5 Things I Liked About Samsung Galaxy Tab S8

Last Updated on September 18, 2023 by Ernests Embutnieks

Samsung, with its S line of Tablets, really lifted the bar for the competitors. Some even argue that it’s a direct competitor to the iPad. Well, I can’t disagree. It’s right next to it. But how good is Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 today? It’s been a while since it’s released, and Samsung has even released the S9 Tab series now.

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 is pretty awesome! It’s got a stunning display, powerful performance, and all-around great features. But which tablet doesn’t? I want to talk about 5 specific things today that I really like in this tablet – Camera, Authentication, Stylus, Multitasking and DEX.

Also in this post, I’m going to give you a little sneak peek into some of the features and specifications of the Samsung S8 Tablet.

The Stylus

If you’re new to tablets, here’s something important to know. Many tablets don’t come with a stylus included; you have to buy it separately. But Samsung is different. They include the stylus in the price, which, for me and many others, is a huge decision-making factor.

You can jot down notes, sketch, and even sign documents with such ease. It’s so responsive; there’s practically zero lag.

And here’s the coolest part – Air Gestures. You can control your tablet by waving the pen in the air. I use it to switch between apps, control the volume, and navigate without touching the screen.

Oh, did I mention it’s customizable? You can set up shortcuts for your favorite apps and actions. It’s like having your own personalized tool.

Authentication

So, first off, it’s got this super-fast fingerprint sensor. I just touch the sensor with my finger, and bam, the tablet unlocks in an instant. It’s not just for unlocking – I can use it to make secure payments too.

But here’s where it gets even cooler – it’s got facial recognition. Yep, I just look at the tablet, and it recognizes my face and unlocks. It’s like magic! And it’s not just for me – it can recognize multiple faces, so if a friend or family member wants to use it, they can set up their own face recognition.

Camera

it’s got a 13-megapixel main camera. And let’s not forget about the 6-megapixel front camera. But that’s not the part I loved. it also has an ultra-wide camera. I can switch to this mode, and suddenly, I can capture way more in one shot.

It also has auto-framing, which I loved the most.

When I’m on Zoom calls and I move, the camera adjusts and make me in the center of frame, I know it’s nothing new, but I loved it, made the meeting more enjoyable.

Multitasking

I can have three apps open on the screen at the same time. Like, I can watch a YouTube video on one side while browsing the web on the other and taking notes under the web browser.

DEX

My tablet interface transforms into a full-fledged desktop-style setup. It’s like having Windows on my tablet. I can open multiple apps in separate windows, just like I do on my laptop. It’s insane!

And guess what? I can even connect my tablet to a bigger screen, like my TV or a monitor, and use it as a computer. It’s perfect for presentations or if I need to work on a big project. The possibilities are endless.

These are the 5 things I loved the most, but let’s that a bit more about what’s inside of Samsung Galaxy Tab S8.

Specifications 🛠️

OS	Android 12, Up to Android 13
Display	11-inches
RAM	8GB/12 GB
CPU	Qualcomm/Snapdragon 8 Gen 1
GPU	Adreno 730
Battery	8000 mAh, Up to 12 hours use time
Storage	128GB, 256GB
MicroSD Expansion	microSDXC (dedicated slot)
Camera	6MP (front), 12MP (rear)
Price	From $699.99
Colors	Graphite, Silver, Pink Gold
Dimensions	9.99 x 6.51 x 0.25 in
Weight	1.11lbs

Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Ratings 

What’s Inside the Box

I found the following items in the box when I bought it:

• The tablet itself
• USB-C to USB-C Charging cable
• S-Pen
• Guide/Manual documentation
• SIM slot ejection pin

Pros & Cons of Samsung Galaxy Tab S8

Honestly, the biggest surprise was the no charger in the box. I had no idea when I was buying it. I bought it at the store and no one told anything. it has become the new norm. Unluckily for me, I had no extra spare charger at home so I had to go back to a store and spend an extra $20 for a charger.

Reasons to buy Samsung Galaxy Tab S8

While I’ve always been a Samsung lover and user, choosing the best tablet for work was a decisive task. As a writer, I wanted a tablet that would make me feel as if I was writing on paper. Hence functionality and design were my top priorities. While iPad Pro users would have you believe iPad Pro is the only option, I’m here to challenge this narrative. Why? Let’s see:

• Design: 5.5 mm thickness against iPad Pro’s 6.5! This should tell you how sleek, ultra-thin, and easy to use it is. The lightweight and premium graphite finishing won me over. As a writer or any employee, you, too, would find it easy to use.
• Multi-window! While money tab S8 series owners claim S8 ultra is the best multitasking tablet for work, I beg to differ. S8 Ultra may have more enhanced features, but this does not mean you can’t multitask like a pro on S8! Tab S8 lets you open three windows at a time and divide the screens according to your preference.
• Note-taking! I love how the S-pen draws and works on the screen. No delay. Almost as if I’m holding a light pencil. I’ve been told by many Apple iPad users that the standard s-pen of the S8 Tablet is so much better to write with! Just remember to put it back on the back on the tab to recharge it.

And iPad users, please, don’t get jealous, but the S pen is included in the price, unlike Apple Pencil.

Who is Samsung Galaxy S8 Tab for?

While I do think anyone can use it for their day-to-day activities such as game playing, work, movie watching, or just ransom web surfing, since it is equipped with so many advanced features, it is a great choice for students and workers.

First of all, the S-Pen makes it so easy to make notes and do homework. Be it a PDF file or an image, you can literally draw anything on any file In Samsung. Use Samsung’s built-in Note App Samsung note or install any Note taking app of your choice. You’ll feel so productive working on your Samsung S8.

Since it’s supported by the powerful Snapdragon Gen 1, gaming enthusiasts may enjoy it. I’ve had no problem playing lighter casual games. As you can see, I have attached a snippet of the games I have on my S8. They aren’t heavy or consume more power as compared to PC games, but then again, I haven’t had any problems while playing these games.

Lastly, S8 is a great sidekick for employees/Freelancers and workers. The multi-window screen lets you do a lot of work simultaneously. When your complete workload is in front of your eyes, you’ll feel great and productive.

If I had to narrow it down what sort of people would enjoy this tablet I would say:

• Students
• Light Gamers
• Vloggers
• Movie lovers
• Note-Takers
• Travelers
• Seniors

Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 vs Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 

Specifications	Samsung Galaxy S7	Samsung Galaxy S8
OS	Android 10	Android 13
CPU	Qualcomm SM8250/ Snapdragon 865 5G+	Qualcomm/Snapdragon 8 Gen 1
Storage	6GB/256GB/8GB/ 512GB/ 8GB	128 GB / 256 GB
Display	11 inches (2560×1600) 120Hz	11 inches (2560×1600) 120Hz
Camera	8 MP Front Facing / 13 MP Rear Facing	12 MP Front Facing / 13 MP Rear Facing
Wireless	WiFi / Bluetooth / GPS / LTE	WiFi / Bluetooth / GPS / LTE
Battery Life	13 hours	12-15 hours
Dimension	0.25’’ x 6.51’’ x 9.99’’	‎0.25’’ x 6.51’’ x 9.99’’
Weight	1.10 lbs	1.1 lbs
Price	$476	$699

Key Differences:

• CPU Hardware: The difference comes in the CPU hardware. S8 is equipped with Qualcomm/Snapdragon 8 Gen 1, whereas S7 has Snapdragon 865 5G+.
• Charging Brick: The only downgrade for S8 is that it does not come with any charging brick, whereas the S7 comes with a 15w charger.
• Front Camera: Noticeably, S8 notched up its selfie game with a 12MP front camera, whereas the S7 comes with 8mp front camera. Not a biggie, but still.

When it comes to design, you won’t notice much difference between the two. You can see from the specification table that S8 and tab S7 are both the same in size. The little difference you’ll note (or maybe won’t) is the color of the pen bar at the back of tablets. In S8, the color of this pen bar is black irrespective of the color of the tablet.

Both have an 11-inch display with 2560×1600 pixels. Looking at the battery life of these two models, both come equipped with an 8000 mAh battery and 45w charging power. 

All in all, if you think $699 isn’t much for an upgrade version of the S7, which comes for $476 now, you should definitely go for S8.

How long does Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 battery last?

Once you have charged your S8 to a 100%, you can be assured that your battery will last up to 14 hours, depending on your tab’s setting.

My S8 tab’s brightness is set to its default levels, which are 150 nits to 200 nits of the maximum 500 nits of brightness, with the protect battery toggle set to on. With two hours of Netflix watching and random usage (3 and a half hours of non-stop use), my battery was still floating at an impressive 75%. Can you expect decent battery life out of S ? Yes! 

So after 7 hours of screen time throughout my day (including playing games and watching movies and YouTube), I was left with 50% battery! You can expect the battery to drain further with more screen time and running applications. All things considered, S8’s 8000mAh all-day battery lives up to its claim.

How long does it take to charge a Samsung S8 tablet from 0 to 100%?

You can expect your tab S8 to fully charge from 0 to 100 in ~1 hour and 30 minutes. But of course that depends on the charger. I personally bought the 45W charger and I honestly can’t complain about anything, for 1 hour and 30minutes I get 14 hours of use time.

Other Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Features

	Yes	No
Does the Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 have facial recognition?	√
Does the Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 have wireless charging?		√
Does the Lenovo Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 have a headphone jack?		√
Does the Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 have a SIM card slot?		√
Does the Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 have GPS?	√
Does the Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 have 5G?	√
Does the Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Support A Stylus?	√

Alternatives To Samsung Galaxy Tab S8

Although the Samsung Galaxy Tab 8 is the talk of the town nowadays there are other companies that are in competition with Samsung and offer similar specifications. Let’s have a look at other competitors of the Samsung Galaxy Tab S8.

Lenovo Tab P12 Pro

If you are looking for an alternative to Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 then Lenovo P12 Pro can be a great fit for your purpose. It offers some good features to support gaming, video editing, video conferencing, and other productive activities at a price starting from $699.99. The following are some of its features

• Sleek design
• Precession Pen Support
• Fingerprint authentication
• Long battery time with quick charging
• Extended software support up to Android 12L

iPad Air 5th Gen (2021)

Apple has its own fan following and a loyal Apple user won’t shift to any other brand, so as an alternative, users who are in love with Apple products can go for the iPad Air (2022), which is a substitute for the Samsung Galaxy Tab S8. It has been launched with the following features:

• IPS 10.9” Display 
• Support Latest iPadOS 
• M1 Chip
• 8 core CPU/GPU
• 16 Core Neural Engine for Machine Learning
• Apple Pencil and Magic Keyboard
• Price $599

iPad Pro (2021)

and of course the direct competitor to the S series of Samsung Tablet – iPad Pro 5th gen which was released in 2021 summer.

Apple has its own fan following and a loyal Apple user won’t shift to any other brand, so as an alternative, users who are in love with Apple products can go for the iPad Pro (2021), which is a substitute for the Samsung Galaxy Tab S8. It has been launched with the following features:

• IPS 11”, 12.9” Display 
• Support up to Latest iPadOS 
• M1 Chip
• 8 core CPU/GPU
• 16 Core Neural Engine for Machine Learning
• Unmatchable Internal staorage up to 2 TB
• Apple Pencil and Magic Keyboard
• Price starting from $799 (11” variant), and $1099 (12.9” variant)

Specifications

Device	Lenovo P12 Pro	Galaxy Tab S8	iPad Air (2022)	iPad Pro (2021)
OS	Android 11	Android 12	iPad OS	iPad OS
CPU	Octa-core (Kyro-585)	Octa-core (Cortex-X2, Cortex-A710, Cortex-A510)	Octa-core	Octa-core
GPU	Adreno 650	Adreno 730	Octa-Core	Octa-core
RAM	6/8 GB	8GB,12GB	8GB	8GB/16GB
Storage	128GB, 256GB	128GB, 256GB	64GB, 256GB	128GB to 2TB
Battery	10200mAh	Li-Po 8000 mAh	Li-Ion (28.6 Wh)	Li-Po(40.88Wh)
Display	12.6″ AMOLED (1600×2560)	11” TFT, 120Hz	10.9” Li-Ion (28.6 Wh)	11inch & 12.9 inch (2048×2732)
Dimensions	11.24 x 7.26 x 0.22 in	9.99 x 6.51 x 0.25 in	9.75 x 7.03 x 0.24 in	11.05 x 8.46 x 0.25 in
Weight	1.25 lb	1.11 lb	1.02 lb	1.5lbs

FAQ

Final Thoughts

I’m a budget-friendly gal! But I’d also like to know where I’m putting my money! Samsung S8 Tablet has all the features and specifications of what you call a premium experience. The powerful functionality, versatility, design, and overall UI experience are what you’ll get when you buy Samsung S8. I, for one, am a fan and would recommend the S8 tablet to whoever is looking to buy a budget-friendly tablet that has all the functionality of your laptop and is also easy to carry anywhere!

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