The Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra is unlike any other Android device in the market right now. The sheer size of this tablet makes you question where do you draw the line between a tablet and a PC? At 14.6-inches, this device ranks as the best Android tablet that you can purchase today. In addition to its large size, it features the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 gen 1 chip which makes it a performance monster.
The dual selfie cameras at the top produces crisp image quality and they are an absolute joy in video conferencing. The notch houses both the 12MP Wide and the 12MP Ultra-Wide lens but it is not as conspicuous as the one in iPhones. As for security, it features an under display optical sensor mounted on the right side of the tablet when held in landscape mode.
This is just a glimpse of what this tablet has to offer. In this article, we are going to dive deeper into its design language, its performance, its RAM and Storage options, the cameras, the S-pen and I will finally give you my final thoughts on this humongous device.
Specs.
- Display – 14.6” Super AMOLED, 120Hz, HDR10+
- Resolution – 1848 x 2960 pixels
- Aspect ratio – 16:10 ratio (240 PPI density)
- OS – Android 12
- Skin – One UI 4.1
- Chipset – Qualcomm SM8450 Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 (4 nm)
- Micro-SD Card Slot – Yes
- RAM – 8GB, 12GB and 16GB
- Storage – 256GB, 512GB
- Dual Main Camera – 13 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (wide)
- Ultra-Wide – 6 MP, f/2.2,
- Dual Selfie Cameras – 12 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide)
- Ultra-Wide – 12 MP, f/2.4, 120˚
- S pen support – Yes with 2.8ms latency
- Speaker – 4 stereo speakers
- 3.5mm jack – No
- WLAN – Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e, dual-band,
- Bluetooth – 5.2, A2DP, LE
- Ports – USB Type-C, magnetic connector
- Security – Fingerprint (under display, optical)
- Battery Capacity -11200mAh,
- Charging – fast charging 45W, 100% in 82 min
- Colors – Graphite
- Starting Price – $1100
Design language.
The Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra is built on an Aluminum chassis which covers both the back and frame. Although opinions differ, I find Aluminum a great substitute for glass as it is does not shatter while still providing a premium feeling. At the front, we have a massive 14.6” Super AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate. It is worth noting that this display does not feature LTPO which is a slight bummer.
LTPO stands for low temperature polycrystalline oxide which enables the display to vary its refresh rate automatically between 1Hz and 120Hz. In the Tab S8 Ultra however, you can only switch between 60Hz and 120Hz. LTPO has a positive effect on battery life which is crucial in portable devices. Click this link to read more on LTPO.
Since this is an AMOLED display, it produces perfect blacks and the picture quality is as vibrant as they come. Watching movies and TV shows is an absolute joy. The brightness level is one of the most frustrating things about this tablet which maxes out at 300nits. If you plan on using this tablet outdoors, you will be a bit disappointed.
Cameras.
The front facing camera features a dual lens setup; a Wide lens and an Ultra-Wide lens. Both cameras are 12 Megapixels and produce excellent image quality. For the most part, the front facing camera is most beneficial when used during video conferencing.
Just like Apple, Samsung introduced Auto framing exclusively on the Tab S8 Ultra. Apple’s version is called center stage but they essentially work on the same principle. Auto framing ensures that the subject always stays in focus. For example, when you move, the camera detects and uses the Ultra-Wide lens to keep you in frame. The same happens when there are many people in front of the camera. The Ultra-Wide lens zooms out to keep everyone in focus.
As for the back cameras, we have a 13MP Wide lens and a 6MP Ultra-Wide lens. They are sufficient for tasks like document scanning although they are not as advanced as the ones in the iPad Pro. All in all, the front facing cameras and the back cameras are good enough for everyday photography.
Performance.
The Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra comes with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 gen 1 chip which is one of the best chips in the market at the time of writing this article. This chip is built on a 4nm process which translates to high efficiency while providing fast speeds. The smaller the transistors, the more components that can be fit on a chip. On the same note, the smaller the transistors, the more powerful and complex the components on the silicon chip get.
It is worth noting that the Snapdragon 8 gen 1 chip in this tablet is slightly underclocked. This means that it may record low performance figures as compared to other phones with the same chip. This is to prevent thermal throttling because of how thin this tablet is. Since phones with the same chip are a bit thicker, they have a better cooling system as compared to the Tab S8 Ultra.
RAM and Storage options.
The RAM is available in 8GB, 12GB and 16GB while the storage is available in 256GB and 512GB. You may be wondering why the storage caps at 512GB. Well, Samsung has a trick up its sleeve to resolve this issue. While the world is busy removing every single port possible, Samsung has held on to the Micro-SD card slot. With it, you can expand your storage up to 1TB. This solution is better in some ways as compared to built-in storage as it is cheaper and way more versatile in terms of portability.
S Pen.
The S Pen is one of the most important add-ons in this tablet. It comes with built-in features such as screen write, smart select, Air actions, coloring, live messages and so much more. With the 14.6” display, you can take advantage of the huge canvas and use it to draw or even jot down some notes.
The S Pen has a low latency of 2.8 millisecond response time which makes writing or drawing almost lag-free. The S Pen experience is as close to writing with a pen and paper as it gets. It attaches magnetically at the top and back of the device. However, it only charges through the back part.
It is also worth noting that unlike most stylus pens out there, the S Pen can work without needing a recharge. You can draw or write but the Bluetooth functions will not be accessible. Its palm rejection is as good as it gets meaning you can rest your arm on the screen while writing or drawing and no input will be registered.
Samsung DeX.
Samsung comes pre-loaded in most high-end Samsung devices and its main function is to have a portable computer. For example, if you have a DeX compatible monitor, you can connect your phone, a wireless mouse and keyboard and you would have a fully functioning computer.
However, in tablets, you can hook up a book cover keyboard and enable DeX. This transforms your device into a PC. Everything from the layout to how the apps open, functions just like a normal PC. With DeX, it takes multi-tasking to a whole new level. You can open several apps and configure properties such as resizing windows to your liking.
Battery life and Speakers.
The Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra comes with a huge 11,300mAh battery. This can last you anywhere from one day up to several days depending on the kind of tasks being handled. For light tasks such as web browsing and replying to emails, you can expect to go days without charging. If photo editing, video editing and other heavy tasks are your main priorities, you can max it out in one day.
The quad speaker setup is absolutely stunning. It produces loud and rich sound quality making it a viable choice for media consumption. Being Dolby Atmos enabled, they produce a high-quality surround sound effect. Although the iPad Pro 12” speakers are a bit richer and bassy, they are definitely a notch above most tablet speakers in the market.
Final thoughts.
The Tab S8 Ultra is definitely a luxury that most people don’t need. Despite this, it offers one of the best Android experiences in a tablet. Media consumption is a strong advantage in this device due to the massive OLED display. In terms of productivity, it is an absolute beast. All you need is the book cover and you have yourself a PC setup with Samsung DeX. The cameras are superb and the speakers offer a loud and rich sound quality.
It’s a step up from last year’s Tab S7+ and apart from the iPad Pro 12”, there is hardly any other tablet that can compete with this beast. What are your thoughts on this device? Drop a comment below.
