I have never been a huge fan of tablets.

Despite the hoo-ha generated at its introduction and its subsequent iterations, tablets have always been akin to the spork when it comes to smart devices: jack of all trades, master of none. Function-wise, they sit in the awkward middle ground between the portability of smartphones and the combination of productivity and performance of a standard work laptop.

Yet, over the years, rarely has it been able to excel in any specific task, making it a less-viable option for those looking to upgrade their laptop as a daily works machine.

They are awkward to handle, and even more so, to store once you’re done with using it. Also, typing on a slab of glass will never achieve the same tactile response as typing on a physical keyboard as found on your average laptop. With keyboards and accessories already being sold separately, as well as compatibility between third-party brands and price are the major factors which discourage migration.

As a media devices, while the extra screen real estate is a definite plus compared to your standard smartphone, software compatibility and optimization coupled with the restraints of technology of the time deemed many tablets as oversized, underpowered smartphones.

Until now.

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S10+ pretty much answers all the questions and addresses concerns when it comes to migrating from your traditional laptop to a more sleek, modern setup. While it did take us a couple of days to get used to porting our daily work machine from the Lenovo ThinkPad to the Galaxy Tab S10+, the transition has been generally smooth, save for the weird need of wanting to scroll the screen with a phantom touchpad.

Running on Android 14, One UI 6.1 and powered by a Mediatek Dimensity 9300+ Octa-core processor, the Tab S10+ blurs the line between a tablet and laptops, while simultaneously redefining what tablets ought to deliver. Navigating through the device feels like second nature especially for those who are already using Android smartphones prior. The transition is made even more seamless should you choose to ‘clone’ your device via Samsung’s Smart Switch app which literally ‘copies’ your current device into the new; down to the wallpapers and app folders.

Unlike its contemporaries, the Tab S10+ comes with expandable storage with the options for either Wifi or 5G variants. This makes the Tab S10+ a very capable mobile work station even when outside the range of Wi-Fi access. It is robust thanks to its enhanced Armor Aluminum chassis and is certified IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min). So unlike your work laptop which conks out at the splash of water or dust, this bad boy is certified beach-holiday ready.

A Very Competent Jack of All Trades

Samsung has been actively selling the idea of their Samsung-AI-powered devices for a while now and in the Tab S10+, we may have the most powerful and advanced version to date. Those with artistic tendencies would have a field day playing about with the baked-in artsy apps coupled with the full-sized S Pen, while those who demand more from their devices for say, video work, would find a larger screen with a precise pointing tool in the S Pen a godsend to edit and assemble video clips while on-the-go. Whether it is adequate to replace your workstation tower, it’s probably still too early to call. But what we can attest to is that those who feel stifled by a portable device’s performance may have found a sweet spot in the Tab S10+.

The book cover which comes with a keyboard solves the text-input issue. But perhaps this may be the area Samsung might want to focus on next – releasing a top-notch portable keyboard to go with their large-screened devices. The typing experience on it isn’t terrible but there’s lots of room to improve on.

No one buys tablets for their camera setup but it is good that the Tab S10+ package comes with a respectable offering of a 12MP wide-angled front-facing camera while with the rear camera, the ability to record 4K at 30fps.

But what about non-work-related stuff? In a nutshell, it’s awesome. A large slab of glass built to a screen ratio of 16:10 makes streaming videos on the Tab S10+ a joy. The sound emitting from all four speakers (two on each side if you’re in landscape mode) are crisp, punchy and clear making them a great device for consuming media, especially movies and shows with tons of action scenes.

The screen is bright enough to enjoy your shows even under the harshest of lighting although it will drain your battery slightly faster. We also wish the bezels are slightly thinner as they do give a late 2000s vibe with the thick black strips around the border. Battery-wise, our standard use of the devices sees them last for anywhere between six to eight hours of constant use. Of course, your mileage may vary depending on what specific app you tend to use but as long as you have a power socket nearby, topping up juice should not take long thanks to the 45W charging capability.

Another downside is again, Samsung’s failing to include a charging brick with the box. That’s a massive bummer. The slight consolation is that many would already have USB-C cables and chargers scattered about but that does not absolve Samsung from failing to include them in their flagship-tier tablet.

If you have the latest gen of home consoles however, the Tab S10+ would work very well as either a backup screen or for use during travelling. We launched the latest Call of Duty game, Black Ops 6 on our Xbox and used the remote play, utilizing the Tab 10+ as a screen.  While it may be unwieldy thanks to its size, pairing an Xbox controller via Bluetooth solves the problem.

As for other mobile-based games, telling you that the Tab 10+ is able to handle them is akin to asking Neymar if he is able to juggle a football. He could do it with his eyes closed and both hands taped to his ankles. Some mobile games actually excel with a larger screen too, such as Marvel Snap and World of Warships Blitz.

There isn’t a 3.5mm headphone jack built in so you’ll have to rely on Bluetooth headsets or earbuds if you want to keep the audio to yourself – like the Buds3 Pro which we reviewed recently.

Plusses Across the Board

As a whole package, the Tab S10+ is indeed a very enticing option – not just for those looking for the latest and cutting-edge tablet, but also for those keen to upgrade their work setup in the most efficient way. While there are definitely areas Samsung could improve, especially in their accessories and keyboard department, the Tab S10+ will indeed stretch your ringgit for its worth.

What makes the deal even sweeter is that unlike its competitor, the S Pen comes standard with the Tab S10+ purchase and at the time of writing, Samsung even adds in the book cover with a keyboard worth RM749.00 for free. Trading in a Samsung device could save you up to RM500 more as well. Full details on this offer can be found here.

Pros

• Solid build all-around
• Clean, modern look
• A very attractive package at purchase (+ S Pen & keyboard included)
• A viable option for all-in-one work & leisure device

Cons

• Bezels could be slimmer
• Still no charging adapter

Final Score: 80/10

Vital Statistics

Platform: Android 14, One UI 6.1
Body: 285.4 x 185.4 x 5.6 mm (11.24 x 7.30 x 0.22 in), ~571g
Frame: Glass front, aluminum frame, aluminum back with IP68 dust/water resistance
Chipset: Mediatek Dimensity 9300+ (4 nm)
CPU: Octa-core (1×3.4 GHz Cortex-X4 & 3×2.8 GHz Cortex-X4 & 4×2.0 GHz Cortex-A720)
GPU: Immortalis-G720 MC12
Display: Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 120Hz, HDR10+, 12.4 inches, 16:10 screen ratio
Memory (Internal): 256GB 12GB RAM + expandable memory
Main Camera: 13 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (wide), 8 MP, f/2.2, (ultrawide)
Video: 4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps, HDR10+
Sound: Stereo speakers x4, no jacks given
Battery: Li-Po 10090 mAh, non-removable
Price: Starts from RM 5,249 (256GB, 12GB RAM)

A review unit was sent to us courtesy of Samsung Malaysia