Hey there, tablet fans! Samsung’s back at it again, dropping two fresh additions to its midrange lineup: the Tab S10 FE and Tab S10 FE Plus. These newbies hit the scene with some cool updates—like bigger screens and a beefier chipset—but they’ve also got a catch: they’re $50 pricier than last year’s models.
First off, Samsung’s shaking things up with the sizes this time around. The Tab S10 FE rocks a 10.9-inch display—pretty standard for Samsung’s “regular” tablets. But here’s the twist: there’s no basic Tab S10 in this year’s flagship lineup, just the Plus and Ultra models. That makes the FE the smallest of the Tab S10 crew. Meanwhile, the Tab S10 FE Plus steps in with a brand-new 13.1-inch screen, slotting right between the 12.4-inch Tab S10 Plus and the massive 14.6-inch Tab S10 Ultra. Four tablets, four distinct sizes—Samsung’s giving us options, and I’m here for it.
But before you get too hyped, let’s talk screens. Both the FE and FE Plus stick with LCD panels instead of the fancy OLED displays you’ll find on Samsung’s pricier tablets (or even some rival midrangers these days). They’re also capped at a 90Hz refresh rate. That’s smooth enough for casual scrolling, but if you’re dreaming of buttery 120Hz gaming or animation, you might feel a little let down. It’s not a dealbreaker, but it’s worth noting.
On the design front, both tablets have slimmed down a bit compared to their predecessors—always a nice touch. They feel sleeker in the hand, which is a win for portability. But here’s a head-scratcher: despite the FE Plus’s bigger footprint, its battery capacity hasn’t gotten a boost to match. Both models are still packing the same juice as last year’s versions, which might leave power users raising an eyebrow. If you’re binge-watching or working on the go, you might need to keep that charger handy.
Camera-wise, Samsung’s keeping it simple. Both tablets ditch the multi-lens setup for a single 13-megapixel rear camera—an upgrade from before, sure, but the FE Plus loses its ultrawide lens in the process. No more wide-angle shots for you Plus folks. Selfie fans, don’t worry—the front camera’s still there for your video calls and mirror checks.
Good news on the software side: these tablets ship with Android 15 right out of the box, spiced up with Samsung’s latest AI goodies. Think smarter photo editing, voice assistants that actually get you, and all that jazz. It’s a nice perk to start with the freshest OS—no waiting for updates here.
Under the hood, the Tab S10 FE and FE Plus are powered by the new Exynos 1580 chipset, a step up from the Exynos 1380 in the Tab S9 FE duo. Paired with options for up to 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage, these tablets should handle everything from Netflix marathons to multitasking like a champ. They’ve also got that IP68 dust and water resistance, so a splash or a dusty desk won’t ruin your day. And yes, the S Pen’s still in the box—perfect for doodling or note-taking—but it’s the basic version without Bluetooth, just like last year.
Alright, let’s talk money. The Tab S10 FE kicks off at $499.99, while the FE Plus starts at $649.99—both a $50 jump from their Tab S9 FE counterparts. Want 5G on the smaller FE? That’ll run you an extra $100, bringing it to $599.99, but it’s only available in gray. Speaking of colors, both tablets come in gray, silver, and blue, and they’re hitting the US on April 10th. You can reserve yours now if you’re itching to snag one.
So, $50 more—does it add up? The new sizes are dope, especially that 13.1-inch FE Plus for folks who want something bigger but not Ultra-huge. The Exynos 1580 should give you a performance bump, too. But the LCD screens and 90Hz cap feel like a missed shot when brands like Xiaomi and OnePlus are sneaking OLEDs into midrange territory. Plus, losing the ultrawide camera on the FE Plus? That’s a bummer for photography buffs.
If you’re all-in on Samsung’s ecosystem—think DeX mode for desktop vibes or the S Pen for sketching—these tablets still have a lot going for them. But with the price creeping up, they’re brushing shoulders with Apple’s iPad Air (starting around $599), which brings a slicker build and iPadOS perks. Android loyalists might not care, but it’s a comparison worth chewing on.
The Tab S10 FE and FE Plus are solid picks if you’re after a versatile Android tablet with a fresh OS and some neat upgrades. The size options are a highlight, and that chipset boost should keep things snappy. But the $50 hike, paired with some corner-cutting (looking at you, LCD and missing ultrawide), means you’ll need to weigh what matters most. If you’re a Samsung stan or just need a reliable workhorse with a stylus, these might be your jam. Otherwise, it might be worth shopping around—or waiting for a sale.
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