Galaxy Tab S10 FE Plus: The Rugged Multitasker That Can't Beat Apple

Samsung's Galaxy Tab S10 FE Plus. It's a mouthful, I know. And after spending a few hours with it, so too is the case for the experience. On the surface, Samsung is positioning this as a premium, large-screen tablet. Is it truly prepared to take on the iPad Air? Let's be real: For many, it's like a heavyweight boxer stepping into the ring against a seasoned MMA fighter. One can go to work with clear advantage over the other – and both can possibly pack a punch.

Does Ruggedness Trump Raw Power?

Samsung’s Tab S10 FE Plus gets the durability right on the money, though. That IP68 rating? Fantastic. The all-metal chassis? Feels premium. You might be able to safely drop this beast from a second story window and it’d laugh at the trauma. This is where the “surprising connection” gets interesting. It’s like comparing a Land Rover Defender to a Porsche 911. The Defender tackles the toughest terrain like it’s a walk in the park. At the same time, the 911 provides both blistering speed and track-ready performance. The Tab S10 FE Plus is your Defender – trusted, tested, ready for whatever the day (or school year) sends your way.

The iPad Air is the Porsche. It’s no longer a question of whether you can accomplish any specific task, but rather how quickly and in what streamlined manner you’re able to do it. The Exynos 1580 chipset, though perfectly suited for most tasks, simply lacks that kind of raw horsepower like what Apple’s M3 brings to the table. We’re referring to radically improved load times for apps, radically improved performance in video editing, and in fact overall UI just snappiness. This is maddening, given the context of the cost.

And while we’re on the topic of price, let’s be honest with Anxiety/Fear. Instead, you are going to spend $649 on a highly premium feeling tablet that fails to deliver that premium experience. There are much cheaper tablets available, including with much better performance such as the Lenovo Idea Tab Pro. Are you paying for the Samsung name? Wondering how much you’re paying for Dex and the S Pen? Yes, probably. Are you truly wringing out every bit of performance per dollar spent? Honestly, no.

Dex: The Multitasking Mirage?

Samsung’s Dex environment is frequently heralded as the best multitasking experience on a tablet. And, look, I get it. You can open several layers at once and adjust your workspace to your liking. That configuration really does make you feel like you’re in front of a desktop, it’s pretty awesome! I use it, and I like it. It’s wonderful for drafting blog posts, conducting research, scheduling social media, and so much more.

Dex is something of a mirage as well. It makes a lot of big promises, but it mostly fails to deliver. The absence of external monitor support is killer. So if you’re really in it for productivity, you’ll want to hook your new tablet up to a big ol’ display. And yet, the Tab S10 FE Plus defies logic and fails to do that. It’s akin to having a sports car but putting a governor on the engine. You are capable of something truly great, but something is stopping you from achieving it.

One UI 7, running on Android 15, is as jam-packed and customizable as ever. But it feels…clunky. All the while, I had to be patient with stutters and slowdowns just doing basic tasks. Seriously? Not exactly a dream come true. This is a premium tablet, not a budget phone. It's an outrage that a device at this price point doesn't offer a consistently smooth user experience. It’s enough to make you question if Samsung is becoming too feature-happy versus performance-conscious.

S Pen: The Undeniable Value Proposition

Okay, let's talk about the S Pen. Camera In this department, Samsung totally trounces the competition. The included S Pen is a fantastic value add, especially when you consider that Apple charges extra for the Apple Pencil.

It makes the S Pen smaller, lighter and free of any need to charge it. It’s just wonderful for taking notes, making sketches, and panning around the OS. I’ve used it to notate PDFs, produce visual mind maps and even touch up images. Toy, it’s a surprisingly versatile tool that provides a huge amount of added value to the Tab S10 FE Plus.

Consider the S Pen to be a master craftsman’s tool. It’s the carpenter’s favorite hammer, or a chef’s best knife. It's intuitive, reliable, and extends the capabilities of the tablet in ways that touch input simply can't.

Adding the S Pen to the mix was a clever move by Samsung. That last feature is what truly sets the Tab S10 FE Plus apart from Apple’s iPad Air. More importantly, it makes the tablet a far more attractive tool for creative pros and students. It's a genuine joy to use.

The Galaxy Tab S10 FE Plus is a promising mid-range tablet with plenty to recommend. And that big, high-res display, solid construction, and handy S Pen are the big advantages. Yet its frequent inconsistency in performance and glaring omission of supporting external monitor really shrinks the big picture.

At the end of the day, the iPad Air is still the better buy if you value performance and fluid user experience above all else. The Tablet S10 FE Plus is a resilient multitasker. Despite these efforts, it’s failing to keep up with Apple. For those who prioritize durability and S Pen over everything else, the Tab S10 FE Plus is one worth looking at. If you’re looking for the best bang-for-your-buck performance, turn to the iPad Air. Honestly, that’s a sadness because the FE lineup had really great potential.

Ultimately, the iPad Air remains the better choice for those who prioritize raw power and a smooth user experience. The Tab S10 FE Plus is a rugged multitasker, but it just can't beat Apple when it comes to performance. If you value durability and the S Pen above all else, the Tab S10 FE Plus is worth considering. But if you want the best possible performance for your money, stick with the iPad Air. And frankly, that's a Sadness because the FE lineup had so much potential.

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