Samsung
Tablets

Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra review

It’s yuge

₹ 1,33,999

12GB RAM / 512GB storage, Wi-Fi + 5G

Samsung’s range of Android tablets have typically been good picks for those who prefer the platform, and it obviously helps if you’re in the Samsung ecosystem with products such as Galaxy Buds earphones and Galaxy Watch smartwatches as well. The brand also decided to go supersized to take on the Apple iPad Pro series, with the Ultra product lineup coming to the Galaxy Tab series. That’s exactly what I’m reviewing today - the top-of-the-line variant of the Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra.

Priced at Rs. 1,33,999 for the variant on review here, the Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra is massive, thanks to its 14.6-inch screen high-resolution Dynamic AMOLED 2X display. There’s a lot more to this big-screen tablet that justifies its premium credentials, which I’ll explore in detail in my review.

ALSO SEE: Apple iPad Air 13in (M2) review

Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra review: Design and display

Big-screen tablets have been around for a while now, but Samsung’s 14.6-inch display size is a fair bit larger than pretty much anything else you can buy right now, including the Apple iPad Pro which has a 13-inch screen. It’s very nearly the same size as the 15-inch screen of my laptop for that matter, and the two devices placed next to each other is an interesting sight.

The size isn’t all there is to the screen; it’s a pretty solid display as far as tablets go. It’s a Dynamic AMOLED 2X display with a resolution of 2960x1848 pixels, and you also get an impressive screen-to-body ratio of over 90 percent. There’s also a peak brightness of 930 nits, and a peak refresh rate of 120Hz. Suffice to say, it’s all rather high end for a tablet. Rather usefully, there’s also an effective anti-glare coating that improves visibility.

A big differentiator between tablets and laptops is the portability and ease of handling, and a tablet as big as the S10 Ultra is understandably a bit unwieldy. This isn’t your typical hand-held Android tablet, and you’ll find it a lot easier to use with a kick stand or holder, which will also let you set the viewing distance to something comfortable. Impressively, the Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra is IP68 rated for dust and water resistance, so you don’t need to worry too much about water exposure.

ALSO SEE: Apple iPad Pro 11 review

It’s worth considering this as a laptop replacement, for which you’ll also need to pick up the optional Cover Keyboard accessory. With this, you can store it and carry it like a laptop, as well as have a full-fledged physical keyboard to work with. 

The Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra is quite slim, which also keeps it light. Along the edges are the power and volume rockers, SIM slot (if you get the 5G variant), the accessory connector points, and the quad speaker system with a speaker grille near each of the four corners. There are also dual-camera setups at the front and back, and a magnetic attachment area for the included S Pen to latch on and charge. Watch out for the S Pen though - it can get knocked off the latch and misplaced if you aren’t careful.

Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra review: Specifications and software

Given the pricing and positioning of the Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra, you can expect top-end specifications as well, and the tablet delivers. The S10 Ultra is powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 9300+ chipset, which is a flagship-level SoC for Android devices. There is 12GB of RAM as a standard spec, and depending on the variant you buy, you get 256GB or 512GB of internal storage to go with it. 

There’s also the option of Wi-Fi only, or Wi-Fi and 5G connectivity depending on the variant. If you do get the cellular variant, you can notably use the Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra the same way as a smartphone for the most part, with either the built-in speakers and microphones or a Bluetooth headset for calls. Think of it as the most powerful desk phone ever, if you will.

All of this runs on Android 14, with Samsung’s OneUI 6.1 on top. The user interface is quite similar to what you get on Samsung smartphones, with most of the apps also in place. That said, there are some obvious tweaks meant to work with the massive screen, particularly in terms of where things go and how things appear in landscape mode. 

Of course, there are some useful software-based features meant to take advantage of the screen size, such as multi-window which lets you run two apps side-by-side. Additionally, apps such as settings open in a natural split view, displaying the main menu on one side and sub menus on the other.

Understandably, there are also in-built tools and apps meant to take advantage of the S Pen. Connecting the stylus to the tablet is as simple as attaching it to charge, and using it is as easy and bringing the point close to the display. Plenty of useful tools exist to make good use of the S Pen, including some that use AI to pull off nifty tricks like turning sketches into images, and the like.

ALSO SEE: Samsung Galaxy Z Flip6 review

Speaking of AI, the Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra comes with the full suite of Galaxy AI features, similar to what you’ll see on the S24 and Galaxy Z devices in 2024. Image and text generation features, as well as tools such as live translation and image editing with AI can come in particularly handy with the large display of the Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra.

Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra review: Performance and battery life

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra is a flagship product with ’S’ branding, and therefore checks all the boxes for performance from a high-end tablet. That said, it does work a fair bit differently to how Samsung’s flagship smartphones operate, favouring certain processes over others. It is, of course, a 5G-enabled device that will let you place and receive calls if you like, but that’s obviously not the point of this supersized tablet.

Instead, things are geared around making use of the massive display and S Pen to actually put it to creative and productive use. For my review, I tried a bunch of things including taking notes and sketching, as well as using the AI features to turn the stylus work into useful or creative productions. 

Drawing and AI generations were quick and largely on par with what you’d expect from a high-end device such as this, and general performance was smooth and quick for the most part. Things like multi-tasking and switching between different apps worked decently enough, thanks to plenty of RAM and a capable processor under the hood. It’s got enough power to get through most of what you need from a flagship tablet, although it’s still firmly positioned and functions like a large smartphone rather than similar to a compact and modular laptop.

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You’re likely to use the Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra in landscape orientation most of the time, and most Android apps are obviously made to work best in portrait mode. Some apps such as Amazon look strange all stretched out, while others such as Facebook forcibly change the orientation and force you to turn the tablet over to the right direction. 

Apps such as Youtube and Netflix worked just fine, and made good use of all the screen real estate to present the UI nicely, apart from obviously being able to display video content correctly. That brings me to what I found the Galaxy. Tab S10 Ultra best for - watching content. Whether it was catching up on F1 race highlights or watching episodes of shows on Netflix, the Tab S10 Ultra was an excellent big-screen companion. This came in handy while lying in bed, and also when at my work desk where I had it propped up on a stand to watch videos on low volume while at work.

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra has a massive 11200mAh battery, which is necessary to power that big screen over long usage periods. Depending on your usage, you can get up to 16 hours of continuous video playback time on a full charge. It also means you get decent standby time with relatively conservative use, and I was able to run it for over a week between charges while using it for only about an hour or two every day.

Charging uses the USB Type-C port, but since there’s no adapter included in the box, you’ll have to plug it into one of your existing power adapters. With the right adapter - 45W is the ideal spec - you should be able to get a full charge in a little over two hours, or even get to about 60 percent in an hour or so.

Verdict

Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra

A tablet with a screen to rival most laptops in size might not necessarily be something that everyone needs, but if it fits your use cases, then the Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra is quite possibly the best you can buy right now. It’s great for creativity and note-taking on the go, and can be used as a laptop replacement with the right accessories. 

While I found it ideal as a media device, you can use it for just about anything that is helped by having a big screen. It’s a big, powerful tablet that can do wonders, assuming you know what you’re doing with it. Of course, if you want something smaller, give the Galaxy Tab S10 or S10+ a look as well.

Stuff Says

This super-screen Android tablet is great for media and creativity
Good stuff
Bad stuff
  1. Massive display is sharp and detailed

  1. Good overall performance

  1. Long-lasting battery

  1. S Pen functionality is useful

  1. 5G connectivity, plenty of RAM and storage

  1. A bit unwieldy because of the size

  1. S Pen can get knocked off the magnetic latch too easily

Specifications
Display: 14.6-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2x
Display resolution: 2960x1848 (WQXGA+)
Chipset: MediaTek Dimensity 9300+
Rear cameras: 13MP + 8MP
Front cameras: 12MP + 12MP
RAM: 12GB
Storage: 256GB / 512GB
Connectivity: Wi-Fi only / Wi-Fi + 5G
Expandable storage: Yes (microSD, up to 1.5TB)
Battery: 11200mAh
Charging: USB Type-C
Weight: 718g