Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 rumors: Everything we know and what we want to see

Will there be a Galaxy Tab S10 series?

Eric Zeman / Android Authority

The Galaxy Tab S10 range is arguably the most popular flagship Android tablet series out there, so it stands to reason that Samsung is working on new models for 2024. It’s also worth noting that the company has launched new flagship Android slates each year for the last couple of years. The company skipped a launch in 2021, though, so this is far from a foregone conclusion.

However, WinFuture journalist Roland Quandt spotted what could be the Galaxy Tab S10 Plus’s model number (SM-X828). So, it seems like the series is indeed in the works.

If that’s not proof enough, after July’s Galaxy Unpacked event, a Samsung South Africa representative told Android Authority, “There will be a Tab S10 series.” The rep also confirmed that the tablet will be available before the end of the year.

What is the most likely Galaxy Tab S10 series launch date?

Ryan Whitwam / Android Authority

Initially, we thought the Galaxy Tab S10 series would be revealed at the July 2024 Galaxy Unpacked event, but it didn’t show up. Later, a Samsung rep told Android Authority that the new tablets are definitely in the works and will be out by the end of the year, although they didn’t give an exact date. More recently, well-known leaker Max Jambor hinted on X (formerly Twitter) that the Galaxy Tab S10 series could launch in October, but we still don’t have a specific date for the big reveal.

What will the Galaxy Tab S10 range look like?

Ryan Whitwam / Android Authority

The Galaxy Tab S9 came in three different models: an 11-inch standard Tab S9, a 12.4-inch Tab S9 Plus, and a 14.6-inch Tab S9 Ultra. A report from The JoongAng claims the 11-inch model will be dropped from the lineup. If that’s the case, then we may only see a Galaxy Tab S10 Plus and Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra. This particular rumor has gained more credence since then because in all the leaks so far, we have only seen two models of the Galaxy Tab S10 series.

All the leaks so far suggest that the Galaxy Tab S10 series will not undergo any drastic changes in terms of design and aesthetics. A recent leak from Android Headlines gave us a look at what could be the official promo image for the Galaxy Tab S10 series. We can see the Tab S10 Ultra still features a notched display, while the Tab S10 Plus also appears to carry forward the design language of the Tab S9 Plus.

Previous models of the Galaxy Tab do give us some ideas of what we might be getting this year, though. Recent models were equipped with aluminum frames and an S Pen attachment slot on the back, so these design elements seem like a given. The Galaxy Tab S9 series also brought an IP68 rating for dust and water resistance, so it looks like a sensible guess that Samsung will keep this for the Tab S10 range.

What rumored specs and features could the Galaxy Tab S10 series have?

Ryan Haines / Android Authority

There’s been a lot of buzz lately about Samsung possibly switching to MediaTek chips for some of its big upcoming devices, like the Galaxy Tab S10 series. This rumor has been floating around for a while, but well-known leaker Ice Universe claimed that Samsung is definitely going with the Dimensity 9300 Plus for its tablets.

What’s interesting is that the leaker says all the Galaxy Tab S10 models will have MediaTek chips inside. This clears things up a bit because earlier rumors weren’t sure if all the models would use Dimensity chips or if Samsung would mix and match different chips for different models or different regions.

MySmartPrice recently caught the Galaxy Tab S10 Plus and the Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra making an appearance on the 3C certification platform. The S10 Plus is listed as SM-X820, and the S10 Ultra is SM-X926C. These certifications confirm that both tablets will still support 45W fast charging, but we don’t get any other details from the listings.

Apart from these leaks, the closest thing to leaked info comes from Korean blogger Hakui on Naver, who claimed that Samsung held a discussion with students about what they’d like to see from future products.

Students purportedly told Samsung that they wanted to see features like an anti-reflective coating, an improved S Pen design, lower latency (ostensibly for the S Pen), improved document sharing with third-party devices (e.g. tablets, laptops, whiteboards), and improved speaker/microphone/camera quality.

The Galaxy Tab S10 Plus battery was purportedly certified in February too (as spotted by 91mobiles), bearing the model numbers EB-BX828ABE and EB-BX828ABY. We didn’t get capacity details from this certification, but it stands to reason that this battery will be in line with the Tab S9 Plus’s 10,090mAh battery.

Recent devices have also been equipped with an S Pen, which makes this a no-brainer for the new tablets. It’s also worth noting that the Galaxy Tab S9 series offered OLED screens across the board for the first time. It therefore makes sense that the Tab S10 series might continue this trend.

What might the Galaxy Tab S10 series price be?

Eric Zeman / Android Authority

With the base Tab S10 model presumably discontinued this year, the starting price of the Galaxy Tab S10 series could be even higher, given that it’ll start directly with the Galaxy Tab S10 Plus. In other words, you shouldn’t be surprised if the Galaxy Tab S10 series has higher pricing overall compared to 2023’s slates. A higher price tag might also make the company’s FE tablets a more attractive proposition for budget-conscious consumers.

Should you wait for the Galaxy Tab S10 series?

Damien Wilde / Android Authority

Those looking for high-end Android tablets should definitely consider buying the current Galaxy Tab S9 series  $799 at Amazon, as they’re the best premium Android slates on the market right now. Between the flagship performance, IP68 ratings, high-quality screens, S Pen integration, Samsung-exclusive software tweaks, and long commitment to updates, these tablets will undoubtedly tick some of the same boxes as the Tab S10 range.

The Google Pixel Tablet $499 at Amazon is arguably the closest Android-based rival to the Galaxy Tab series, bringing a similarly great commitment to updates, an included speaker dock for smart display-style functionality, and some nifty AI-powered features.

Want something cheaper but still value performance above all else? Then you should also think about the OnePlus Pad 2 on the product's website, bringing a capable Dimensity 9000 chipset and super-fast charging at a much lower price.

Optional 5G for the entire Tab S10 lineup

Eric Zeman / Android Authority

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Plus is the only model that offers a 5G option. That’s right; if you want the Tab S9 or Tab S9 Ultra, your only choice is a Wi-Fi-only model. This seems like a silly oversight, especially for the Ultra, which has a large display that could make it a great travel companion for those who need something that can double as a monster productivity machine. I really think all the Galaxy Tab S10 models should have 5G as an option. I can’t see it adding much to the production costs, so it feels like a low-risk change for Samsung.

Of course, 5G isn’t the only thing required to make the Tab S10 a great business travel device. Let’s talk about Samsung’s current keyboard situation.

A better official keyboard dock accessory

Ryan Whitwam / Android Authority

As mobile processors become increasingly powerful, we’re seeing more users utilize tablets as laptop substitutes, even if only as a backup solution. The best laptop substitutes have one thing in common: a great keyboard accessory. The most obvious and popular example is the iPad Pro, which has more than one decent keyboard option for turning the tablet into a makeshift laptop. Unfortunately, this isn’t something Samsung has figured out just yet.

Its current Galaxy Book Cover is more of a case with a Bluetooth keyboard, while Apple’s solution makes the iPad feel almost like a true laptop with extras like USB ports and more. Samsung needs to go the same route, offering a keyboard that also works as a dock with ports for stuff like extra USB-C ports and maybe even extras like HDMI. The Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra would most obviously benefit from this, as its expected size and performance make it a pretty solid analog for the iPad Pro series.

A redesign that changes the aspect ratio

Ryan Haines / Android Authority

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 uses a 16:10 aspect ratio, which has its own pros and cons. That said, it is definitely a much more rectangular experience than many other tablets out there, even if the width is nearly identical to something like the OnePlus Pad. The whole design makes everything feel more cramped and awkward, even if the screen sizes for the Tab S9 series start at 11 inches.

Personally, I’d like to see the Galaxy Tab S10 models retain the same overall design language but move to a 4:3 aspect ratio like the iPad series. This aspect ratio is better for web apps, browsing, and even light productivity tasks like writing, even if it’s not quite as good for media consumption. Still, Samsung’s Tab S series has a lot of power, and I feel it should aspire to be more than just a glorified media slate.

Smart home hub features would be nice

I’ll be honest, I don’t think the Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 family necessarily needs to go down the smart home hub route to stand out. It’s clear Google has the strongest ambitions there so far, and Google Assistant is much better suited for this experience than Bixby. Of course, Samsung doesn’t push Bixby nearly as hard anymore, so it’s not like the Galaxy S10’s Hub features couldn’t potentially utilize Google Assistant as an alternative. It should also go without saying that Assistant has effectively been succeeded by Gemini, although Assistant is still the better smart home service.

Still, I think this type of experience would be a great extra, and even Apple is rumored to be working on ways to use the iPad as the brains for the next-gen Apple Home speaker. It’s less clear how Samsung might approach it.

I don’t feel like the Pixel Tablet‘s forced accessory route would make much sense. Probably the best idea would be to make a dock/smart speaker hybrid accessory that could work alone as a Bluetooth speaker and basic Google Assistant/Gemini or Bixby-powered speaker. It could optionally be paired with the Galaxy Tab S10 for a full smart home hub experience that would connect wirelessly from any room. Let’s not forget the elephant in the room though, Bixby Home.

Bixby Home was Samsung’s smart speaker that was killed before it ever existed, though the company did release an even more pathetic Bixby Home Mini variant that did poorly in the market. The point is that Samsung doesn’t have a great reputation in the smart speaker field, so creating a stand-alone might be seen as too risky for Samsung.

Samsung needs to combine all four points and deliver a next-level iPad competitor

Ryan Haines / Android Authority

I used to be pretty against the idea of tablets, mostly because all my Android tablet experiences had been pretty poor, and even the one iPad my family had left me questioning its purpose beyond a few time-wasting games I enjoyed. I’m now starting to change my mind.

Recently, I got an iPad Pro. I also spent some time with a new Chromebook Plus model that could turn into a (albeit oversized and heavy) tablet. Thanks to a mixture of these two experiences, I’m starting to fall in love with the idea of a device that’s smaller for situations where I don’t need the keyboard, but that can transform into a true workstation when I need it. I feel like mobile hardware and cloud computing have gotten strong enough that this is the right time to finally adopt such a hybrid computing device.

It’s no secret that the Android tablet experience trails the iPad experience, even if Google seems dedicated to changing this with the Google Pixel Tablet and improvements to Android on larger screens that make it a better platform for tablets and foldables. It also has a few decent Chromebooks that can double as Chrome tablets, too. That said, many still think of Samsung as the natural “alternative” to the iPhone, especially in markets with limited brand availability like the United States. I truly believe the Galaxy Tab S10 could fill the same role for Android tablet users as Galaxy phones do for Android phones.

To do this, Samsung needs to push harder. The Galaxy Tab S series has always been good, but it needs to do even more. It needs to prove itself as a good laptop alternative and something that can keep up with the iPad family. By improving all the above factors, Samsung will offer the closest thing to an Android-powered iPad Pro.

Conversely, Samsung should focus less on upgrades and more on pricing

Ryan Haines / Android Authority

I will admit I’m just one person. While this is my wishlist, I wanted to put this out there to ensure a fair and balanced approach: Samsung could keep doing what it is doing and just lower its price a little instead.

There’s nothing inherently broken with its current strategy, and it’s been enough of a success that Samsung has been the only company consistently releasing tablets when others bowed out. Samsung is the second-largest vendor of tablets in the world and shipped around six million units in Q3 of 2023. That’s not quite the same thing as selling that many, but the point remains the same.

Samsung is consistently called out by consumers and reviewers for being too expensive and there are certainly plenty of cheaper Android tablets out there. The cheapest Galaxy Tab S9 model starts at $799.99, while the iPad starts at $449, or even less at $329 if you’re willing to get the aging 9th-gen model. To be fair, Samsung introduced the Galaxy Tab S9 FE and S9 FE Plus in late 2023, which sort of fill the role of the standard iPad pricing-wise.

Still, if Samsung doesn’t want to push further upscale and take on the iPad Pro, the company could at least simplify its lineup and release an FE-priced model right out of the gate instead of waiting until a few months later.