Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 FE+ Review: the Middle Child

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 FE+ is a solid tablet, but a rather unnecessary addition to the Android tablet market. The device overreaches in terms of price relative to performance.

Samsung is releasing Android tablets at a rapid pace. After the launch of the Galaxy Tab S10 Plus and Ultra in the fall of 2024, the FE versions (Fan Edition) of those same devices followed in the spring of 2025. The FE series itself contains two models, the S10 FE and FE+. Are you still following?

The plus sign in the FE+ (657 euros incl. VAT) can be taken literally. The Plus model distinguishes itself from the FE due to its larger 13-inch screen. In terms of performance and specifications, this tablet falls below the S10 duo.

Large Screen

There’s no shortage of screen space on this tablet. The 13.1-inch screen of the S10 FE+ is even larger than that of the S10+. Only the S10 Ultra is slightly bigger (14.6 inches). The thin bezels (8 mm) and slim design (6 mm) make the device comfortable to hold. The thin chassis gives a fragile impression at first touch, but the IP68 rating reassures that the device can withstand quite a bit.

The size of the screen is practical for using the tablet in both horizontal and vertical modes. In vertical position, a document fits perfectly on the screen, making this tablet a handy PDF reader. However, the tablet tends to automatically switch to vertical mode at the slightest movement.

Mirror, Mirror on the Wall

We’re not immediately impressed by the display specifications. A resolution of 1,800 x 2,880 pixels is certainly acceptable and not much less than the Ultra top model, but lower than, for example, the OnePlus Pad 2 (2,100 x 3,000). We measure a very high brightness of 775 nits. The choice for LCD screen technology instead of AMOLED is disappointing for fans of deep black values, and a maximum refresh rate of 90 Hz is not spectacular either.

These minor limitations are not insurmountable, and the Galaxy Tab S10 FE+ delivers adequate image quality for various applications. What does bother us are the reflections on the screen. This tablet holds up a mirror to you. Dark scenes in video content are almost impossible to see.

Exynos: What You Do Yourself, You Don’t Always Do Better

It’s always a surprise which processor Samsung will put in its devices. Sometimes it opts for established processor manufacturers Qualcomm and MediaTek, other times for a homemade Exynos processor. For the Galaxy Tab S10 FE+, Samsung rolls out the Exynos 1510.

CPU

When we put the processor to the test, we notice that this is not a powerhouse. The tablet is certainly not slow in daily use and delivers adequate performance for lighter applications. But in a direct comparison with other models, the S10 FE+ falls short.

That the tablet can’t compete with the top model S10 Ultra is forgivable. But you would expect the device to at least deliver equivalent performance to the S9 Ultra, which is already a year older. The fact that Samsung doesn’t equip its top models with its own processors probably says more about the confidence in the Exynos chips than the manufacturer will admit.

More painful for Samsung is that the S10 FE+ is outperformed by the cheaper Idea Pad Pro from Lenovo and the OnePlus Pad 2. There’s little ‘plus’ in its performance.

Tablet manufacturers have been trying to convince us for years that tablets also belong in a professional context. Some models substantiate this claim better than others. A tablet can be handy for taking notes during a presentation, for example. The S10 FE+ can be used for applications such as web browsing or video calling, but it’s not a business device at its core. The device will unfortunately also miss out on the transition to Wifi 7.

GPU

The GPU comes from Samsungs own stable as well: Xclipse 540. The conclusion is in line with the CPU. The tablet has sufficient graphical processing power for lighter applications, but when playing 3D games or running heavy AI models, the processor will quickly hit its limits. Again, Qualcomm and MediaTek provide more muscle: the OnePlus Pad 2 even stands head and shoulders above in the simulation and shows that price doesn’t have to limit processing power.

Good battery condition

We may be harsh on the processor, but there are certainly strong points too. The S10 FE+ has a large 10,090 mAh battery that lasts very long. The lighter internals are actually an advantage here. In two tests where we put the tablet under constant stress, the S10 FE+ crowns itself as the best marathon runner. Even the S10 Ultra with a larger battery (11,200 mAh) has to admit defeat.

Charging

Samsung doesn’t include a charger in the box, but it embraces universal standards so you can use any charger. The charging capacity is limited to 45 W. As we’ve become accustomed to from Samsung, this doesn’t give you blazing fast charging times. Charging to eighty percent takes just under an hour, while the OnePlus Pad 2 does this within forty minutes. It could always be worse: charging the Tab S10 Ultra to eighty percent takes almost two hours.

Lots of AI

It’s 2025, so you have to show off with AI. The S10 FE+ belongs to the select group of Samsung devices with Galaxy AI, where Samsung bundles its own AI capabilities with those of Google. Bixby hasn’t been replaced by Gemini on this device yet. We’ve already extensively tested the AI functions in our reviews of the S25 devices, and the AI functions on this device are no different. The stylus makes the experience of functions like Circle to Search more intuitive.

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Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra review: more AI, more ultra?

If you’re used to Samsung phones, you’ll quickly find your way with their tablets too. The visual style and operation of the software is identical, including the generous support policy of seven years of updates. Every software has its quirks. Accidentally turning on the TalkBack function, which helps blind and visually impaired users, can put you in embarrassing situations.

Calling

Video calls are a good use case for tablets in a professional context, provided the webcam is of good quality. The S10 FE+ certainly doesn’t disappoint here. The 12 MP front camera captures you well, and both incoming and outgoing audio are of high quality. You also have a 13 MP camera on the back, but your smartphone’s camera will very likely take better photos.

Good, but Superfluous Tablet

The final verdict on the Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 FE+ is mixed. It’s a more than decent tablet, and if you have your eye on this device, you’re absolutely not making a bad purchase. However, we would also advise you to broaden your view. This device doesn’t perform better than tablets that cost much less. If you’re looking for an affordable Android tablet, the OnePlus Pad 2 presents itself as the better alternative.

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OnePlus Pad 2 review: versatile screen

Those who are still devoted to Samsung also face a difficult choice. The S10 Ultra is in a category of its own, but with the S10 Plus, S10 FE+, and S10 FE, you’re dealing with three tablets that are (too) closely matched. The S10 FE+ risks being the middle child that falls by the wayside in that lineup, just like the S24 Plus among smartphones. In our opinion, Samsung would do better to simplify the portfolio to get a clearer distinction between the different devices.

Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 FE+ – from 657 euros incl. VAT – 7 years support – 2 years warranty