Real talk on the Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra: who needs something like this?

The Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra is not a tablet for watching Netflix on the couch, it’s a real monster. So in my test, the main question I asked myself was: Who is this tablet for? I got it from Samsung as a test unit. This format of hands-on talk is new on the channel.

The price decides

Normally I only get to the price at the end, but here it plays a big role. The smallest version with 256 GB and 12 GB of RAM costs €1,240, the 1 TB version €1,640. For that I can also get a full-fledged laptop, even a complete MacBook. A tablet is lighter, thinner and easier to transport, but you only have apps instead of full-fledged programs, even for Excel. So who is it worth it for? For people who get along with apps and still need serious performance. The use cases are relatively thin, but I tested one.

Display

The Tab S10 Ultra has a 14.6-inch AMOLED display. Unlike on the Tab S9 Ultra, it is anti-reflective. It still reflects a little, but much less than the predecessor or other displays. That’s pleasant when working and watching movies. With its 16:9 format, watching movies is fun because the format is right. The bezels are really nice and thin. On Huawei’s MatePad Pro, which I had in for testing, they’re even thinner, but Samsung does a good job. With the new iPad Pro, all I thought was that the display bezels are from another era, they’re so wide.

Performance and my use case: 4K video editing

For the first time in the Ultra tablets, Samsung uses the MediaTek Dimensity 9300 Plus instead of a Snapdragon. According to the performance comparison, it’s on the level of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3. If you edit photos or cut videos, the tablet is conceivable as a laptop replacement. I tested that: pulled 4K files onto the tablet from a memory card, downloaded an editing app and edited a video. I wasn’t thrilled by the app itself, I normally edit with a full-fledged program on a laptop. But I was very positively surprised at how smoothly trimming, overlaying and exporting a video with several 4K clips went. I can well imagine using the tablet as a laptop replacement. For me, the €1,240 are therefore worth it. Everyone has to think about what they need the performance for.

DeX mode

DeX mode is a unique selling point. You switch to a desktop view with a mouse pointer. With a connected keyboard and mouse, you basically have a laptop, and you can also connect an external monitor. I didn’t have a keyboard with my test unit. The software remains limited to apps, though. As a self-employed business consultant, I need full-fledged Excel with my formula templates. The Excel app hits its limits there. I believe AI will take that over one day.

Galaxy AI, S Pen and notes

To me, Galaxy AI is the best AI model, just barely behind Google’s Gemini. Samsung and Google work closely together. I use Circle to Search every day on my smartphone, and it works on the Tab S10 Ultra too.

The S Pen is included, whereas with Apple the pencil costs extra. I find it a thousand times better because it has a soft tip and feels like a fineliner. The writing feel is great. Samsung Notes is among the best note-taking apps. The AI features save me time:

• Convert handwriting into typed text
• Format notes, for example into bullet points or with headings
• Have summaries written
• Translate notes

On top of that come gimmicks: you can draw something in a photo and the AI turns it into a picture. That’s nice to have. With Samsung, phone calls can be translated and transcribed in real time.

Upgrade, updates and criticism

If you have an older Galaxy tablet, such as the Tab S9 Ultra, you don’t need an upgrade, the differences are very small. Only if you absolutely need the performance of the new processor can you upgrade. On top of that, as with all current Galaxy smartphones, you get seven years of security and OS updates, the real knockout. I think the processor is enough for the next three to five years. At a price of up to €1,640, I’d still buy a case.

Criticism:

• Vibration motor: It rattles, for example when entering the PIN, really creepy. I would turn it off.
• Weight: 718 g is not light. It wouldn’t be my first choice to lug around in a handbag.
• Camera: It’s enough for documents, but not for YouTube videos or vacation photos.

Verdict: Who is the Tab S10 Ultra worth it for?

It’s fun, has a great design, a killer display, lots of AI features and the best S Pen there is. Tech should feel good and have a wow effect. If you want to use it for work, need a very slim work device and really need the performance, you’re in very good hands with it. For watching Netflix, there are cheaper tablets, including from Samsung. Whether you want to spend that much money is for everyone to decide. I link current offers from Samsung in the video description.