It feels like Samsung always has a new device in the works, and while we continue to wait patiently for the Galaxy Ring to make an appearance down under, we now have another expansion to the Korean tech giant’s range of mobile devices. This one includes a pair of premium Galaxy Tab S10 tablets and the Galaxy S24 FE, a modestly priced addition to the S24 smartphone line, all of which offer Galaxy AI as a headline feature.
Artificial intelligence continues to be the hot new thing, and while it’s fair (even advisable) to maintain a solid level of scepticism in the face of many of its underwhelming and more questionable deployments, Samsung has managed to implement its Galaxy AI in a way that I’ve found genuinely useful. Now, this usefulness will be made available to a broader range of users as it rolls out to Samsung’s new tablets and the most accessible incarnation of the S24 smartphone.
Before we look at Samsung’s new tablets and smartphone, I should say that I’m not inclined to re-introduce the entire suite of Galaxy AI tools every time Samsung launches a new device. Instead, I will simply direct you to my Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra and Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6 reviews as I feel they provide a comprehensive overview of what the Galaxy AI feature set entails.
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Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra and Galaxy Tab S10+
With that out of the way, the new Galaxy Tab S10 devices look like a promising upgrade to Samsung’s tablet offering. I’ve been using the Tab S10 Ultra for the last couple of days (keep an eye out for the forthcoming hands-on look) and I’ve been enjoying it. Both the S10 Ultra and S10+ appear highly polished with a premium feature set that includes a bright, crisp panel, incredibly slim build, and S Pen compatibility that adds flexibility to how you can use them.
The S10 Ultra is the larger of the two, offering an enormous 14.6-inch display, while the S10+ features a still generous 12.4-inch display. Both offer Dynamic AMOLED 2X technology, which means the refresh rate—the number of times per second the display can draw a new image—has been increased from 60 to 120 (Hz). Samsung claims this offers a “vibrant yet natural” viewing experience indoors and out. Outdoor viewing will be further assisted by the introduction of an anti-reflective coating to the Tab category, designed to reduce distracting glare and reflections for easier use in all conditions.
An excellent visual experience is all well and good, but if its undermined by the accompanying audio, then what’s the point? As such, both of the S10 tablets offer a quad-speaker setup that’s elevated by an AI-powered Dialogue Boost functionality, designed to amplify voices over background noise for a superior experience.
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Samsung also claims the S10 Ultra sees a significant bump in processing power over its predecessors, with an 18 per cent increase in CPU, 28 per cent increase in GPU, and 14 per cent increase in NPU when compared with the Tab S9 Ultra and S9+. This enables the device to take a quicker and more responsive approach to its AI functionality, which can be accessed via written prompts using the new Galaxy AI Key on the Book Cover Keyboard, which is sold separately but can be redeemed for free by early adopters.
AI features like Note Assist and Drawing Assist have been optimised for the tablet form factor, but Samsung also promises its new tablets offer up plenty of other premium features. These include long-lasting battery life and super-fast charging, as well as enhanced durability, thanks to an IP68 rating for water and dust resistance, and Armour Aluminium construction to keep your device from suffering any unsightly scratches and dings.
The Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra and Galaxy Tab S10+ will be available in a Moonstone Grey finish from 10 October 2024. Pricing for the S10 Ultra starts at AUD$2,099, while the S10+ will start at AUD$1,799.
Samsung Galaxy S24 FE
The ‘FE’ in the Samsung Galaxy FE stands for ‘Fan Edition’ but as I was being briefed on this device, one of Samsung’s representatives affectionately referred to it as the ‘Flagship Experience’. This makes a lot of sense as the device offers many of the premium features found within Samsung’s S24 Ultra at a far more accessible price point.
Boasting a crisp 6.7-inch display with curved corners (compared with the 6.8-inch, square-cornered display of the S24 Ultra), the FE features the same Dynamic AMOLED 2X display technology as the Tab S10 devices. It also includes a 4,700mAh battery, an Exynos 2400 series chipset for an elevated gaming experience that includes ray tracing, as well as a camera setup that consists of a 50MP wide lens, 8MP telephoto lens with 3X optical zoom—both supported by optical image stabilisation (OIS)—and a 12MP ultra-wide lens and a 10MP selfie camera.
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While on paper these camera specs are (as you would expect) a step down from Samsung’s higher-end devices, the brand claims the device’s photographic offering is enhanced via its AI-driven ProVisual Engine. This new technology is making its debut here, enhancing the S24 FE camera offering’s visual quality via AI algorithms that increase detail and texture.
While I’ve only had a few minutes with S24 FE, my first impressions are that you’d be forgiven for thinking its a more premium device than it is. The build quality is certainly reminiscent of smartphones in a higher price bradket—this has become pretty standard across the category, mind—while a shrinking of the bezel from its predecessor means it squeezes more screen real estate in its compact build.
The Galaxy S24 FE will be available in Graphite, Blue, and (my pick) Mint when it launches on October 10 2024, with pre-orders open now. The RRP for the new smartphone starts at a competitive AUD$1,099, although Samsung says its will be available through select retailers for a (really quite astonishing) AUD$799.
