Why you’ll be able to belief Android Central
Our professional reviewers spend hours testing and evaluating services so you’ll be able to select the perfect for you. Discover out extra about how we check.
Very similar to its flagship slab telephones, Samsung has been having fun with a cushty cushion on the planet of Android tablets. Nonetheless, that cushion may be beginning to put on skinny, leaving us to wonder if the Galaxy Tab S10 Extremely continues to be the perfect that cash can purchase.
Samsung made a few shocking selections with its flagship pill lineup, of which just one actually impacts the Galaxy Tab S10 Extremely. Dropping Qualcomm in favor of MediaTek was a daring alternative, however apart from that, it would appear like there’s probably not a lot of a distinction when in comparison with its predecessor. So let’s dive in and see whether or not that is the case or if there’s some type of hidden magic.
Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 Extremely: Value and availability
The Galaxy Tab S10 Extremely was introduced in September 2024 alongside the Galaxy Tab S10 Plus, S24 FE, and Galaxy Watch FE. It is out there in three totally different configurations, beginning with 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage, with a retail value of $1,199.99. The 12GB/512GB mannequin is available in at $1,319.99, whereas the 16GB/1TB variant will set you again $1,619.99.
Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 Extremely: Specs
|
Class |
Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 Extremely |
|---|---|
|
Show |
14.6-inch AMOLED, 2960 x 1848 120Hz, 500 nits, 16:10 |
|
Processor |
MediaTek Dimensity 9300 Plus |
|
Reminiscence |
12GB / 16GB |
|
Storage |
256GB / 512GB / 1TB (expandable by way of microSD) |
|
Entrance Cameras |
12MP (broad) + 12MP (ultrawide) |
|
Rear Cameras |
13MP (broad) + 8MP (ultrawide) |
|
Battery |
11,200mAh w/ 45W Quick Charging |
|
Connectivity |
Wi-Fi 7 / Bluetooth 5.3 |
|
Audio |
Quad AKG-tuned audio system |
|
Safety |
Optical Fingerprint scanner under-display |
|
Dimensions |
326.4 x 208.6 x 5.4mm |
|
Weight |
718 grams |
|
Working System |
One UI w/ Android 14 |
Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 Extremely: What I like
It doesn’t matter what your emotions are relating to utilizing Android tablets, typically it is best when an organization acknowledges that it would not must make any drastic design adjustments. That is precisely what Samsung has finished with the Tab S10 Extremely, because it looks as if we simply have up to date internals packed inside the identical shell from the Tab S9 Extremely.
Meaning in the event you’re upgrading from the earlier model, you will not need to shell out a bunch of additional money for brand new circumstances or equipment. This was one thing that drove me completely mad when Samsung went from the Tab S8 Extremely to the Tab S9 Extremely. Fortunately, it is not a problem this time round.
Externally, actually, every thing stays the identical, except for the colours on the Tab S10 Extremely. The 14.6-inch AMOLED show is as stunning as ever, making it good for getting work finished, enjoying video games, or propping it as much as watch a film.
Oh yeah, and the S Pen continues to be included within the field, which was to be anticipated however continues to be welcome.
The very best half is that the probabilities of what you are able to do with the Tab S10 Extremely are virtually infinite. I’ve used it as an exterior monitor for each my desktop and gaming handheld, a wise dwelling dashboard, a digital pocket book, and extra. In reality, I am penning this on the Tab S10 Extremely utilizing Samsung DeX, which is linked wirelessly to my 49-inch Samsung OLED ultrawide monitor.
It is a bit odd, certain, particularly as a result of the large 14.6-inch show is presently doubling as a large touchpad. That is as a result of this type of simply occurred on a whim, and the Extremely is linked to Samsung’s E book Cowl Keyboard Slim (the one and not using a built-in trackpad.) In fact, connecting a mouse would make extra sense, however I type of like how I can simply attain up and have the world’s greatest touchpad.
To rapidly recap, the Tab S10 Extremely is principally the Tab S9 Extremely that will get one further 12 months of updates. Effectively, not precisely. In a transfer that also surprises me, Samsung went with the MediaTek Dimensity 9300 Plus as an alternative of the Snapdragon 8 Elite and even the 8 Gen 3.
However to be fairly sincere, apart from one very particular area of interest, you would not understand it. And that is a very good factor as a result of if that weren’t the case, Samsung would have a lot larger issues on its palms.
So why would Samsung transfer away from Qualcomm in favor of MediaTek? That is proper, you guessed it — AI. The Galaxy Tab S10 Plus and S10 Extremely are being touted as the corporate’s “first tablets purpose-built for AI.” However earlier than getting too forward of ourselves right here, let’s have a look at how the Dimensity 9300 Plus compares to the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 from the Tab S9 Extremely:
|
Take a look at |
Galaxy Tab S10 Extremely |
Galaxy Tab S9 Extremely |
|---|---|---|
|
Geekbench 6 (single-core) |
2021 |
2075 |
|
Geekbench 6 (multi-core) |
6855 |
5505 |
|
Geekbench AI (Quantized rating) |
2859 |
1672 |
Whereas single-core scores match up with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, the Dimensity 9300 Plus destroys its competitor in multi-core Geekbench AI. Which simply so occurred to be the 2 key areas of focus when Samsung launched the Tab S10 Extremely.
Nonetheless, I might go as far as to say that you just would not discover a distinction in the event you had been requested to make use of both of those in some kind of “blind check.” On the one hand, that is nice, as it will be a really totally different story if Samsung’s flagship pill ended up performing worse. On the opposite, you would possibly’ve hoped to see extra of a soar within the single-core efficiency.
Particularly in the event you occur to see what the Snapdragon 8 Elite can do within the Galaxy S25 with its 3,025 single-core rating and 9,640 multi-core rating. Thoughts you, that is for a telephone that prices $400 lower than the bottom mannequin Galaxy Tab S10 Extremely. Moreover, the 8 Elite launched after the Tab S10, so it is sensible we did not see it right here.
However, there’s virtually nothing to actually complain about relating to efficiency. You may nonetheless take pleasure in Samsung’s suite of Galaxy AI options, paired fairly properly with Google Gemini. So, I can solely hope that Samsung has left sufficient overhead for some other potential AI options that we’ll see within the years to come back.
Oh, and keep in mind how I mentioned that Samsung basically saved the design the identical because the Tab S9 Extremely? That additionally goes for the microSD card slot, which is a welcome inclusion on any machine, not to mention one that may function a gaming and media playback behemoth.
Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 Extremely: What I do not like
Large displays and trackpads apart, my Tab S10 Extremely often resides in DeX mode. I do not actually have a lot purpose to ever return to “common” Android as a result of it is all icky and annoying there. Effectively, a minimum of for tablets of this measurement.
With Google lastly engaged on a correct desktop mode for Pixel gadgets, it solely additional drives the purpose dwelling that sure Samsung tablets ought to default to DeX mode out of the field. And if would not wish to do it for each pill, the Tab S Extremely needs to be the primary.
The standard Android expertise nonetheless would not work properly on tablets and even foldable telephones. App scaling is bizarre; apps do not play good when going past the confines of a slender rectangle, and typically even the interface simply appears to be like odd. DeX solves most of these issues with somewhat assist from One UI.
It makes whole sense for Samsung to only embrace the thought of the Tab S Extremely offering a Microsoft Floor expertise, powered by One UI and Android. Nonetheless, this leads me to a different challenge that I hoped it will clear up however has but to take action.
Samsung must “borrow” Apple’s iPad Professional Magic Keyboard design.
I applaud the corporate for making it so you need to use the Tab S9 Extremely circumstances with the newer mannequin. Technically, there are two “new” keyboard circumstances that launched alongside the Tab S10 Extremely. However the one actual distinction is the addition of the Galaxy AI key subsequent to the arrow keys.
Sadly, you may have a pill that may double as a laptop computer, nevertheless it’s arguably one of the uncomfortable “laptops” that you will ever use. With the E book Cowl Keyboard, every thing works high quality, however attempt utilizing it along with your Tab S10 Extremely in your lap, and you will instantly wish to pull out your hair.
The E book Cowl Keyboard Slim is barely higher, as it is a bit extra inflexible than its counterpart. Nonetheless, you miss out on the trackpad, which is okay in some cases however is not the best expertise for everybody.
Each time I get a brand new Android machine, whether or not it is a telephone, pill, or gaming handheld, the very first thing I attempt to do is see how properly it may deal with emulation. Most fashionable gadgets can deal with as much as PS2 video games pretty simply. The actual check is seeing how properly Change emulation performs.
That is the place my first annoyance in regards to the transfer to MediaTek got here to thoughts once I heard the rumors. Graphics drivers for MediaTek gadgets are… properly… they simply do not fairly stack as much as Qualcomm. They will simply deal with programs with mature emulators, however when you begin moving into Change and Home windows emulation, it is a completely totally different story.
I will not bore you with the small print, however principally, Qualcomm gadgets enable for the usage of {custom} driver assist and Vulkan extensions. For those who ever hear about “Turnip” drivers, these are custom-compiled drivers which are utilized in quite a lot of emulators, together with Change, 3DS, PS Vita, and others.
These drivers can supply improved compatibility together with elevated efficiency, which sounds nice! Till you study that you just will not be capable of use these {custom} drivers with MediaTek’s Mali drivers. This in the end implies that in the event you attempt to emulate considered one of your favourite Change video games solely to see that it will get between 10-15fps, you are merely out of luck.
There’s yet another factor in regards to the Tab S10 Extremely that continues to bug me. For no matter purpose, Samsung’s “Extremely” pill is not out there with a mobile connection. This has bugged me for the previous couple of iterations, however after studying that these in Europe can select between having Wi-Fi or mobile, I used to be hopeful that the S10 Extremely may be a deviation from that sample.
Certain, it is not an issue with the Galaxy S10 Plus, so in the event you really need cellular connectivity, that is nonetheless an choice. However what about these of us preferring the bigger show? Particularly contemplating that the S10 Extremely is actually a super-sized and Android-powered Floor Professional.
I perceive that it will solely make this already-expensive machine price much more. However on the identical time, I do not perceive Samsung’s rationale relating to limiting or holding options from its “Extremely” gadgets.
Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 Extremely: The competitors
For the primary time in just a few years, I really feel like there’s some actual competitors within the higher-end Android pill area. Whereas nothing else can actually match up when it comes to the show, there at the moment are choices that may sustain with Samsung’s flagship tablets.
The OnePlus Pad 2 is the primary that involves thoughts, merely due to how a lot of an enchancment it’s over the earlier mannequin. We have now the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, a stunning 3K LCD panel (which is nice for PWM), and Open Canvas presents a unique tackle multitasking. Plus, even in the event you determine to select up the Stylo 2 and Sensible Keyboard, it’ll nonetheless price you lower than the Tab S10 Extremely.
It is a related story, a minimum of on paper, with the Lenovo Yoga Tab Plus. This was introduced at CES 2025 and has flown beneath the radar a bit, however possibly that can quickly change. Lenovo, too, opted towards going with the Snapdragon 8 Elite however as an alternative depends on the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3. You may additionally take pleasure in a 12.7-inch 3K show with a 144Hz refresh charge and 16GB of RAM. Lenovo consists of each a stylus and a removable keyboard within the field.
Final however actually not least is the massive elephant within the room, Apple’s iPad Professional. It has every thing you can need from a laptop computer alternative — an enormous and vibrant display screen, a wonderful keyboard, and you’ll even get mobile in order for you. Nonetheless, the most important caveat is that it is working iPadOS, and whereas that may be nice for some, I nonetheless want Apple would give us macOS on this {hardware}.
Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 Extremely: Must you purchase it?
You should purchase this if…
- You need the most important pill that cash can purchase
- You need a pill that may change your laptop computer
- You are already entrenched within the Samsung ecosystem
You should not purchase this if…
- You are on a price range
- You need a pill with mobile connectivity
- You do not want a display screen this large
- You wish to take pleasure in retro emulation and wish the perfect compatibility
- You have already got the Galaxy Tab S9 Extremely
Frankly, the Galaxy Tab S10 Extremely is not for everybody. That assertion can be true even when we had the Snapdragon 8 Elite or 8 Gen 3 over the Dimensity 9300+. It is cumbersome to make use of as a standard pill, though the 14.6-inch show is ideal for media consumption and enjoying video games.
For those who had been to ask me for a advice, I would most likely let you know to only get the Galaxy Tab S10 Plus. With the additional cash saved, you can spring for extra storage or seize one with mobile connectivity. Nonetheless, even that opens one other can of worms whenever you go searching at competing tablets with a similarly-sized display screen.
That being mentioned, there is a purpose we selected this because the greatest pill of 2024. There’s nothing fairly like having a tool of this measurement powered by Android. For those who do determine to select up the Galaxy Tab S10 Extremely, I extremely advocate enabling DeX as quickly as you get every thing arrange. It simply makes extra sense than being confined to the standard Android UI.
Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 Extremely
Samsung packed the Galaxy Tab S10 Extremely to the gills with as many options because it may, with out altering the design only for the sake of it. However we’re not totally certain about how properly this behemoth of a pill will fare with MediaTek working the ship as an alternative of Qualcomm.
