The Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 and Tab S8 Plus are among the company’s most recent top-end tablets, alongside the Galaxy S22, Galaxy S22 Ultra, and the new Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra.
The basic Tab S8 models we’re examining are the cheapest members of Samsung’s new tablet species, which also includes the bigger screen Tab S8 Ultra. Because both these tablets are quite similar, we’ve combined our testing of each into a single hands-on evaluation.
Galaxy Tab S8 and Tab S8 Plus: Design and display
Samsung’s new tablets have a premium look and feel to them, with similar design features to those of iPad devices and other top-end Android tablet choices. It has a metal casing that feels high-end, and there are squared edges around the perimeter.
The rear of the tablets features a minimal design with the camera and the S Pen charging point catching your attention when you look at it. Each tablet is available in three colors: gray, silver, or pink gold.
The charging jack is at the bottom of the tablet, and there are speakers on both ends. The power button and volume controls are also located on this top edge.
The Tab S8’s screen is a 2560 x 1600 resolution 11-inch display with 276 pixels per inch. During our testing period, we found the display to be clear and bright. It has a high refresh rate of up to 120Hz, so your photos should scroll smoothly when browsing or playing games.
The Tab S8 Plus features a bigger screen, one that has a higher resolution of 2800 x 1752. The difference isn’t immediately apparent on this screen.
The Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra has a 14.6-inch display, which is larger than most tablets on the market. But it’s all relative; if you’re looking for the bigger product, you may want to choose for a bigger screen, or if you prefer to carry a smaller device, you may do so.
Galaxy Tab S8 and Tab S8 Plus: Camera
There’s also a 13MP main camera with a 6MP ultra-wide option on the back of the tablet, which is capable of capturing detailed pictures and video.
On the front is a 12MP ultra-wide camera with video calling capabilities, but it can’t compare to the selfie cameras on Samsung’s Galaxy S22 series.
Galaxy Tab S8 and Tab S8 Plus: Battery life
We haven’t yet gotten a chance to thoroughly test the tablets’ battery life, but the Tab S8 has an 8,000mAh cell, which we expect will last for a reasonable amount of time. This matches the Galaxy Tab S7 from 2020, so you can expect around eight hours of video playback on a single charge.
Because the Tab S8 Plus has a larger screen, it requires a greater battery. The battery in this device is 10,090 mAh. Until we fully test the tablet, we won’t know whether or not this battery will provide a full day’s usage.
Fast charging is also available, which now reaches 45W and should allow you to charge this rapidly.
Galaxy Tab S8 and Tab S8 Plus: Performance and software
It’s also worth noting that the entire Galaxy Tab S8 range comes with an S Pen stylus in the box.
The Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Plus costs $899.99 for 128GB and includes a stylus. The storage may be expanded to 1TB thanks to an included microSD slot.
The Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 is powered by the same 4nm Octa Core processor (Qualcomm Snapdragon or Exynos, depending on the market) as its predecessors, such as the new Galaxy S22 line.
The Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 and Tab S8 Plus start with 8GB of RAM. The Tab S8 and Tab S8 Plus include Bluetooth 5.2 and Wi-Fi 6E support as standard.
The Tab S8 Plus’s S Pen, which is designed to work with the Tab S8 family, was pleasant to hold and operate. The S Pen utilized Wacom pen input technology to recognize pressure and tilt, resulting in a genuinely pleasurable drawing experience.
Samsung’s own materials suggest that all of these tablets will be running Android 12, the most recent version. This product will be updated for four years with the most up-to-date Android 12 software, according to Samsung’s materials. That’s longer than previous Samsung tablets and should extend the life of this device.
Galaxy Tab S8 and Tab S8 Plus: Release date and price
On February 9 (or 10 in Australia), pre-orders for the event began. The devices will be delivered on February 25.
| RAM / Storage | Connectivity | US price | UK price | AU price |
| 8/128GB | Wi-Fi | $699.99 | £649 | AU$1,099 |
| 8/128GB | 5G | TBC | £799 | AU$1,299 |
| 8/256GB | Wi-Fi | $779.99 | £699 | AU$1,249 |
| 8/256GB | 5G | TBC | £849 | AU$1,449 |
| RAM / Storage | Connectivity | US price | UK price | AU price |
| 8/128GB | Wi-Fi | $899.99 | £849 | AU$1,499 |
| 8/128GB | 5G | TBC | £999 | AU$1,699 |
| 8/256GB | Wi-Fi | $979.99 | £899 | AU$1,649 |
| 8/256GB | 5G | TBC | £1,049 | AU$1,849 |
