The Android tablet market is heating up, with Samsung preparing to launch the Galaxy Tab S10 Plus and S10 Ultra. The competition mainly comes from Apple, but Samsung aims to pull ahead with its new tablets and maintain dominance in the Android space.
Interestingly, Samsung has chosen not to release an 11-inch model, instead focusing on the 12.4-inch Galaxy Tab S10 Plus and 14.6-inch S10 Ultra. This move likely aligns with the existing Tab S9 FE and Tab A9 Plus, which cater to users wanting smaller tablets, while the larger options offer premium features.
Samsung highlighted its emphasis on creating a complete ecosystem with Galaxy Tablets, not just for media consumption but also for productivity and other uses. While it’s not directly competing with the Pixel Tablet’s smart home hub capabilities, the integration of SmartThings and Galaxy AI suggests a broader utility.
Galaxy AI has been a major focus, with impressive engagement figures: 75% of customers have interacted with AI features, and there were 18 million users in just one week. Samsung is aiming to double the number of AI-enabled devices to over 200 million by year-end.
The Galaxy Tab S10 Plus and Ultra are expected to follow the design cues of previous models, with minor changes. One significant update is the introduction of an anti-reflective display, first seen on the Galaxy S24 Ultra. This feature reduces glare, which is particularly helpful on large tablet screens like the 14.6-inch S10 Ultra.
Samsung’s displays continue to be among the best in the industry, known for their vibrant colors and sharpness. However, the design remains mostly unchanged from last year, with small tweaks that include dual rear cameras and the magnetic S Pen strip.
Handling the large Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra is quite challenging with one hand, which isn’t surprising given its 14.6-inch screen size. While it’s not ideal for single-hand use, the keyboard case is supposed to provide better usability.
However, this case brings mixed feelings, as its design doesn’t improve much over previous versions. Though it may be backward-compatible with the Tab S9 series, the keyboard case is still not optimal for lap use, leaving room for improvement.
One of the bigger surprises was Samsung’s decision to equip the Galaxy Tab S10 Plus and Ultra with the MediaTek Dimensity 9300 Plus chipset instead of Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 3.
This shift promises performance improvements, including an 18% boost in CPU, 28% better GPU performance, and 14% enhanced NPU performance. The inclusion of a larger vapor chamber aims to prevent overheating, although the real-world impact of these changes remains to be tested.
Samsung’s move away from Snapdragon chips in its flagship tablets is a notable shift, with all three of its newly announced devices featuring MediaTek processors.
This marks a significant change in the company’s strategy and could be driven by performance or cost considerations. Despite the new chipset, the overall user experience in Samsung DeX mode felt snappier, and this performance boost was noticeable during hands-on tests.
Samsung’s latest Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra represents the pinnacle of premium Android tablets. While the design hasn’t changed much, the focus has clearly shifted toward improving the software experience and expanding the use of Galaxy AI features.
By doing so, Samsung aims to offer more functionality for its users, differentiating itself from other tablets on the market, especially in its price bracket. Though the hardware may be refined, Samsung is pushing to enhance the user experience through innovative software and AI integrations.
The Galaxy Tab S10 Plus and S10 Ultra mark Samsung’s continued dominance in the Android tablet market. The shift to MediaTek processors and the focus on Galaxy AI suggest that Samsung is not just focusing on hardware but on creating a richer, more integrated software experience. This aligns with its strategy of building a comprehensive ecosystem, with a clear push to expand the use of AI features among its users.
