Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 FE Ultimate Review: Big Screen Small Price Great Software
Samsung’s secret weapon? Choice. Critics might scoff at the sheer avalanche of Galaxy devices phones, tablets, watches, the whole shebang but that’s missing the point. It’s a buffet of tech, tailored for every taste and budget. Take tablets: you’ve got the reliable Galaxy Tab A, then the powerhouse Galaxy Tab S series at the top. But the real sweet spot? The Galaxy Tab S FE. It’s like a near-flagship experience without the flagship price tag, hitting that "just right" zone.
Fresh off the heels of reviewing the Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra and the OnePlus Pad 3, I’ve now got my hands on Samsung’s latest contender in the affordable premium space: the Galaxy Tab S10 FE. This isn’t the powerhouse "Plus" model, but the entry-level version, hitting shelves at the $500 mark. Coming from those flagship experiences, I had to temper my expectations… or so I thought.
Despite past performance, my hopes for the Galaxy Tab S10 FE remained sky-high, especially considering Samsung’s knack for optimizing software on expansive screens. Thankfully, Samsung didn’t disappoint.
Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 FE Specs
Here is the spec list for the Galaxy Tab S10 FE.
Display
| | | | — | — | | Type | 1440p, IPS LCD, 90Hz | | Size | 10.9-inch | | Resolution | 2304 x 1440 |
Body
| | | | — | — | | Dimensions | 254.3 x 165.8 x 6 mm | | Weight | 497g | | Build | Aluminum unibody | | SIM | Nano-SIM and eSIM (Cellular Model only) | | Protection | IP68 |
Platform
| | | | — | — | | OS | Android 15 & One UI 7 (7 years of updates) | | SoC | Samsung Exynos 1580 (4nm) | | GPU | Xclipse 540 |
Memory
| | | | — | — | | RAM | 8GB or 12GB | | Storage | 128GB or 256GB |
Cameras
| | | | — | — | | Main | 13MP f/2.0 | | Selfie | 12MP f/2.4 | | Video Capture | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps |
Sound
| | | | — | — | | Speaker(s) | Dual Stereo speakers, tuned by AKG | | Audio jack | No |
Battery
| | | | — | — | | Capacity | 8,000mAh | | Charging | 45W Wired | | Charger | Not included |
Connectivity
| | | | — | — | | Sensors | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, compass, proximity (accessories only) | | Location Services | GPS, GALILEO, GLONASS, BDS, QZSS – (Cellular Model only) |
View Device Specs
Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 FE Review: Hardware and Build Quality
Tablet design often feels like navigating a hall of mirrors – same rectangular face staring back. But the Galaxy Tab S10 FE? It’s a welcome departure. While bezels persist, Samsung has sculpted a surprisingly ergonomic experience. I confess, my tablets usually reside on a table, victims of their own expansive screens (I’m looking at you, 13-inch iPad Pro and OnePlus Pad 3). Yet, the S10 FE begs to be held. It sidesteps the pitfalls of its siblings: avoiding the ultra-thin fragility of the S10 Ultra and maintaining a manageable size. This isn’t just another slab of glass; it’s a thoughtfully crafted device that’s genuinely enjoyable to use.
Encased in a cool, seamless metal unibody, the design incorporates subtle antenna lines across the back. They’re so discreet, however, that they practically vanish – I often forgot they were even there during my time with the tablet. Turning to optics, the rear features a 13MP camera, while the front houses a capable 12MP lens for selfies and video calls.
However, the Galaxy Tab S10 FE’s audio experience, while respectable, doesn’t quite reach the heights of its siblings, the S10 Plus and especially the S10 Ultra. You’ll find only two speakers here, producing sound that’s perfectly adequate but lacks the immersive, rich audio landscape offered by the S10 Ultra’s superior setup.
Samsung’s S Pen snaps magnetically to either the back or side of the tablet for safekeeping. But here’s the catch: juice it up, and it’s gotta be on the back. Why bother with the charge-only back placement? Because unlike the Galaxy S25 Ultra, this S Pen boasts Bluetooth superpowers.
The hardware is top-notch, just as you’d expect from Samsung.
Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 FE Review: Display
The Galaxy Tab S10 FE greets you with a vibrant 10.9-inch LCD display that punches well above its weight. Colors pop, and clarity shines. However, after being spoiled by the inky blacks and dazzling contrast of an AMOLED tablet, returning to LCD feels like dimming the lights just a touch. While undeniably good, the display leaves you dreaming of the visual feast an OLED screen would deliver. Its 16:10 aspect ratio ensures a cinematic viewing experience, though those razor-thin black bars might occasionally peek around your videos.
The colors on this panel practically leap off the screen. There’s a whisper of over-saturation, a deliberate vibrancy that I find utterly captivating. It’s not just good; it transforms watching videos into a genuinely pleasurable experience.
Let’s talk bezels. The display is LCD, which is what I expected given the price. However, the bezels? They’re thicc. We’re talking 8.5mm borders surrounding the 10.9" Galaxy Tab S10 FE screen. Compare that to the nearly bezel-less Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra, which boasts a 14.6" display framed by a mere 5mm. Sure, the Ultra’s larger screen makes the bezelsappearslimmer, but the FE’s bezels are noticeably chunkier.
Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 FE Review: Performance
The Galaxy Tab S10 FE rocks an Exynos 1580, a solid engine that keeps things humming without breaking the bank. It’s no Snapdragon 8 Elite, granted, but paired with 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage, it’s proven surprisingly adept. Honestly, I’ve been impressed. This tablet hasn’t flinched, tackling every task I’ve thrown its way. A Snapdragon powerhouse would undoubtedly offer more raw muscle, but that would also catapult the price. The Tab S10 FE hits a sweet spot, delivering smooth performance without emptying your wallet.
Samsung nailed it with the side-mounted fingerprint sensor integrated into the power button. It’s a masterstroke of convenience. In a world trending towards facial recognition, like the iPad Pro and the OnePlus Pad 3, Samsung’s approach feels refreshingly practical. A simple press, and you’re in. It’s intuitive, reliable, and just plain works.
Benchmarks
"We put tablets through the wringer, just like smartphones. Benchmarks are our truth serum, revealing each device’s performance capabilities."
First, we unleash Geekbench 6. This isn’t just a test; it’s a cage match for raw power. We’ll dissect its scores, revealing the tablet’s true potential in single-core sprints, multi-core marathons, and GPU-powered visual feasts. Prepare to witness the numbers that define its processing prowess.
| Device | Geekbench Single-Core | Geekbench Multi-Core | Geekbench GPU | | — | — | — | — | | Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 FE | 1,366 | 3,936 | 6,539 | | Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra | 2,191 | 7,358 | 12,204 | | OnePlus Pad 3 | 2,994 | 9,044 | 19,178 | | Apple iPad Pro (M4) | 3,756 | 13,306 | 53,342 |
The Galaxy Tab S10 FE’s single-core score landed at 1,366. To put that into perspective, imagine it running a marathon while its competitors are zooming by in sports cars. We pitted it against heavy hitters like the Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra (Dimensity 9300), the OnePlus Pad 3 (Snapdragon 8 Elite), and the iPad Pro with its desktop-grade M4 chip. The result? Let’s just say the M4 didn’t just win; it lapped the field.
| Device | AnTuTu Score | | — | — | | Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 FE | 888,352 | | Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra | 2,351,930 | | OnePlus Pad 3 | 2,806,068 | | Apple iPad Pro (M4) | 2,797,277 |
AnTuTu, the all-encompassing benchmark, dissects every facet of the tablet’s performance, culminating in a single, definitive score. The result? A genuine shock. It clocked in considerably lower than the competition. Yet, frustratingly, these numbers echo the trends we observed during Geekbench testing.
Even after an hour-long Genshin Impact marathon at full blast, the Galaxy Tab S10 FE kept its cool, clocking in at a reasonable 96 degrees Fahrenheit. Considering its spacious design, that’s hardly surprising. While it runs a tad warmer than the OnePlus Pad 3, remember that the OnePlus boasts a massive vapor chamber dedicated to heat dissipation.
Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 FE Review: Battery Life
The Galaxy Tab S10 FE laughs in the face of battery anxiety. Housing a robust 8,000mAh power plant, this tablet is built for endurance. Paired with its energy-sipping processor, the Tab S10 FE delivers marathon battery life – truly setting a new benchmark in tablet longevity. In fact, we were blown away; it boasts some of the most impressive battery performance we’ve encountered.
The tablet sips power, not guzzles it. We squeezed a solid 7-9 hours of screen time from it daily – enough to binge a season or two, or power through a workday’s worth of emails and edits. Battery life lands right in the sweet spot with comparable tablets. Light users might even stretch it across multiple days, making it the perfect travel companion.
Fueling up is fast and efficient with 45W charging support. While the massive battery promises hours of usage, it only requires a couple of hours to reach full capacity.
Battery life and charging are not an issue with the Galaxy Tab S10 FE, thankfully.
Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 FE Review: Software
Android 15 gets the Samsung treatment with One UI 7 on the Galaxy Tab S10 FE, and the result? Pure tablet bliss. Forget stretched-out phone apps – Samsung’s crafted an experience that sings on this expansive display. It’s clear they sweated the details, delivering software that’s genuinelyuseful, not just an afterthought.
Unleash your inner productivity ninja with the Tab S10 FE’s multitasking prowess. Juggle apps like a pro with split-screen views, or float a window for that extra bit of screen magic. Imagine conquering emails while binge-watching YouTube, or flawlessly notetaking during a chaotic Zoom meeting. While it might not quite match the silky-smooth iPadOS experience, it’s a giant leap beyond the clunky multitasking of other Android tablets. Get ready to work, play, and create – all at the same time.
The S Pen doesn’t just come with this device; it feels intrinsically part of it. Gliding across the screen, it’s a natural extension of your thoughts, translating ideas into digital reality with uncanny accuracy. Whether you’re sketching a masterpiece in Notes or deftly snipping content with Smart Select, the S Pen transforms mundane tasks into moments of creative flow. Forget clumsy thumb-typing – now you wield a pinpoint-precise navigation tool, effortlessly maneuvering through menus and links. And the handwriting-to-text? It’s not just a novelty; it’s a legitimate productivity powerhouse, seamlessly converting your scribbles into polished prose.
Unleash your inner artist with One UI 7’s dazzling customization options. Reimagine your home screen, paint it with vibrant themes, and orchestrate a symphony of icons. Feeling adventurous? Dive into custom routines that bend your tablet to your will. But the rabbit hole goes deeper: Samsung’s Good Lock app, a treasure trove in the Galaxy App Store, hands you the keys to personalize virtually every facet of your tablet experience. Consider the mundane, vanquish it, and build a tablet experience uniquely, gloriouslyyou.
Samsung isn’t just selling you a tablet; they’re offering peace of mind. The Tab S10 FE is fortified with Samsung Knox, delivering defense-grade security whether you’re conquering spreadsheets remotely or unwinding with a home-based browse. Beyond immediate protection, this tablet is future-proofed with seven years of Android OS upgrades and consistent security patches, ensuring your device stays cutting-edge and safe for years to come.
Overall, the software doesn’t get in the way it actually helps you get stuff done.
Should you buy the Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 FE?
The Galaxy Tab S10 FE isn’t reinventing the wheel, and frankly, it doesn’t need to. Think of it as a carefully refined Galaxy Tab S9 FE, polished to a gleam. In a world of yearly smartphone churn, tablets occupy a different space. They’re the durable workhorses, the companions that stick around for half a decade or more. So, these measured, iterative improvements? They’re not just welcome; they’re perfectly pitched.
Craving a tablet that won’t break the bank or your back? Escape the oversized behemoths like the OnePlus Pad 3 and iPad Pro. The Galaxy Tab S10 FE hits the sweet spot: affordability meets portability.
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