Galaxy Tab S10 FE Plus vs iPad Air M3: Samsung is the more generous one

The battle between Samsung and Apple in the tablet space continues — this time, it’s the Galaxy Tab S10 FE Plus going up against the newly launched M3 iPad Air. While the iPad Air boasts Apple’s latest desktop-grade processor, Samsung’s FE series continues to aim for value-driven users who want productivity and creative tools without crossing the $1,000 mark.Now that Samsung has officially announced the Tab S10 FE Plus, we can say it comes with a 13.1-inch display, Galaxy AI features, and a price that starts at $649, undercutting the M3 iPad Air’s starting price by $100.

The Galaxy Tab S10 FE Plus also comes with a stylus in the box, which is not something we can say for the iPad Air M3.

Galaxy Tab S10 FE Plus vs iPad Air M3 differences explained:

Galaxy Tab S10 FE Plus vs iPad Air M3 Design and Display

The iPad might has a better display

The Tab S10 FE Plus measures 300.6 x 194.7 x 6 mm (which is thinner than the predecessor) compared to the 280.6 x 214.9 x 6.1 mm of the M3 iPad Air. This makes it taller, narrower, and slightly thinner.

The Galaxy Tab S10 FE Plus has a slightly larger 13.1-inch screen compared to the iPad’s 13-inch panel. The Tab also features a 90Hz refresh rate, which makes using the tablet feel quicker and smoother (important when using a stylus and typing). In comparison, the iPad has a 60Hz screen, which can feel sluggish at times.

Both tablets use LCD displays, but the iPad Air pulls ahead in color and brightness. It supports Dolby Vision and HDR10, while the Galaxy Tab S10 FE Plus supports HDR10 only. During our display tests, the M3 iPad Air hit up to 1,500 nits peak brightness, compared to the FE Plus’s 800 nits in High Brightness Mode.

Samsung’s FE model also features Vision Booster, which adjusts contrast and color in real time to improve visibility based on ambient light, but it likely won’t close the gap in brightness.

Samsung’s S Pen comes in the box, a major plus. While it’s not the Bluetooth-enabled version (so no Air Actions or wireless controls), it still offers pressure sensitivity, palm rejection, and handwriting input — good enough for most note-takers and casual artists.
Apple’s Apple Pencil is sold separately and starts at $69 (USB-C version) or $119 (2nd-gen with hover support). You’ll also have to buy a keyboard separately — Samsung’s Book Cover Keyboard costs around $199, while Apple’s Magic Keyboard for the iPad starts at $299.

One potential perk: some markets may bundle a free Smart Book Cover with early Galaxy Tab S10 FE Plus purchases, while Apple rarely offers such incentives.

Galaxy Tab S10 FE Plus vs iPad Air M3 Performance

Where Apple takes an undeniable lead

There’s no competition here — the M3 chip in the iPad Air is in a league of its own. Based on the same silicon used in Apple’s MacBooks, it delivers desktop-class performance in a tablet form. It’s more than powerful enough for pro-level apps like Final Cut Pro, Logic Pro, and complex multitasking setups.

The Apple M3 chip helped the Air outperform even the Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra during our performance benchmarks!

The Galaxy Tab S10 FE Plus is powered by the Exynos 1580, a 5nm mid-range chip also seen in the Galaxy A56. It’s a notable upgrade over the previous FE model and more than sufficient for streaming, web browsing, light gaming, and creative tasks with Samsung’s AI tools — but it won’t match the M3 in sustained performance or GPU-intensive work.

That said, the 90Hz display on the Galaxy can make the UI feel smoother in daily use compared to the iPad’s 60Hz refresh, at least on the surface.

The Galaxy Tab S10 FE Plus ships with Android 15 and One UI 7, complete with Galaxy AI features like Circle to Search, Object Eraser, Best Face and more. Samsung also supports DeX — a desktop-like mode for multitasking with keyboard and mouse — giving it an edge for productivity.On the iPad side, iPadOS 17 brings Apple’s intuitive interface, Stage Manager and Split View. The iPad benefits from a broader and better-optimized library of tablet apps — especially for creative professionals and students.

Samsung hasn’t officially confirmed the FE Plus’s update timeline, but based on recent trends, we expect 4 years of OS updates and 5 years of security patches. The iPad Air M3 will likely get 6+ years of updates, in line with Apple’s typical support cycle.

Galaxy Tab S10 FE Plus vs iPad Air M3 Audio Quality

Both tablets feature dual speakers, which limits stereo separation and overall immersion compared to the quad-speaker setups seen on higher-end models.

In our review, the iPad Air’s speakers delivered clear highs, punchy mids, and good volume. Samsung hasn’t made major claims about audio improvements with the Tab S10 FE Plus, so our expectationsare modest. Although, its size might help it push louder output.

Galaxy Tab S10 FE Plus vs iPad Air M3 Battery and Charging

Galaxy Tab S10 FE Plus vs iPad Air M3 Camera

Should be pretty even

These tablets aren’t replacements for your phone cameras, but for video calls, document scans and casual snapshots, both are well-equipped.

The Galaxy Tab S10 FE Plus comes with a 13 MP rear camera, while the iPad Air sticks with 12 MP. At the front, both feature a 12 MP ultra-wide selfie camera, which tends to do the job for video conferencing.

Which one should you buy?

If you need raw performance and a brighter display — especially for professional work or if you’re already in the Apple ecosystem — the M3 iPad Air is hard to beat.

But if your focus is value, creativity, and productivity without blowing your budget, the Galaxy Tab S10 FE Plus offers a bigger screen, smoother refresh rate, S Pen included, and modern AI tools — all for $100 less.

While both tablets have their advantages, since the iPad doesn’t make full use of its tremendous power, the Galaxy Tab S10 FE seems like the better bang for your buck. That’s especially true when you consider the added stylus.