Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra review: when bigger isn’t better

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Tech demos are fun. They show us a package of technology that might one day be commonplace, accessible and affordable for some people.

When it comes to tech demos, there is no one else. It frequently brings products to market that aren't quite fully developed or ready, such as the first-generationGalaxy Fold phone. Those who want to live on the cutting edge of technology can pay a lot more for demos than the rest of us.

The new Tab is a tech demo. The Tab S8 Ultra is the largest of the Tab S8 tablets, and it explores the idea of running a mobile operating system. It takes the features of the other Tab S8 models and stretches them behind a huge display. The Ultra starts at $1,099.99 before you add accessories like a case or keyboard. Being on the cutting edge is not cheap.

Being on the cutting edge also has compromises. It probably isn't surprising to read that the Tab S8 Ultra's large screen makes it hard to use as a tablet. It won't come as a surprise to anyone that there isn't much software that takes advantage of the S8 Ultra's giant screen.

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Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 / S8 Plus review: welcome to the S ecosystem

If you're looking for a Tab S8 model to go with your phone, you should consider one of the other models. If you're curious if a giant-screen tablet that runs a mobile operating system makes sense at this point, read on.

The Tab S8 Ultra brings the design of the other Tab S8 models to a larger scale. It's an aluminum tablet that's virtually all screen and has a surprisingly thin body. I have not bent the retail unit we purchased for this review in my time with it, but it doesn't feel like it would take much effort to crunch it in half if that's your goal.

The other dimensions of the Ultra are large. It tips the scales at 1.6 pounds, which is about a quarter of an inch shorter than the iPad, thanks to the magic of aspect ratios. It's not the kind of device that can be held in one hand, and it can be difficult to hold it up with two hands.

It is more in line with Microsoft's Surface Pro devices, which run Windows instead of a mobile operating system.

The Ultra isn't great at taking notes by hand, reading eBooks, or casually consuming content on the couch or while traveling, and that's the downside of its size. Doing those things with the Ultra is more difficult than with a smaller device. The 16:10 aspect ratio is great for a laptop but challenging for a tablet, which might be used equally in portrait or landscape orientations. In portrait mode, the Ultra is comical due to its size and aspect ratio.

The larger size is due to the display, which is a 14.6-inch, 2960 x 1848, 120Hz screen. It has a great display, with bright colors and blackest blacks that are known for, plus the high refresh rate makes every touch interaction very smooth. The Ultra's screen is great for watching movies and video with loud and powerful speakers.

It doesn't get as bright as the iPad Pro's MiniLED panel, especially if you are watching high definition content. The brightness is fine for using the tablet indoors or even outside, but if this is the best that the company has to offer, I expected a little more on the brightness front.

It makes sense to use the Tab S8 Ultra in a keyboard case since it is so large. This also applies to the 12.9-inch iPad Pro, which is usually housed in a Magic Keyboard case when I use it. The Book Cover Keyboard is a case that comes with a hefty price tag. With the keyboard attached, the Ultra assumes the posture of a Surface Pro with a kickstand on the back and a keyboard on the front.

Since the keyboard doesn't lock into the frame like Microsoft does, it's hard to use the Ultra as a laptop. The whole thing is wobbly and the kickstand part extends past my knees. You will have a hard time using this set up on an airplane tray table. As a result, the Ultra in its keyboard case isn't so much of a laptop as it is a computer you plant on a table or desk to use.

The Ultra's screen is so large that the keyboard and trackpad in the book cover are quite roomy. That's the only nice thing I can say about them. The keyboard has low travel keys and is not very comfortable to type on, and the trackpad has horrible palm rejection that constantly interrupt my flow when typing. It's quite annoying to touch the trackpad for a second or two before the cursor shows up and you have to wake up to move the screen. If you get the keyboard included in a bundle deal, it's fine, but if you're paying that steep retail price for it, you'll be disappointed.

The S Pen, which comes in the box with the Ultra, is one thing that doesn't cost anything extra. It's the same pen that's available with other tablets, and it's very good for writing notes, doodling, or marking up pictures on the screen. I don't know how well it works for digital artists, so I encourage you to check out Brad Colbow's review on the video sharing website.

The Tab S8 models have the S Pen attached to the back, just like the Ultra does. Don't be surprised if the pen gets knocked off in your bag if you don't have a case on the tablets.

Since I'm on the topic of what comes in the box and what doesn't, I'm not sure if the Tab S8 Ultra has a charging brick. I shouldn't have to explain that a $1,100 tablet isn't coming with a way to charge it, but it is an indication that the company doesn't expect this to be your only computer. The Ultra supports up to 45 watt charging, so most modern laptops and phone-sized chargers will work.

The Ultra is unique because of its dual wide and ultrawide front-facing cameras, which live in a notch that cuts into the top of the screen. The cameras on the iPad are not as good as those on other tablets, but they work well enough for video calls and are on the correct side of the device. The notch never distracted me or prevented me from seeing important information on the screen.

Similar to Apple's Center Stage feature, the new feature from Samsung tries to keep your face in the center of the frame. Unfortunately, it doesn't work very well and moves the camera around so much that colleagues of mine asked me to turn it off.

The Tab S8 Ultra is the same as the other Tab S8 models, but with the option for more RAM in the higher storage tiers. It has between 8 and 16GB of RAM and the latest Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 fromQualcomm. I have been testing the performance of the $1,199.99 unit and it has been responsive for all the tasks I have asked of it. When I leave the web browser and come back to it after a while, I'd expect that not to happen.

The Tab S8 Ultra is less appealing as a computer for frequent travelers because it is not a cellular-connected version.

The Ultra brings a bigger screen and a bigger price tag, which makes it more likely that you'll be able to do something with it. The premium laptop-level price tag for this is due to the fact that it is a large, powerful, and portable device that can be used with a keyboard case.

This tech demo falls short. The Tab S8 models can skirt by with poorly designed apps that don't quite make use of their screens, but those deficiencies feel more acute on the Ultra.

For example, take slack. The phone app is stretched to fill the huge expanse of the display when you launch the app on the Ultra. There is no way to view more than one conversation at a time or see a list of your rooms while you are viewing another. The same can be said for many other apps that aren't developed by the company. If it wasn't so disappointing, it would be comical.

You can use the split-screen multitasking feature to share the screen with one or two other apps, or you can flip over to the windowed DeX environment to layer app windows on top of each other. The Ultra isn't as easy to use or work on as a Windows laptop might be.

I detailed my frustration with DeX's limitations in the Tab S8 review, but they are even more frustrating on the Ultra, with its larger size and more productivity-focused pitch. A lot of the things you would expect to be possible in a windowed environment, such as resizing app windows to the vertical height of the screen or selecting text with the mouse, don't work as expected or are limited compared to actual Windows. It feels like a shoe-horned solution to a problem that doesn't go far enough to solve it, and it has been painfully slow compared to its advancement in other software areas.

There are some things that the Ultra is good at, such as video watching and game streaming, but it's not as good as the smaller and less expensive tablets of the same name from the same company.

The Tab S8 Ultra is a small, thin, and light device that is similar to a laptop in form factor and price. It is not as capable as a laptop that is more comfortable to use and easier to be productive with.

As a tech demo, the Tab S8 Ultra is an interesting thing, and it's possible that the idea of an oversized tablet in future generations is something that will be continued by the company. It's best to wait.

Every smart device now requires you to agree to a series of terms and conditions before you can use it. It is impossible for us to read and analyze all of these agreements. We started counting how many times you have to agree to use devices when we review them.

There are three things you need to agree to in order to use the Tab S8 Ultra.

There are four optional agreements when setting up the tablet.

• Samsung account terms and conditions (if you choose to add a Samsung account)
• Diagnostic data and Information linking (linking the Diagnostic data with other information such as demographics, interests, and preferences)
• Customization service
• Receive Marketing information

There is one mandatory thing and two optional ones if you choose to use the Bixby assistant.

• Bixby terms and conditions (Bixby also requires the use of a Samsung account)
• Foursquare and Uber data linking (both optional)

There are three mandatory agreements to use the tablet, four optional agreements, and three more agreements if you choose to use Bixby. The agreements extend to other products that are likely to involve more agreements.