I’ll start from the beginning: for years, I haven’t found tablets appealing. Neither the iPad nor Android alternatives have captured my attention enough to justify their high price. It’s probably because I cover my tech needs with a good computer and a smartphone, so I don’t feel the need to add another intermediate device. Why am I telling you this? Because a few weeks ago, my perspective changed: Samsung sent me the Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra 5G, their crown jewel in the world of tablets.
The Korean company unveiled this tablet last September, and the very next day, it positioned itself as the most capable rival to the market leader, Apple’s iPad Pro. Just a glance at its specifications is enough to see the quality and care Samsung has put into this device.
A clear example is its 14.6-inch display, which is not only one of the largest on the market but also offers spectacular quality, enviable brightness, and technologies like 120 Hz and HDR10+. While the screen is the standout feature, other details such as its 5.4-millimeter thickness, the S Pen, the aluminum body, and the power of its processor make this a complete product.
It’s hard to aim higher when you integrate the best of the best in every component, and that’s why, in my opinion, I’ve regained interest in tablets. Not so much for having a larger screen than a smartphone, but for holding a high-performance device in my hands. The Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra 5G exudes quality from every angle, and just having it on the table makes you want to use it for any task.
A Stunning Display
Holding the Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra in your hands is a unique experience. It weighs 723 grams, which might seem excessive, but it doesn’t feel like a heavy device. Its massive 14.6-inch screen and 32-centimeter width might suggest a heavier build, but its 5.4 mm thickness makes it look ultra-slim and compensates for its weight.
When you turn on the screen, you understand why it has that weight and size. A 14.6-inch tablet is huge, but Samsung has optimized the bezels so that almost the entire front is dominated by the display, offering a spectacular visual experience.
It’s an exceptional screen, and although its size doesn’t allow for an incredible pixel density, the overall quality is worthy of the highest tier. It has excellent brightness for working outdoors, precise color calibration, and impeccable performance in almost any scenario.
However, I miss Dolby Vision. Samsung opts for HDR10+, which is a valuable technology but falls a bit short in dynamic range—something that should be mandatory in a professional device at this price.
Platforms like Netflix or YouTube are enjoyed to the fullest, and its size also makes it a great tool for professional applications like Lightroom for image editing or Filmora for video editing. In fact, one of the things I’ve liked most about the Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra is that, on many occasions, I haven’t missed my computer for professional tasks.
The Android Tablet for Professionals
I have no doubts: this Samsung tablet is designed to deliver maximum performance and be part of the toolkit for any professional in photography, video, or design. While it can be used as a conventional tablet, its screen, size, thickness, and performance lose their purpose if you only use it for Netflix or browsing the internet.
The Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra is a work tool for those who need a large, high-quality touchscreen that’s always ready to use. In my case, I’ve mainly used it alongside my camera. With a simple hub, I connect the SD card to the tablet and can view, edit, and share everything I do in one place.
Of course, this can also be done with a computer, but its format and weight, even if it’s a laptop, aren’t as practical for constant mobility. Plus, with the Tab S10 Ultra’s screen, you don’t feel like anything is missing, allowing for maximum performance in video or photo editing tasks.
In fact, it seems that the limits are set more by the operating system—Android 14, in this case—than by the device itself. I miss more options in tools like Photoshop, some professional video editors, or drawing applications. Apple, in certain niches like Final Cut Pro, handles these needs better and gets more out of a flagship product like the iPad Pro.
Is the Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra Worth It?
When you have the best of the best, it’s hard to recommend it to everyone. With the Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra, that’s exactly the case: it’s the reference Android tablet and only has one rival in the market—the iPad Pro—but it’s so advanced and has such a high price that it’s almost impossible to recommend it broadly.
Just as I wouldn’t recommend buying a truck just because it has 1,000 horsepower, I also wouldn’t recommend this tablet just because it’s the best on the market. It’s a niche product, expensive, and designed to leverage professional tools with excellent portability, so I’d only consider it if you’re truly going to take advantage of its potential in this regard.
For everyone else, even if you’re looking for exceptional quality, there are other Samsung options with excellent screens, metallic designs, and more than enough power at a more accessible price. Still, if the Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra has convinced you, you can find it on Samsung’s website for €1,409 in its 5G version with 512 GB of storage.
By: Nestor Castillo, ForAllTechNews Director