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Tablet use skyrocketed during the pandemic driven by the need for it among students who had to attend classes online. The pandemic era has ended with the emphasis on tablets no longer being so done. However quietly the Samsung Galaxy Tab S10+ has been launched and it offers an attractive package that makes it the most versatile Android tablet in the market.
SPECIFICATIONS
Samsung Galaxy Tab S10+
12.4″ Dynamic AMOLED 2X screen, LTPO
1752 x 2800 Pixels, 120Hz, HDR10+
Dimensity 9300+ processor (4nm)
1 x 3.4GHz Cortex-X4 chip
3 x 2.8 GHz Cortex-X4
4 x 2.0 GHz Cortex-A720
Immortalis-G720 MC12 Graphics Chip
RAM 12GB LPDDR5X
Internal Storage 256GB UFS 4.0
Main Camera 13MP f/2.0 (Wide Angle)
8MP f/2.2 (Ultra Wide Angle)
Selfie Camera 12 Megapixel f/2.4
10090 mAh battery
45W wired charging
SIM/Telephony Dual SIM nano / 5G
NFC Yes
No Audio Jack
Waterproof IP68
Scan System Under-screen fingerprint scanner
Sale Price RM5249 (12/256GB) WiFi+5g
RM4599 (12/256GB) WiFi
SCREEN
The 12.4″ Dynamic AMOLED 2X screen supports a 120Hz LTPO refresh rate. This is the same panel used on the S24 Ultra flagship phone. It also comes with a Vision Booster feature that increases screen brightness and has an anti-glare layer. So it's no surprise that the experience of using the screen on this tablet is comparable to what I experienced when using the S24 Ultra. The panel uses the same 16:10 ratio as last year's Tab S9 series.
There are noticeable bezels on all four corners but that's normal for a tablet. What's missing is the screen notch that currently only exists on the Tab S10 Ultra model. I just feel that because of the 16:10 ratio used, the tablet is not very comfortable to use in a vertical position. Too tall to hold. Tablets in my opinion are more comfortable to use if the screen is 3:2.
Beautiful screen with realistic color reproduction. The peak display allows HDR10+ content to be displayed vividly and it makes the Tab S10+ a media player that does not disappoint. HDR content from Netflix, Prime Video, Disney+ Hotstar and YouTube can all run without issue.
BIOMETRIC
The fingerprint scanner under the screen is of the ultrasonic type used on this tablet. It's easier to scan the fingerprint on the screen than on the power button like competing tablets do. It operates fast enough that unlocking can be done in an instant.
S-PEN
S Pen stylus support is back with no changes made from a spec point of view. It still has the ability to detect 4096 pressure levels and tilt angles. Features make it a camera remote, control camera zoom like a Harry Potter wand, S Pen support on the keyboard and write directly on the search box are also back. It can be said that the Tab S10+ is an S24 Ultra with a larger screen size and an S Pen that is more comfortable to hold.
DESIGN
The body of the tablet is made of durable Armor Aluminum material allowing this device to have IP68 waterproof capability and also shockproof when dropped. The sides of the tablet are boxy parallel to the design of the S24 series. On the top there is a power button and an audio adjustment button.
Above this there is also a magnetic storage and charging place for the S Pen and a SIM tray with a slot for a micro SD card. The internal storage of Tab S10+ can be increased up to 1.5GB if the 256GB storage provided is not enough.
Meanwhile on the left and right side (when the tablet is placed in a landscape position) there are four audio grilles for speakers. This allows stereo audio to be balanced by the Tab S10+.
The right side has a USB-C charging port and at the bottom is a POGO pin for physical keyboard connection. Another S Pen storage place is placed on the back also with a magnetic connection.
Another small change is that the back of the S Pen is also flatter so that it is uniform with the body of the device which, as I said earlier, is flatter. The body of the device passes the IP68 standard so there is no need to worry about it being damaged if dropped in a pool for up to 15 minutes.
The back houses four camera lenses that are quite large but not very tall. I still recommend the use of a frame to ensure the lens is not scratched and more importantly to allow the device to be placed flat on a table surface.
Keyboard
The Book Cover Keyboard Slim keyboard comes free with every purchase. It is quite comfortable to use when typing with chicklet type keys. There's no touch pad like the Magic Keyboard and it's a tablet that can only be placed at one angle. Samsung offers another keyboard with a touchpad but it has to be purchased separately.
For light tasks, this keyboard is satisfactory even though the keys are of the soft membrane type. A dedicated button for Gemini/Galaxy AI is also included for quick shortcuts along with a button to use Samsung DeX mode. While the Book Cover Keyboard Slim isn't the best keyboard I've ever used, it's still comfortable to use without causing any major issues.
USAGE AND SOFTWARE
The One UI 6.1.1 operating system used is based on Android 14. This is the latest version before One UI 7.0 which is based on Android 15 is given. The One UI 6.1.1 interface of the tablet version is the same as that used on smartphones. As with smartphones, Samsung provides support for seven Android versions and seven years of security patches on the Tab S10+. With this the owner does not have to worry about security and additional features for seven years.
The interface elements are still minimalistic, neat with easy-to-understand iconography. There are no major changes smartphone users need to make to use the Tab S10+. Another interesting feature is additional RAM up to 8GB virtual through RAM Plus.
At the bottom, there is a taskbar that displays shortcuts for eight user-definable applications. Shortcuts for two more recently opened applications are also placed on the taskbar. The taskbar system used on the Tab S10+ is the same as that used on the Z Fold series. It facilitates the process of switching between applications faster.
Galaxy AI – Artificial Intelligence Not a Cheap Gimmick
There are many Galaxy AI features on the Tab S10+ that are the same as those on the Galaxy S24, Z Fold6 and Z Flip6. I won't touch on all the features given in detail because I will just repeat the previous review. So I list some of the most interesting features below.
Chat Assist – The feature I use the most because it helps to write social media statuses quickly. The original text can be changed to be more professional, relaxed or casual.
Photo Assist – Provides editing suggestions on photos. Objects can be repositioned, delete unwanted picture elements and also feature to increase picture resolution through Remaster cir. In the video above the image of my reflection in the mirror is erased within seconds of the original picture. This feature seems like magic for those who don't have Photoshop skills.
Gemini – There are special buttons included on the keyboard. With this the user can call Gemini faster like the CoPilot button on a PC.
Circle To Search – The easiest way to find sources of images, text and do fact searches. Circle to Search is not the sexiest feature but in my opinion it is the most useful feature and should be given to all Android devices as soon as possible.
Interpreter – A real-time translation feature that comes in handy when trying to interact with people who don't share the same conversational language as you.
Sketch to Image – Turn a sketch using the S Pen into a real drawing with the help of AI. On the Tab S10+, the giant screen allows larger sketches to be produced than on the S24 Ultra and Z Fold6 screens.
Portrait Studio, on the other hand, transforms a face image into a 3D cartoon, sketch or watercolor painting. This can then be used as a personal avatar on social media. This mode also allows the user to add objects in the captured image. Based on the sketch of the hat on the head, a variety of realistic-looking hats can be generated without the user doing manual editing.
Composer – There are three options which are Email, Social Media and Comment. The appropriate text will be generated by Galaxy AI if the user does not want to write a long email that needs to be sent, for example.
BENCHMARK – Dimensity 9300+
Let's compare the Dimensity 9300+ chip with some other chips on the market right now. We compare with Realme GT7 Pro (Snapdragon 8 Elite), Oppo Find X8 Pro (Dimensity 9400), iPhone 16 Pro Max (Aple A18 Pro), S24 Ultra (Snapdragon 8 Gen 3), iPhone 15 Pro Max (Apple A17 Pro), Google Pixel 9 Pro XL (Tensor G4) and Vivo X100 Pro (Dimensity 9300)
AnTuTu 3D
Dimensity 9300+ – 1,627,001
Snapdragon 8 Elite – 2,642,097
Dimensity 9400 – 2,629,017
Apple A18 Pro – 1,720,751
Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 – 2,200,000
Apple A17 Pro – 1,542,050
Tensor G4 – 1,016,712
Dimensity 9300 – 1,852,552
Geekbench 6
Dimensity 9300+ – 1619/6145
Snapdragon 8 Elite – 2,789/9,002
MediaTek Dimensity 9400 – 2663 / 8959
Apple A18 Pro – 3359 / 8129
Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 – 2329/7526
Apple A17 Pro – 2793/6925
Tensor G4 – 1916/4644
MediaTek Dimensity 9300 – 2071/5032
Geekbench AI
Dimensity 9300+ – 2000/1958/2793
Snapdragon 8 Elite – 2307/2323/3027
Dimensity 9400 – N/A
Apple A18 Pro – 4516 / 7744 / 6204
Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 – 1704 / 1829/ 2773
Apple A17 Pro – 3705 / 6515 / 5696
Tensor G4 – 2058 / 2017 / 3129
Dimensity 9300 – N/A
3DMark Wild Life Extreme
Dimensity 9300+ – 4,091
Snapdragon 8 Elite – 5,922
Dimensity 9400 – 6251
Apple A18 Pro – 4560
Apple A18 – 3698
Apple A17 Pro – 3746
Tensor G4 – 2567
Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 – 4717
Dimensity 9300 – 4067
The Dimensity 9300+ is the chip that launched alongside the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 last year. Even though the corn is a year old, the chip's performance is still satisfactory. The benchmark scores recorded are still competitive when compared to other flagship chips on the market. The initial performance is also still good with COD Mobile, GTA San Andreas, PUBG Mobile and Mobile Legend all running smoothly.
The process of launching and installing applications is also very fast due to the use of UFS 4.0 and LPDDDR5X storage. This makes the Tab S10+ one of the best flagship Android tablets on the market right now.
TELEPHONY And GPS
The model I tested is the WiFI only version and the internet performance is fast because it supports WiFI 6. For those who have a fast router, the Tab S10+ does not disappoint at all. I don't use GPS much because without cellular support, I don't use the Tab S10_+ outside the house to track location. But even indoors, a location in Google Maps can be tracked in seconds using WiFi.
CAMERA
The camera on the back is a combination of a 13M wide lens and a 12MP ultra wide angle. On the front, a 12MP camera is used. No OIS system is provided as well as no optical zoom system. With a small sensor I don't have high hopes for the quality of the pictures that can be taken.
Pictures only look satisfactory in good lighting situations and the tablet is held steady. The picture quality is just satisfactory. When taking photos in closed areas, it starts to look soft and colors appear less vibrant. The quality of pictures taken by tablets is usually disappointing when compared to a smartphone.
BATTERY
The Tab S10+ is equipped with a 10,090mAh battery that supports only 45W charging. In tests streaming videos on YouTube using WiFi, I managed to watch up to 8 hours. Life will be longer around 11 hours if WiFi is turned off. I tested the battery myself while traveling from Kuala Lumpur to Hawaii early last month. Along the way the Tab S10+ was an excellent replacement for the in-flight entertainment system.
The recharging time of this sizable battery is around 100 minutes. Samsung does not provide a charger with every purchase. Only one USB-C to USB-C cable is included in the box.
AUDIO
There is stereo and there is also Dolby Atmos thrown from four speakers. Audio is loud but still clear and balanced as a pair of speakers are placed on the right and left sides of the Tab S10+. Watching movies, listening to music and enjoying games can all be enjoyed well thanks to the tablet's robust audio system.
WHAT'S IN THE BOX?
Here is what is received in the box with purchase.
1x Samsung Galaxy Tab S10+
1x S Pen
1x USB-C to USB-C charging cable.
1x Manual.
1x SIM Pin.
CONCLUSION
Samsung tablets are not treated like stepchildren or citizens who vote for parties that are not aligned with the ruling government since the end of the pandemic. It is equipped with all the features that users need to make it not only a flagship tablet for entertainment, powerful enough to relax with video games but also complete enough to be a laptop replacement. The software is quite mature helped by a design that is quite durable. The audio system can also hold up. For artistic enthusiasts, the S Pen stylus allows you to create directly on the screen.
The downside in my opinion lies in the screen ratio. The 16:10 screen makes it awkward to use in portrait position. There's a reason why the iPad is the most popular tablet on the market because it uses a more ergonomic 3:2 ratio.
In Malaysia, the Samsung Galaxy Tab S10+ is sold at a price of RM4599 for the WiFi version and RM5249 for the 5G version with a choice of Moonstone Gray and Platinum Silver colors. With every purchase, a Slim Keyboard Book Cover is given for free.
Pro
Durable body design and IP68.
Equipped with powerful chips for various types of applications.
Supports S Pen.
Various useful Galaxy AI features.
Excellent battery performance.
Support seven Android versions and seven years of security patches.
Cons
Charging is only 45W.
The 16:10 screen is not comfortable to use vertically.