Samsung has unveiled its latest Galaxy Tab S10 series, placing artificial intelligence (AI) at the heart of its strategy to win over tablet users. The Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra and S10+ introduce cutting-edge AI features and a focus on multitasking, making them the most advanced tablets in Samsung’s lineup. Alongside these, Samsung has launched the more affordable Galaxy S24 FE, bringing flagship features to a wider audience. Yet, the company’s bold push comes at a time when the tablet market is dominated by Apple’s iPad Pro, while OnePlus is offering a compelling low-cost alternative in the form of the OnePlus Pad 2.
The Galaxy Tab S10 Series: Samsung’s AI-Driven Workhorses
Samsung’s Galaxy Tab S10 series is a clear play to capture more of the premium tablet market, and it has put AI front and centre. The Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra, with its 14.6-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display and 120Hz refresh rate, is the flagship model. Not only does it feature a high-resolution 2960 x 1848 screen, but it also includes anti-reflective technology, making it easier to use outdoors or in bright environments—a feature that Apple’s iPad Pro notably lacks.
Under the hood, the S10 Ultra is powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 9300+ processor paired with up to 16GB of RAM, ensuring it can handle AI-heavy tasks without breaking a sweat. Samsung has integrated its Galaxy AI tools throughout, including features like Generative Edit, which allows users to manipulate images, and Note Assist, which turns handwritten scribbles into organised text. The S Pen, included with both the Ultra and the S10+, supports Air Command with AI, allowing users to access these tools quickly without diving into menus.
The S10 Ultra also doubles as a productivity powerhouse, capable of DeX mode, which transforms the tablet into a desktop-like interface for multitasking. Paired with the S Pen and keyboard accessories, the tablet can effectively serve as a laptop replacement. Its 11,200mAh battery supports Super-Fast Charging, making it ideal for long workdays, while its IP68 water and dust resistance ensures durability.
The slightly more affordable Galaxy Tab S10+ offers many of the same features but in a smaller 12.4-inch form factor, with a 2800 x 1752 resolution display. Like the Ultra, it includes DeX mode, the MediaTek Dimensity 9300+, and 12GB of RAM across both storage configurations. However, it features a slightly smaller 10,090mAh battery, though still sufficient for heavy usage.
Both tablets offer robust camera systems—13MP and 8MP ultra-wide cameras on the back, and 12MP ultra-wide front-facing cameras for high-quality video calls. Connectivity options include Wi-Fi 7, 5G, and Bluetooth 5.3. Samsung’s focus on multitasking and AI-powered productivity gives these tablets a clear edge for professionals who need a device capable of handling multiple tasks simultaneously.
Galaxy S24 FE: Flagship Features for the Masses
Alongside its premium tablets, Samsung has launched the Galaxy S24 FE, aimed at bringing flagship-level features to a broader audience. The S24 FE is powered by the same Exynos 2400 series chipset that runs Samsung’s flagship S24 series, ensuring that users get powerful AI capabilities without the premium price tag.
The Galaxy S24 FE includes many of the AI-driven features found in the higher-end S24 Ultra, such as ProVisual Engine for AI-enhanced photography and Photo Assist tools, which make editing easier. The 50MP primary camera, paired with an 8MP telephoto lens offering 3x optical zoom, delivers strong performance, while the 12MP ultra-wide lens rounds out the versatile camera setup. For selfies, the front-facing 10MP camera ensures crisp images and video.
The 6.7-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display supports a 120Hz refresh rate, offering smooth scrolling and gaming experiences. The 4700mAh battery, along with 25W fast charging, promises all-day power, and the device features Samsung Knox security for robust data protection. Importantly, the S24 FE also boasts an IP68 rating, ensuring it can handle dust and water exposure.
The Galaxy S24 FE is positioned to compete in the mid-tier market, making many of Samsung’s flagship features accessible to users who might not want to pay for the premium S24 Ultra or S24+ models.
Apple’s iPad Pro: The Premium Benchmark
Despite Samsung’s focus on AI and multitasking, Apple’s iPad Pro remains the dominant player in the high-end tablet market. Apple’s recent refresh of the iPad Pro has introduced the M4 processor, a laptop-class chip that offers blazing-fast performance, outperforming most notebooks. With a tandem OLED display and superior processing power, the iPad Pro is an attractive option for creatives and professionals alike.
What sets Apple apart is its upcoming on-device generative AI processing, which will arrive with iPadOS 18.1 in October. While Samsung’s Galaxy AI offers robust cloud-based AI tools, Apple’s M4 chip will handle AI tasks directly on the device, reducing reliance on cloud servers and enhancing privacy—a key concern for many users. This leap in AI performance, combined with the iPad Pro’s superior hardware, presents a major challenge for Samsung’s new tablets.
However, Apple’s iPad Pro still struggles with multitasking. iPadOS has yet to fully match the fluidity of Samsung’s DeX mode, which allows for a more seamless multi-window experience, and Samsung’s anti-reflective displays provide a usability advantage that the iPad Pro currently lacks.
OnePlus Pad 2: The Affordable Challenger
On the lower end of the market, Samsung’s new tablets also face pressure from OnePlus. The OnePlus Pad 2, priced at under Rs 40,000, packs the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip, delivering impressive performance for its price. With a 144Hz display and all-day battery life, the OnePlus Pad 2 offers an attractive balance of high-end specifications at a more affordable price point.
While the OnePlus Pad 2 doesn’t offer the AI features or ecosystem integration that Samsung’s Galaxy Tab S10 series does, its Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor ensures fast, reliable performance for everyday use, making it a strong contender in the budget segment. For users who prioritise price over cutting-edge AI features, the OnePlus Pad 2 provides a compelling alternative to Samsung’s mid-range offerings.
The Road Ahead for Samsung
Samsung’s Galaxy Tab S10 series and Galaxy S24 FE signal the company’s intent to push AI integration deeper into its ecosystem, while also providing more robust multitasking tools than its competitors. With features like DeX mode, anti-reflective displays, and a wide range of generative AI tools, Samsung is positioning itself as a leader in AI-driven tablets.
However, the company faces challenges on two fronts. At the premium end, Apple’s iPad Pro continues to set the benchmark with its M4 chip and upcoming on-device AI processing, while on the affordable side, the OnePlus Pad 2 provides a highly capable alternative at a lower price.
The Galaxy Tab S10 series and Galaxy S24 FE will be available globally from September 27, 2024, with pre-orders already live. Samsung’s success will depend on how well it can convince consumers that its AI and multitasking capabilities offer enough value to stand out in a market dominated by Apple’s premium hardware and OnePlus’s price-conscious performance.
