This Large-screen Tablet Gave Me Zero Ipad Pro Envy (and It's $400 Off)

ZDNET's cardinal takeaways

• The Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra is disposable for up to $800 disconnected pinch a trade-in credit.
• This 14.6-inch tablet is simply a productivity powerhouse, packed pinch a beardown processor and Galaxy AI devices cleanable for activity and play.
• The Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra isn't ace portable: it's ample and nan keyboard lawsuit is costly and sold separately, and nan S Pen stores awkwardly connected nan back.

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As a full-time writer and mother of three, I continually activity ways to boost my productivity. I emotion having a dependable tablet -- for activity aliases intermezo -- to return on to my kids' various activities. Usually, I dangle connected my iPad -- pinch a reliable keyboard lawsuit -- for these purposes, but I've been testing nan Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra precocious and person immoderate thoughts. 

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Visually, nan Tab S10 Ultra's creation and show person not changed overmuch compared to nan erstwhile generation, which I tested successful 2023.. Physically, nan Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra is truthful akin to its predecessor that it fits seamlessly into nan lawsuit I sewage to protect nan older Tab S9 Ultra. Instead, Samsung focused its efforts connected enhancing nan tablet's performance, AI capabilities, and package longevity.

At 14.6 inches, nan S10 Ultra is simply a very ample tablet. Its AMOLED 2X show features vibrant colors and supports a 120Hz refresh rate. The tablet itself is water- and dust-resistant, pinch an IP68 rating. However, nan Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra's imposing framework importantly detracts from its portability factor. While I emotion a ample screen, I wouldn't opportunity nan S10 Ultra is simply a tablet I'd return pinch maine everywhere, particularly without a case. 

The tablet doesn't see a case, which is normal. However, Samsung's charismatic keyboard case, nan Book Cover Keyboard, costs $350, pinch nan Slim action costing $200. If you're looking for a tablet that doubles arsenic a laptop, nan added keyboard disbursal must facet into a determination to bargain nan S10 Ultra.

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In a astonishing move of events, Samsung launched nan Galaxy Tab S10 Plus and Ultra tablets pinch MediaTek chipsets alternatively of nan accustomed Qualcomm ones. The S10 Ultra tablet has a MediaTek Dimensity 9300+ processor, which Samsung says is champion suited for tasks moving connected artificial intelligence (AI). 

Maria Diaz/ZDNET

The tablet's capacity feels snappier than nan erstwhile generation, but nan processing upgrade shines, particularly successful nan AI integrations. The S10 Ultra supports Sketch-to-Image, an improved type of Note Assist, and Circle to Search, among different Galaxy AI tools. Even Bixby is smarter than ever, which I ne'er thought I'd see. 

The generative AI features tally very good successful nan Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra and make for a nosy productivity instrumentality for those looking to bypass an iPad Pro, for example. While Apple Intelligence has mostly rolled retired to customers pinch caller OS updates, astir of nan features you tin usage connected nan Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra are still not readily disposable connected immoderate Apple devices.

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These AI devices are enhanced by nan included S Pen, Samsung's IP68-rated Bluetooth stylus that offers high-precision sketching and writing. I emotion utilizing nan S Pen to return notes and colour connected nan tablet, but nan AI tools, for illustration Sketch-to-Image, are a new, nosy measurement to make nan astir of this tool.

How Sketch to Image connected nan Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra generated an image from my mediocre drafting of a smartphone pinch nan ZDNET website.

Maria Diaz/ZDNET

My biggest gripe pinch nan S Pen is that it stows connected nan backmost of nan tablet, which intends it'll perpetually detach if you usage it connected your thigh without a case.

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As for longevity, nan Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra runs connected Android 15 pinch Samsung's One UI 7 and supports up to 7 years of OS upgrades. This makes it a awesome action for users invested successful nan Samsung ecosystem, who tin use from accelerated and reliable instrumentality syncing betwixt Galaxy phones, Buds, and Watch. 

ZDNET's buying advice

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra is awesome for casual gaming, pinch a refresh complaint of up to 120Hz.

Maria Diaz/ZDNET

After testing nan Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra for respective months, I recovered it to beryllium a superb action for imaginative professionals and productivity-focused users seeking to leverage a powerful processor and reliable AI features. 

Even those looking for an AI-powered tablet for illustration an iPad Pro would do good to see nan Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra, particularly pinch each nan package features you get.

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The S10 Ultra is simply a future-proof tablet pinch a powerful chipset, Wi-Fi 7 support, and semipermanent OS updates, cleanable for powerfulness users. But nan tablet won't travel cheap; nan S10 Ultra starts astatine $1,200. If you for illustration having a tablet that doesn't costs a owe costs and that you tin transportation anyplace to activity astatine overseas hours of nan evening and play during downtimes, you'd astir apt do champion getting a Samsung Tab S10 FE aliases an iPad 11th Generation.