Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 review

Greatest Costs Immediately: Samsung Galaxy Tab S8

$570.00

When Samsung unveiled the Galaxy Tab S8 vary, the main focus was on the all-new Extremely mannequin, with its outlandishly massive show, widescreen kind issue, and weird notch. 

Much less fuss was manufactured from the bottom Tab S8 – which is a disgrace, as a result of with its extra smart form and reasonably priced worth it is a significantly better pill for almost all of individuals, and nonetheless packs the important thing specs you may need your eye on within the Extremely. 

Design and construct 

• Slim and cozy dimension 
• Metallic physique 
• Trio of colors 

Samsung hasn’t pushed the boat out with the design of the usual Tab S8, which seems to be quite a bit like final 12 months’s Tab S7 – and certainly like most different fashionable premium tablets. 

The 11in show is the smallest within the Tab S8 vary, although that is nonetheless a full-size pill, not a mini mannequin. It’s gentle and slim although – simply 6.3mm thick, which is a bit more than the Extremely however stays impressively slender. 

Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry

The squared off edges to the metallic physique are comfy to carry, and there’s sufficient of a bezel across the show to offer you house to relaxation your thumb and fingers – an vital pill consideration that’s the rationale you don’t need an edge-to-edge display screen right here. 

The S8 can also be obtainable in a selection of three colors: the easy Silver I’ve reviewed, a darker Graphite, and a Pink Gold that’s far more the previous than the latter. On each mannequin the again is interrupted solely by the small digital camera module and a black strip that runs beneath it the place the S Pen stylus is meant to connect. 

There’s no IP ranking for mud or water-resistance, although that is pretty widespread for tablets nonetheless. The show is coated in protecting Gorilla Glass 5 – not the highest normal, however adequate – and the metallic rear feels sturdy sufficient. 

Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry

One oddity in regards to the Tab S8 – at the very least in comparison with the remainder of the vary – is that it has a bodily, side-mounted fingerprint sensor, which is constructed into the ability button. I’ve discovered it dependable sufficient that I haven’t missed the under-display possibility too badly, although if your tech you might realise that this offers away the Tab S8’s different huge spec compromise: the display screen. 

Show and audio 

• 11in LCD show 
• 120Hz refresh charge 
• S Pen stylus help 

Sure, the Tab S8 is the one mannequin within the line to make use of an LCD show reasonably than AMOLED. It’s a small disgrace, and does imply show high quality right here received’t match its larger brothers, however I don’t assume it is best to see it as a dealbreaker. 

Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry

For one factor, the panel nonetheless boasts the identical 120Hz refresh charge as its friends, so that you’ll get the identical advantages of silky easy scrolling and animations. 

Secondly, this can be an LCD, however it’s a good LCD. No, it could possibly’t fairly hit the oh-so-inky blacks of OLED, however that is nonetheless a superb panel. Colors are shiny, punchy, and vivid, and the 2560 x 1600 decision packs in loads of element. 

Maybe this received’t fairly meet the requirements of these on the lookout for a pill to make use of for skilled artistic work, however anybody else will discover this completely ample for Instagram, Netflix, and gaming. 

The Tab S8 additionally helps Samsung’s S Pen stylus, which is the one accent included with the pill within the field. That is nice for doodling or note-taking (although the handwriting recognition does wrestle with my messy scrawls), and because of Samsung’s Air Motion shortcuts can also be a helpful software for day-to-day use in apps starting from the net browser to the digital camera. It attaches magnetically to the pill’s rear when not in use, and wirelessly prices whereas there.

Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry

Along with the stylus, the Tab S8 does help a keyboard case, although this isn’t included with the pill. Samsung’s official case is costly too – it’ll set you again $199/£119/€149, and extra for a model with a trackpad – so issue that in for those who count on to make use of the pill primarily for productiveness. 

As for audio, you get quad audio system delivering stereo sound, firing out of the highest and backside of the pill. These are pretty crisp and shiny, however predictably skinny on the bass finish. They’ll do for the odd little bit of music, and are actually ample for streaming TV and gaming, however understandably have their limits. 

Specs and efficiency 

• Flagship Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chip 
• As much as 256GB expandable storage 
• Non-compulsory 5G help exterior the US 

Efficiency is one space the place the Tab S8 comfortably retains up with the remainder of the vary. Like the opposite Tab S8 fashions, it’s geared up with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chip, the corporate’s flagship from earlier this 12 months.  

It’s not fairly essentially the most highly effective chip round anymore, having been supplanted by the 8+ Gen 1 (to not point out nonetheless lagging behind Apple’s iPad chips), nevertheless it packs loads of energy.  

Paired with 8GB of RAM (although in some markets there’s a 12GB possibility), the Tab S8 is highly effective sufficient for any day-to-day motion, together with loads of multi-tasking. However there’s additionally sufficient oomph for gaming or artistic work, so this could be a productiveness powerhouse or a gaming machine as long as the show isn’t an issue on your use case. 

You additionally get a selection of both 128GB or 256GB of storage, and if the latter nonetheless sounds dinky to you then the excellent news is that there’s a microSD card slot so that you could broaden it additional, as much as 1TB. 

By default the pill is Wi-Fi-only, supporting the most recent Wi-Fi 6E normal. Within the US that’s the one possibility, although within the UK, Europe, and different markets there’s the choice to improve to 5G – albeit with a  pretty steep surcharge, so ensure you’ll get use out of the 5G earlier than you decide to the improve. 

Battery and charging 

• Comfy battery life 
• 45W wired charging 
• No charger included 

The Tab S8 has respectable battery life, helped by a beneficiant 8000mAh cell. In our benchmark take a look at, this delivered fairly typical pill life – nothing particular, however nothing to complain about both. 

As a piece machine this could final by way of a day of constant use, whereas for those who’re extra more likely to simply choose it up now and again it is best to discover the S8 fortunately runs for a number of days. Importantly, I seen fairly minimal battery decline whereas on standby, so that you don’t have to fret an excessive amount of about it dying for those who haven’t picked it up for a day or two. 

Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry

As for charging, the pill helps as much as 45W charging speeds, which is the quickest velocity Samsung presents on any of its Android gadgets.  

The massive caveat to that’s that very similar to the corporate’s newest telephones, it doesn’t embody a charger within the field. Meaning you’ll both have to purchase your personal USB-C charger or just re-purpose one that you just already personal. 

Digicam and video 

• Fundamental pair of rear cameras 
• 12Mp selfie shooter 
• 4K video on entrance and rear 

I’m nonetheless not solely positive how usually the rear cameras on tablets are used for stills pictures, exterior of the occasional complicated vacationer, however nonetheless they continue to be. 

Understandably, Samsung hasn’t kitted the Tab S8 with an absolute prime spec setup although. As a substitute, you get a pair of lenses: a 13Mp major digital camera and a easy 6Mp ultrawide. 

(If you happen to’re on desktop you might have to swipe by way of the gallery beneath).

Images are fantastic if wanted in a pinch, and the choice to movie 4K video, albeit restricted to 30fps, will assist when you could present one thing off on a video name. The ultrawide is unsurprisingly primary, and that lens specifically might in all probability have been dropped. 

On the entrance aspect, a 12Mp selfie digital camera is nestled within the bezel – fortunately not in a notch, as on the Extremely. That is additionally able to 4K@30 video, and naturally that is more likely to get way more use as a video digital camera in calls than it ever is for stills. It’s acceptable at each, however not distinctive – an apparent space for enchancment.

Software program and updates 

• Android 12 
• Optimisations for multi-tasking and productiveness
• 4 years of Android updates promised 

The Tab S8 ships with Android 12, working Samsung’s OneUI Android pores and skin on prime. 

Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry

If you happen to’ve not used it earlier than, OneUI is now one of many higher Android variations round. You’ll must put up with fairly a number of devoted Samsung variations of normal apps, reasonably than the Google equivalents, and there are a number of third-party apps pre-installed too. 

The profit is a clear and pretty fluid working system, one which advantages from a lot of the greatest perks of the core Android OS, plus Samsung’s personal perks. The corporate is especially good at pill optimisations, with an array of split-screen and multi-tasking choices that benefit from the display screen house, together with a desktop-esque DeX interface possibility.

The draw back is that Android remains to be Android, and it in the end isn’t constructed properly for tablets. That is much less true for the OS itself than it’s for apps, that are not often well-optimised for bigger shows. For these hoping to work off the Tab S8, there are additionally fewer pro-level pill apps obtainable for Android than for iPadOS, and the combination with Home windows, whereas enhancing, is not any match for Apple’s efforts to hyperlink its iPads and Macs collectively.

Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry

See also  Motorola Razr 50 review: Flipping into contention

Samsung has at the very least promised to finally improve the Tab S8 to Android 12L, the tablet-optimised model of the OS lately unveiled by Google, although it’s not clear how a lot this can change the expertise. 

Typically, updates are a robust level although: as with its newest telephones, Samsung is promising 4 years of Android model updates (taking you properly previous this 12 months’s Android 13), together with a fifth 12 months of safety help. That’s by far the very best replace promise in any Android pill, and near the longevity of iPads too. 

Worth and availability 

The Galaxy Tab S8 is out there now worldwide. Within the majority of markets it solely comes with 8GB of RAM, however is out there in two storage choices: 

• 128GB: $699/£649/€769 
• 256GB: $779/£699/€819 

If you happen to’re exterior of the US, you’ll in all probability even have the choice of paying extra so as to add 5G: 

• 128GB: £799/€819 
• 256GB: £849/€929 

For what it presents it is a little dear, however the fee is inflated by the included stylus. And the Android pill market is sufficiently small that there’s little actual competitors – at the very least within the West. 

If you happen to’re tempted, you’ll be able to choose one up direct from Samsung, or from Amazon or virtually some other main electronics retailer. 

Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry

Severe creators might have to improve to the bigger Tab S8+, which additionally packs a greater AMOLED display screen, and the even larger Tab S8 Extremely can also be obtainable. Do not forget that the keyboard case additionally prices further. 

You also needs to keep in mind that you’re paying for the included S Pen – for those who’re not going to make use of it that a lot, then go searching for cheaper stylus-free choices elsewhere. If it’s on sale the place you’re then we advocate the wonderful Xiaomi Pad 5, which presents comparable specs for a lot higher worth, however Samsung’s personal Galaxy Tab A8 is one other good possibility.  

The closest Apple rival is the $599/£569 iPad Air, although keep in mind that this helps, however doesn’t embody, the Apple Pencil stylus. 

Take a look at our rankings of the very best tablets and greatest Android tablets for extra choices. 

Verdict 

The Galaxy Tab S8 is a formidable premium Android pill possibility, although try to be cautious to test that you just don’t want a bit extra – or rather less. 

With a Snapdragon 8 Gen 1, loads of RAM and storage, and S Pen stylus help it is a highly effective productiveness possibility, and there are actually no tablets obtainable now that pack extra energy – at the very least not ones that run Android. 

It’s a disgrace that the show is simply LCD, reasonably than AMOLED, however this can solely actually matter to artistic energy customers or severe cinephiles – it is a completely good LCD panel in any other case. 

US prospects might gripe that there’s no 5G possibility, whereas UK ones will seemingly bemoan the truth that the 5G improve prices a lot, however for those who’re comfortable to stay to Wi-Fi then the Tab S8 has few faults. 

Specs 

• Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 
• 8/12/GB RAM 
• 128/256GB storage (expandable as much as 1TB) 
• 11.0in 120Hz LCD show (2560×1600) 
• Twin rear cameras: extensive (13Mp, f/2.0) and ultrawide (6Mp, f/2.2) 
• Entrance-facing digital camera: extensive (12Mp, f/2.4) 
• Quad stereo audio system 
• Wi-Fi 6E 
• Bluetooth 5.2 
• 5G (non-obligatory) 
• S Pen stylus (included) 
• 8000mAh battery 
• 45W wired charging 
• 165.3 x 253.8 x 6.3mm 
• 503g (Wi-Fi) or 507g (5G)