Samsung used to be bad at tablets. Honestly, there is no other way to put it. Years ago, if you bought a Galaxy Tab, you were basically getting a giant, stretched-out phone screen that felt clunky and awkward. But things changed. The Samsung One UI tablet interface has quietly evolved into the only legitimate competitor to iPadOS, and in some very specific ways, it’s actually winning the productivity war.
It isn't just about big icons. It’s about how the software handles the fact that you have ten inches of glass instead of six.
Most people think a tablet is just for Netflix. That's a waste. Samsung's current software, particularly with versions like One UI 6.1.1 and the upcoming leaps in 7.0, focuses on "desktop-class" multitasking. You've got the Taskbar at the bottom—which stays there like a Mac or PC—allowing you to drag and drop apps into split-screen mode instantly. It feels fast. It feels like the hardware is finally being used for its actual purpose.
The Samsung One UI Tablet Secret Sauce: DeX Mode
Let’s talk about DeX. It stands for "Desktop Experience," and it’s the single most important feature that separates a Samsung One UI tablet from every other Android slate on the market.
When you toggle DeX on, the entire interface transforms. Gone is the standard mobile grid. Instead, you get a desktop environment with windowed apps that you can resize, overlap, and snap to the sides. It is bizarre that Apple still hasn't fully committed to this level of window management on the iPad, but Samsung has been refining this for years.
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You can literally plug your Galaxy Tab S9 or S10 into a monitor via USB-C, and the tablet screen stays a tablet while the monitor becomes a full-blown workstation. It’s wild.
I’ve seen people try to use Stage Manager on iPad and give up because it’s too restrictive. DeX doesn’t care. If you want five windows open at once while you're writing a report and checking Slack, it just works. It isn't perfect, though. Some apps still refuse to resize properly, and you’ll occasionally hit a wall where an app thinks it’s still on a phone. That’s the reality of Android’s fragmented ecosystem, even if Samsung is doing the heavy lifting to fix it.
Multi-Window is Finally Useful
Standard Android multitasking is often a chore. On a Samsung One UI tablet, it’s a core mechanic.
You can save "App Pairs." Think about that. If you always use YouTube and Notes together, you can save that layout as a single icon on your edge panel. One tap, and both apps pop up exactly where you left them. It saves seconds, sure, but those seconds add up when you're trying to actually get work done on a train or in a coffee shop.
Samsung also added the "Pop-up view." You can turn any app into a floating bubble. Need a calculator for two minutes? Pop it up, use it, and minimize it into a tiny floating icon. It’s less cluttered than keeping a full split-screen going.
S-Pen Integration and the Latency Lie
The S-Pen comes in the box. That’s a massive deal when you consider Apple charges $129 for a Pencil. But it's the software integration within the Samsung One UI tablet ecosystem that makes the stylus more than a gimmick.
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Samsung Notes has become a powerhouse. It’s not just for scribbling. You can record audio while you take notes, and when you play the audio back, the app highlights exactly what you were writing at that specific second. For students or journalists, this is a killer feature.
- Air Actions: You can wave the pen like a wand to change slides in PowerPoint.
- Screen Off Memo: Just pull the pen out and start writing on the black screen. No unlocking required.
- Handwriting to Text: It’s scary how good the OCR (Optical Character Recognition) is now. Even messy cursive gets converted to clean digital text almost instantly.
The latency is down to 2.8ms on the higher-end models. You literally cannot feel the gap between the nib and the digital ink. It feels like paper, especially if you use one of those "NotePaper" screen protectors that add a bit of grit to the surface.
Why One UI 6.1 and Beyond Matters
Software updates used to be where Samsung went to die. Not anymore.
The rollout of One UI 6.1 brought Galaxy AI to the tablet lineup. This isn't just a marketing buzzword. Features like "Circle to Search" are genuinely better on a big screen. You see something in a PDF or a video, hold the home button, circle it with the S-Pen, and you have your answer. No switching apps. No copy-pasting into Google.
The "Note Assist" feature is also a game changer for long-form content. If you have a massive wall of text from a meeting, the Samsung One UI tablet can summarize it into bullet points and even format it to look like a professional document. It’s built into the native keyboard and notes app, so you don't have to go hunting for a third-party AI tool.
The Ecosystem Problem (or Solution)
Samsung is trying very hard to copy the "Apple Garden." If you have a Samsung phone and a Samsung tablet, your clipboard is shared. You copy a link on your S24, and you can just hit paste on your Tab S9. It’s seamless.
You can even use your tablet as a second screen for your Windows laptop. Most people don't realize this is a native feature. You don't need a third-party app or a HDMI capture card. Just hit "Second Screen" in the quick settings, and suddenly your 14-inch laptop has a sidekick.
Real World Limitations: What They Don't Tell You
Look, I'm not going to sit here and say it's flawless.
Android apps still lag behind iPad apps in terms of sheer polish for creative work. If you are a professional video editor, LumaFusion is on Android now, and it’s great, but the ecosystem for high-end creative tools is still thinner. Procreate isn't here. You have Clip Studio Paint and HiPaint, which are excellent, but the "pro" app gap is real.
Also, the 16:10 aspect ratio.
Samsung loves long, skinny screens. Great for movies. Incredible for movies, actually, because there are almost no black bars. But for reading vertical documents or browsing the web? It feels a little cramped compared to the more "squarish" 4:3 ratio of an iPad. You have to get used to scrolling more.
Customization is Overwhelming (In a Good Way)
One UI is dense.
If you go into the "Good Lock" app—which is a must-download from the Galaxy Store—you can change everything. Want your taskbar to be purple? Done. Want to change how the app switcher looks to a vertical stack instead of a horizontal row? Easy.
This level of control is why power users gravitate toward the Samsung One UI tablet. You aren't forced to use the device the way Samsung thinks you should. You bend the software to your workflow.
Getting the Most Out of Your Tablet
If you just bought a Galaxy Tab or you're looking at one, don't just leave it on the default settings. You're leaving 50% of the value on the table.
First, enable the "Taskbar." Go to Settings > Display > Taskbar. It makes switching between apps feel like a computer. Second, set up your "Edge Panels." I keep my most used tools—calculator, calendar, and a folder of work apps—tucked into that little transparent handle on the right side of the screen.
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Lastly, check out "Modes and Routines." You can set your tablet to automatically turn on "Do Not Disturb," dim the brightness, and open your reading app the moment you sit in your favorite chair at 9:00 PM.
Next Steps for New Owners:
- Download Good Lock: Install the "NavStar" and "Home Up" modules to customize your navigation and folder layouts beyond the stock limitations.
- Sync your Samsung Account: Ensure "Call and Text on Other Devices" is active so you can answer your phone directly from the tablet.
- Master the S-Pen Button: Go into S-Pen settings and map the button double-click to your most-used app (like Spotify or Chrome).
- Test Wireless DeX: If you have a smart TV, try casting DeX to it wirelessly. It’s the easiest way to turn a hotel TV into a computer during a trip.
The Samsung One UI tablet experience isn't just an alternative to the iPad anymore. It’s a distinct philosophy. It assumes you want to do more than one thing at a time, and it gives you the tools to do it without treating you like you've never used a computer before. If you value flexibility and file management over "simplicity," the choice is pretty obvious.