Samsung has updated its line of flagship tablets by introducing the Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra and Galaxy Tab S10+, a pair of Android-powered devices that the Korean tech giant says are “the first tablets purpose-built for AI.”
The new tablets bring some notable performance upgrades compared to the first models, with everything from graphics capability to raw computing power experiencing an increase. Samsung claims that the CPU of the Galaxy Tab S10 series has been improved by 18% compared to the S9 Ultra (the top model of the previous generation), while the graphics processing unit (GPU) has seen a 28% increase in performance. And, given Samsung's AI ambitions, the neural processing unit (NPU) – the part responsible for the devices' AI capabilities – in the new S10 range has also been improved by 14%.
it should come as no surprise that the new tablets feature some of the best displays you can find on a tablet. While it's the smaller of the two, the S10+ has a 12.4-inch display that makes it one of the largest tablet screens on the market; the S10 Ultra is even bigger with a huge 14.6-inch screen that's bigger than the competition (Apple's biggest tablet has a 13-inch screen). Both models feature a dynamic AMOLED 2X display with a 120Hz refresh rate, making them great gaming tablets, and both promise to perform well in bright environments thanks to a peak brightness of 930 nits on the S10 Ultra and 650 nits on the S10+. And, depending on how bright or not the environment you use while using the device, Samsung has put in adaptive modes like High Brightness Mode and Vision Booster that automatically adjusts your screen for the best viewing experience.
The new tablets are powered by the Dimensity 9300+, a chipset that may surprise some as Samsung chose to use Snapdragon processors in the S10 series. However, in terms of performance, the Dimensity 9300+ is said to be on par with the latest Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, the current flagship processor for Android devices. The S10 Ultra comes standard with 12GB of RAM (in both 256GB and 512GB options), but goes up to 16GB of RAM (only in the 1TB model); the S10+ only comes with 12GB of RAM (in 256GB and 512GB storage options). It is important to note that both models have a Micro SD card slot to allow users to increase their storage – this has not changed from the Tab S9 series and remains one of the strong selling points of Samsung's devices.
Samsung touts the AI capabilities of its new tablets with some productivity ties. These include Note Assist, where users' notes can be automatically summarized and transcribed (including handwritten ones with the S Pen stylus), and Handwriting Help which (as the name suggests) actually helps to organize messy handwritten notes. Another feature, Sketch to Image, turns the user's doodles into drawings, so even those who don't know how to draw can visualize what they're thinking. Samsung's S Pen stylus is also included as standard in the box of each device, unlike its biggest competitors who sell their stylus separately.
Both the S10 Ultra and S10+ feature a quad speaker setup for loud, clean sound. AI also plays a role here, as the onboard microphones are further improved through Dialogue Boost, AI software that helps to amplify the user's voice and isolate background noise for ultra-clear audio in calls. Both models have an IP68 rating, which means they are completely dust-resistant and – the best part – almost waterproof, as they can survive underwater at 1-meter (3-feet) depth for up to 30 minutes. Samsung has also reinforced both devices with what they call Armor Aluminum, a durable metal that they say is “built to deal with bumps and scrapes for use anytime, anywhere.” So, if you plan to use these devices while outdoors or even by the pool, you'll probably be fine.
Battery life on both models is impressive with the larger S10 Ultra packing a 11200 mAh battery and a slightly smaller 10090 mAh battery on the S10+. Depending on how you use the tablets – graphics-heavy applications like games use more resources – you can expect to get at least a full day to two or more before needing to charge it.
Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra and Galaxy Tab S10+ are available now at most retailers and at Samsung website. Both models come in two color options, Moonstone Gray and Platinum Silver, with the S10+ starting at $999 USD (approximately PHP 57,000) and the S10 Ultra starting at $1199 USD (approximately PHP 69,000).
