You would think that having three different tablet sizes would make choosing the right one easier, but it might actually make it harder.
Galaxy Tab S8 vs. Galaxy Tab S8+ vs. Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra: Specs Comparison
Let’s begin with a comparison of some of the features of each device. While most of the fundamentals of each tablet are the same, there are a few differences to consider, such as screen size and technology, battery capacity, dimensions and weight, and camera capabilities.
Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 | Samsung Galaxy Tab S8+ | Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra | |
SoC | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 |
RAM | 8GB | 8GB | 8/12/16GB |
Storage | 128/256GB with microSD slot | 128/256GB with microSD slot | 128/256/512GB with microSD slot |
Display | 11-inch 2560 x 1600 120Hz LTPS TFT | 12.4-inch 2800 x 1752 120Hz Super AMOLED (S8+) | 14.6″ 120Hz Super AMOLED |
Battery | 8,000mAh | 10,090mAh | 11,200mAh |
Camera | 13MP + 6MP (Ultra Wide) with flash, 12MP front | 13MP + 6MP (Ultra Wide) with flash, 12MP front | 13MP + 6MP (Ultra Wide) with flash, 12MP + 12MP UW front |
Software | Android 12 with One UI 4 | Android 12 with One UI 4 | Android 12 with One UI 4 |
Networking | Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.2 | Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.2, 5G | Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.2 |
Measurements | 253.7 x 165.3 x 6.35 mm, 1.10 lb | 284.9 x 184.9 x 5.5 mm, 1.27 lb | 326.4 x 208.5 x 5.5″, 1.60 lb |
Misc | S Pen (in box), power button fingerprint scanner | S Pen (in box), in-display fingerprint scanner | S Pen (in box), in-display fingerprint scanner |
Galaxy Tab S8 vs. Galaxy Tab S8+ vs. Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra: Design
All three tablets are nearly identical in terms of design. The frame is made of machined aluminum with rounded corners, squared edges, and small bezels all around. On the side, there are volume controls and a power button, as well as a USB-C port for charging and connecting accessories and four speakers on all three. On all three, we’ll get a Micro SD card slot, which will allow us to expand the internal storage by up to a terabyte. All three now have a magnetic strip on the back that can be used to charge the S Pen.
Face recognition with the front-facing camera is available on all three tablets for biometric authentication. A fingerprint sensor is available on all three devices. The one on the Tab S8 is built into the power button, while the ones on the S8+ and S8 Ultra are built into the display. Both types of sensors have worked well for me so far, but I believe the on-display sensor is more natural to use.
Galaxy Tab S8 vs. Galaxy Tab S8+ vs. Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra: Display and Size
If it’s at all possible for you, I’d recommend going to a store and actually handling each of these because they’re all so different, and just looking at the specs won’t tell you everything you need to know. For example, I adore the Ultra’s size. It’s great for watching videos and I like how big the games appear when I’m playing, but it gets quite heavy after a while. Now, the Tab S8 is lighter and more portable, but you’ll have to give up display size. Finally, the S8+ sits in the middle, offering some of the Ultra’s features while also offering some of the Tab S8’s advantages.
The Tab S8 features an 11-inch adaptive 120-hertz LTPS TFT display with a resolution of 2560 x 1600 pixels and a pixel density of 274 pixels per inch.
The Tab S8+ has a larger 12.4-inch 120 hertz Super AMOLED display with a higher resolution of 2800 x 1752 and a lower pixel density of 266 pixels per inch than the Tab S8.
Finally, at 14.6 inches, the Tab S8 Ultra has the largest display. It also has a Super AMOLED display with a refresh rate of 120 hertz. With a resolution of 2960 x 1848 pixels and a pixel density of 240 pixels per inch, it has the highest resolution and the lowest pixel density.
Okay, so that was the size and specs of the displays; how about the quality?
So, while all three of these tablets can go up to 120 hertz, only the Tab S8 has an adaptive 120 hertz option, which means the tablet can change the refresh rate in real time based on what you’re doing. If you want to prioritize battery life, all three give you the option of setting the fresh rate to 60 hertz.
I have to say that the image quality on the Tab S8 is excellent. The image is razor-sharp, and the colors are vibrant. The two higher-end Super AMOLED displays, on the other hand, will provide the best image quality. The colors are vibrant, the blacks are darker, and we have HDR10+ support, which I adore as more HDR content is produced.
Galaxy Tab S8 vs. Galaxy Tab S8+ vs. Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra: Camera and Speakers
The rear-facing camera system on all three is the same, with a 13-megapixel main camera and a 6-megapixel ultrawide. When it comes to the front-facing camera, all three have a 12-megapixel ultrawide sensor, but the Tab S8 Ultra has a second 12-megapixel sensor that is less wide. It’s also the only one with a notch out of the three.
When it comes to the audio system, all three have AKG powered speakers that support Dolby Atmos. These are some of the best-sounding tablet speakers I’ve tested in terms of audio quality. If I had to rank them, I’d put the S8 Ultra at the top, the S8+ a close second, and the Tab S8 third but not far behind.
Galaxy Tab S8 vs. Galaxy Tab S8+ vs. Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra: Keyboard and Stylus
The Original Book Cover Keyboard, which has a touchpad, a design that protects the S Pen while charging, and the ability to separate the keyboard from the back for when you want to use any of these in tablet mode, is available for all three tablets.
The Book Cover Keyboard Slim is the second option, and it’s only available for the Tab S8 and S8+. It has a more compact design and is more durable, but it lacks a touchpad, the keyboard cannot be separated, and the S Pen is not protected while charging.
If we’re comparing the same case style across all three, I’d pick the S8 Ultra, followed by the S8+, and finally the Tab S8.
Best Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra Accessories
Moving on to the stylus, all three tablets include a Bluetooth-enabled S Pen, which I believe adds a significant amount of value. I like that you don’t need to purchase a stylus separately. Although all three tablets have the same S Pen, the latency on the S8+ and S8 Ultra is actually lower.
Galaxy Tab S8 vs. Galaxy Tab S8+ vs. Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra: Performance and Gaming
When we look at processing power, all three of these come with a Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chip, so performance across all three devices is essentially identical. When we look at RAM, both the 128GB and the 256GB models of the Tab S8 and the S8+ come with 8GB of RAM. With the Ultra, the 128GB model comes with 8GB, 256GB comes with 12GB, and 512GB comes with 16GB of RAM.
We get the same multitasking features on all three tablets because they run Android 12 and One UI 4.1. When possible, I prefer larger displays, especially when working with multiple apps.
If I want a more laptop-like experience, I can put all three of these computers in DeX mode, which gives them a more desktop-like user interface. We’ll get a real desktop, complete with icons, folders, and a task bar. You can have multiple windows open at the same time. You can snap them to half the screen and even make them float.
On all three tablets, I played a variety of games, including PUBG and Genshin Impact. Now that we’re all getting the same chip, I was able to play any game I tried with ease. The games ran smoothly, and I couldn’t tell the difference between my Ultra’s 8GB and 16GB of RAM.
Galaxy Tab S8 vs. Galaxy Tab S8+ vs. Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra: Battery Life
When it comes to battery life, the Tab S8 has an 8,000 milliamp hour battery, the S8+ has a 10,090 milliamp hour battery, and the Ultra has an 11,200 milliamp hour battery. It’s important to remember that none of these tablets come with a charging adapter. These tablets accepts 45 watts of charging. I was interested to see how the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chip performed, and I can say that all three have provided me with excellent battery life. The average usage time is between 8 and 13 hours. Of course, if I’m doing something like rendering a video or gaming for several hours, the battery will drain quickly.
Galaxy Tab S8 vs. Galaxy Tab S8+ vs. Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra: Pricing and availability
Samsung Galaxy Tab S8
RAM / Storage | Connectivity | US price | UK price | EU price |
8/128GB | Wi-Fi | $699.99 | £649 | €750 |
8/128GB | 5G | NA | £799 | €900 |
8/256GB | Wi-Fi | $779.99 | £699 | €800 |
8/256GB | 5G | NA | £849 | €950 |
Samsung Galaxy Tab S8+
RAM / Storage | Connectivity | US price | UK price | EU price |
8/128GB | Wi-Fi | $899.99 | £849 | €950 |
8/128GB | 5G | TBC | £999 | €1,100 |
8/256GB | Wi-Fi | $979.99 | £899 | €1,000 |
8/256GB | 5G | TBC | £1,049 | €1,150 |
Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra
RAM / Storage | Connectivity | US price | UK price | EU price |
8/128GB | Wi-Fi | $1,099 | £1,000 | €1,150 |
8/128GB | 5G | N/A | £1,150 | €1,300 |
8/256GB | Wi-Fi | N/A | N/A | €1,250 |
8/256GB | 5G | N/A | N/A | €1,400 |
12/256GB | Wi-Fi | $1,199 | £1,100 | N/A |
12/256GB | 5G | N/A | £1,250 | N/A |
16/512GB | Wi-Fi | $1,399 | £1,250 | €1,400 |
16/512GB | 5G | N/A | £1,400 | €1,600 |