samsung has made subtle improvements, like a recessed S Pen housing and a patterned camera ring that adds a touch of visual flair. While the hardware is top-notch, it’s not groundbreaking, feeling very similar to the Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra in terms of design and build quality.
A Stunning Display
The Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra’s display is its crown jewel. This 14.6-inch Super AMOLED 2X panel is one of the best displays on any tablet. It’s incredibly sharp, boasts vibrant colors, and thanks to a new anti-reflective coating borrowed from the Galaxy S24 Ultra, it’s much more legible outdoors than its predecessor. This is a huge improvement, especially if you plan on using the tablet in bright environments.
Powerful Performance and Excellent Battery Life
Samsung has ditched Qualcomm in favor of MediaTek’s Dimensity 9300 Plus for this generation, and the results are impressive. The new chipset delivers significantly improved battery life compared to the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 in the Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra, while maintaining flagship-level performance. The Tab S10 Ultra can easily last for several days with average usage, or a full working day with heavy use. This is a welcome improvement that makes the tablet even more appealing for productivity tasks.
The DeX Dilemma: Samsung’s Attempt to Conquer the Laptop Market
Samsung’s DeX mode aims to turn the Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra into a laptop replacement. It’s a smart idea, and Samsung has made strides in improving DeX’s functionality, making it much smoother and more reliable. However, Android’s inherent limitations with large screens still rear their ugly head. Many apps don’t scale properly for a tablet experience, and the multi-window functionality, while improved, still feels clunky compared to the seamless experience offered by iPadOS. This makes the Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra a good tablet for multi-tasking, but not a perfect laptop replacement.
The S Pen: A Powerful Productivity Tool
The S Pen is one of the Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra’s biggest strengths. It’s incredibly responsive, accurate, and unlocks a range of features, from note-taking to drawing to image editing. Samsung’s AI features like Sketch to Image are particularly fun and powerful, letting you use the S Pen to create AI-generated images. The S Pen is a key part of the Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra experience, adding a level of versatility that few other tablets can match.
Keyboard Choices: Hit and Miss
Samsung offers two different Book Cover Keyboard options for the Tab S10 Ultra, one with a trackpad and one without. The Slim keyboard is great for couch use, but lacks a trackpad, making it uncomfortable for extended typing sessions. The Book Cover Keyboard with Trackpad offers a more traditional laptop experience, but its separate design means it’s less portable and only works on flat surfaces. Ideally, Samsung would release a keyboard closer to Apple’s Magic Keyboard for the iPad, offering a more cohesive and versatile experience.
Should You Buy the Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra?
The Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra is a fantastic tablet, but it’s not for everyone. If you’re looking for a big-screen Android tablet for media consumption and are willing to accept Android’s limitations on larger screens, this is a great choice. It’s also a great companion device for Samsung phone and laptop users. However, if you want a tablet that can fully replace your laptop, or if you crave the seamless experience offered by iPadOS, the Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra might not be the best fit. Ultimately, the Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra is a strong contender in the Android tablet market, offering a compelling combination of power, features, and a beautiful display. However, it’s important to be aware of Android’s limitations before taking the plunge.