What we know and what we want to see

Update: September 11, 2024 (5 PM ET): We have updated our Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 rumor hub with the latest leaks, including rumored launch date and retail pricing, detailed specs, and info about an apparent AI key.

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 series has been out for a while but still ranks as the best trio of Android tablets, bringing top-notch specs, premium designs, and great software. Nevertheless, it’s only a matter of time before the Galaxy Tab S10 series becomes official. So, what will the company’s new high-end slates look like? Read on to find out more about the Galaxy Tab S10 series.

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.

• Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 series — August 5, 2020
• Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 series — February 9, 2022
• Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 range — July 26, 2023

Nailing down a Galaxy Tab S10 series launch window is a tough task. That’s because the Galaxy Tab S9 range launched in July 2023 alongside the company’s foldable phones, while the Galaxy Tab S8 series launched in February 2022 alongside the Galaxy S22 series. The company launched the Galaxy Tab S7 series in 2020 at an August Unpacked event, skipping a flagship tablet launch in 2021. For what it’s worth, the Tab S6 series was unveiled in July 2019.

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. Later, 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.

More recently, Roland Quandt posted that the Galaxy Tab S10 series will launch on September 26 in Europe. According to Quandt, the tablets are expected to hit European markets shortly after. We can safely assume that a global release, including the United States, will likely occur on the same day.

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.

Previously, Evan Blass posted an official-looking product render of the Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra. From the image, it’s evident that the Tab S10 Ultra could be physically identical to the Tab S9 Ultra, with a display notch up front, a dual camera setup at the back, and the same placement for the keyboard attachment and magnetic ports.

A recent report from Android Headlines has provided detailed renders and the complete specifications for the Galaxy Tab S10 series. Visually, both tablets seem to maintain a similar design language to their Tab S9 predecessors and to each other. The Ultra, however, differentiates itself with a centrally positioned notch housing dual front-facing cameras and slightly slimmer bezels. Both models are expected to be offered in two color options, which may be referred to as Moonstone Gray and Platinum Silver.

In terms of dimensions and weight, the report indicates that the Tab S10 Ultra will measure 208.6 x 326.4 x 5.4mm and weigh between 718g (Wi-Fi) and 723g (5G). The Tab S10 Plus is said to measure 185.4 x 285.4 x 5.6mm and weigh between 571g (Wi-Fi) and 576g (5G). This suggests a slight reduction in thickness of 0.1mm and a weight saving of approximately 10g compared to their predecessors.

Elsewhere, it seems like the Galaxy Tab S10 series will not deviate too much from its predecessors. This includes design elements like metal backs with aluminum frames and an S Pen attachment slot on the back, an IP68 rating for dust and water ingress, and stereo speakers on the shorter sides of the tablets.

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.

Samsung is considering a Galaxy AI key on Bluetooth keyboards and folio cases for the Galaxy Tab S10 series, according to a post by WinFuture in September. This follows Microsoft offering a Copilot key on Windows laptops. There’s no word on what this key would actually do, though.

The latest report from Android Headlines seems to confirm that the tablets will indeed feature the Dimensity 9300 Plus chip. Moreover, it suggests that the battery capacities will stay unchanged at 10,090mAh on the Tab S10 Plus and 11,200mAh on the Tab S10 Ultra.

According to the same report, the Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra and S10 Plus are also expected to maintain the same display sizes as their predecessors, with the Ultra featuring a 14.6-inch screen and the Plus coming in at 12.4 inches. However, both models are said to include an “Anti-Reflection panel,” which may be similar to the display glass seen in the Galaxy S24 Ultra, potentially improving screen visibility in bright settings.

The camera setup also appears to remain unchanged. Both tablets are expected to feature a 13-megapixel primary camera and an 8-megapixel ultrawide camera on the rear. The Ultra’s front-facing cameras, housed in the notch, will likely consist of two 12-megapixel sensors—one wide and one ultrawide. In contrast, the Plus model may have just a single 12-megapixel ultrawide front camera.

In terms of performance, the Tab S10 Plus is expected to offer configurations up to 12GB of RAM and 512GB of storage, similar to its predecessor. However, the Ultra model may introduce a new high-end variant with 16GB of RAM and 1TB of storage. The launch event is likely to emphasize the Galaxy AI features supported by these tablets.

• Samsung Galaxy Tab S7, S7 Plus starting price — $649.99/$849.99
• Samsung Galaxy Tab S8, S8 Plus, S8 Ultra starting price — $699/$899/$1,099
• Samsung Galaxy Tab S9, S9 Plus, S9 Ultra starting price — $799.99/$999.99/$1,199

We’ve noticed an interesting trend with the last few high-end Galaxy Tabs, and that’s the fact that US launch pricing has always increased with each successive series. This applies to all models, with a $100 to $150 increase from the Galaxy Tab S7 series to the S9 range.

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.

The first major pricing leak occurred in early September when SVZ Tech Info posted apparent Swiss pricing. The Galaxy Tab S10 Plus is said to start at 1,179 Swiss Francs (~$1,392), while the Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra will purportedly start at 1,399 Swiss Francs (~$1,651).

Journalist Roland Quandt also chimed in with pricing info on September 9, claiming the 256GB Galaxy Tab S10 Plus would cost $999 while the 512GB model would cost $1,199.

The latest leak about the Galaxy Tab S10’s pricing comes from a Winfuture report. It suggests that the base model of the Galaxy Tab S10 Plus, equipped with Wi-Fi, 12GB RAM, and 256GB storage, could start around €1,119. Opting for 5G might bump that up to €1,269.

On the higher end, the entry-level Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra with Wi-Fi, 12GB RAM, and 256GB storage will reportedly retail for €1,339. The top-end variant, offering 5G, 16GB of RAM, and 1TB of storage, could have a substantial price of €1,909.

The key takeaway here is that these European prices are in line with the previous generation, hinting that Samsung might stick to a similar pricing strategy for the US market. If that’s the case, the Galaxy Tab S10 Plus could kick off at $999, with the Tab S10 Ultra starting at $1,199 for the base Wi-Fi model.

With only a few weeks left until the rumored launch date for the Galaxy Tab S10 series, it makes sense to wait and see what Samsung has in store. That being said, those looking for high-end Android tablets could absolutely consider buying the current Galaxy Tab S9 series  $799 at Amazon instead, 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 almost all 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 $549.99 at Amazon, bringing a capable Dimensity 9000 chipset and super-fast charging at a much lower price.

Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 series wishlist

The Galaxy Tab S9 range certainly makes a strong claim for being the best Android slates on the market, but nothing is perfect. From connectivity and accessories to the design and more, here’s what we want to see from the Galaxy Tab S10 range.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.