Samsung Galaxy S10+ Review: Stellar by Necessity

Worth When Reviewed

From $999.99

Finest Costs At this time: Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 Plus

$849.99

Samsung has switched to a two-tablet lineup for its 2024 Galaxy Tab S collection.

There is no such thing as a compact Tab S10 this technology, leaving us with the headline-grabbing Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 Extremely and the extra conservative Samsung Galaxy Tab S10+. But it surely’s the Plus that I feel is the smarter purchase.

Each Tab S10 entries include an analogous gamut of upgrades this technology, led by the swap to a brand new top-tier MediaTek chip, rather than the road’s long-standing reliance on Qualcomm’s high-end Snapdragon silicon (a lot to the chagrin of vocal Samsung followers on-line).

Each boast new anti-reflective shows and these are the primary Samsung slates to characteristic the corporate’s suite of Galaxy AI options, proper out of the field.

Regardless of not being the most important hitter within the lineup, the Galaxy Tab S10+ isn’t any slouch. It’s only a matter of discerning whether or not it’s ok to justify that substantial £999/$999.99 price ticket. Particularly with renewed strain from rival Android pill makers, like Honor and OnePlus, to not point out the ever-present risk of Apple’s iPads.

Design & Equipment

• Moonstone Gray and Platinum Silver colourways
• 5.6mm thick, from 571g
• Included S-Pen + optionally available keyboard covers

Like its bigger sibling, there’s no getting round the truth that the Tab S10+ sports activities a near-identical design to its predecessor, the Samsung Galaxy Tab S9+. That being stated, “if it ain’t broke…”.

The Tab S9+ was a great-looking premium metal-bodied slate, and the S10+ may be very a lot the identical. It’s a fraction thinner (by 0.1mm) and 10g lighter.

The one visible indicators that set the 2 aside are a brand new, vibrant accent round every of the rear cameras (simply as was added to the Galaxy Z Flip 6, earlier within the 12 months) and two new colourways (pictured right here in Platinum Silver).

Foundry | Alex Walker-Todd

As for mobility, as spectacular because the Tab S10 Extremely is, it’s undeniably unwieldy, particularly for those who’re after a Samsung pill that’s simple to take with you.

By leaping from a 14.6 right down to a 12.4-inch show (together with the apparent weight discount), the Tab S10+ is infinitely extra moveable and simpler to make use of one-handed for extended durations.

Aesthetically, I want Samsung had hidden extra of the antenna strains that break up the pill’s again, and virtually, whereas the inclusion of the S Pen stylus in-box is appreciated, its attachment to the again of the Tab S line has by no means sat proper with me.

For one, whereas having the ability to cost the S Pen both approach round is handy, the charging space itself is a bit ugly. You may also stow the S Pen alongside the tab’s prime edge, making it extra accessible, nonetheless, it doesn’t cost on this place. I assume that the sting is simply too slender to permit for Apple Pencil-style side-mounted charging, however that’s a change I’d welcome, even when it made the subsequent Tab S line a bit thicker.

Foundry | Alex Walker-Todd

The Armor Aluminium that makes up the Tab S10+’s chassis can also be supposedly 10% stronger (in comparison with the Tab S9 line), in keeping with Samsung, whereas IP68-certified safety in opposition to mud and water is a part of the equation too. In use, I’ve but to see any beauty harm to the metalwork (or show), regardless of the pill getting used case-free for weeks.

Talking of instances, whereas you should use the final technology of first-party safety, Samsung’s new keyboard covers add a devoted AI button, for immediate entry to the pill’s hottest characteristic set; they don’t come low cost, nonetheless. The trackpad-toting ‘AI E book Cowl Keyboard’ provides an extra £230/$230 to what’s already an expensive pill; immediately encroaching on the very best laptops, for these after a noteworthy moveable productiveness gadget.

Display & Audio system

• 12.4-inch 1752 x 2800 120Hz AMOLED show
• New anti-reflective show coating
• Quad stereo audio system

Regardless of a drop in decision in comparison with the Tab S10 Extremely, it isn’t proportional to their dimension distinction, that means you continue to get a sharper viewing expertise from the smaller Tab S10+.

12.4-inches is probably not as moveable because the smaller show served up by the earlier technology’s 11-inch Galaxy Tab S9 (which, as a reminder, didn’t get a direct successor this 12 months), nevertheless it’s extra useful throughout productiveness, media and gaming, whereas nonetheless having loads of room for many content material.

Foundry | Alex Walker-Todd

The 16:10 facet ratio that Samsung’s used for a couple of years now’s unquestionably higher suited to the latter two actions simply talked about, however that vibrant OLED panel additionally serves up crisp textual content, making it splendid for composing emails or in any other case getting work finished.

As talked about in my preliminary encounter with the Tab S10 line, one in every of my favorite generational upgrades is the adoption of a brand new anti-reflective coating, as first seen on the Galaxy S24 Extremely.

It’s maybe much more important for legibility on the S10+, whose peak brightness falls in need of the Tab S10 Extremely‘s spectacular 930-nit ceiling by a considerable margin. That stated, 650 nits does outshine the newest 2024 iPad Air (13-inch), even when solely by a hair.

Foundry | Alex Walker-Todd

That new coating helps diffuse hard-point lights and is much less prone to fingerprints than a shiny show, however regardless of claims of sub-2% reflectivity, based mostly on real-world use, the corporate may go additional; I’m speaking MacBook Professional nano-texture levels of diffusion subsequent time, Samsung.

When you get uniform bezels across the S10+’s show, they aren’t as razor-thin as these on the Extremely, which has to resort to a notch to make room for its front-facing cameras. The flip aspect is that you’ve more room to grip the S10+ by comparability, reinforcing its position because the extra moveable entry within the lineup.

Foundry | Alex Walker-Todd

Past an in any other case glorious HDR viewing expertise, Samsung additionally continues its streak of delivering nice pill audio with the Tab S10+. Quad audio system, every with devoted grilles alongside both edge, supply robust stereo separation, a pleasingly vast sound stage and minimal distortion; even at increased quantity ranges.

It’s a stellar setup for headphones-free audio outpacing the likes of the OnePlus Pad 2, and falling in need of the Honor MagicPad 2, if just for the latter’s marginally fuller sound.

Specs & Efficiency

• MediaTek Dimensity 9300+ chipset
• 12GB RAM
• 256GB / 512GB storage (microSD expandable)

Though not everybody will agree, I just like the Dimensity 9300+ chipset at work contained in the Tab S10 collection. Samsung, greater than most, has developed a contentious relationship with choose followers on the subject of which chips it places in its units, however right here I feel it’s made a great name.

Earlier Galaxy S flagships, for instance, have launched with Samsung’s personal Exynos silicon in some areas and superior-performing Qualcomm-made Snapdragon SoCs in others, drawing the ire of followers in Exynos-first markets, who felt like they had been being offered an inferior model of the identical product.

Foundry | Alex Walker-Todd

Within the case of the Tab S10 collection, the circumstances are a bit completely different, in that each tablets run on MediaTek’s Dimensity 9300+ wherever you might be on this planet, however the departure from Qualcomm’s {hardware} continues to be what’s ruffling a couple of followers’ feathers.

Snapdragon chips have been current in members of the Galaxy Tab S collection way back to 2015’s Tab S 2.0 and MediaTek has lengthy been perceived as a chipmaker that delivers weaker choices, in comparison with silicon behemoth Qualcomm.

Whereas that will have as soon as been true, MediaTek’s {hardware} has improved dramatically in recent times, with extra aggressive silicon nearer to, or on par with, equal Snapdragon chips. Within the case of the 4nm Dimensity 9300+ contained in the Tab S10 collection, that’s precisely what we’ve acquired.

Samsung Galaxy Tab S10+ benchmarks

Even with a decrease reminiscence ceiling in comparison with the Extremely (12GB, somewhat than 16GB of RAM), in benchmarking exams, the S10+ outshines its bigger sibling, together with different notable rivals – like OnePlus’ Snapdragon 8 Gen 3-powered Pad 2 – throughout each CPU and graphical efficiency exams.

Having already examined the identical chip inside Xiaomi’s 14T Professional not way back, my foremost concern wasn’t ever actually efficiency however thermal administration.

Fortunately Samsung seems to have thought-about that too, utilizing the capacious type of the S10+ to make sure that even prolonged gaming periods don’t end in a degraded gameplay expertise. To not point out touch-screen controls are a bit extra manageable in comparison with their placement on the Extremely’s expansive canvas.

Foundry | Alex Walker-Todd

For context, Samsung states that the 9300+ affords 18% higher CPU efficiency, 28% higher graphical efficiency and 14% higher NPU (the chipset centered on AI duties) efficiency, in comparison with the Qualcomm-made Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 that powered the Tab S9 collection.

Examine that to the 8 Gen 3, which (versus the 8 Gen 2) reportedly guarantees a 20% CPU enchancment, 25% GPU efficiency enhance and 40% larger NPU effectivity, and relying on what you search for most in a pill, this swap in silicon doesn’t seem to have negatively impacted upwards curve of the Tab S line’s generational efficiency enhancements.

Foundry | Alex Walker-Todd

It’s maybe odd that, with AI being such a key aspect of what the Tab S10 collection brings to the desk, Samsung didn’t go for the 8 Gen 3’s extra sizeable on-paper NPU enhancements, in comparison with the 9300+’s. Nonetheless, based mostly on real-world utilization, there’s little to fault with the all-around output equipped by the chip contained in the Tab S10+; it feels outfitted to ship for years to come back.

One other tip of the hat additionally has to go to the inclusion of expandable storage (by way of Micro-SD) on the Tab S10 collection. A rarity in 2024, even amongst tablets, meaning you possibly can push previous the slate’s – admittedly beneficiant – 512GB ceiling if wanted, by as much as an extra 1.5TB.

Cameras

• 13Mp f/2.0 foremost + 8Mp f/2.2 ultrawide
• 12Mp 120° ultrawide front-facer
• As much as 4K video recording entrance & again

Whereas I’m without end reticent to talk on pill cameras when those on the telephone in your pocket are nearly actually leagues higher, there’s a time and a spot for snappers on a slate, and the Tab S10+ has a useful trio to work with.

As alluded to earlier, in contrast to the twin front-facing sensor setup on the Extremely, the Plus’ prime bezel performs host to a single digital camera, ditching the narrower 12Mp vast unit however retaining the 12Mp ultrawide.

It’s the extra helpful of the 2 sensors anyway, with pill front-camera utilization favouring video calls and the like. By conserving the 120° ultrawide, you’ve acquired extra room to suit extra folks in-frame and when not wanted, the UI defaults to a cropped-in perspective anyway.

When capturing front-facing video, there’s additionally a helpful auto-framing characteristic (much like Centre Stage on the iPad), which mechanically crops out and in of body to maintain your face as centred as attainable.

On the again, you’re met with the identical duo of 13Mp and 8Mp vast and ultrawide cameras as on the Tab S10 Extremely, which do a reliable job however once more, fall quick compared to the standard you’ll get out of your smartphone.

Throughout the board, post-processing is clearly doing plenty of heavy lifting, and even then, it isn’t competent sufficient to cover the pill’s sensor’s slender dynamic vary and underwhelming low mild efficiency (evident by a scarcity of element and apparent noise in photographs).

Even with the middling sensors at work, Samsung does no less than throw in as much as 4K decision video seize throughout the board (though admittedly capped at 30fps). Guide controls, portrait nonetheless and video seize, image-to-text and machine imaginative and prescient instruments (courtesy of the corporate’s long-standing Bixby Imaginative and prescient tech), and some different modes permit for a level of creativity too.

Battery Life & Charging

• 10,090mAh battery
• 45W quick charging
• No charger within the field

Sometimes, tablets are topic to extra sporadic and different use than your smartphone, making pinning down battery longevity that little bit trickier. With the identical show dimension and backbone, and battery capability as its predecessor, it falls to that new chipset and optimisations inside Samsung’s One UI consumer expertise to eke out extra life per cost.

One UI’s energy administration takes no less than a few weeks to be taught patterns and tailor an influence profile accordingly. As such, longevity has improved throughout use to hover at round 7.5 hours of screen-on time per cost, which falls according to experiences from different S10+ customers out on this planet.

To make it a bit extra quantifiable, an hour of Netflix at 50% brightness sapped 8% cost from the Tab S10+’s 10,090mAh battery, whereas PCMark’s Battery 3.0 benchmark (with the show calibrated to 200nits brightness) lasted 6 hours, 42 minutes.

Foundry | Alex Walker-Todd

As for charging, the svelte field that the Tab S10+ is available in doesn’t go away room for an influence adapter, however for those who’re prepared to fork out further for one, you possibly can refill the slate’s battery at a price of as much as 45W, which in testing reached 50% cost after simply over an hour (1:04), and a full 100% after 2 hours, 10 minutes.

By comparability, the bigger Tab S10 Extremely (which sports activities a 11,200mAh battery) delivered marginally higher longevity, at about 7 to eight hours of screen-on time per cost, and a extra spectacular 8 hours 28 in the identical Battery 3.0 benchmark.

Rival tablets, just like the OnePlus Pad 2, will final you a good chunk longer nonetheless and cost sooner too; so Samsung has clear room for enchancment right here.

Software program & Apps

• One UI 6.1, operating atop Android 14
• First pill w/ Galaxy AI out-the-box
• 7 years of OS & safety updates

For those who’ve used a Samsung telephone or pill in recent times, the corporate’s Android-based One UI expertise ought to really feel instantly acquainted. It’s a heavy pores and skin that makes some distinctly completely different choices to inventory Android, by way of how issues look and behave, nevertheless it’s clear and constant; making navigation and interplay fairly painless, when you’ve acquired your head round the place the whole lot is.

Samsung has finished a greater job of adapting Android to a pill type issue for a lot longer and way more successfully than Google has, and it’s impressed lots of the slates which have since risen up in direct competitors.

Foundry | Alex Walker-Todd

Its clout has additionally led to some key partnerships; chosen as soon as iPad-only apps have made their strategy to the corporate’s Galaxy Tabs first, forward of wider Android availability.

Whereas the corporate didn’t point out any new additions to coincide with the Tab S10 collection’ launch, earlier entries, resembling Clip Studio, Goodnotes and LumaFusion, are made available from the S10’s app drawer.

With the ability to save pairs (or trios) of apps is an effective way to shortly enter again into helpful multitasking configurations and Samsung DeX is current and proper too.

You may swap between a basic and revamped variant of the corporate’s desktop-like consumer expertise, each of which mechanically open apps up in windowed mode, somewhat than full display; extra carefully mirroring behaviours you’re probably used to seeing on Home windows, macOS and the like.

Higher nonetheless, versus a three-app split-screen restrict, DeX allows you to maintain as much as 15 windowed apps on display directly, and the Tab S10+ was greater than as much as the problem on this entrance, throughout testing; with no apparent stutters or indicators of slow-down.

The true improve to the One UI expertise on this technology of Galaxy Tab S slates is Galaxy AI, which debuted on the Galaxy S24 line at the beginning of the 12 months. Whereas rivals like Apple, Google, Oppo, OnePlus, Xiaomi and Asus have all proven off comparable AI-based performance, Samsung seems to be among the many most aggressive within the area, proper now; that means units just like the Tab S10+ are prone to profit from a fast enchancment and enlargement as the corporate seems to be to take set up a lead within the area, shortly.

Foundry | Alex Walker-Todd

Options like Chat Help and Observe Help serve to wash up and even rewrite your authentic copy extra succinctly or in a unique tone, whereas Picture Help allows you to modify photos to take away undesirable parts or generate fully new ones; based mostly on a sketch. Generally, processing takes seconds and the outcomes ship with shocking high quality and consistency, granting the Tab S10+ one of many higher AI characteristic units presently accessible.

Not everybody will gel with generative AI instruments, particularly the image-based ones, however there’s no denying that their addition will save folks time and all customers to create content material they in any other case wouldn’t be capable to.

One different massive worth facet connected to the Tab S10 line is its software program promise, with Samsung granting each the Tab S10+ and S10 Extremely the identical dedication to 7 years of updates as its Galaxy S24 collection, trumping the earlier Tab S9 line, which tops out at a (nonetheless respectable) 5 years.

Worth & Availability

The Galaxy Tab S10 collection launched on 3 October 2024. Within the UK, the Tab S10+ is obtainable from Samsung immediately, in addition to widespread third-party retailers, resembling Amazon UK, Currys, Argos and John Lewis.

US Galaxy Tab S10+ retailers embody Samsung itself, alongside Amazon and Finest Purchase.

At a beginning £999 / $999.99, the Tab S10+ is likely one of the priciest Android tablets available on the market, proper now, clocking in at £200 / $200 dearer than its most sought-after rival, the 13-inch 2024 iPad Air. Together with the OLED show and included stylus, one massive benefit Samsung’s pill lords over Apple’s is user-expandable storage, whereas the lengthy software program help improves its worth proposition too.

A base mannequin Tab S10+ comes with WiFi connectivity and 256GB of storage, however there’s additionally a 512GB variant, that prices £1,099 / $1,119.99, whereas including 5G mobile connectivity to both storage choice provides an extra £150.

You may decide up a 5G-capable 256GB Tab S10+ within the US for an extra $150 however there’s no mobile variant of the bigger 512GB storage mannequin for some motive.

Try our information to the very best tablets you should purchase for extra choices.

Do you have to purchase the Samsung Galaxy Tab S10+?

Samsung continues to be chargeable for a number of the market’s most compelling Android tablets round. Within the case of the Tab S10+, on prime of the ever-present in-box S Pen and Samsung’s penchant for highly effective silicon and beautiful OLED shows, additions like Galaxy AI guarantee its relevance now, whereas that spectacular 7 years of replace help make it an honest long-term pill purchase too.

The caveat is that, whereas it was as soon as a two-horse race between Apple and Samsung, rivals on the Android aspect of the fence have now began producing way more succesful competitors than they ever used to. For people who don’t want a stylus in-box or don’t plan on conserving their pill for so long as Samsung is now supporting, there are a number of higher worth options that meet or beat the likes of the Tab S10+ in a single space or one other, for much less.

If it’s a easy determination between the 2 choices that make up the Galaxy Tab S10 collection, the S10+ is the smarter purchase, in that it excels at all the issues a great pill ought to, together with portability, one thing the Tab S10 Extremely struggles to ship on.

And if you’d like a near-identical characteristic set for much less, 2023’s Tab S9 collection affords rather less energy and comes with quick replace help, however in any other case affords the identical Samsung pill expertise while benefiting from a 12 months’s value of worth reductions (there’s additionally the smaller Tab S9 to select from too).

Specs

• MediaTek Dimensity 9300+
• 12GB RAM
• 256GB / 512GB (microSD expandable)
• 12.4-inch AMOLED show
• 1752×2800 decision, 650nits peak brightness
• 120Hz dynamic refresh price
• 10090mAh battery
• 45W quick charging (no charger included)
• 12Mp front-facing digital camera
• Rear 13Mp foremost digital camera + 8Mp ultrawide
• Quad stereo audio system
• 285.4 x 185.4 x 5.6mm
• 571g (pill solely)