Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra test – here is the perfect notebook replacement? –

Samsung has several irons in the fire on the tablet front: in addition to the A series intended for average users, there is also the S product line, which is designed for professionals. The two latest models in this series are the S10+ and S10 Ultra. Among them, we tried the Ultra version, which, in principle, is not superior not only among Samsung products, but also in the Android world in general.

Almost perfect appearance

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra is available in several configurations, a total of six. The math shows that you can choose between 12/256, 12/512 and 16/1024 GB RAM/backup storage combinations, so that in all three cases you can also decide whether you want a 5G modem in the tablet, or whether the Wi-Fi data connection.

The Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra presents an impressive sight, its huge display commands respect, as it is larger than not only tablets, but also the majority of ultrabooks. During the design process, Samsung engineers paid attention to every millimeter, both positive and negative. The positive direction is the 14.6-inch image diagonal, and the negative direction is the extremely reduced frame size and the thickness (or rather thinness) of only 5.4 mm. The appearance is professional, everything exudes a premium feel. We cannot be completely satisfied. Partly because the thin bezel makes it quite difficult to hold the tablet without touching the display, and partly because the bezel became so thin that there was not enough space for the dual front camera, so Samsung was forced to make a minimal cut. Hand-held use is not only made difficult by the thin bezel, but also by the fact that the Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra is terribly heavy with its 718 grams.

If you associate this with the fact that the size and weight data are no longer reminiscent of a tablet, but rather of a notebook, then you are absolutely right, which is also supported by the fact that a docking connector has been added to one of the longer sides of the tablet – this is where the separately purchased case and external keyboard that can also be used as a stand. However, you can use the Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra not only with a keyboard, but also with the S Pen, which is hidden in the box together with the USB-C cable. However, in our opinion, the design philosophy is a bit lacking in both the keyboard and the pen.

The keyboard is undoubtedly useful if you want to use the tablet for work, since writing letters and documents is much easier than with the built-in keyboard. However, if you are doing something else and want to hold the gadget in your hand, then it is already on the way – of course, you can put the tablet down on the table to consume content, but this is not always optimal. Our biggest problem with the S Pen is that it has no space; of course, you can fasten it to the back with a magnet (which is also absolutely necessary for charging), but keeping the pen here without a case is not a life insurance.

Back to the design: the front panel is an unspecified tempered glass, while the side and back panels are made of aluminum. Despite its thinness, the Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra does not wobble, so there is no need to treat it like a male egg, but of course you have to be careful not to accidentally sit on it. The two camera modules stand out from the plane of the huge back panel, and it is also noticeable that plastic inserts break the surface near the two shorter sides – the latter is needed so that the antennas “see”.

What is a huge plus is the dust and water resistance of the 326.4×208.6×5.4 mm device housing according to the IP68 standard; the latter is guaranteed up to a depth of 1.5 meters and for 30 minutes. For phones, IP68 is common in the premium category, but for tablets it is rare.

In terms of hardware, Samsung made an unexpected move

The Samsung Galaxy S10 Ultra is based on the Mediatek Dimensity 9300+ system chip, which is surprising to say the least. The S10+ and S10 Ultra are the South Korean manufacturer’s first tablets that use a Mediatek SoC, which is a sharp change, since previously Qualcomm Snapdragons served on the tablet front in the premium category as well. In addition, Samsung’s own chips are also there. The Mediatek Dimensity 9300+ is not a bad choice, with one 3.4 GHz Cortex-X4, three 2.8 GHz Cortex-X4 and four 2.0 GHz Cortex-A720 cores) speed and in terms of efficiency, there is really no reason to complain. We received the 256 GB model (without 5G), which has 12 GB of RAM – if this is not enough, then you have to pay a very high price, because 16 GB of RAM is only an option for the 1 TB model. The GPU is an Immortalis-G720 MC12, which we have seen faster, but this graphics accelerator is also perfectly sufficient for this tablet.

The size of the display has already been mentioned, but the panel is premium not only because of its 14.6-inch size, but also because it is AMOLED with a revolutionary 1848×2960 pixel resolution. It can squeeze out up to 900 nits of brightness (this is 50% more than the predecessor model) and supports 120 Hz image refresh. The display offers a perfect image in every aspect, and its surface is more than enough to do productive work on it – which is also helped by the 16:10 aspect ratio.

There is no shortage of adapters and sensors: the fingerprint reader is located below the display (on the right side when lying down, but conveniently out of reach), and positioning is assisted by GPS. There is no NFC, but there is Wi-Fi (7), Bluetooth 5.3, and the USB-C connector 3.2. There is also a magnetic connector for the keyboard, but this has already been discussed.

During use

The tablet is equipped with Android 14 – One UI 6.1, the system is run by the Mediatek Dimensity 9300+ at an impeccable speed, there is no need to expect any hiccups. Apps also launch quickly, and there’s enough power reserve for productivity software like Photoshop. Samsung guarantees updates for the tablet for seven years, which means not only the release of security packages, but also tracking of the main Android versions. One UI is waiting with the usual appearance; it provides a well-thought-out interface with extensive setting options and good customization. Samsung’s own applications (e.g. Health, SmartThings, Secure Folder) are also available for the Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra, and of course the AI ​​functions already known in connection with the S24 series are also present – together with Google’s Circled search option.

The most important thing, however, is that the Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra supports DeX mode, which, if you turn it on, transforms the user interface: you get a tray for launching applications, drag-n-drop works, and software can be used not only in full-screen mode, but also in a window too. It is even possible to place several windows next to each other. In addition, DeX also allows you to use your mobile as a mouse (touchpad), and if you have a smart TV nearby, you can also connect to it wirelessly. It’s a minor flaw that the keyboard offered by Samsung for 120,000 forints is not only expensive, but also looks like a robbery, especially if we take into account that it provides only average performance in terms of comfort when typing.

The tablet stands out from the Android field even if you use the S Pen: its huge display provides plenty of space for drawings or other creative tasks. And if you want to rest your head, the speakers on both sides, fine-tuned together with AKG, provide really good sound quality, both for watching movies and listening to music. And this is true even though the speakers are facing completely to the side due to the thin frame. In general, the Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra provides roughly the same performance compared to its main rival, the iPad Pro, but it outperforms it in the multimedia field, as the 16:10 aspect ratio is clearly better for movies.

With normal use, the 11,200 mAh battery lasts approx. It provides 9-10 hours of use, which means a full day of continuous work, or several days of operating time with normal use. Charging is also quite fast: with 45 watts of power, the battery can be charged from 10 to 100% in 2 hours and 10 minutes.

Unlike usual, this time we do not dedicate a separate section to the cameras, because it is completely unnecessary. Although there is a 13 MP and an 8 MP camera on the back, it is quite clear that no one will take photos with this tablet – the cameras are not basically there for that, but so that if, for example, you need to take photos of documents during work, then you can also do that with the tablet, you don’t have to pick up the phone and transfer the pictures just for that. The two 12 MP cameras on the front do not primarily help with selfies, but you can use them for video calls. One if you are alone in the call, the other if there are several of you.

Summary

It is quite clear that Samsung tried to give everything during the design of the Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra, but we cannot be completely satisfied. At an opening price of HUF 500,000, for example, the Mediatek chipset is somewhat of a disappointment. The design is also beautiful, but not entirely practical: a hanging camera island, a frame that is too thin for a comfortable grip, and an unfortunate location of the fingerprint reader spoils the mood, and the storage of the pen when not in use is also not perfectly solved. With the keyboard, which can be purchased separately, productivity improves by light years, which is also helped by the fact that, thanks to the DeX function integrated into One UI, the user interface can be used just like in the case of a notebook. The Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra is primarily a perfect solution for those for whom price is not an important consideration, and who mainly need a tablet, which they would sometimes use instead of a notebook.