Samsung Galaxy Tab S10+ vs. Google Pixel Tablet: One for home, the other on the go

• 

  Made for the fans

  
  Samsung Galaxy Tab S10+
  

  The Samsung Galaxy Tab S10+ offers massive refinements over its predecessor. It features a 12.4-inch AMOLED display, the S Pen stylus in the box, and a powerful chipset. It also includes new AI features that help you be more creative and get work done faster and more efficiently.

  Pros

  • Large and beautiful display
  • Snappy performance
  • Great battery life

  Cons

  • It could do with a newer design
  • A bit expensive

• 

  Multi-purpose

  
  Google Pixel Tablet
  

  Google returned to the tablet business with a device that also acts as a hub for your smart home gadgets. It lets you access your favorite apps, check on your smart cameras, listen to music, and so much more. It’s really versatile, and it has a large 10.9-inch display that’s bright and colorful to consume your content.

  Pros

  • Great performance
  • Good-looking display
  • Charging Speaker Dock works well

  Cons

  • The dock’s audio isn’t great
  • Hub Mode is limited

Tablets come in various sizes, allowing you to multitask and enjoy content at the comfort of your home, or out and about. We’ve reviewed some of the best tablets of 2024, including the new Samsung Galaxy Tab S10+ and the Google Pixel Tablet.

While these two devices have very little in common, a few things make each stand out on their own. The Galaxy Tab S10+ is perfect for those looking for a device on the go or at home, while the Pixel Tablet is primarily suited to be used at home, but doesn’t shy away from being picked up and carried around either. We’ve put the two tablets side-by-side and helped you determine which is better suited to your needs.

Price, specs, and availability

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S10+ is available at most shops and carriers and directly through Samsung. The base model features 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage and retails for $1,000. The 512GB model costs an additional $120, and Samsung also sells a cellular 256GB model for $1,150. As for the colors, the Tab S10+ comes in two: Moonstone Gray and Platinum Silver.

The Google Pixel Tablet can be purchased from Amazon, Best Buy, and Google’s online store. The base model, which features 8GB of RAM and up to 256GB of storage, retails for $499. The 8GB/256GB model usually retails for $600. The Pixel Tablet comes in Porcelain, Rose, and Hazel colors.

• 	Samsung Galaxy Tab S10+	Google Pixel Tablet
  SoC	MediaTek Dimensity 9300+	Google Tensor G2
  Display type	120Hz, Dynamic AMOLED 2X with Anti Reflection	IPS LCD, 60Hz
  Display dimensions	12.4″	10.95″, 16:10
  Display resolution	2800 x 1752	2560 x 1600
  RAM	12GB	8GB
  Storage	Up to 512GB, microSD support up to 1.5TB	128GB or 256GB
  Battery	10,090mAh	7,020mAh
  Charging speed	45W	15W wired
  Charge options	Wired	Wired
  Ports	USB-C	USB-C
  SIM support	SIM, eSIM (5G model only)	No
  Operating System	One UI 6.1.1, Android 14	Android 14
  Front Camera	12MP	8MP, f2/0
  Rear Camera	13MP primary, 8MP ultrawide	8MP, f2/0
  Cellular connectivity	5G (Sub-6/mmWave)	No
  Wi-Fi connectivity	Wi-Fi 6E	Wi-Fi 6
  Bluetooth	Bluetooth 5.3	Bluetooth 5.2
  Dimensions	185.4 X 285.4 X 5.6mm	258 x 169 x 8.1mm
  Weight	571g (Wi-Fi), 576g (5G)	493g
  IP rating	IP68	None
  Colors	Moonstone Gray, Platinum Silver	Porcelain, Hazel, Rose
  Stylus	S Pen included	No
  Price	$1,000	From $400

Design

Premium feel and design

In terms of design and feel, both the Galaxy Tab S10+ and the Pixel Tablet feature a premium build quality, with an aluminum frame and rear panel with a glass front. The main difference between the two devices is their size and design, as well as the bezels.

The Galaxy Tab S10+ measures 285.4 x 185.4 x 5.6mm, and it’s significantly thinner than the Pixel Tablet at 258 x 169 x 8.1mm. The Galaxy is smaller by every measurement, but the thinner profile helps make it slightly more portable – ideal for the times when you want to shove it in your backpack and forget about it. However, it weighs significantly more than the Pixel Tablet.

The Tab S10+ weighs 571 grams, whereas the Pixel Tablet weighs 493 grams. This shouldn’t come as a surprise, given the Samsung tablet is much larger in footprint, and it’s worth noting that the additional 70 grams will not make or break the overall experience for a device that’s this thin and portable.

In terms of durability, the Galaxy Tab S10+ also features an IP68 certificate, meaning it can survive submersion up to 1.5 meters for 30 minutes without a problem; whether you get caught in the rain, or accidentally drop a cup of water, your tablet should handle it without a problem. The Pixel Tablet, on the other hand, features no such certificate, and we recommend you keep it away from dusty and humid environments where it could get wet.

The one place where the Pixel Tablet offers slightly more functionality — for some — is where it comes to its bottom rear panel, which allows users to attach it to the Speaker Dock. This enables the Hub mode, which lets users listen to music and control their smart home devices more seamlessly. Of course, the Galaxy Tab S10+ also has various accessories, adding a kickstand, a full keyboard, and even support for S Pen.

Display

AMOLED beats LCD nearly all the time

The Galaxy Tab S10+ features a massive 12.4-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display with 120Hz refresh rate and support for HDR10+. It has a 1752 x 2800 resolution, making it large, colorful, bright, and sharp for consuming all types of media. It’s hands-down one of the best displays on a tablet for this size, and we were pleased with its overall experience during our review.

The Google Pixel Tablet is a mid-range tablet, and as such, it comes with a much smaller 10.95-inch IPS LCD panel. There’s no support for HDR, Dolby Vision, or anything of that kind. It doesn’t even have a high-refresh-rate panel, and it’s still stuck with a 60Hz display.

While we would’ve liked to see at least a 90Hz panel, the Pixel Tablet still offers an adequate experience when it comes to browsing the web and consuming content. It’s ideal when you just want to sit down and enjoy content on the larger display, and when you’re following a recipe in the kitchen. It’s not aimed at power users, but at those who want to get stuff done on a large display.

This is a clear win for the Galaxy Tab, which also supports the S Pen stylus, enabling users to draw and quickly take down notes. The S10+ is the ultimate large-screen tablet for anyone looking for a flagship device, while the Pixel Tablet is better suited for users seeking a tablet that can be used at home.

Software and performance

A clear winner

Samsung has upped its game in the past few years, and the Galaxy Tab S10+ benefits from those advancements. The tablet will receive seven years of OS and security updates, making the high price tag much easier to accept. The device already has lots of customizability features, and it’s an excellent device for multitasking as it has many features built-in that make it easier to use multiple apps side-by-side.

In contrast, the Pixel Tablet will only receive three years of OS and five years of security updates. Google hasn’t extended its seven-year support policy beyond the Pixel devices, and it looks like the Pixel Tablet will receive its final update sometime in 2028.

And finally, when it comes to performance, the Galaxy Tab S10+ is the clear winner. It’s powered by the flagship MediaTek Dimensity 9300+ chipset, coupled with 12GB of RAM and up to 512GB of storage. It’s plenty to fast to play demanding and graphics-intensive games, multitask, and do just about anything you’d want to do on a large-screen tablet.

The Google Pixel Tablet is powered by the Google Tensor G2 chipset, which, although capable, is behind the Mediatek chip in the Galaxy tablet. Having said that, it’s still powerful enough to multitask and game, but you’ll most likely run those games in medium settings as the tablet can sometimes heat up.

It’s also worth pointing out that these two devices are aimed at completely different audiences. While both have AI features, the Galaxy Tab S10+ is better suited for creative users, students, and those looking for a fantastic all-arounder device that’s capable of taking on any task. The Pixel Tablet is primarily aimed at users who want a device at home, with the portability option as a second option.

The Pixel Tablet has a Hub mode that essentially turns it into a smart hub, or a Nest Home device when placed on the dock. This enables users to manage their smart home devices, such as Nest speakers, cameras, and other accessories.

Battery life

Slow charging on the dock vs fast charging on the go

The Tab S10+ packs a massive 10,090 mAh battery. During our review, we found that it can easily last a full day on a single charge. I didn’t blow us away, but the tablet is well optimized, enough to power through a busy work day with some videos and browsing on the side.

The Pixel Tablet features a 7,020 mAh battery. We found that it could last for about 12 hours while watching videos, and it lasted about a day on a single charge. However, it’s not the longest-lasting device we found, but it’s worth noting that it’s not intended to be used on its battery all the time, thanks to its Charging Speaker Dock. Unless you play a lot of games and constantly use the tablet, you’ll likely be just fine with the overall battery life.

And finally, when it comes to charging, the Galaxy Tab S10+ is the better option. It supports 45W wired charging, and we managed to charge the device to full in about two hours, which, given the large battery, isn’t too bad. The Pixel Tablet supports only 15W charging, which is very slow; however, it’s meant to be placed on the Charging Speaker Dock most of the time, so it should always have enough power when it’s not in use.

Which is right for you?

If you’re looking for an all-around fantastic tablet that ticks all the boxes, offers a versatile experience out of the box, and has a beautiful display, a powerful chipset, and large screen real estate with the ability to draw with a precise stylus, then you simply can’t go wrong with the Galaxy Tab S10+. It’s an excellent premium tablet, and while the price might put some people off, it’s one of the best large-screen tablets you can get your hands on today.

However, if you’re looking to spend half as much, and you just want an adequately sized tablet for everyday tasks, and to quickly check up on your smart home devices, listen to music, and browse on a large display, then the Pixel Tablet is a viable alternative.

Sure, it won’t blow you away with its performance, and it’s slightly limited with its battery life and features, but the Charging Speaker Dock makes it an excellent tablet for casual users who just want a tablet at home.