Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 Review: Still Worth It in 2026

Samsung announced the Galaxy Tab S10+ and Tab S10 Ultra on September 26, 2024, and released them on October 3, 2024. The cheaper Tab S10 FE and Tab S10 FE+ followed in April 2025, and the entry-level Tab S10 Lite in August 2025, according to GSMArena. Since then Samsung has launched two newer flagship generations: the Tab S11 series in September 2025 and the Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra and Tab S12+ on September 30, 2026. That leaves the S10 flagships two generations behind, so the question in late 2026 is whether any S10 model is still a sensible buy.

We have not tested these tablets. This review draws on the published reviews from TechRadar (Tab S10 Ultra, Tab S10 Plus and Tab S10 FE) and Android Central (Tab S10 Ultra), GSMArena’s specifications, Samsung’s update commitments and the prices on Samsung’s U.S. store.

The Tab S10 Family at a Glance

Model	Display	Chip	Battery	Samsung U.S. price (Nov. 1, 2026)
Tab S10 Ultra	14.6-inch AMOLED, 120Hz	Dimensity 9300+	11,200mAh	Not listed
Tab S10+	12.4-inch AMOLED, 120Hz	Dimensity 9300+	10,090mAh	From $1,099.99
Tab S10 FE	10.9-inch LCD, 90Hz	Exynos 1580	8,000mAh	From $549.99
Tab S10 FE+	13.1-inch LCD, 90Hz	Exynos 1580	10,090mAh	Listed
Tab S10 Lite	10.9-inch LCD, 90Hz	Exynos 1380	8,000mAh	From $399.99

Specifications from GSMArena; prices are approximate and change often. “AMOLED” here is Samsung’s Dynamic AMOLED 2X with HDR10+.

Tab S10 Ultra: The Biggest Screen, the Weakest Battery

The S10 Ultra has a 14.6-inch, 2,960 x 1,848 Dynamic AMOLED 2X display, a 5.4mm aluminum body weighing 718g, and IP68 dust and water resistance. It launched at $1,199.99 for 12GB/256GB, $1,319.99 for 12GB/512GB and $1,619.99 for 16GB/1TB, according to Android Central.

Android Central’s Andrew Myrick describes it as essentially the Tab S9 Ultra with updated internals in the same shell, which has a practical upside: Tab S9 Ultra cases fit. His site named it the best tablet of 2024, yet his own recommendation was to buy the cheaper Tab S10+ instead. In his Geekbench 6 results, the S10 Ultra scored 2,021 single-core and 6,855 multi-core, against 2,075 and 5,505 for the Tab S9 Ultra, and he doubts most people would notice a difference in a blind test.

TechRadar’s Philip Berne was far harsher, calling it “a gigantic mid-range tablet, not a premium flagship” because Apple’s similarly priced iPad Pro has a much faster chip. His biggest complaint was battery life, which he called “frankly, unacceptable”: in TechRadar’s Future Labs test the S10 Ultra lasted just over 9 hours, less than the roughly 9.5 hours of the Tab S9 Ultra and far short of the almost 15 hours of the 13-inch iPad Pro. He also found that the S Pen “clings loosely to the back” and recommends buying Samsung’s back cover to hold it.

Samsung’s U.S. store no longer listed the S10 Ultra when we checked on November 1, 2026. Its successor fixed the main weakness: Tom’s Guide measured almost three more hours of battery life on the Tab S11 Ultra, as covered in our Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra review.

Tab S10+: The Model Reviewers Recommended

The Tab S10+ uses the same Dimensity 9300+ chip in a 12.4-inch body that is 5.6mm thick and weighs 571g, with 12GB of memory and 256GB or 512GB of storage. TechRadar’s Zachariah Kelly titled his review “a performance powerhouse for artists,” praising the display, the included S Pen and Samsung’s handwriting tools, and noting that the 12.4-inch screen is larger than the similarly priced 11-inch iPad Pro.

The 10,090mAh battery was a highlight for him. After three hours of watching a film, the tablet still had 59% left, and he rarely needed to charge it during his review period. Charging is the trade-off: a full charge from empty took 1 hour and 50 minutes. He also found the tablet awkward to hold in portrait orientation, partly because the S Pen’s charging strip on the back felt rough against his fingers.

The pricing has not aged well. The S10+ launched at $999.99, according to TechRadar, but Samsung’s U.S. store listed it from about $1,100 ($1,099.99 for 256GB) on November 1, 2026. That is more than Samsung’s store price for the newer 11-inch Tab S11 ($999.99) and within about $100 of the Tab S12+, which launched at $1,199.

Tab S10 FE: The Value Pick

The Tab S10 FE is the most relevant S10 model in 2026. It has a 10.9-inch, 2,304 x 1,440 IPS LCD at 90Hz, Samsung’s Exynos 1580 chip with 8GB/128GB or 12GB/256GB, an 8,000mAh battery with 45W charging, IP68 water resistance and an S Pen in the box, according to TechRadar. The larger Tab S10 FE+ uses a 13.1-inch LCD and a 10,090mAh battery (GSMArena).

TechRadar’s Josh Russell, reviewing it in July 2026, found it handled productivity work without noticeable slowdown. Battery life was a standout: after five hours of streaming video, the battery was still at 74%, in line with Samsung’s estimate of around 20 hours, and a full charge took 1 hour and 44 minutes. The weaknesses were brightness and gaming. The panel peaks at 600 nits normally and 800 nits in High Brightness mode, and its reflective surface struggled under bright office lights. Call of Duty: Mobile ran steadily, but Genshin Impact made the tablet warm within about 10 minutes.

Samsung’s U.S. store listed the S10 FE from $549.99 (Wi-Fi, 128GB) on November 1, 2026, matching the list price TechRadar quotes.

Tab S10 Lite: The Cheapest Way In

The Tab S10 Lite is a step down from the FE: a 10.9-inch TFT LCD at 90Hz, an older Exynos 1380 chip, 6GB/128GB or 8GB/256GB, an 8,000mAh battery and slower 25W charging, which GSMArena lists as a full charge in 120 minutes. It shipped with Android 15 and One UI 7, and GSMArena lists it for up to seven major OS updates. Samsung’s U.S. store listed it from $399.99 on November 1, 2026. We did not find a review from one of the outlets above, so consider it mainly for reading, streaming and note-taking.

Software and Update Support

The S10+ and S10 Ultra shipped with Android 14 and One UI 6.1.1, and Samsung confirmed seven years of Android, One UI and security updates for both, with Android 21 as the final major upgrade, SamMobile reported. There is a catch: Samsung lists them for quarterly rather than monthly security updates, with patches through October 2031, according to 9to5Google.

The FE models are less clear. They launched on Android 15 with One UI 7, and GSMArena now lists them as upgradable to Android 16 and One UI 8.5. When a buyer asked Samsung about the FE update policy, customer care said seven years but did not make clear whether that covers OS upgrades as well as security patches, according to SamMobile. Our Android tablet OS update guide explains how to check for and install updates.

Multitasking is a common strength. TechRadar’s S10 Ultra review counts up to four windows on screen at once and calls Samsung’s software better for multitasking than Apple’s, and Android Central’s reviewer kept his S10 Ultra in DeX, Samsung’s desktop-style mode, most of the time.

S Pen and Keyboards

All three reviewed models include the S Pen. On the S10+ and S10 Ultra it is a Wacom EMR pen with a battery for Bluetooth features; it still draws without a charge, according to TechRadar. That differs from the Tab S11 generation, whose pen dropped Bluetooth.

Keyboards draw the most criticism. TechRadar calls Samsung’s S10 Ultra keyboard cover “flimsy and unpleasant.” Android Central found the trackpad-equipped Book Cover Keyboard uncomfortable on a lap, and the Book Cover Keyboard Slim more rigid but without a trackpad. Our Android tablet keyboard cases guide covers current alternatives.

Should You Buy a Tab S10 in 2026?

Tab S10 FE: still the easiest S10 model to recommend. At about $550 it offers IP68 protection, an included S Pen and long battery life, provided you are not buying it mainly for demanding games.
Tab S10+: worth it only at a real discount. At Samsung’s list price, the newer Tab S11 costs less and the Tab S12+ costs only about $100 more.
Tab S10 Ultra: consider it only if you find one well below the price of the newer Ultras and can live with battery life that TechRadar measured at just over 9 hours.
Tab S10 Lite: a budget option for media and notes; compare it with the other low-cost tablets in our Android tablet buying guide.

For the newer alternatives, see our best Android tablets of 2026.

Sources

TechRadar — Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra review: a Great Dane tablet that thinks it’s a lap dog (Philip Berne, January 16, 2025) — accessed November 1, 2026
Android Central — Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra review: The behemoth is back (Andrew Myrick, March 9, 2025) — accessed November 1, 2026
TechRadar — Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 Plus review: a performance powerhouse for artists (Zachariah Kelly, November 8, 2024) — accessed November 1, 2026
TechRadar — Samsung Tab S10 FE review (Josh Russell, July 24, 2026) — accessed November 1, 2026
GSMArena — Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra specifications — accessed November 1, 2026
GSMArena — Samsung Galaxy Tab S10+ specifications — accessed November 1, 2026
GSMArena — Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 FE specifications — accessed November 1, 2026
GSMArena — Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 FE+ specifications — accessed November 1, 2026
GSMArena — Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 Lite specifications — accessed November 1, 2026
SamMobile — How many years of updates will Galaxy Tab S10+ and Ultra get? — accessed November 1, 2026
SamMobile — How many years of updates for Galaxy Tab S10 FE? It’s confusing (April 2025) — accessed November 1, 2026
9to5Google — Samsung’s new Galaxy Tab S10 still only gets quarterly updates, but for 7 years (October 8, 2024) — accessed November 1, 2026
Samsung US — Buy Galaxy Tab S10+, Galaxy Tab S10 FE and Galaxy Tab S10 Lite — prices checked November 1, 2026
Samsung US — Buy Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra and Tab S11 — prices checked November 1, 2026
GSMArena — Samsung Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra and Galaxy Tab S12+ debut (September 30, 2026) — accessed November 1, 2026