Galaxy Tab S10 FE Plus Review: Samsung’s Budget-Friendlier Tablet Hits the Right Notes

Every year, Samsung comes out with Fan Edition versions of its flagship Galaxy Tab S series tablets that aren’t quite as powerful and have less-advanced display technology — but cost a lot less. Once again, that’s true for the Galaxy Tab S10 FE and Galaxy Tab S10 FE Plus, which start at $500 with 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. 

While the Galaxy Tab S10 FE retains the same 10.9-inch display as its predecessor, the larger Tab S10 FE Plus ($650) is equipped with a 13.1-inch LCD, which is larger than the 12.4-inch screen found in its predecessor and the standard Tab S10 Plus. Then again, the S10 Plus uses a higher-end AMOLED screen with richer color and higher contrast. 

That’s not where the differences end between the original S10 Plus and the FE Plus; they also share several features. That includes Samsung bundling one of its excellent S Pens with the FE version, so you can draw and write on the screen (though you’re on your own for a cover or keyboard). The Galaxy Tab S10 FE Plus also has extraordinary battery life, lasting 17 hours and 45 minutes on our streaming video test. That’s longer than any other tablet we’ve tested recently, edging out the 12.9-inch Apple iPad Pro and earning a CNET Lab Award for Longest Battery Life. 

Both new tablets run on an upgraded Samsung Exynos 1580 chipset instead of the more powerful MediaTek processors found in their standard counterparts (the Exynos 1380 chipset powers the Galaxy Tab S9 FE tablets). In our benchmarks, I can’t say the Exynos 1580 offered blazingly fast performance, but the tablet’s overall performance should be more than adequate for most folks.  

For example, on Geekbench 6 single-core and multicore tests, the S10 FE Plus reached scores of 1,364 and 3,922. By comparison, the Galaxy Tab S10 Plus and its MediaTek Dimensity 9300 Plus chip hit 2,127 on the single-core test and 7,126 on the multicore test. Basically, this isn’t a case of a lower-cost tablet being able to punch above its price in performance; the S10 FE Plus is a bit middling compared with pricier tablets. So, if you need top-tier performance, you’ll want to save up and get the original S10 Plus or the newer Galaxy Tab S11.

Similarly, if you’re after the best color and contrast in a tablet display, you’ll likely want to save up and get a model with one of Samsung’s AMOLED displays. The LCDs used for the Fan Edition are certainly nice-looking with good color saturation. It’s also brighter than Samsung’s 800-nit claim, reaching 836 nits in our lab tests. Still, it’s not quite as good as the AMOLED on the standard Tab S10 Plus. 

On the other hand, it could be the LCD that helps the battery last as long as it does. As I mentioned at the top, the Galaxy Tab S10 FE Plus ran for 17 hours, 45 minutes on our streaming video battery life test. That’s longer than any recent tablet we’ve tested, though Apple’s 13-inch iPad Pro isn’t far behind. The Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra tipped just over the 16-hour mark. 

As for the design, there’s a lot to like. Samsung says the Tab S10 FE Plus is 4% lighter than its predecessor. This is certainly nice if you’re going to use it handheld for reading, writing or gaming, but I do find tablets this large a little awkward; the 10-inch version might be a better fit for handheld use. Both sizes are equipped with an upgraded 13-megapixel high-resolution rear camera, though the Tab S10 FE Plus no longer has a second ultrawide camera. The 12-megapixel front-facing camera is on the landscape edge, so it can be positioned horizontally for video chats like a laptop display. 

The bottom edge of the display has a set of pogo-pin connectors for attaching a keyboard case. It’s not included in the box, so if you’re planning to use Samsung’s DeX desktop interface for more of a laptop experience, you’ll need to increase your budget. Samsung has a keyboard cover for it that sells for about $100 on Amazon but there are also third-party options for less. Either way you go, I recommend getting one for protection and somewhere to hold the included S Pen. It attaches magnetically to the back, just to the left of the camera, but it’s not secure. 

And the S Pen is one of the best parts of the package. There’s a touch of latency, and it doesn’t have the controls that a serious artist would want, but it’s great for sketching out ideas, coloring or doodling for fun. It is especially nice for note-taking, though, so if you’re considering the S10 FE Plus for classes, it’s a good way to go. 

The tablet’s stereo speakers performed well for games, movies and music. They get respectably loud and stay clear-sounding while doing it. Although I would still reach for a pair of good wireless headphones or earbuds, the S10 FE Plus’ speakers definitely sound good enough for regular use. In general, between the display and speakers, this tablet is a good choice for entertainment. 

While the Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 FE screen sizes don’t correlate to the standard Tab S10 Plus and Ultra screen sizes, the bottom line is that you’re getting about 75% of the tablet that you get with the standard Tab S10 series for significantly less money. And if you have an older Samsung tablet to trade in, the price becomes even more affordable.