Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra Review 2024

When I visited Mexico earlier this month, I was surprised to learn that I could only bring one computing device with me or risk being hit with exorbitant taxes on a second one. This rule includes all laptops and tablets, so packing laptops and tablets can result in a tax of up to 20% of the price of the more expensive device. And sure, I’m a cheapskate. Rather than risk it, I decided it was the perfect time to try out the new Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra tablet as an all-in-one computing device. So I shoved it into my favorite bag and carried it with me on my trip for almost two weeks.

It’s a powerful tablet that can handle a lot, but during testing we found a few quirks that might give it pause. Read my Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra review to learn more about why this device is a great candidate for an all-in-one tablet, laptop, and note-taking device.

Perfect for:

• Powerful processor and Samsung DeX enable use as a productivity tablet
• Enjoy streaming content on a large, beautiful display

Skip if:

• No need for a bulky 14.6-inch tablet
• Looking for a casual, budget-friendly device that doesn’t require a lot of power

Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra: Design

Please choose the size according to your preference

The Samsung Tab S10 Ultra is a rugged device. All in, you get 14.6 inches of AMOLED display real estate. Much larger than the Apple iPad Pro 13 inches. This is great for anyone who needs a productive device. That’s because you’ll have more space to work with multiple tabs. Weighing only 1.6 pounds, it’s lighter than my Dell laptop’s 2.5 pounds, making it perfect for carrying in your backpack or your favorite carry-on (like my July carry-on).

It gets pretty heavy when you add all the accessories. The included keyboard case is convenient, but adds weight. And if you’re a traveler trying to use this on a plane, you might find this beast’s sheer size problematic. I tried to use this on a flight from New York to Mexico City, but felt like there wasn’t enough space in economy (premium economy and first class residents don’t have this problem). Viewers of casual content may find this offensive. While it has a larger, higher-resolution screen with a resolution of 1848 x 2960, it’s smaller and more compact than some of the best Android tablets, which may feel too bulky to carry around. punch.

Personally, as a professional who uses it for work as well as streaming and gaming, I didn’t care about its size, but others who want a smaller, more casual tablet should consider the tablet that Samsung released last year. You may want to consider another device that does this: the Samsung Galaxy. Tab S9 FE.

Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra: Performance

Simply incredible – with some twists

If you’re using this device for productivity, we have good news for you. It has an effect. Unique to Samsung tablets, the DeX experience transforms your device from a tablet to a laptop-like experience, complete with tabs that you can move around as your workflow demands. The keyboard case is also comfortable for typing, but don’t expect it to move around within the display. That’s what you see when you snap the tablet into place, but you can always opt for a separate keyboard or adjustable tablet stand, like the Logitech Keys-To-Go 2. And of course, when you combine the mouse and DeX, it almost feels like a laptop. It’s also important to note that if you have a Samsung mobile device, such as the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra or S24 Ultra, DeX will work with it. This is a huge advantage in my opinion.

During testing, I noticed that snapping the device into place changed the orientation from portrait to landscape, and not all apps adjusted to that orientation. Even when I surfed Reddit, I still had to watch it in landscape mode and didn’t want to open the app. By the end of my trip, the same experience happened on Facebook. I had no idea why it suddenly started automatically switching from portrait to landscape. I asked Samsung for clarification on the direction of the app, and after consulting with them, this is not a Samsung issue. That’s an app/developer issue.

Although it’s designed to increase productivity, we also tested it for streaming content. You’re getting old It’s always sunny in Philadelphia and abbott elementary school Episodes look clear and crisp. The audio also sounded great since I’m using a tablet. It lasts several hours on a single charge, but I noticed that the battery life decreased when streaming. So if you plan on watching your favorite shows for hours on end, make sure you have a power cable handy.

Galaxy AI comes to your keyboard

The new Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra also comes with a dedicated Galaxy AI key. Pressing it will open two different options: Samsung Bixby and Google Gemini. If you already have the app open, a side tab will open where you can interact with Gemini. I tested it several times via email and asked Gemini to create some test messages for me. You can type, talk, and share photos.

Having a dedicated button is useful because it streamlines your workflow. Especially when I was browsing the Mexico City site and had a question, I was able to find an answer to my question or learn about the topic right away.

What you can’t do at the moment, though, is upload downloaded photos to Gemini while using this button. (You can use the rear camera to take pictures, which can be helpful if you want to know about something in a pinch.) This isn’t the end of the world. That’s Circle To Search, implemented on this new tablet. However, this shows that AI is still growing and can grow with the needs of users.

Take your writing to the next level

There is one more feature worth mentioning. Samsung Notes. I always carry a digital notebook with me. My main device is the reMarkable Paper Pro tablet. I especially like the E Ink tablet because it doesn’t cause any distractions. I was worried about Mexico’s rules, so I left the device at home while traveling and used the Samsung Notes app with the pen that came with the Tab S10 Ultra. The pen needs charging, but I’m not interested in a good writing experience. It writes smoothly and is so comfortable that you don’t need an additional pencil grip. This is a huge deal for me personally as I have added these pens to every pen that came with my digital writing tablet in the past due to my hypermobility issues.

But at the same time, I’m conflicted. Size gets in the way here. When I held the tablet in my hand and scribbled, it felt a little too big. A large part of that comes from the display, and with the Sketch To Image and Circle To Search integrations, we feel it’s important to have additional viewing space. Having enough space to finish creating something can make the difference between running out of space and getting frustrated. That’s a difficult decision. Ultimately it comes down to your specific needs here.

Both methods provide a seamless experience thanks to cloud storage. I was able to start a note on the S10 Ultra and continue it on my phone while running around Mexico City. When I got back to my boarding house, Samsung Notes synced my doodles back to my tablet so I could continue working from there. I found this to be really useful and had a positive impact on my tablet and Samsung software.

Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra: Verdict

The most powerful Android tablet on the market

Right now, the Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 feels like the best Android tablet on the market. Yes, it’s big, but it has a lot of processors and multitasking ability. It’s the closest tablet to a laptop out there right now, and if you’re looking for raw power and workspace, it’s worth buying for about $1,200.

However, if you’re looking for a casual tablet for simple streaming, you might be better off looking elsewhere as it can be overkill. Personally, as a technical editor who needs an all-in-one travel device, I’ll happily continue to pack this device in my carry-on.

How we tested the Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra

Thanks to Mexico’s “one computing device” policy, I used this device as an all-in-one for two weeks. It has been working as my laptop, tablet, and digital notebook all this time, so I gave it a try. I wrote emails in Microsoft Outlook and Gmail, wrote stories in Google Docs, and took notes using Samsung Notes on my Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra and tablet. We checked out a variety of apps including Facebook, Reddit, and more, and tested the integration with both Samsung Bixby and Google Gemini with the keyboard case’s dedicated AI keys.

Additionally, after many long days, I tested Hulu and Max streaming. We also conducted cross-testing with mobile games. stardew valley and terraria on your device. We checked the battery life with streaming playback to see how long it could last on a single charge.

my expertise

I’ve been the consumer technology and electronics editor at Forbes Vetted for over five years. In addition to working on home entertainment, including testing the best gaming TVs, we’ve tested most of the latest smart wearables on the market today, from Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses to Apollo wearables.

I’ve spent a lot of time testing the latest mobile devices. I delved deep into the Apple ecosystem with the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro, and reviewed many Android devices such as the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6, Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra, and Google Pixel 8.

My time testing mobile devices focuses on everyone from casual users who want a simple phone to take calls to avid gamers who want a full-fledged device to play their favorite games. I am. In this article, we focused on testing the device as a replacement for a typical laptop, but we also checked out the new Galaxy AI button implemented on the keyboard case.