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Hands-on review: Samsung's Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra brings the wow back to tablets

Fri, 27th Sep 2024

Hands-on review: From the moment I unboxed the brand new Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra, I knew I was holding something extraordinary.

It's hard to describe just how sleek yet sturdy this tablet looks and feels in your hands.

With its impossibly thin 5.4mm profile and a massive 14.6-inch display, it screams modern design. 

What truly impresses me is that despite its size, it feels remarkably light and comfortable to hold. The smooth, glossy finish on the back exudes elegance, and the difficult choice of both Moonstone Gray or Platinum Silver gives it a minimalist look that oozes sophistication.

The attention to detail in every aspect of the design is breathtaking. The camera module, which houses a 13MP wide-angle and 8MP ultra-wide lens, manages to stand out without disrupting the sleek lines of the tablet.

The two cameras are subtly integrated into the back, creating a seamless surface that adds to the device's aesthetic appeal. The AI enhancements ensure that every shot, no matter the lighting or conditions, looks magnificently vibrant.

The 12MP ultra-wide front-facing camera is perfect for video calls, offering sharp, clear visuals that make you feel like you're in the same room.

Whether you're using the cameras for professional work or capturing everyday moments, the results are consistently fantastic.

Now, the display.

I've never seen anything quite like the 14.6-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X screen. With a resolution of 2960 x 1848, every single pixel bursts to life with vibrant colours and stunning clarity. 

The blacks are so deep they seem to melt into the background, while the colours are vivid and rich. Even in bright sunlight, thanks to Samsung's anti-reflective technology, everything remains crisp and clear. 

The display feels like a true canvas, where every stroke, sketch, or note pops with remarkable precision. The 120Hz refresh rate adds another layer of magic, making everything feel silky smooth, whether you're scrolling through documents or switching between apps.

It's the kind of display that makes you excited to get creative, and with the Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra, it's hard not to.

The S Pen that comes with the tablet is another stroke of genius.

It's magnetic, sleek, and charges effortlessly when attached to the side of the tablet. But what really makes it stand out is how much smarter it feels. The handwriting recognition is astonishingly accurate, turning my notes into polished text in real-time.

Features like PDF Overlay Translation are a game-changer, allowing you to translate entire documents without ever leaving the screen you're working on. It's these small but powerful details that make the S Pen feel like more than just a stylus - it becomes an essential tool for both productivity and creativity.

What really took me by surprise, was the S Pen's AI-powered Air Command feature. Just hovering the pen over the screen opens up a world of possibilities. Whether it's launching apps with a gesture or summoning Samsung's AI assistant with a simple hover, it makes multitasking feel effortless.

In fact, the entire process is so intuitive and fluid that it almost feels like the tablet is predicting what you need before you even think about it. Sounds crazy right?

However, underneath all this elegance lies a beast of a performer. There's no doubt about it.

The tablet is equipped with overpowering hardware - an 18% boost in CPU, a 28% leap in GPU performance, and a 14% improvement in AI processing compared to its predecessor.

One of the most enjoyable aspects of using the Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra is being able to control your entire smart home setup directly from the tablet. With the SmartThings integration, it's incredibly satisfying to adjust the lighting, monitor energy usage, or tweak the air conditioning with just a few taps on the screen.

The audio experience on this tablet is equally impressive. The quad speakers, enhanced with AI-powered Dialogue Boost, provide rich, immersive sound that feels perfectly balanced, no matter how you're holding the device.

Whether I was watching a film, or participating in video calls, the sound was crystal clear. The voices were so amplified they perfectly cut through any background noise I expected might get in the way.

Battery life is usually a concern with devices this powerful, but the Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra handles it with ease. The 11,200 mAh battery consistently delivers a full day of usage, and when it's time to recharge, the 45W Super-Fast Charging ensures that you're never stuck waiting too long to get back to your tasks.

From its breathtaking design to its functionality, this tablet delivers in every possible way.

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