The source is Michael Hicks.
When we reviewed the Tab S7+ in mid-2020, it arrived on the heels of years of neglect by most app developers. A perfect display, svelte design, and fast performance couldn't offset the fact that most apps on tablets simply spread out like gas in an empty box, not doing anything with the extra space to make using a Tab better than using a phone.
The best features of the last model of the Tab were brought back with the S8+. Retaining the same design, display, and battery as before, the Tab S8+ added an upgraded processor, more base RAM, a wider selfie camera, and faster wi-fi. The same software tools from its foldable phones were used by the company to take advantage of the 12.4 inches of display real estate.
For anyone interested in the Tab S8+, the question isn't whether or not it's a great device, the only competition it has is the Tab S8 and Tab S8 Ultra. The question is whether you should pay more or less.
The design of the Tab S8+ is similar to that of the Tab S7+, with scratch-proof materials, faster connectivity, improved S Pen responsiveness, and game-changing software upgrades for using several apps at once. It is a bit tricky to hold, but it is much lighter than the Tab S8 Ultra and iPad Pro. You should be prepared to buy a keyboard cover and a fast charging station.
The source is Michael Hicks.
The standard Tab S8+ costs $900 and comes in three colors: Silver, Silver, or Pink Gold. The Tab S8+ costs $1,100 and is limited to 128GB, but you can upgrade to the 8GB/128GB variant for $980. T-Mobile and AT&T will soon get their own variant of the 5G tablets, which is currently only available in the US.
At its Unpacked event on February 9, it was announced that the S8 and S8 Ultra would be $200 less and more, respectively. The tablets were shipped on February 25.
The source is Michael Hicks.
We have to retread the areas where the Tab S7+ excelled before we discuss the new improvements with the Plus-sized tablet. Since 2020, the display and design have not changed, but I am happy that they did not mess with a good thing.
| Category | Galaxy Tab S8 Plus |
|---|---|
| Chipset | Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 |
| Display | 12.4-inch Super AMOLED (120Hz) 2800 x 1752 500 nits |
| Memory | 8GB |
| Storage | 128GB or 256GB |
| Rear Camera | 13MP AF + 6MP UW + Flash |
| Front Camera | 12MP UW |
| Battery | 10,090mAh Li-Ion 45W Fast Charging |
| Audio | Quad AKG Speakers + Dolby Atmos |
| Authentication | Face Unlock, on-display fingerprint scanner |
| Connectivity | WiFi 6E (6GHz) Bluetooth 5.2 USB-C 3.2 5G (Optional) |
| S Pen | ✔️, 2.8ms latency |
| microSD card slot | ✔️ (up to 1TB) |
| 3.5mm headphone jack | 🚫 |
| Dimensions | 11.22" x 7.28" x 0.22" |
| Weight | 1.27 lb |
| Colors | Graphite, Silver, Pink Gold |
The star of the show is the 12.4-inch, 2800x1752 resolution display with 120Hz refresh rate and 240Hz touch sampling. It feels as smooth as silk and as smooth as you would see on a smaller phone.
The difference between the 12.4-inch Tab S7 FE and the 12.4-inch Tab S7 is the difference in color fidelity. You will enjoy rich colors and deeper blacks with the content. Compared to cheaper, large-sized tablets, you will notice less blur around small text or icons where the limited amount of space is not enough to keep up with the stretched-out interface.
The basic experience of your tablets has not changed. The resources and inclination of the two companies to improve their apps for larger spaces. Most popular apps stretch out awkwardly over the 12.4-inches or sit in the center with space for both sides. That is not good, obviously. You can either slot apps next to one another in a 3-box configuration or place an app as a tiny pop-up above a full-screen app thanks to OneUI 4.
The source is Michael Hicks.
The source is Michael Hicks.
Many apps didn't resizing properly before, but you could do this with DeX before. It was an annoyance to switch between DeX and OneUI, and it only worked well on a desk with a mouse. Now that OneUI 4 does this, it's as simple as grabbing the S Pen, and then dragging and dropping your favorite apps into whatever portion of the display you want.
You can take full advantage of OneUI 4 on the Tab S7 and S7+ without buying a new device. The last-gen Tabs came with plenty of memory and processing power for a single app, but maybe not enough for three at the same time. I've done my best to put the Tab S8+ through its paces and run demanding apps side-by-side, and so far, I haven't overtaxed the memory.
It is not a perfect system. I had moments when they decoupled for no reason, so I had to set things up again after opening a new app. I wish OneUI gave you a choice to open pop-up windows of apps when you are multitasking or not. The company has promised to bring the updates later this year. You can rest assured that it will have a long shelf life and that the OneUI improvements are just the beginning.
The source is Michael Hicks.
The Tab S7+ was the same design as the Tab S8+. It weighs the same as the millimeter and gram. It has some drawbacks compared to the iPad Pro design, but it is the perfect layout for streaming your favorite films and shows. The narrower width makes it easier to hold the S Pen in the other hand when using it in portrait mode. The waiter/tray method of holding the Tab S8+ is more prone to drops than the wider iPad Pro.
The sound quality stays rich and clear no matter how high you pump the volume, because you get the same quad-tuned speakers as before. The audio quality of the S7+ is truly impressive, as Hayato said in his review.
With the S Pen support, the company improved. The S7 has a 26ms latency, but the Tab S7+ has a 9ms. The Tab S8+ has a 2.8ms delay, the same as the S22 Ultra, and so short that your brain cannot perceive it. While taking notes, you can write without being distracted by your strokes.
The source is Michael Hicks.
When you unbox it, you'll find a number of first- and third-party note-taking and drawing apps. I used to use the pop-up windows on top of Google meet calls to stream a D&D podcast, but I stopped doing that a long time ago. Penup is a digital drawing app that lets you follow along with video tutorials and recreate artists work. She said the S Pen and software felt more responsive than the iPad Pro, though she couldn't fully adjust to the weight of the device.
The 12MP 120-degree selfie camera is a jump up from the 8MP 80 degree camera in the last generation. With the new Auto Framing tool, you can zoom in on whoever is speaking with your full room visible to the person on the other end.
The S7+ has more processing power and more RAM than the S7 and it will burn through the battery slightly faster. I saw between 9 and 12 hours of active screen time while juggling apps, and you will barely notice a battery drain. It should last for a full day or two if you switch it on frequently.
The upgrade to 6E support will future-proof its browsing and download speeds for the next few years.
The source is Michael Hicks.
Both the Tab S7+ and Tab S8+ have the same drawbacks. The aluminum frame and 5.7mm thick design make it lighter than cheaper tablets, but it is too heavy to comfortably hold in bed or the couch. The S Tabs won't work for people who prefer 8-inch tablets because of the lack of an iPad Mini competitor.
The 16:10 aspect ratio makes some configurations impossible because of the limited vertical space. Placing one app atop the other in landscape makes both too squat to convey enough information because they use different types of space. It would have made the tablets heavier and less comfortable if it had gone with a 4:3 ratio.
No matter how much I like the new multitasking tools, plenty of people will stick to one app at a time. Most app developers don't bother with the way they do with iPadOS because they don't bother with the way they do withAndroid. Even if we believe that, it may not solve the fundamental problem because many of my colleagues don't.
The source is Michael Hicks.
The slim keyboard cases are not accessories, but tools that should be included in the box. You can use the Tab S8+ as a handheld device, but its best form factor is attached to a case with a keyboard so you can type away. Unless you get one as a pre-order perk, you will have to pay up to $160 for the official accessory. The same applies to buying a 45W charge since it was not bundled.
If you are spending $900 on a tablet, you should get a case and a charge for it.
Most of my other complaints with the Tab S8+ are more about being nitpicky than anything else.
I don't like the limited color options of the Tab. I like the Pink Gold model because it masks fingerprints better, and my fingertips are not as oily as they could be. I wish we could have seen the same colors we got with the S22 Plus and Ultra.
I will pine for a 3.5mm jack while fighting a losing battle. I prefer the simplest option, even though you can always use a pair of headphones.
The 500 nits maximum brightness of the 5G version may not be enough for you if you plan to use it on the go. It works well indoors but not well outside.
Nick Sutrich is from Android Central.
The strongest competition is with itself. Both the S8 and S8 Ultra offer the same performance, storage, battery life, audio quality, and display quality, but each has its strengths and weaknesses. I think the middle option wins the day.
The Tab S8 has higher brightness and an estimated two hours of battery life, but it does not have an S Pen. If you're spending $200 less for a tablet that's more manageable to hold, and less screen space, you're probably only going to open two apps at once, which limits its usefulness. I prefer to compromise on comfort over screen size.
On the other side, you will find the large and large Tab S8 Ultra, with a large display, a large screen-to-body ratio, and the option to upgrade to 12-16GB of RAM. Compared to the Tab S8+, it doesn't have many positives apart from the extra screen space for multitasking, and at 1.6 pounds, it's not comfortable to hold for long.
Apple and the iPad Pro are the real competitors. In exchange for more vertical screen space, it weighs 1.5lb. They both have a 12MP ultra-wide selfie cam that tracks movement and four stereo speakers. Apple's laptop-quality M1 chip, superior iPadOS app support, and up to 1,600 nits of peak brightness make it the leader.
The source is Michael Hicks.
It's difficult to determine who an Android tablet is for or what its purpose is. For anyone who can afford the high price tag, has a short attention span only satisfied by using multiple apps at the same time, and wants a powerful yet portable device that would work well on a student, the S8+ is for you.
The Tab S8+ is a secondary device, not a laptop-replacing one. It will only be available to people with a high discretionary income who want a premium phone and laptop. It should justify the cost over time because it will receive support for five years.
The Tab S8+ is designed for multitasking thanks to its large display, fast refresh rate, and flagship power. It is possible to split your laptop display with multiple windows, but thanks to the S Pen support and apps designed to reflow to fit smaller spaces, it is an entirely new experience with OneUI. More multitasking improvements should arrive via the 12L version of the operating system.
Is that appealing? You will not have regrets about buying the Tab S8+. You can buy it for its powerful specifications alone, which makes streaming movies or gaming very enjoyable, because you won't find 120Hz and QHD resolution on tablets very often. If you don't want to keep it on a desk a lot, you might want to choose the Tab S8 instead. The Tab S8+ is designed for more rigorous use and is priced accordingly.
If you are going to buy a premium device for note-taking, productivity, video calls, streaming, or whatever else you need in a multitasking device, make it the S8+. The model that hits the right balance between size and comfort is it.
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