Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 FE+ review: S-Pen in a larger format
The Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 FE+ emerges as a compelling contender in the Android tablet market, immediately grabbing attention with its expansive 13.1-inch display offered at an attractive $650 price point. This aggressive pricing undercuts Apple's 13-inch iPad Air by a significant $150, instantly positioning the Tab S10 FE+ as a value proposition for those seeking a large-screen experience. Furthermore, Samsung includes facial recognition, a feature Apple reserves for its premium iPad Pro line, priced considerably higher at $999. Coupled with a bright display exhibiting good color fidelity, the Tab S10 FE+ presents an initial package that seemingly positions it as a frontrunner for the title of the best Android tablet.However, the practical application of the Galaxy Tab S10 FE+ serves as a crucial reminder of the essence of thorough product testing: evaluating whether the on-paper specifications translate into seamless real-world reliability. While the latest iteration boasts extended battery life and enhanced performance, it encounters notable challenges in surpassing its predecessor in terms of overall usability. Let's dissect the areas where Samsung has excelled and where opportunities for improvement remain.
Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 FE+ Review
The Positives: A Trio of Standout Features
The Galaxy Tab S10 FE+ shines in several key aspects:1. A Visually Engaging Display:
The expansive 13.1-inch screen with a resolution of 2880 x 1800 pixels stands out as the device's most compelling attribute. The reviewer lauded the display's ability to showcase vibrant colors, whether experiencing the lively world of a new Mario Kart game or appreciating the hues of upcoming superhero costumes. The sheer size provides ample screen real estate, particularly beneficial for users intending to run multiple applications simultaneously, potentially making the FE+ a more appealing choice than the smaller 10.9-inch Tab S10 FE with its 2304 x 1440 resolution. For individuals prioritizing a large, portable screen without venturing into premium laptop costs, the Galaxy Tab S10 FE+ appears to be a strong contender.Adding to the visual experience is the inclusion of a 90Hz refresh rate, offering smoother scrolling and animations compared to the 60Hz limitation of the iPad Air. This enhanced fluidity was particularly noticeable when navigating windows in Samsung's DeX mode. The display also boasts a rated peak brightness of 800 nits, proving sufficient for outdoor use in shaded environments. However, it fell short under direct sunlight, highlighting a discrepancy with Samsung's promotional emphasis on brightness. Complementing the visuals are capable speakers delivering clear and accurate audio for both music and spoken-word content.2. Impressive Battery Endurance:
A significant strength of the Galaxy Tab S10 FE+ is its enhanced battery life. In a controlled looping 4K video playback test, the device achieved an impressive 14 hours and 18 minutes, surpassing its predecessor, the Tab S9 FE+, by over 45 minutes andoutlasting the 11-inch iPad Air M3 by more than four hours. Anecdotaltesting further corroborated this longevity, with the tablet retaining a substantial 26% battery after over seven hours of mixed usage,including document creation, video streaming, and video conferencing.The Tab S10 FE+ also supports fast charging up to 45W, promising relatively quick refueling times with compatible chargers.
3. Solid Performance for its Mid-Range Positioning:
The Galaxy Tab S10 FE+ delivers smooth and responsive performance for everyday tasks. Applications such as social media platforms,communication tools, and productivity suites loaded and ran withoutissue, with seamless switching between them. Light gaming, includingtitles like Asphalt Legends: Unite and Honkai: Star Rail, was alsohandled capably. While multitasking with three apps simultaneously wasgenerally smooth, the reviewer noted a slight lag in adjusting windowsizes and placements.
Under the hood, the tablet features a Samsung Exynos octa-core processor, a common chipset in Samsung's mid-range offerings. The base configuration includes 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage, with the reviewed unit boasting an upgraded 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage. Standard connectivity options include a USB-C port and a microSD card reader for expandable storage (regrettably, a headphone jack is absent).Benchmark scores on Geekbench 6 reflected a performance improvement of32% to 35% over the Tab S9 FE+. However, the latest iPad Air with itsApple M3 chip significantly outperformed the Tab S10 FE+ in these tests, underscoring the prowess of Apple's silicon.
4. Value-Added Features:
Samsung deserves credit for incorporating both fingerprint and facial recognition for biometric authentication. This inclusion contrasts with Apple'sstrategy of reserving facial recognition for its higher-end iPad Promodels. While the facial recognition on the Tab S10 FE+ occasionallystruggled in low-light conditions, the presence of both options provides user convenience. Furthermore, Samsung bundles its S Pen stylus for free, a notable inclusion absent from offerings by Amazon and Apple. Whilethe included S Pen may not be the most advanced stylus available, itoffers a decent writing experience with low latency, adding significantvalue to the overall package.
5. Capable Rear Camera:
Despite the inherent awkwardness of using a large tablet as a primary camera, the 13-megapixel rear camera on the Galaxy Tab S10 FE+ impressed the reviewer with its ability to capture decent color and detail in various outdoor scenarios. While not a replacement for a dedicatedsmartphone camera, the rear shooter is capable of capturing shareableimages in a pinch.
The Negatives: Areas Hindering the User Experience
Despite its strengths, the Galaxy Tab S10 FE+ exhibits several drawbacks that impact its overall usability:
1. An Overly Large Design:
While the expansive 13.1-inch display is initially appealing, the reviewer found the overall size of the Tab S10 FE+ to be excessively large, making it feel somewhat unwieldy. Comparing it to the 13-inch iPad ProM4 revealed that the Samsung tablet is notably longer (0.74 inches),contributing to an ungainly feel when held. The 1.5-pound weight further adds to the awkwardness. The reviewer also experienced frequentaccidental screen rotation, necessitating the locking of theorientation. Typing on the on-screen keyboard proved cumbersome in bothlandscape (too wide) and portrait (too tall and narrow) orientations.The reviewer ultimately recommended that most users opt for the smallerand more affordable 10.9-inch Tab S10 FE unless a truly massive tabletis a definite requirement.
2. Flawed Productivity Ambitions with Buggy DeX Mode:
Seeking to leverage the large screen for productivity, the reviewer explored Samsung's DeX mode, a windowed interface designed to emulate desktop operating systems.While pairing a Bluetooth mouse and keyboard allowed for basicmultitasking, the experience was marred by significant bugs. The appswitcher frequently failed to display all recently opened apps or showapp previews. More critically, core productivity apps like Slack andZoom exhibited disruptive behavior, with text composition windows inSlack taking over the entire screen and the Zoom chat functionality also seizing the full display. These issues rendered DeX mode unreliable for serious productivity tasks, leading the reviewer to conclude that it is not a viable replacement for a traditional laptop. The unreliability of critical apps undermines the very purpose of a productivity-focusedmode.
3. Largely Ignorable AI Software Features:
Despite the increasing integration of generative AI into consumer electronics,the reviewer remained skeptical of its current utility on the Galaxy Tab S10 FE+. Several of Samsung's touted AI features proved underwhelmingor even problematic. The "upgraded" Object Eraser tool in the image editor produced unintended fuzzy artifacts. The Circle to Search feature, while occasionally useful, yielded inconsistent results and lacked support for certain apps like Hulu. The Math Solver in Samsung Notes was deemed potentially detrimental to children's learning. The handwriting assist tool showed minimal impact on the reviewer's already neat handwriting. Finally, the Best Face composite photo feature produced unnatural-looking results, and the Auto Trim video editing tool lacked sophistication. These AI features, while present, did not significantly enhance the user experience.
4. Unimpressive Front-Facing Camera:
While the rear camera performed adequately, the 12-megapixel front-facing camera left much to be desired. Selfies were deemed "decent-enough," but thequality deteriorated significantly during a Zoom call, producing anawkward zoomed-out, fish-eye-like perspective with dark and pixelatedimage quality, as noted by a colleague. This subpar front-facing cameradetracts from the tablet's utility for video conferencing.
Conclusion: A Promising Device with Room for Refinement
The Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 FE+ presents a compelling package with itslarge, vibrant display, impressive battery life, and solid performanceat an attractive price point. The inclusion of facial recognition andthe free S Pen further enhance its value proposition. However, theoverly large and somewhat unwieldy design, coupled with the buggy andunreliable DeX mode and the largely uninspiring AI features, hinder itspotential to be the undisputed best Android tablet on the market. Whileit offers significant advantages over the iPad Air in certain aspects,particularly screen size and included features at its price, theusability issues prevent it from definitively dethroning its predecessor or fully realizing its productivity ambitions. The Galaxy Tab S10 FE+is a promising device that, with further refinement in its software anddesign, could truly contend for the top spot in the Android tabletlandscape.
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