This large-screen tablet gave me zero iPad Pro envy (and it's $400 off)

ZDNET’s key takeaways

• The Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra is available for up to $800 off with a trade-in credit.
• This 14.6-inch tablet is a productivity powerhouse, packed with a strong processor and Galaxy AI tools perfect for work and play.
• The Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra isn’t super portable: it’s large and the keyboard case is expensive and sold separately, and the S Pen stores awkwardly on the back.

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As a full-time writer and mother of three, I continually seek ways to boost my productivity. I love having a dependable tablet — for work or entertainment — to take along to my kids’ various activities. Usually, I depend on my iPad — with a reliable keyboard case — for these purposes, but I’ve been testing the Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra recently and have some thoughts. 

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Visually, the Tab S10 Ultra’s design and display have not changed much compared to the previous generation, which I tested in 2023.. Physically, the Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra is so similar to its predecessor that it fits seamlessly into the case I got to protect the older Tab S9 Ultra. Instead, Samsung focused its efforts on enhancing the tablet’s performance, AI capabilities, and software longevity.

At 14.6 inches, the S10 Ultra is a very large tablet. Its AMOLED 2X display features vibrant colors and supports a 120Hz refresh rate. The tablet itself is water- and dust-resistant, with an IP68 rating. However, the Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra’s imposing frame significantly detracts from its portability factor. While I love a large screen, I wouldn’t say the S10 Ultra is a tablet I’d take with me everywhere, especially without a case. 

The tablet doesn’t include a case, which is normal. However, Samsung’s official keyboard case, the Book Cover Keyboard, costs $350, with the Slim option costing $200. If you’re looking for a tablet that doubles as a laptop, the added keyboard expense must factor into a decision to buy the S10 Ultra.

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In a surprising turn of events, Samsung launched the Galaxy Tab S10 Plus and Ultra tablets with MediaTek chipsets instead of the usual Qualcomm ones. The S10 Ultra tablet has a MediaTek Dimensity 9300+ processor, which Samsung says is best suited for tasks running on artificial intelligence (AI). 

The tablet’s performance feels snappier than the previous generation, but the processing upgrade shines, especially in the AI integrations. The S10 Ultra supports Sketch-to-Image, an improved version of Note Assist, and Circle to Search, among other Galaxy AI tools. Even Bixby is smarter than ever, which I never thought I’d see. 

The generative AI features run very well in the Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra and make for a fun productivity tool for those looking to bypass an iPad Pro, for example. While Apple Intelligence has mostly rolled out to customers with recent OS updates, most of the features you can use on the Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra are still not readily available on some Apple devices.

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These AI tools are enhanced by the included S Pen, Samsung’s IP68-rated Bluetooth stylus that offers high-precision sketching and writing. I love using the S Pen to take notes and color on the tablet, but the AI tools, like Sketch-to-Image, are a new, fun way to make the most of this tool.

My biggest gripe with the S Pen is that it stows on the back of the tablet, which means it’ll constantly detach if you use it on your lap without a case.

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As for longevity, the Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra runs on Android 15 with Samsung’s One UI 7 and supports up to seven years of OS upgrades. This makes it a great option for users invested in the Samsung ecosystem, who can benefit from fast and reliable device syncing between Galaxy phones, Buds, and Watch. 

ZDNET’s buying advice

After testing the Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra for several months, I found it to be a superb option for creative professionals and productivity-focused users seeking to leverage a powerful processor and reliable AI features. 

Even those looking for an AI-powered tablet like an iPad Pro would do well to consider the Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra, especially with all the software features you get.

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The S10 Ultra is a future-proof tablet with a powerful chipset, Wi-Fi 7 support, and long-term OS updates, perfect for power users. But the tablet won’t come cheap; the S10 Ultra starts at $1,200. If you like having a tablet that doesn’t cost a mortgage payment and that you can carry anywhere to work at odd hours of the evening and play during downtimes, you’d probably do best getting a Samsung Tab S10 FE or an iPad 11th Generation.