Samsung Galaxy Tab S 10 FE 10.9" Blue 2025 Review
The Galaxy Tab S10 FE is a media-centric tablet with a useful S Pen and rare IP68 waterproofing. However, its middling Exynos chip and average screen make it a tough sell against more powerful rivals.
The 30-Second Version
A competent media tablet with a great S Pen and waterproofing, held back by a mediocre chip. Good for Samsung fans who watch more than they create.
Overview
The Galaxy Tab S10 FE is a solid mid-range tablet that nails the basics but doesn't try to be anything more. If you're looking for a big, water-resistant screen for watching videos and browsing the web, and you really want that included S Pen, this is a comfortable pick. Just don't expect it to keep up with the latest chips or feel like a premium device. The one thing to know? It's an entertainment tablet first, and our data shows that's exactly where it scores highest.
Performance
The performance is exactly what you'd expect from a mid-tier Exynos chip in 2025: fine for everyday stuff, but you'll feel the limits. Our benchmarks put the CPU and GPU in the low 40th percentile, which means scrolling through social media and streaming is smooth, but more demanding apps or multitasking will start to chug. It's not slow, but it's definitely not fast. The 12GB of RAM is a nice surprise, landing in the 83rd percentile, which helps keep a few apps open in the background without a full refresh.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- The IP68 water and dust resistance is a huge practical win you don't get on most tablets. 100th
- The included S Pen is great for casual note-taking and doodling right out of the box. 97th
- 12GB of RAM is generous for this price point and keeps everyday multitasking fluid. 96th
- The 256GB base storage is plenty for a media library without needing to upgrade. 94th
Cons
- The Exynos 1580 chip is underwhelming; performance is squarely mid-pack and won't age gracefully.
- Productivity is its weakest area (scoring 25/100 in our tests); this is not a laptop replacement.
- The LCD screen is just okay, scoring in the 50th percentile—it gets the job done but doesn't wow.
- At around $570, it's brushing up against more capable competitors, making the value proposition shaky.
Specifications
Full Specifications
Processor
| CPU | Samsung Exynos 1580 (S5E8855) |
Memory & Storage
| RAM | 12 GB |
| Storage | 256 GB |
| Expandable | Yes |
Display
| Size | 10.9" |
| Resolution | 2304 |
| Panel | LCD |
Connectivity
| Wi-Fi | WiFi 6 |
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth 5.3 |
Features
| Stylus Support | Yes |
| Stylus Model | S Pen |
| Fingerprint Reader | Yes |
| Face Unlock | Yes |
Physical
| Weight | 0.5 kg / 1.1 lbs |
| OS | Android 15 |
Value & Pricing
At $570, the value is questionable. You're paying a premium for the Samsung brand, the S Pen, and that IP68 rating. For pure specs and performance per dollar, you can do better. But if those specific features are non-negotiable for you, it's the price of admission.
Price History
vs Competition
This tablet lives in a tough neighborhood. The base model iPad Air (or a previous-gen iPad Pro on sale) will run circles around it in performance and app ecosystem for similar money. If you want Android, the regular Galaxy Tab S10 is a step up in every way if you can find it on sale. And if you're even thinking about productivity, the Microsoft Surface Pro or a Lenovo Yoga-style 2-in-1 is a much smarter investment. The Tab S10 FE only wins if the included S Pen and IP68 rating are your top priorities.
| Spec | Samsung Galaxy Tab S 10 FE 10.9" | Apple iPad Pro Apple 13" iPad Pro M5 Chip (Standard Glass, 256GB, | Lenovo Idea Tab Lenovo - Idea Tab Pro - 12.7" 3K Tablet - 8GB RAM | Microsoft Surface Pro Microsoft 12" Surface Pro Copilot+ PC, Snapdragon | Xiaomi Pad 7 PRO Xiaomi Pad 7 Pro Ai WiFi Version Global (No Calls | Teclast TECLAST T65PLUS 13.4-Inch Android 15 Tablet 2025, |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CPU | Samsung Exynos 1580 (S5E8855) | Apple M5 | MediaTek Dimensity | Qualcomm Snapdragon X Plus X1P-64-100 | 3 GHz | 2.2 GHz |
| RAM (GB) | 12 | 12 | 8 | 16 | 12 | 8 |
| Storage (GB) | 256 | 256 | 256 | 512 | 512 | 256 |
| Screen | 10.9" 2304x1440 | 13" 2752x2064 | 12.7" 2944x1840 | 12" 2196x1464 | 11.2" 3200x2136 | 13.4" 1920x1200 |
| OS | Android 15 | iPadOS | Android 14 | Windows 11 Home | Android 14 HyperOS | Android 15 |
| Stylus | true | true | true | true | false | false |
| Cellular | false | false | false | false | false | true |
| Battery (Wh) | - | 39 | - | 38 | - | - |
| Compare | Compare | Compare | Compare | Compare |
| Product | Cpu | Gpu | Ram | Screen | Battery | Feature | Storage | User Sentiment | Connectivity | Social Proof |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Samsung Galaxy Tab S 10 FE 10.9" | 44.2 | 45.8 | 84.9 | 59.6 | 93.8 | 99.9 | 74.8 | 95.5 | 89.5 | 97 |
| Apple iPad Pro 13" M5 Chip Compare | 96.9 | 96.5 | 84.9 | 99.6 | 99.5 | 95.6 | 74.8 | 95.5 | 86.1 | 99.3 |
| Lenovo Idea Tab Pro 12.7" 3K Compare | 44.2 | 45.8 | 75 | 92.1 | 94.7 | 95.6 | 74.8 | 91.2 | 96.1 | 99.3 |
| Microsoft Surface Pro 12" Compare | 98.7 | 1.5 | 95 | 60.3 | 99.1 | 94 | 92.4 | 0 | 96.1 | 97 |
| Xiaomi Pad 7 PRO Pad 7 Pro Ai Compare | 82.1 | 82.3 | 84.9 | 99.1 | 46.1 | 54.2 | 88.6 | 70.5 | 54.6 | 92.5 |
| Teclast T65PLUS 13.4-Inch Android 15 Tablet 2025 Compare | 74.5 | 75.1 | 75 | 45.4 | 94.5 | 24.9 | 74.8 | 70.5 | 92.5 | 95 |
Common Questions
Q: Is this good for drawing or serious note-taking?
The S Pen is good for casual sketching and jotting down ideas, and features like Handwriting Assist are neat. But the screen isn't top-tier, and the latency won't satisfy serious digital artists. Look at the regular Tab S10+ or an iPad for that.
Q: Can I use this for work or school like a laptop?
Not really. Our productivity score for it is brutally low (25/100). It's fine for reading PDFs and typing short emails in Dex mode, but for any real multitasking or heavy document work, you'll want a proper laptop or a more powerful 2-in-1.
Q: How's the battery life?
It's average. Our percentile ranking puts battery performance right in the middle of the pack at 49th. You'll get through a day of mixed use, but don't expect to forget your charger for a weekend trip.
Who Should Skip This
Skip this if you need a productivity machine or care about having the fastest chip. This isn't it. Go get a refurbished iPad Pro or a Surface Go instead. Also skip it if you're a gamer; the GPU is not up for demanding titles.
Verdict
We can only recommend the Galaxy Tab S10 FE to a very specific buyer: someone deeply invested in the Samsung ecosystem who wants a large, water-resistant screen primarily for media consumption and light note-taking, and who values the included S Pen enough to overlook middling performance. For everyone else, the competition offers more power, better screens, or more versatility for your money.