When Apple introduced the iPad in 2010, it didn’t take long before the first counterparts appeared: the Android tablets. It’s a lot quieter these days among Apple’s competition. In fact, especially Samsung continues to compete, and with the Galaxy Tab S8 series, it is one of the largest tablets ever.
This is a shortened version of an extensive review (link) of Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Series on Tweaker.
The Galaxy Tab S8 is available in three models: the Tab S8 (689 euros), the Tab S8+ (877 euros) and the Tab S8 Ultra (1053 euros). And where the first two from the outside actually look like last year’s Tab S7, the S8 Ultra immediately catches the eye. The tablet with its 14.6 inches is so large that you could easily confuse it with a separate laptop screen.
The user experience should also be that of a laptop, if it is up to Samsung. Their devices have been coming with software DeX for some time now, a user interface that can transform the operating system so that Android looks just like a PC’s desktop. And while not all Android apps scale nicely to a desktop computer format, it can help you out if you need to do desktop work but don’t have a computer to hand.
Big bigger Biggest
The Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 series can rightly be called high-end tablets. Not only do they have a powerful Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 processor, which can run all apps and games quickly, but the tablet also feels smooth and fluid because the screen has a refresh rate of 120Hz. This ensures a pleasant experience that sends these tablets from Samsung straight to the top of the current range – although that is not very difficult, because there is hardly any competition in this category. For example, if we look at the results of the tablet test on BestTested, we see that Samsung, together with Apple, are the only providers on the list of recommendations.
Compared to the S7 series, all three S8 tablets contain some nice improvements. There are no major differences, but the screen is better, the software support is longer and the camera shoots better pictures. In addition, the S8 Ultra also has an extra camera on board.
The screens all have a very good color reproduction, with the S8+ and S8 Ultra having an edge over the standard model. They owe this to their support for HDR10+, which is a welcome addition when playing HDR content. Nevertheless, the ‘normal’ S8 with its LCD screen still manages to display beautiful colors. All three models also come with the now usual S Pen, a smart stylus that writes and draws wonderfully and you can easily store it on the back of the device. There it stays securely in place thanks to a magnet, while the stylus can also automatically charge its battery.
Big, but not a desktop
Thanks to DeX, it is quite possible to perform desktop activities on these tablets. As soon as you connect the devices to a monitor or USB hub, DeX appears automatically and the devices can be used as desktops. It’s a big plus, but it’s a shame that not all apps work equally well in this mode. For example, not every app can be displayed full screen. When an app again refuses to show itself in anything other than a small vertical format, dents appear in the idea that you’re using a desktop.
This issue shows an important difference between Android’s ecosystem and that of competitor Apple. On iPadOS, we find a much more unified ecosystem, in which each app scales perfectly to tablets. Android is a bit looser in its approach in that regard, so that not every app fits on the screen equally well. In addition, the m1 processor of the average iPad is simply more powerful. It’s a difference you won’t notice when playing heavy games like Genshin Impact, but that becomes immediately visible when you start creating media. If you do that on an iPad, rendering will be a lot faster. With an eye on the price, we can therefore say that in some cases you are better off with an iPad.
At the end of the story, we can’t call the Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 series laptop replacements, but these tablets can be a very good addition if you’re looking for something ‘on the side’. Think, for example, of playing certain games that rely on touchscreen functionality or watching HDR material. But if you only want a tablet for media consumption, you might as well go for the cheaper A-series. But make no mistake, the overall experience with these tablets is so good that we can safely say that these are the best Android tablets you can get right now.