All of the options I need to see

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 collection ranks as the perfect trio of Android tablets, however nothing is ideal. The extraordinarily extensive side ratio is likely one of the most blatant weaknesses for anybody hoping to make use of the tablets in portrait orientation, however there are different enhancements we’d like to see, too. Whereas we doubtless gained’t see a brand new mannequin till late 2024, it’s enjoyable to take a position what the Samsung Galaxy Tab S10, Tab S10 Plus, and Tab S10 Extremely might need in retailer for us. Let’s leap proper in and check out my wishlist for Samsung’s 2024 flagship pill.

Non-compulsory 5G for the complete Tab S10 lineup

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Plus is the one mannequin that provides a 5G choice. That’s proper; if you need the Tab S9 or Tab S9 Extremely, your solely selection is a Wi-Fi-only mannequin. This looks as if a foolish oversight, particularly for the Extremely, which has a big show that would make it a fantastic journey companion for many who want one thing that may double as a monster productiveness machine. I actually assume all of the Galaxy Tab S10 fashions ought to have 5G as an choice. I can’t see it including a lot to the manufacturing prices, so it seems like a low-risk change for Samsung.

After all, 5G isn’t the one factor required to make the Tab S10 a fantastic enterprise journey system. Let’s speak about Samsung’s present keyboard scenario.

As cell processors change into more and more highly effective, we’re seeing extra customers make the most of tablets as laptop computer substitutes, even when solely as a backup answer. The most effective laptop computer substitutes have one factor in frequent: a fantastic keyboard accent. The obvious and fashionable instance is the iPad Professional, which has a couple of first rate keyboard choice for turning the pill right into a makeshift laptop computer. Sadly, this isn’t one thing Samsung has found out simply but.

Its present Galaxy Ebook Cowl is extra of a case with a Bluetooth keyboard, whereas Apple’s answer makes the iPad really feel virtually like a real laptop computer with extras like USB ports and extra. Samsung must go the identical route, providing a keyboard that additionally works as a dock with ports for stuff like further USB-C ports and perhaps even extras like HDMI. The Galaxy Tab S10 Extremely would most clearly profit from this, as its dimension and efficiency make it a fairly strong analog for the iPad Professional collection.

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 makes use of a 16:10 side ratio, which has its personal professionals and cons. That mentioned, it’s positively a way more rectangular expertise than many different tablets on the market, even when the width is almost an identical to one thing just like the OnePlus Pad. The entire design makes the whole lot really feel extra cramped and awkward, even when the display screen sizes for the Tab S9 collection begin at 11 inches.

Personally, I’d wish to see the Galaxy Tab S10 fashions retain the identical general design language however transfer to a 4:3 side ratio just like the iPad collection. This side ratio is healthier for net apps, searching, and even mild productiveness duties like writing, even when it’s not fairly pretty much as good for media consumption. Nonetheless, Samsung’s Tab S collection has plenty of energy, and I really feel it ought to aspire to be greater than only a glorified media slate.

I’ll be sincere, I don’t assume the Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 household essentially must go down the sensible residence hub route to face out. It’s clear Google has the strongest ambitions there to date, and Google Assistant is significantly better suited to this expertise than Bixby. After all, Samsung doesn’t push Bixby almost as exhausting anymore, so it’s not just like the Galaxy S10’s Hub options couldn’t probably make the most of Google Assistant as a substitute.

Nonetheless, I believe this might be a pleasant further, and even Apple is rumored to be engaged on methods to make use of the iPad because the brains for the next-gen Apple Residence speaker. It’s much less clear how Samsung may strategy it.

I don’t really feel just like the Pixel Pill‘s pressured accent route would make a lot sense. In all probability the perfect concept could be to make a dock/sensible speaker hybrid accent that would work alone as a Bluetooth speaker and fundamental Google Assistant or Bixby-powered speaker. It may optionally be paired with the Galaxy Tab S10 for a full sensible residence hub expertise that will join wirelessly from any room. Let’s not neglect the elephant within the room although, Bixby Residence.

Bixby Residence was Samsung’s sensible speaker that was killed earlier than it ever existed, although the corporate did launch an much more pathetic Bixby Residence Mini variant that did poorly available in the market. The purpose is that Samsung doesn’t have a fantastic status within the sensible speaker area, so making a stand-alone could be seen as too dangerous for Samsung.

I was fairly in opposition to the concept of tablets, principally as a result of all my Android pill experiences had been fairly poor, and even the one iPad my household had left me questioning its goal past a couple of time-wasting video games I loved. I’m now beginning to change my thoughts.

Not too long ago, I acquired an iPad Professional. I additionally spent a while with a new Chromebook Plus mannequin that would flip right into a (albeit outsized and heavy) pill. Due to a combination of those two experiences, I’m beginning to fall in love with the concept of a tool that’s smaller for conditions the place I don’t want the keyboard, however that may remodel into a real workstation once I want it. I really feel like cell {hardware} and cloud computing have gotten robust sufficient that that is the appropriate time to lastly undertake such a hybrid computing system.

It’s no secret that the Android pill expertise trails the iPad expertise, even when Google appears devoted to altering this with the Google Pixel Pill and enhancements to Android on bigger screens that make it a greater platform for tablets and foldables. It additionally has a couple of first rate Chromebooks that may double as Chrome tablets, too. That mentioned, many nonetheless consider Samsung because the pure “various” to the iPhone, particularly in markets with restricted model availability like america. I actually consider the Galaxy Tab S10 may fill the identical function for Android pill customers as Galaxy telephones do for Android telephones.

To do that, Samsung must push tougher. The Galaxy Tab S collection has all the time been good, however it must do much more. It must show itself as a superb laptop computer various and one thing that may sustain with the iPad household. By bettering all of the above elements, Samsung will supply the closest factor to an Android-powered iPad Professional.

I’ll admit I’m only one individual. Whereas that is my wishlist, I wished to place this on the market to make sure a good and balanced strategy: Samsung may preserve doing what it’s doing and simply decrease its worth a bit of as a substitute.

There’s nothing inherently damaged with its present technique, and it’s been sufficient of successful that Samsung has been the one firm persistently releasing tablets when others bowed out. Samsung is the second-largest vendor of tablets on the planet and shipped round six million models in Q3 of 2023. That’s not fairly the identical factor as promoting that many, however the level stays the identical.

Samsung is persistently referred to as out by shoppers and reviewers for being too costly and there definitely loads of cheaper Android tablets on the market. The most affordable Galaxy Tab S9 mannequin begins at $799.99, whereas the iPad begins at $449, and even much less at $329 should you’re keen to get the getting old Ninth-gen mannequin. To be honest, just lately Samsung launched the Galaxy Tab S9 FE and S9 FE Plus, which type of fill the function of the usual iPad pricing-wise.

Nonetheless, if Samsung doesn’t need to push additional upscale and tackle the iPad Professional, the corporate may a minimum of simplify its lineup and launch an FE-priced mannequin proper out of the gate as a substitute of ready till a couple of months later.

• Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 — August 11, 2023
• Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 — February 9, 2022
• Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 — August 5, 2020

There aren’t any strong Galaxy Tab S10 rumors but, however there may be completely no motive to not count on a Galaxy Tab S10 until the corporate dramatically rebrands. Samsung has moved numbers up earlier than to supply extra constant messaging throughout its merchandise; perhaps we may see a Galaxy Tab S24 as a substitute of the S10? Unlikely, however you by no means know.

As for once we may see the Galaxy Tab S10, Tab S10 Plus, and Tab S10 Extremely? That’s tougher to foretell. The Tab S has usually had yearly releases, although the precise launch has ranged from February to April and even August. Issues acquired a bit of messy when the pandemic broke out, which led to a two-year hole between the Tab S7 and S8.

Contemplating the Galaxy Tab S9 arrived only a yr after the Tab S8, it’s very potential Samsung is again to a yearly launch cycle. It’s additionally almost certainly to reach in round mid-to-late summer season, as that’s when the overwhelming majority of previous Tab S fashions have been launched. Meaning a summer season 2024 launch date is probably the most possible, however that’s actually only a guess for now.

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 collection continues to be very new, and whereas we didn’t love the whole lot about it, general we loved the expertise fairly a bit and would advocate it. It’s simply among the finest Android tablets. Nonetheless, should you aren’t eager on Samsung’s present flagship pill, the perfect Android alternate options could be both the OnePlus Pad ($479 at OnePlus) or the Google Pixel Pill ($499 at Amazon).

When you’re not completely locked into Android, you could possibly additionally contemplate a member of the iPad household, the iPad Professional ($786 at Amazon) particularly.