Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Plus Review: Android Tablet Excellence on the Go

When considering a travel-friendly device, it may be worth noting that the highest-end option is not necessarily the best. Although the huge display of the Galaxy Tab S8 Plus may be tempting, it was overshadowed by the announcement of its pricier sibling, the Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra, in February. However, it is important to give the Galaxy Tab S8 Plus the attention it deserves as the middle child in Samsung’s latest tablet line.

The smallest of the three, but it is an excellent screen to construct a tablet around (or behind, technically). The Tab S8 Plus features a 12.4-inch, 2,800×1,752-pixel Super AMOLED screen and a 120Hz refresh rate. In comparison, the current largest iPad Pro measures 12.9 inches with a 2,732×2,048-pixel resolution at 264ppi. The Ultra’s screen is impossible to overlook: It is a 14.6-inch Super AMOLED display with a 2,960×1,848-pixel resolution at 240 pixels per inch and a 120Hz refresh rate.

The Galaxy Tab S8 Plus can be purchased in graphite, silver, and pink gold, with prices starting at $900 (£849, AU$1,499). On the other hand, the Tab S8 Ultra is available in graphite and has a starting price of $1,100 (£999, AU$1,799). The basic models come with 8GB of RAM and 128GB of internal storage (expandable up to 1TB with a microSD card). All three models, including the Ultra, Plus, and regular Tab S8, are powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 system-on-chip.

The differences can be ended by making the Samsung Galaxy S8 Plus available with double the storage capacity of 512GB and 16GB of RAM. It can also be configured to have a front-facing wide-angle camera with a resolution of 12 megapixels, in addition to the unattractive notch camera. The larger battery and bigger display of the Ultra version justify the additional $200 cost.

However, it’s additionally spacious enough to accomplish some office or school tasks. It will also be more suitable for a compact desk for quickly jotting down notes during class or a meeting. The 12.4-inch Plus is simply compact and lightweight enough (weighing 1.3 pounds, 576 grams) to be utilized in your hands for gaming, reading, streaming videos, or browsing the web. With a size of almost 15 inches and a weight of 1.6 pounds (726 grams), the Ultra is most effectively utilized when placed flat on a desk, on your lap, or supported by a stand. In general, widescreen tablets that are larger than the Tab S8 Plus are excessively large to be comfortably handheld for extended periods of time.

Includes S Pen, but not much else

The S8 Tab Plus is certainly marketed as an option for someone looking for a device that can handle both play and work. It comes with a detachable keyboard, allowing it to function as a large tablet for productivity purposes, similar to other machines regularly used by Microsoft, Apple, Samsung, and others.

The two-piece keyboard case with a trackpad costs about $150. However, it is still being sold for $110. This case cannot be separated from the back cover and it only has one screen position. There is no trackpad and the keyboard is not backlit. Despite this, it is the least expensive cover in the Book Cover Keyboard series. I typed this entire review on it and it is comfortable. Samsung sent me one of its keyboard covers to test with the Tab S8 Plus.

To fully maximize the benefits of the Tab S8 Plus, seek out a package or a deal that incorporates a keyboard. The absence of a keyboard would be of lesser concern if, once again, Samsung didn’t emphasize this as a tablet designed for productivity. Allow me to propose a recommendation.

To Samsung’s credit, a S Pen is provided for drawing and writing purposes, and it functions exceptionally well. When it is magnetically connected to the rear, it conveniently charges, but it can also securely attach to the upper edge. With minimal noticeable delay, the gentle tip allows for a comfortable and smooth writing and drawing experience on the screen. For instance, while shading a drawing, I did sense a heightened level of control, although I would not describe it as identical to using a pen on paper.

The battery of the S8’s Tab can also be charged by other devices. During our 24-minute test of streaming video with audio and display brightness set at 50%, the large battery of the Tab lasted for 10 hours. However, if you want to fully charge it from zero in just an hour and a half, you will need a 45-watt charger, as there is no charger included in the box for fast-charging capabilities. Samsung also provides a USB-C cable for charging and data transfer, along with the S Pen.

A laptop substitute (almost)

Sometimes, the process of rearranging windows and performing tasks in them can be slow. Nonetheless, not all applications adjust their size properly. DeX provides the capability to display multiple applications on the screen as separate windows, similar to Windows, MacOS, and Chrome OS. Thanks to Samsung’s DeX interface, the Tab S8 Plus offers greater multitasking versatility compared to the basic Android OS.

You can connect the Tab S8 Plus’ desktop experience to a larger display through the tablet’s USB-C port using DeX. Even though Android apps perform better on this tablet, there is still a need for more Android app support for devices like the smaller Tab S8 Plus. Would the experience be better on a $900 two-in-one Chrome or Windows device? I was able to write in the Word app on one side of Chrome while chatting on Zoom or watching a YouTube video in the corner.

You can explain the presentation by presenting a slide deck while appearing in the corner of the screen. You can present an instance for the present slide deck while appearing in the corner of the screen. You can explain the presentation by appearing in the corner of the screen while presenting a slide deck. You can present an instance for the present slide deck while simultaneously appearing in the corner of the screen. The camera on the correct side of the tablet works, but it doesn’t respond as quickly as Stage Center to autoframing. The Plus has a front-facing ultrawide-angle camera with intelligent autoframing software that is similar to Stage Center. Samsung’s camera performance on the S8s Tab was impressive.

Users of the Samsung Galaxy Watch will now be able to sync their health stats with the Samsung S8 Tab, allowing them to view a larger display. Additionally, the Galaxy Buds can automatically switch between the tablet and phone, and content can be instantly synced between the Galaxy S8 Tab Plus and your Galaxy phone. For example, Samsung has been working together with these tablets for the past couple of years to ensure that its Galaxy devices continue to work seamlessly.

Considering the OLED external portable display, the price of the S8 Tab Plus makes everything else with it much more affordable. With just a tap on the Screen Second and the K plus key, the tablet’s panel settings and connection happen almost instantaneously. This feature is the best option to turn the Plus S8 Tab into a second wireless screen for your Windows laptop, but it does not work with any Samsung Galaxy Book 11 Windows laptop.

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Plus is a better size for both work and play, compared to the Ultra which may be too big for most people. According to an analysis from the NPD Group, sales of large-screen tablets grew by 24%, indicating that people have been yearning for larger screens. Samsung announced their Galaxy Tab S8 lineup, and many people have been using tablets for video, gaming, school, and work over the past two years.