With a massive 14.6-inch display, the Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra attempts to redefine what it means to be a tablet. While it can be tough to handle at times, its best use cases prove size really matters.

Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra

8
/
10

$1099 $1199 Save
$100

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra is a cutting-edge tablet featuring a 14.6-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display and significant AI processing enhancements. It offers a premium user experience with its powerful performance, intuitive S Pen functionality, and seamless integration with the Galaxy ecosystem.

Pros & Cons

• Gorgeous display
• High-performance components
• S Pen included

• Can be difficult to handle due to size
• Official Samsung accessories are expensive

$1099 at Amazon

$1200 at Best Buy

$1200 at Samsung

Price and Availability

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra is available from Amazon, Best Buy, or direct from Samsung starting at $1200 for 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage in Moonstone Gray or Platinum Silver. For 512GB of storage, the price goes up to $1320. For 16GB of RAM and 1TB of storage, the price goes up to $1620. If you want a cellular option, it’s only available with the smaller 12.4-inch display Galaxy Tab S10+, which starts at $1000. You can trade in select tablets on the Samsung website for an additional discount.

In the box is the tablet, S Pen, USB-C to USB-C data and charging cable, card tray ejector tool, and paperwork. You’ll need to provide your own USB-C charger that preferably supports USB Power Delivery 3.0 or Quick Charge 2.0. The Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra can be charged using a standard 15W fast charger or a Superfast 25W or 45W charger for super fast charging.

Display and Design: Size Matters

One of the first things you’ll notice about the Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra is its size. While it’s a thin .21 inches thick and a reasonable 8.21 inches wide in portrait orientation, it’s also a long 12.85 inches high. With its 14.6-inch display, you’re essentially carrying around a small monitor or TV. While its 16:10 aspect ratio is not the typical 16:9 used when consuming widescreen video content, it works far better in this regard than the ratio used by Apple’s iPad lineup, which are generally 3:2 or 4:3 and require larger letterboxing black bars.

Of course, while the Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra’s AMOLED touchscreen, with its impressive WQXGA+ 2,960 x 1,848 resolution and fast 120Hz refresh rate, looks amazing, with incredible peak brightness, rich colors, and deep blacks, the tablet’s proportions can make it awkward to hold. Even the ultra-small .25-inch bezels, though impressive, don’t provide much area to grip.

Besides being a difficult tablet to handle two-handed, let alone one, the Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra’s beefy 1.58-pound weight adds to the hand and arm fatigue. It’s definitely a tablet best used propped up or in a stand. And while the screen itself is undeniably impressive looking and has solid anti-reflective properties for a glossy display, it’s also a fingerprint magnet.

When the Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra is held in portrait orientation, on the front of the display at the bottom is an embedded fingerprint recognition sensor, which is just above the USB-C 3.2 (DP out) multipurpose jack, which itself is in the middle of two speakers. At the top of the display is a light sensor, which is just below the microphone hole, which itself is in the middle of two additional speakers. The 12 MP front camera, along with another light sensor, is on the right of the display.

To the right of the front camera on the side of the tablet is a side button for functions like sleep and power, a volume button, another microphone, an air vent hole, and a microSD card tray for cards with a maximum capacity of 1.5 TB formatted in the FAT or exFAT file systems. On the opposite side of the tablet is a keyboard dock port for accessories like the Samsung Book Cover Keyboard.

The rear of the tablet features a two-lens 13 MP rear camera with flash, S Pen magnetic dock and charger, and an embedded GPS antenna.

Despite its size and features, the Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra looks great and feels solid, with minimal flex, thanks to an aluminum body and scratch-resistant glass. Although it’s not advised for beach or pool use, both the tablet and S Pen have IP68 ratings for dust and water resistance in up to 1.5 meters of freshwater for up to 30 minutes. In other words, it’s a tablet that’s not going to get roughed up from regular handling or the occasional accidental spill, which, given the premium pricing, is important.

Software and Performance: Android 14 Powered Up

The Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra runs Android 14, which was released in October 2023. It’s one version behind Android 15, which was released in October 2024. Still, between regular security and other updates, as well as Samsung’s own additions, there’s little real-world difference for this particular tablet. Per usual, you not only have access to the full selection of Google and Android apps, including the Google Play store, but also all of the Samsung-specific alternatives like the Galaxy Store. While it can be a bit confusing at times to decide what Android-specific or Samsung-specific function or app to use, the bottom line is that you have more options than other Android-based tablets.

One of the big exclusive functions that Samsung is pushing is Galaxy AI, which is a collection of artificial intelligence features. Using a combination of on-device and cloud-based services, Galaxy AI can translate and interpret messages and conversations in real-time, assist with note-taking and transcription, transform drawings into more advanced images, provide personalized insights and guidance based on your health data, and more. It’s a great value-added inclusion, although there are reports that after 2025, there may be fees involved with certain Galaxy AI features.

In terms of security, the Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra provides face recognition, fingerprints, PIN, Password, or Pattern unlock options. Both the face and fingerprint recognition proved reliable during several months of usage.

Performance-wise, the Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra is a big step up from its already-powerful predecessor, the Tab S9 Ultra, with double-digit gains in CPU, GPU, and NPU performance. I had zero issues with productivity, gaming, or any other apps I used. Using standard benchmarking tools like PCMark for Android Work 3.0 and 3DMark Wild Life Extreme, the Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra tested at or near the top for all metrics, showing more objectively how well it performs.

While the display is fantastic, the four speakers are no slouch either. Even at maximum volume, which can fill a room, there’s minimal distortion and only some muddiness to the sound profile. At a more reasonable 60 – 75% volume level, the audio has a good presence with decent bass. Even if your headphones aren’t handy, whether playing a game, listening to music, or watching a movie, the speakers do a good job of providing both effective stereo separation and simulated surround sound thanks to Dolby Atmos support.

Although cameras are usually an afterthought on tablets, not so with the Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra. I found both the front and rear cameras to be excellent in all types of lighting conditions, reminding me more of the quality from top smartphones rather than your typical tablet. Video quality, on the other hand, which maxes out at 3,840 x 2,160, is limited to just 30 FPS at all resolutions, although it still looks fantastic. The microphones also do a great job of picking up your voice clearly and with authority. However, they don’t seem to have any built-in outside noise canceling, so you’ll want to be in a relatively quiet environment for anything important.

The built-in Wi-Fi 6E supports 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax across 2.4, 5, and 6 GHz bands. The Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra is one of the few devices I have that correctly identifies and supports the full potential of my TP-Link Deco BE22000 Wi-Fi 7 system. It was consistently able to match the maximum speeds of both my best devices and the network itself; for instance, with my gaming PC wired into a Deco satellite averaging a 19 ms ping, 1,700 Mbps download and 19 Mbps upload, and the tablet averaging a 25 ms ping, 1,800 Mbps download, and 20 Mbps upload.

The tablet’s 11,200mAh battery is rated to last up to 18 hours on a single charge, but that’s with the usual caveat of just playing video at a low volume with the screen brightness turned way down. For more mixed usage with normal screen brightness and volume levels, eight hours is a more realistic expectation. With casual usage of a few hours a day, you can likely go at least three days before needing to charge again. On the plus side, the Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra supports reverse charging so that you can top off your phone or other device in a pinch.

Use Cases: Size as a Blessing and a Curse

Although it can be clumsy to handle at times, the Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra can still do everything a good tablet with a stylus can. In fact, there are some use cases where its larger size is an undeniable blessing.

The included S Pen and its 4,096 levels of pressure sensitivity, the extra screen real estate, resolution, and color of its display make the Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra an excellent note-taker and art station. The S Pen is lightweight, fits well in the hand, and, while it doesn’t exactly feel like pen on paper, its tip has a satisfying “drag” across the tablet’s screen for nice accuracy. With the built-in Samsung Notes app you can create notes containing text, images with footnotes, voice recordings, and music, and the various brush types and color mixers help with creating different types of art, including with the help of Galaxy AI. Of course, any other note-taking or art app, like Canva, can be downloaded as desired.

When paired with something like the Lululook Magnetic Stand, the Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra’s size suddenly becomes an advantage. I have it next to my multi-monitor gaming PC as an extra information display. For example, I use the Daily Board feature to show time, weather, and my calendar when the tablet sleeps, but it can also display other things like a slideshow of images.

Another advantage of having the tablet next to my working computer is I can use it as an additional wireless monitor. As long as you have a PC running Windows 10 or later and both your computer and tablet are on the same network, you can extend or duplicate your PC’s display. Even the Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra’s touchscreen can be used to navigate your PC.

You can also bypass your PC completely and use your Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra like a traditional computer, thanks to the DeX option. Any good Bluetooth keyboard or mouse will work in this mode, as will the S Pen. While other Samsung Galaxy smartphones and tablets feature DeX support, the Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra has by far the largest display, making it easier to work with multiple windows open at the same time and multitask more efficiently.

While nothing beats a good E-Ink display for pure text, even the best E-Ink devices, color or otherwise, have their limitations when it comes to image saturation and contrast. Whether it’s manga, comics, magazines, or lavishly illustrated coffee table books, the Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra’s black levels, contrast, and color saturation make even the most detailed content much easier to read. The spaciousness of the 14.6-inch display makes fine details I struggle with on other mobile devices easily visible.

Of course, with any blessing, there’s bound to be a curse or two. Playing games with an external controller is fantastic. The display makes gaming content look its best, and the 120Hz refresh rate can easily keep up with even the most demanding games. Unfortunately, because of the awkward proportions, using touchscreen controls, particularly for action games, can be particularly clumsy. It just doesn’t feel great in-hand.

Similarly, as amazing as it is to read color content or watch videos on the Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra, the awkward proportions and relatively heavy weight make it difficult to hold for any length of time. If I don’t have a way to prop up the tablet, I’d just rather not bother using it.

This clumsiness carries over to protective cases. While I have yet to try Samsung’s own Smart Book Cover due to its relatively high price—a commonality with many of the first-party accessories—several third-party options left me disappointed. The problem is is there’s so much area the flap of the cover has to protect that it’s annoyingly clumsy to fold over and makes the tablet even more awkward to hold. The lack of a satisfying protective cover makes me less likely to travel with the Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra and use it more in-house attached to the Lululook Magnetic Stand.

Should You Buy the Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra?

There’s no denying that the Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra is an amazingly powerful and versatile device with a large and beautiful display. Unfortunately, its large size and awkward proportions don’t necessarily make it an ideal tablet. It’s difficult to hold in hand and maneuver and far less portable overall than your average tablet.

With that said, there are still many positives to its size, including compelling use cases like being a more expansive note-taking and art canvas, easier-to-read fine details and color content, more impactful movies and videos, and better laptop replacement functionality. Even if it’s not something you want to travel with, the Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra regularly is still an incredibly useful and high-performance device to have on hand.

Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra

8
/
10

$1099 $1199 Save
$100

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra is a cutting-edge tablet featuring a 14.6-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display and significant AI processing enhancements. It offers a premium user experience with its powerful performance, intuitive S Pen functionality, and seamless integration with the Galaxy ecosystem.

$1099 at Amazon

$1200 at Best Buy

$1200 at Samsung