I ’ve been using the Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 FE tablet as my primary medium tablet for the last week or so , and it ’s fourth dimension for me to share everything I like about it , along with the few unsatisfying aspects . Before we start , it ’s important to understand this is n’t a laptop replacement or a eminent performance pad ready for anything . It ’s aimed foursquare at cursory use , and often feels like a monumental phone more than a compact laptop because of it . Does that deflower the Galaxy Tab S10 FE , or is this classic style part of its solicitation ? lease ’s find out .
Specs
Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 FE: design
I use tablets chiefly for medium and games , which means they should be manageable to check , not too heavy , and preferably have a screen and processor become to these uses . The Galaxy Tab S10 FE leans more towards this than it does work or productiveness . It does not derive package with a keyboard case , although you’re able to buy these separately .
At 487 grams it ’s really easy to carry around with you , far more so than a laptop , and because it ’s so slender — just 6 mm — it does n’t take up much space in a cup of tea . The 10.9 - inch screen is just right , and avoids the giant size of the Galaxy Tab S10 FE+ which has a 13.1 - inch sieve . Looked at like this , the pad is outstanding for home and occasional external use , but there are some ergonomic issues that frustrate .
The flimsy chassis is n’t very well-situated to hold , and it really notices when you wager games for an prolonged flow . The corner are quite precipitous , and can dig into your laurel wreath . I found myself trying to find a style to rest the tablet on something after a while . The tablet comes in three colors — black , white , or blue — providing a adequate selection , but the rear panel gets covered in blot and fingerprints really rapidly .
The other defeat is the fingerprint sensor , which is housed inside the power button on the side . It ’s exact and reliable , but it ’s a pain to turn up as the button is quite minor and bestride on a very sparse chassis . read at least two fingerprints is essential , otherwise you ’re always juggling the tablet while you attempt and feel for the sensor . That said , it ’s enceinte to see Samsung has direct the Tab S10 FE to run across an IP68 detritus and water resistance military rating , the tablet does n’t have any detectable flex in the chassis , and the blue colouring material is the one to opt as it does give the anonymous pattern some character .
Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 FE: screen and performance
Samsung has chosen a 10.9 - inch IPS LCD screen for the Galaxy Tab S10 FE , and not one of its AMOLED screens found on high - end Samsung model . I do n’t consider it matters drastically , provided you ’re not really examining video operation . During general use the screen front corking , plus it gets burnished enough to see outdoors in comme il faut Light Within , but contrast , color , and ignominious levels are n’t as nappy and deep as they are on AMOLED screens .
I can live with the LCD performance , but the trouble with the Tab S10 FE ’s screen is the slapdash means it applies its 90Hz refresh rate . The preferences menu enables either a 60Hz or Adaptive mode , with no way to force 90Hz to apply permanently . In Adaptive the software system favors 60Hz and routinely applies it in situations where 90Hz would be preferred , such as browsing the Reddit app and Chrome . It ’s bothersome , and with no way to override it , something you ca n’t do much about .
A Samsung Exynos 1580 processor with the option of 8 GB or 12 GB of RAM powers the tablet , and my review simulation has 8 GB . This is the same chip find in theSamsung Galaxy A56smartphone , so do n’t expectGalaxy S25 - levels of performance here . On the incontrovertible side it does n’t run red-hot even when playing games for a while , and it has no trouble with games likeAsphalt Legends : Unite , provided you do n’t max out the computer graphic options .
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But its mid - range power shows up the more you use the tablet , as organization navigation and app opening can take a meter longer to materialise than you bear . It ’s surely not slow , but it does n’t have that rocketship instantaneous response some may be used to from their phone , particularly if you use one with a Qualcomm 8 - series chip shot . The performance is adequate for general use , and provided you do n’t expect anything beyond this , you ’ll probably seldom notice its shortcomings . The screen ’s refresh rate issues are far more likely to irritate .
Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 FE: software
Does the Exynos 1580 magazine the software ’s public presentation too much ? No , Android 15and One UI 7 is otherwise dead useable , and unless you are coming from a more sinewy equipment , you may not even notice the lilliputian hesitations . It handles the Galaxy Tab S10 FE ’s excellent multiscreen features without a job , and I love how easy they are to spark . It ’s a Seth of consistent swipes , or a couple of tap when in the chopper sentiment , and you ’ve cause up to three apps running at the same time on the screen . UseSamsung ’s Good Lock app , and you’re able to force apps not designed for rent screen use to wreak .
Unfortunately , One UI 7 is discrepant in its design on the Galaxy Tab S10 FE . There are various post where One UI 7 looks , feels , and lock like software designed for a earpiece , and but jammed into a pill rather than adjust for it . It put out me the background icons do n’t arrange themselves neatly and normally when switching between landscape painting and portrayal orientation , and the configurations menu will often tell you to do things with your “ phone ” and not tablet for example . But at other time , such as the sensible use of space in the preferences computer menu and the split telling and Quick preferences computer menu designed for one - handed usance , it work well .
Samsung has n’t satiate the software program full of AI , with some exposure tools — Best Face , Object Eraser , and Auto Trim for example — and its Read Aloud feature for web page . It ’s surprising not to retrieve moreGalaxy AIfeatures in the Summarize musical genre , which would likely be more useful when using Samsung Notes . If you desire AI , you ’re going to have to get one of Samsung ’s more expensive tablets or smartphones . One considerable benefit from the Tab S10 FE ’s intimate software is , if you ’re fare from a recent Samsung smartphone you ’ll feel right at home using it , as it really is almost identical . Samsung ’s stick out it for six years with major OS and security updates , and because I ’d expect mass to keep it for longer than a smartphone , this is a welcome benefit .
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Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 FE: camera and stylus
There ’s a single 13 - megapixel camera on the back of the Galaxy Tab S10 FE , which is potential there mostly for business role , and a 12MP front television camera set in the screen door ’s modest and delightfully symmetrical bezel . It ’s pose for habit in portrait orientation , and is fine for TV call . It ’s dim-witted though , and overleap out on fun video call feature like Center Stage — where the front camera ensures you stay on in the frame , even when moving around a footling — which make the Apple iPad alone .
Inside the Galaxy Tab S10 FE ’s box is a basic S Pen stylus , and it ’s one of the unspoiled things about the tablet . It works straightaway without any need to pair it or ever reload it , and while there ’s no one-armed bandit to hive away it inside the tablet , it does magnetically attach to the side of the chassis . It works throughout the operating system , and with all the apps and games I ’ve stress . There ’s something really fulfil about using it in game likeMagic : The Gathering Arena .
It ’s also at home inside Samsung Notes where handwriting is accurately and speedily recognised , but there ’s not much feel to the experience . It ’s very obvious you ’re “ write ” on drinking glass , and I expect incisive artist would feel the lack of feedback and touch perception limiting . However , everyone else will witness it utilitarian in some capability , and it ’s with child to see it included in the package . Samsung does sell a more sensitive , feature film - pack $ 100 S Pen stylus too .
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Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 FE: battery and charging
An 8,000mAh electric battery in a 10.9 - inch pad sounds a little on the small size , does n’t it ? You ’re not incorrect , and although Samsung claims 20 hours video playback from a unmarried charge , general mixed use include gaming will see it expire after eight or nine hours . It means the tablet will last a few day with around three or four hours screen time . Good , but not stellar .
The Exynos 1580 works quite hard too , and the efficiency of many gamy - end Qualcomm processors inside Samsung ’s top smartphones is escape . The barrage lost 15 % of the assault and battery in 45 instant playingMagic : The Gathering Arena , and 5 % after a 25 - minute YouTube television at 1440p , plus the 3DMark benchmarking app ’s 20 - minute tension tryout trim down the assault and battery by 8 % . This gives you an idea of how it will perform if you play highly diagrammatically intensive game .
Like the Galaxy A56 andGalaxy S25 Ultra , the Galaxy Tab S10 FE get 45W fast wired charging . A full charge takes around 100 minute , which is acceptable considering the battery ’s capacity , but you do n’t get a wall courser in the box .
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Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 FE: price and availability
The Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 FE costs $ 500 for the 128 GB model , or $ 570 for the 256 GB rendering . Do n’t fret too much about get the model with additional storage blank space , unless you really need 12 GB of RAM , as the Galaxy Tab S10 FE has a MicroSD scorecard slot which take on notice up to 2 TB in size . In the U.K. the Galaxy Tab S10 FE cost 500 British pound for the 8GB/128 GB version , and 600 pounds for the 12GB/256 GB model .
Samsung ’s tablet mountain range lacks sensitive progression . The next stair up from the Tab S10 FE is either the 11 - in Galaxy Tab S9 for $ 920 , or the 12.4 - inch Galaxy Tab S10 + for $ 1,000 , which are considerable leap in price . It does furnish a crabwise footprint with the bigger 13.1 - inch Galaxy Tab S10 + FE for $ 650 , if the CRT screen on the normal S10 FE is n’t expectant enough .
It ’s OnePlus which offers the in force upgrade if the Galaxy Tab S10 FE is n’t powerful enough for your needs . TheOnePlus Pad 2has a 12.1 - inch LCD screen door , a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 , and derive in a 12GB/256 GB configuration for $ 550 . You do n’t get a stylus included , and the software is n’t quite as dependable as One UI 7 , but it ’s excellent value . I ’d also be really tempted by the $ 450 256GBApple iPadif you are n’t bothered about Android .
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Should you buy the Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 FE?
The Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 FE is a “ authoritative ” fun tablet , in that it ’s large for spiritualist and general use . This is not a work machine , is n’t for editing 4 K video or anything so recess , and Ilikeit due to this satinpod . If you ’re already a Samsung smartphone owner the Galaxy Tab S10 FE is a great as the software package will be familiar , there are tools such as Quick Share which sync the two devices together nicely , and you ’ll be able to use the same Samsung account on both . Even if you own another Android phone , the Galaxy Tab S10 FE is a well made , durable , and capable enough tablet to be used every day , for most chore .
If you have no such brand loyalty , it ’s operose not to recommend the Apple iPad instead , particularly as one can be purchased for $ 350 if you ’re not distressed about computer memory space . The OnePlus Pad 2 is also a great buy if you do n’t mind spending a small more than the Galaxy Tab S10 FE . The save part of Samsung ’s fresh tablet is the stylus , which neither of these include in the cost .
I ’ve been very slaked with the Galaxy Tab S10 FE . Yes , it does feel like a massive telephone on juncture , but videos look good , game play well , the software is easygoing to habituate , and the S Pen style can be used to get creative . However , I do reckon there ’s better value tablets either side of it when looking only at price , and the Galaxy Tab S10 FE does sputter with a solid grounds to buy out of doors of the style . If Samsung is your brand of option , and you are n’t planning to work on your tablet , then you ’ll be happy with the Galaxy Tab S10 FE though .
Andy Boxall / Digital Trends
Andy Boxall / Digital Trends
