Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Plus: All You Need To Know
Samsung improved on the previous model's weak issues while bringing back its greatest features with the Galaxy Tab S8+. The Tab S8+ included an improved CPU, more base RAM, a larger selfie camera, and a quicker Wi-Fi connection while keeping the same design, display, and battery as the Tab S8. More crucially, Samsung took matters into its own hands with One UI 4, which uses the same software capabilities as its foldable phones to maximize the 12.4-inch display area.
The question for everyone interested in the Samsung Galaxy Tab S8+ isn't whether it's a great gadget; it only has the Tab S8 and Tab S8 Ultra to compete with for the title of the greatest Android tablet. The main dilemma is whether you should justify the exorbitant price or adjust your expectations.
Price & Availability
The Samsung Galaxy Tab S8+ is available in three colors: Graphite, Silver, and Pink Gold, and costs $900 for the base 8GB/128GB model. The 8GB/256GB Tab S8 costs $980, while the 5G-enabled Tab S8+ costs $1,100 and only has 128GB of storage – however you can expand it using the 1TB microSD card slot. Samsung now only offers a Verizon 5G tablet, but it plans to introduce T-Mobile and AT&T versions shortly.
At Samsung's Unpacked event on February 9, the Galaxy Tab S8 series was unveiled with the Galaxy Tab S8 and S8 Ultra, which priced $200 less and $200 more, respectively. On February 25, all three pills were delivered.
Commendable Features
Before we get into the new features of Samsung's newest Plus-sized tablet, we need to go through the areas where the Tab S7+ followed the same winning formula. While the display and design haven't changed much since 2020, I'm pleased Samsung didn't meddle with a good thing.
The highlight of the show remains the 12.4-inch, 2800x1752 resolution display with a 120Hz refresh rate and 240Hz touch sampling. Scrolling is silky smooth — or, to put it another way, as smooth as a much smaller smartphone touchscreen.
The pixel density isn't much different from the 12.4-inch Galaxy Tab S7 FE I examined last year, but the LCD-to-AMOLED update improves color quality dramatically. You'll notice richer colors and deeper blacks, as well as a smoother refresh rate when watching HDR material. When compared to cheaper, larger tablets, you'll notice far less blurring around small text or icons, where the restricted pixels can't keep up with the stretched-out interface.
In terms of the core Android tablet user interface, not much has changed. Samsung and Google both have the resources and desire to make their apps more suitable for bigger screens. Most popular apps, on the other hand, either spread out uncomfortably over the 12.4-inch screen or sit in the center as a column with room on both sides. This isn't ideal. However, with One UI 4, you may either arrange applications in a 3-box layout or set an app as a small pop-up above a full-screen program.
Previously, you could accomplish this using Samsung DeX, but many apps did not resize correctly. It was a pain to switch between DeX and One UI, and it only functioned nicely on a desk with a Bluetooth mouse. It's as simple as taking the S Pen, swiping the thin grey line out to show the pinned taskbar on the top-right, and dragging-and-dropping your favorite applications into any section of the display you like now that One UI 4 handles it natively.
Because the Galaxy Tab S7 and S7+ received One UI 4 in January, you may use these features without purchasing a new tablet. However, Samsung's last-generation Tabs had 6GB of RAM and the Snapdragon 865 processor, which is plenty of memory and processing power for a single app but may not be enough for three in 2022. We've done our best to put the Tab S8+ through its paces and run demanding apps like photo finder side-by-side, and we haven't overtaxed the memory at all.
By no means is it a flawless system. When you start a new app, the existing app settings are minimized and saved on the taskbar. Nonetheless, Samsung has stated that Android 12L upgrades would be available later this year. Given Samsung's commitment to four OS upgrades through Android 16 and security patches until 2027, you can be confident it'll last a long time and that these One UI enhancements are only the beginning.
The Galaxy Tab S8+ is nearly identical to the Tab S7+ in terms of design. It is identical in weight and measurement down to the millimeter and gram. Its 16:10 aspect ratio has certain limitations when compared to the iPad Pro's 4:3 design, but it's the ideal layout for watching movies and TV on the go. The reduced width also makes it simpler to hold firmly along the edge with the S Pen in the opposite hand while using it in portrait mode. In landscape, the broader iPad Pro or Tab S8+ necessitates what I refer to as the waiter/tray style of holding it, which is more susceptible to drops.
The same quad AKG-tuned speakers are included, so the sound quality remains rich and clear no matter how you position it or how loud you turn it up. As Hayato noted in his assessment of the S7+, Samsung's ability to deliver excellent audio quality in such a little smartphone is quite remarkable.
The support for the S Pen is one area where Samsung has improved. The Galaxy Tab S7+ features a 9ms latency, which is faster than the S7's 26ms. The Tab S8+ now has a 2.8ms delay, which is the same as the Galaxy S22 Ultra despite the bigger display, and is so little that your brain can't tell the difference. You may write freely while taking notes without being distracted by your strokes taking too long to appear. Additionally, When you unbox Samsung, it comes with several first- and third-party note-taking and sketching applications pre-installed.
Another significant update for this version is the 12MP 120-degree selfie camera, which replaces the 8MP 80-degree camera from the previous generation. With the new Auto Framing option to zoom in on whoever's speaking, you can place your tablet and keyboard cover on a level surface and have your whole room visible to the person on the other end.
The battery capacity stays the same at 10,090mAh, which, when paired with the higher RAM and processing speed, means the battery will drain somewhat faster than the S7+. Despite this, I got between 9 and 12 hours of active screen time while juggling applications, and you won't feel any battery depletion if you leave it on all night. It should easily last a full day or two of use, depending on how often you turn it on.
Finally, while I don't possess a Wi-Fi 6E router, upgrading to 6E compatibility will ensure that surfing and downloading speeds are future-proofed for the next few years.
A Few Downsides
The Galaxy Tab S8+ has the same advantages and disadvantages as the Galaxy Tab S7+. Because of the metal frame and 5.7mm-thick construction, it has a lower proportional weight-to-size ratio than cheaper tablets, but it's still too hefty to comfortably handle in bed or on the sofa. Many people prefer 8-inch tablets that they can hold near to their eyes, and Samsung's S Tabs won't appeal to that audience until it releases an iPad Mini competitor.
While the Galaxy Tab S8+ has the capability and screen area to multitask, the 16:10 aspect ratio limits the vertical space available in some setups. Because Android applications make better use of vertical space than horizontal space, stacking two apps in landscape renders them too squat to transmit enough information. If Samsung had chosen a 4:3 aspect ratio, the tablet would have been heavier and less comfortable, but it would have been better equipped to handle more than just streaming movies.
On that point, as much as we enjoy the new multitasking features, many users prefer to use only one program at a time. Most app developers don't bother with Android tablet optimization the way they do with iPadOS because of Google's negligence.
Samsung continues to portray its compact keyboard covers as "accessories" rather than essential tools that should come standard with the product. The Tab S8+ may be used as a portable tablet, but its ideal form factor is when it's linked to a case with a keyboard, allowing you to tap or type freely. You'll have to pay up to $160 on the official accessory unless you got one as a preorder bonus. The same goes for buying a 45W charger, which Samsung did not provide. If you're going to spend $900 on a tablet, you should also acquire a case and charger.
If you want to get the 5G version to use on the move, the maximum brightness of 500 nits may not be enough for you. It works well enough indoors, but it won't stand up to bright sunshine.
Is It Worth Purchasing?
If you want a tablet for work, entertainment, or both at the same time, you should get this if you've become accustomed to your 120Hz phone and need something portable for productivity. If you're on a tight budget, require a primary productivity tablet, and are happy with your Galaxy Tab S7+, however, you may skip this one.
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