The Awesome SAMSUNG Galaxy Tab S8
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- DeX MULTITASKING: Do more on the go with enhanced productivity capabilities, like Samsung DeX and Microsoft 365 integration, that give you a PC experience, wherever you happen to be
- PACKED WITH POWER: Galaxy Tab S8 provides powerful performance with an upgraded Qualcomm Snapdragon chipset, super fast WiFi 6E, and all-day battery to get you through your day, whether you’re working, streaming, or gaming
- S PEN: Inspire your imagination with our fastest S Pen yet, an S Pen that is more responsive than ever, feels even more like a real pen, and it’s included with tablet purchase
- LONG-LASTING BATTERY plus UNIVERSAL CHARGING: Go for hours on a single charge and back to 100% quickly with the fast charging USB C port
- SCREEN EXPERIENCE: Get ready for 11 inches of dazzling optical amazement with a dynamic LCD screen that delivers next-level brilliance, crispness and color
- ULTRA WIDE CAMERA: Record super clear video in 4K and great photos with an ultra-wide front camera with auto framing; With Galaxy S8, your photography game shines no matter your experience level behind the lens
The Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 sets a new standard for premium Android tablets. This is the successor to 2020’s Samsung Galaxy Tab S7, which we called the best iPad Pro rival — and one of the best tablets, period — on the market.
But that was two years ago, and in the interim, Apple redefined what we expect from pro-grade tablets with the phenomenal 2021 iPad Pros. Samsung has also stepped up its tablet game, launching the Tab S8 alongside two larger, OLED-equipped models: A slightly improved Tab S8 Plus and the new Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra, a massive 14.6-inch Android tablet with a screen large enough to overshadow the iPad Pro.
So where does that leave the Galaxy Tab S8? Its 11-inch LCD screen is bright and responsive, but it can’t match the 12.9-inch iPad Pro 2021’s dazzling mini-LED display. But while it’s not fair to call the Tab S8 a real iPad Pro rival any longer, it is an elegant, performant and power-efficient slate that doesn’t mar the strengths of Android 12 with too much Samsung tech.
The Galaxy Tab S8 sets a new standard for what a premium Android tablet should be, and it’s one of the best Android tablets you can buy right now, especially if you’re already invested in Samsung’s device ecosystem
Design
The Galaxy Tab S8 is the entry-level model of its generation, but it doesn’t feel like it. The Pink Gold color scheme on our review unit adds an elegant sheen to the tablet’s slim, light chassis.
At roughly 10 x 6.5 x 0.2 inches and 1.1 pounds, the Tab S8 feels comfortable to hold, even during long stints gaming or reading on the couch. The Book Cover Keyboard Slim adds a bit of bulk when attached, but not so much that you’ll notice the extra weight in a backpack.
On the back of the device you’ll find a slight bump that houses the rear camera, as well as a magnetized strip where you can attach the included S Pen stylus to charge it. Along the bottom edge of the tablet is a USB-C port for charging or connecting accessories (including a variety of displays, since it supports DisplayPort out), and on the left edge you’ll find a port for attaching the Book Cover Keyboard Slim.
Along the right edge you’ll find the power button (which also houses the fingerprint reader), the volume rocker and the microSD card slot, which is housed in a secure compartment you can open with something small and pointy (Samsung includes a tool for opening the microSD compartment in the box). If you were hoping for a headphone jack, forget about it — you’re limited to USB-C or Bluetooth.
Performance
Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chip gives the Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 plenty of power for most tasks, and the 8GB of RAM helps make running and navigating between apps feel snappy and responsive.
Anecdotally, I never ran into any significant slowdown, crashing, or other performance issues while putting the Tab S8 through its paces. It had no trouble keeping 20+ Chrome tabs open while I simultaneously streamed music and watched YouTube videos at 1080p.
When we put it to the test using Geekbench 5’s multicore benchmark, the Tab S8 earned a score of 3,228. That’s very good for an Android tablet, beating the larger Lenovo Yoga Tab 13 (3,128) with its older Snapdragon 870 chip. However, the Tab S8 couldn’t outpace Apple’s tablets in this test, falling behind even non-M1 slates like the 2021 iPad (3,387) and the 2020 iPad Air 4 (4,262).