Absolute overkill: Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra

With the Galaxy Tab S10 + and Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra, Samsung’s only launching two Pro models instead of three. The two tablets differ mainly in size. The options are a 12.4- and 14.6-inch diagonal. The 11-inch version’s been scrapped. I tested the large Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra. It’s amazing as a canvas for notes and drawings, AI, streaming and gaming, it’s great. But it is huge.

Design and size: please stop growing!

At over 14 inches and 20.9 × 32.6 cm, the Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra’s gigantic. I usually like to pop my tablet in a bag for on-the-go use, but the S10 Ultra’s just too massive. Add a keyboard and it even outdoes my Macbook Air (M1) in terms of size and weight. But its size also has advantages: the tablet in 16:10 format’s ideal for watching movies and multitasking.

The AMOLED display is amazing quality as always. It features a resolution of 2,960 × 1,848 pixels, up to 120 Hz refresh rate and 930 nits peak brightness, which is identical to its predecessor, the Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra.

According to Samsung, it averages around 350 nits. That seems to be about right and is plenty for indoor use. It’s also fine for outdoor use when the sun’s out, but make sure to avoid light hitting your screen directly because of the shiny screen.

Hardware: undefeated in benchmarks

It’s hard to find any differences in the hardware compared to its predecessor. The new model’s slightly thinner, lighter and supports Wi-Fi 7 instead of 6. The biggest change is its chipset.

Unlike its predecessor, this model doesn’t rely on a Qualcomm chip, but on the Mediatek Dimensity 9300. In my benchmarks with Geekbench 6, the tablet performs strongly, beating its predecessor by far in multi-core and also leaving the Huawei Matepad Pro 13.2 far behind.

Samsung’s pro tablet runs smoothly when put to the test, is capable of multitasking no problem and even graphics-heavy games such as Genshin Impact and Asphalt work like a charm at a high resolution.

At 11,200 mAh, the battery remains the same size as its predecessor’s. It has enough juice to keep going for just under eight hours in the PCMark benchmark. That’s a total of 20 minutes less than the Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra. That’s an average value for a device of this size. But it was enough for my test, because I was mainly using the tablet at home and not so much on the go.

Accessories à gogo

Samsung offers a wide range of accessories for tablets. It’s a strength the manufacturer has also displayed for the Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra. However, I often find the prices too high. At least a stylus is also included in the scope of delivery and the Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra accessories are also compatible.

You can also purchase a keyboard with an AI button, an outdoor cover or – my favourites – a cover with clip-on matt foil for drawing and a colourful folio case with space for the pen. With so many accessories to choose from, the device is well equipped for a wide range of uses: as a notebook, a laptop replacement or for art projects.

Software: seven years of updates

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra runs Android 14 with its own One UI-6 user interface. The manufacturer also promises seven years of software and security updates. That’s extremely generous for the tablet sector. The Galaxy Tab S10 isn’t quite a replacement for your notebook because of its software adaptations, but it still offers many options.

AI functions: little helpers not always reliable

Samsung phones also feature AI functions. But I find some of them more useful for a tablet. I summarised what’s possible across devices in the following article on Samsung AI.

Sketch to image: just a gimmick?

You’ll find the feature «sketch to image» in the toolbar at the edge of the screen. The way it works is that you draw something on a white surface using a simple black brush.

Once you’re done, you can have your sketch converted into an image. In terms of style, there are five different styles to choose from: illustration, watercolour, drawing, 3D cartoon and pop art. The conversion takes about five seconds. After you’ve chosen, you’ll receive four pictures suggested, which you can each save if you want. You can also save your original sketch.

If you want to switch to a different style, you can do that too. The results look like a rubbish collage of my doodles and aren’t very pretty. Personally, I’d use them as a source of inspiration for a new drawing at best. After all, I’m presented with various colours and styles I might not have come up with myself. Other than that, this feature remains a gimmick.

Transcribing: not bad despite mistakes

Instead of taking notes of an interview, you can use the tablet to record everything and have it transcribed. Samsung’s software takes less than a minute to transcribe just under ten minutes of speech. However, it also makes some mistakes. Having said that, it does provide a good basis for a rough overview and for further processing on the tablet.

I tested the transcription feature on an audiobook chapter from Playlist by Sebastian Fitzek. The program struggles most with getting upper and lower case spelling right in German. It also has issues telling words apart at times.

My second test involved playing back a listening comprehension exercise in Mandarin and having it translated into written German. The speaker talks clearly and comprehensibly, which makes the high error rate all the more surprising. At least I roughly understand what the conversation’s about.

Drawing and taking notes: as good as ever

Thanks to the S-Pen, taking notes and drawing’s a breeze. In general, I love getting creative on such a large canvas. The pen picks up on differences in pressure and it has good grip thanks to the fine rubber tip.

Penup is the name of Samsung’s own art program, but others from the app store also run well on the Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra. Thanks to the size of the display, you can even use Clip Studio Paint in its desktop version. As this program has many menu subdivisions, it can soon become confusing on smaller tablets. But not so on this 14-inch screen.

Entertainment to the max with videos and gaming

The large AMOLED display’s ideal for watching videos. The tablet produces bright colours and strong contrasts. And thanks to its elongated format, there are hardly any black bars at the top and bottom. What’s more, you don’t necessarily have to connect headphones (as long as you’re not disturbing anyone, of course), as the four stereo speakers have an amazingly good sound for a tablet.

I’m also satisfied with the gaming experience it offers. There are some games with stylish graphics and controller support, such as the racing game Asphalt or Sky – Children of Light.