"Less is more": Samsung's latest Galaxy Tab is my favourite new tablet

Samsung has really had its foot to the floor with Galaxy product releases in recent months, from the top-end Galaxy S25 Ultra phone to this, the mid-tier Galaxy Tab S10 FE tablet.

When it comes to the best Android tablets, however, I'm often of the thinking that less is more, in some respects. And this 'Fan Edition' model eases off the pedal in terms of power, while delivering an otherwise comprehensive all-rounder.

I've been using the Galaxy Tab S10 FE during personal travels, for which I've found it absolutely ideal while in hotel rooms or on planes. Pre-loaded with various shows from the best streaming services, it's perfect for playback.

It's also capable of catering for work or play too – and there's an S Pen stylus included in the box for added versatility. You could pay a little more for a Tab S9 with upgraded display, but on balance of price and features the Tab S10 FE is a very strong pitch indeed.

Price & Availability

You can buy Samsung's Galaxy Tab S10 FE right now, priced at £499 / $499 / AU$999 for the 128GB storage version with 8GB RAM. That's for the Wi-Fi-only model; a 5G variant ups the cost if you want mobile connectivity via SIM.

There is also a 256GB version, and while it does offer 12GB RAM, since there's a microSD slot I'd suggest ignoring the upgrade and buying a card to expand that space cheaply, as and when needed.

Given that Samsung's top-tier Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra costs almost three times as much, you can see the appeal of the Fan Edition. It waters down some specs, while presenting a polished-looking package with most bases covered.

And if you want larger, then the Tab S10 FE+ (blink and you'll miss the 'plus') offers a 13.1-inch display for a little more cash. So there's a choice for everyone and seemingly every base is covered.

What's New?

Above I've laid out the key spec between the Tab S10 FE, its Tab S9 FE predecessor, but also the previous-gen full-fat Tab S9 model too – as all three are now available at similar price points. The S9 at a discount would deliver the most advanced solution across the board.

The FE range has stuck with its LCD display, which is perfectly fine, but it's not the faster refresh-rate OLED option of the older S9 either. That panel is also a micro amount larger and squeezes a little more resolution in as a result.

But generation to generation, the Tab S10 FE and Tab S9 FE aren't wildly different. The newer model is a hair's width thinner and therefore lighter, while also upgrading the internal Exynos hardware for the better – and adding some more RAM.

But that's the fundamental thing: if you're looking for a tablet for streaming, then the older Tab S9 FE will do the job perfectly, but it will be weaker at gaming. The Tab S10 FE has effectively the same screen in a nicer design, and a little more power for gaming. The full-fat Tab S9, meanwhile, has the nicest screen and most power of the lot – but is theoretically pricier.

Design & Display

I've used the Galaxy Tab S10 FE for many hours for this review, largely thanks to my new recent obsession with Dexter: New Blood and Tulsa King. Yes, you guessed it, I've done the unthinkable and subscribed to Paramount+ – but, actually, it's my favourite new streaming service right now, largely thanks to MobLand.

I've been watching those shows during trans-Atlantic flights – and am far happier with the Samsung's display offering than your typical in-flight entertainment (IFE). There are certain considerations with a display of this type, though, as it's very good but not best-of-best, as you'd expect of this tablet's mid-tier placement.

First and foremost, this LCD panel isn't the brightest by default. That's not to say it's not bright, more that Samsung's tablet software is more cutthroat than you'll find in its mobile phones. It's easy to manually tweak the brightness – and such an override will typically hold true, without sliding back down the scale promptly after.

With daylight streaming in from windows, I've found that extra lick of brightness to be needed, otherwise fingerprints show up a little too much. And IPS displays don't look the best from an angle, so you'll want to hold it or use a stand to position the tablet to point directly at your eyes for the most colourful view.

That's all easily done, though, and aside from the 90Hz being a smidge lower than current flagship models, I've been very happy with the display offering. As I said up top, sometimes less is more – and while I'd prefer OLED, I'd only really consider that if the price added up sensibly.

The overall design of the Tab S10 FE is more flagship, however, with a slender aluminium frame, fully glass front, and metal rear. There's no Gorilla Glass here, mind, so protection levels might not be up the scratch (excuse the pun) – and an additional cover/stand/keyboard-combo accessory would be a likely savvy purchase.

Performance & Battery

Inside, the Galaxy Tab S10 FE features the same Samsung-made Exynos 1580 processor as you'll find in the company's Galaxy A56 handset. I'd say that's very much the FE tablet staying in its lane, delivering mid-tier power in line with product expectations.

I've had some minor dramas with earlier Exynos deployments being a little stuttery in their delivery, but in the most recent iteration things have gotten much better. I've been playing Monument Valley 3, for example, and that's run lovely and smoothly on the Tab S10 FE.

For me, as I'm unlikely to use an Android tablet as a laptop replacement or daily driver, this FE tablet fits the bill nicely. If you do want to do more, however, Samsung does offer a Slim Keyboard Cover accessory (there might even be a promo to get it free), so you can set up the device in a more laptop-like way.

I've not got that accessory for review, only the included S Pen stylus that comes in the box, so I've not trialled the product in such a format. However, I will say that Android OS still just isn't at that desktop-like level of performance – and that's an area where Apple's iPad range is largely seen as being ahead.

Still, there is that versatility, with Android apps covering a wide range of productivity, in addition to games and streaming. Not to mention, the included S Pen stylus is a way to dive into drawing and sketching, or using it for more productive tasks. Or just leaving it in the box and forgetting about it – the choice is yours.

One thing you might forget about is the need to charge this tablet. Because that mega 8000mAh battery, combined with this display and processor, delivers a strong innings per charge. I've been getting 10 hours of streaming out of it at decent brightness levels, which has been spread out over multiple days. Do less, and you'll easily get even longer. I'm confident this is one area Samsung outshines Apple, OnePlus and more.

Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 FE review: Verdict

Sometimes the 'Fan Edition' Galaxy products can be a bit of a hard sell, as they often sit close in price to older hardware with better spec. The Tab S10 FE largely avoids this, although the original Tab S9 is certainly worth looking out for – as it's got a better display and more power on board.

But, on balance, I find the Galaxy Tab S10 FE is everything I personally need from a tablet. It's great for streaming, powerful enough for some gaming, and while it won't deliver to quite flagship levels everywhere, its design aesthetic and the long-lasting battery life are top quality.

Samsung adding an S Pen stylus into the box and bringing some One UI software features to enhance the Android OS experience is also welcome. Especially as Android just isn't quite up to scratch when using a tablet as a laptop replacement, which Samsung delivers better than many of its competitors – if you wish to add a Slim Keyboard Case to your basket anyway.

So if you're looking for a tablet that's great for streaming, yet versatile enough for other ad-hoc tasks, the Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 FE is a well-balanced addition to the line-up that, for most people, will deliver everything you'll want from a slate. And at a fair price too.

Also consider

As I say, look to the older Tab S9 for an OLED option at potentially a similar price point.

Failing that, if you want a more laptop-like experience then Apple's iPad Air can be setup in great fashion – but it'll cost you more.

For yet more cash, Microsoft's Surface Pro is a stellar Windows option with far more power.

It all depends what you're looking for, really, as if it's just a cheapy Android tablet then the OnePlus Pad Go may well suffice for your streaming desires – as that's less than half the price of the Samsung.