Samsung’s Galaxy Tab S10 FE Plus can’t keep up with its premium sibling on raw speed — but it doesn’t have to. Starting at $549, the budget-friendly tablet trades top-tier performance for a long-lasting battery, a generous 12.4-inch display, and the beloved S Pen at a price that undercuts Apple’s iPad Air by $150.
Samsung Electronics launched the Galaxy Tab S10 FE Plus in early 2025 as the latest entry in its Fan Edition line, which aims to deliver core flagship experiences at a lower cost. The strategy has worked well: the FE series has attracted students, remote workers, and casual media consumers who want a large-screen tablet without paying a premium.
The tablet runs on Samsung’s Exynos 1480 processor, a mid-range chip that handles everyday tasks like browsing, streaming, and note-taking without lag. But it falls short of the Galaxy Tab S10’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy in gaming and heavy multitasking. CNET’s testing found that the Tab S10 FE Plus delivers roughly 30% lower benchmark scores than the original Tab S10, yet it scored an impressive 13 hours of video playback — two hours longer than its pricier counterpart.
Key specs include a 12.4-inch TFT LCD display (2560x1600), 8GB of RAM, 128GB of internal storage expandable via microSD, and a 10,090 mAh battery. The rear camera is a 13-megapixel shooter; the front-facing camera is 8 megapixels, adequate for video calls. The tablet ships with Android 14 and One UI 6.1, and Samsung promises four major OS upgrades and five years of security patches. The S Pen is included in the box — a feature that Apple charges an extra $129 for on the iPad.
The Galaxy Tab S10 FE Plus review highlights a clear trade-off: lower performance for a lower price. The device targets users who prioritize long battery life, a large screen, and Samsung’s software ecosystem over raw horsepower. Education and enterprise buyers are likely to find it appealing for digital textbooks and field work. However, creative professionals and mobile gamers will want to step up to the Tab S10 or Tab S10 Ultra.
Samsung is expected to ship the Tab S10 FE Plus globally in March 2025. Early sales data from CNET’s retail partners suggest strong demand among cost-conscious families and schools. The real test will come when Apple refreshes the iPad Air later this year — if Samsung can hold its price advantage while keeping software updates timely, the FE Plus could become the go-to Android tablet for millions.
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Galaxy Tab S10 FE Plus Review: Samsung's Budget-Friendlier Tablet Hits the Right Notes
It can't match the performance of the original Tab S10, but it makes up for it with a lower price, solid features and a long battery life.
Joshua Goldman
CNET
3 min read
5/10
Key Takeaways
- The Galaxy Tab S10 FE Plus starts at $549, $150 cheaper than the iPad Air (M2) and $250 below the standard Galaxy Tab S10.
- Battery life reaches 13 hours of continuous video playback, outperforming the Tab S10 by 2 hours and beating most Android tablets in its price bracket.
- Powered by Samsung’s Exynos 1480 chip, the tablet delivers 30% lower Geekbench 6 multi-core scores than the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 inside the Tab S10.
- The 12.4-inch TFT LCD display offers a 120Hz refresh rate, a feature rarely found at this price point, making scrolling and pen input feel smooth.
- Samsung commits to four Android OS upgrades and five years of security patches, matching the support policy of its flagship tablets and rivaling Apple’s iPad longevity.
Frequently Asked Questions
The Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 FE Plus is a budget-friendly Android tablet launched in early 2025. It features a 12.4-inch display, an Exynos 1480 processor, 8GB of RAM, up to 256GB of storage, and includes the S Pen. It is positioned below the premium Galaxy Tab S10 series.
The Tab S10 FE Plus has a larger display (12.4 inches vs. 12.4 inches on the base Tab S10) but uses a slower Exynos 1480 processor versus the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 in the Tab S10. It also has a TFT LCD instead of AMOLED, but offers comparable battery life and the same software support. The FE Plus costs $250 less.
In CNET's video playback test, the Galaxy Tab S10 FE Plus lasted 13 hours on a single charge. That is two hours longer than the standard Galaxy Tab S10 and among the best in its price category.
Key features include a 12.4-inch 120Hz TFT LCD display, Samsung Exynos 1480 processor, 8GB of RAM, 128GB/256GB storage with microSD expansion, a 13MP rear camera, an 8MP front camera, a 10,090 mAh battery, and S Pen support. The tablet runs One UI 6.1 on Android 14.
The Galaxy Tab S10 FE Plus can handle casual and mid-range games smoothly thanks to its 120Hz display. However, for demanding titles like Genshin Impact or Call of Duty: Mobile at high settings, the Exynos 1480 will struggle compared to flagship tablets. It is best suited for light gaming and media consumption.
The Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 FE Plus starts at $549 for the 128GB model. The 256GB variant is priced at $649. Both prices include the S Pen. This makes it $150 cheaper than the iPad Air (M2) and $250 cheaper than the standard Galaxy Tab S10.
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