Samsung Galaxy Tab S10+ 12.4" SM-X828U Moonstone Gray 2024

The Galaxy Tab S10+ combines a jaw-dropping AMOLED screen with marathon battery life and true waterproofing. Just know the S Pen is a separate purchase, and prices are all over the map. Grab one around $650 and it's one of the best Android tablets out there.

The Galaxy Tab S10+ is Samsung's best argument yet that Android tablets can hang with the big dogs. That 12.4-inch AMOLED screen is flat-out gorgeous, and combined with a 10,090mAh battery that easily lasts a full day, it's a media consumption dream. The IP68 rating means you can even use it by the pool without sweating it, which is something Apple's iPads still can't claim.

The MediaTek Dimensity 9300+ chip keeps Android 14 feeling snappy, and 12GB of RAM means you can bounce between apps without stutter. It lands around the 83rd percentile for CPU, so it's well above average and chews through daily tasks, light gaming, and even some DeX multitasking. The GPU is right there too, though serious gamers might notice it's a step behind the latest Apple Silicon. For almost everyone else, it's more than enough muscle.

With prices bouncing from around $630 for a renewed unit all the way up to $1,120 brand new, this tablet's value really depends on which deal you snag. If you find it below $700, it's an absolute steal for a big, beautiful, waterproof 5G tablet. At the high end, you're brushing up against a well-specced iPad Pro or Surface Pro, and those might tempt you away with stronger ecosystems. The best price we spotted was on a renewed model, which early buyers say looks brand new, so that's the sweet spot.

Stacked against an iPad Pro M5, the Samsung wins on screen all-around usability outdoors and that sweet expandable storage up to 1.5TB, but loses on raw GPU power and tablet-optimized app selection. The Microsoft Surface Pro is a true laptop replacement, but its battery life can't touch the Tab S10+, and it lacks 5G on base configs. The Xiaomi Pad 7 Pro is a strong budget alternative, though you give up water resistance and the DeX desktop mode. Among the Chinese Android slates, the Lenovo Idea Tab Pro and rugged HOTWAV just don't match the polish or screen quality here.

If you need a full laptop replacement with desktop apps (and don't care about LTE), the Surface Pro is a much better fit. Hardcore mobile gamers who want the absolute fastest frame rates will feel the draw of the iPad Pro M5's sheer GPU power. And if you hate the idea of hunting for a good price just to avoid the $1,100 sticker, you're probably better off with something more consistently affordable like the Lenovo Idea Tab Pro.

Pick this up if you want a big-screened Android tablet that doesn't compromise on durability and you plan to draw or take notes (just buy the S Pen separately). It's perfect for artists, binge-watchers, and Samsung phone owners who want that DeX continuity. If you're already deep in the Apple world or need a full desktop OS in a tablet form, you'll probably be happier elsewhere.