The "1-Minute" Review
Verdict
The Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra’s massive screen and powerful chipset make it a beast. It has tons of potential for multitasking and accessories to help it replace your laptop. If, however, you’re looking for something solely to watch media on or play games, then this one might be a bit too much.What's good
- Massive AMOLED screen
- Powerful processing
- S-Pen included
- Thin design
What's bad
- Very expensive
- Heavy and Awkward
- Android is only so optimized for screens this large
Samsung has released three different high-end Android tablet options for 2022. The Ultra is the most powerful, but is it too much to handle?
Design
Before purchasing the Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra, make sure you have room for it. It’s massive and wide, and it’s also super thin.
However, this leads many reviewers to question how durable the tablet might be in long-term use. Some worried as it could be easily snapped in half or broken more easily than competing options when bouncing around in a crowded bag or bumping around in your luggage.
Display
The display is a whopping 14.6-inch monster. While that sounds great in practice, it might not be ideal for many people due to the lack of portability and difficult single-handed use.
However, it's pretty ideal for creatives like photographers or graphic designers. The pixel density isn’t the best out there, but it’s pretty good. Color accuracy and contrast are excellent.
Performance
The Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra will put up with a lot and keep going. Reviewers stated that this again seemed to be aimed at creatives, as it’s capable of multitasking and running most top-end art software.
It also did great with games too. However, reviewers stated it was challenging to use on-screen commands because of the screen orientation.
Software & Storage
The tablet runs Android 12 and offers 128, 256, and 512GB of space based on your preference. Higher storage amounts are recommended if you plan to work with video or larger files. But for light use and general productivity work, the 128GB is a generous starting option.
Cameras
Slightly different from other tablets, the Tab S7 Ultra has two different front-facing cameras: a regular 12MP lens and a 12MP ultra-wide lens. It also includes some software tweaks to allow the camera to zoom in or out as people join you on video calls and keep you in the frame during those calls, similar to Apple’s Center Stage feature.
While the tablet will never compete with most top-end phone cameras or standalone cameras, it’s pretty good as a productivity-focused option.
Battery Life
The tablet comes equipped with an 11,200mAh battery. Samsung claims it will last 15 hours, and reviewers appear to agree. Unlike many tablets, the Tab S8 Ultra can act as a charging dock for other devices you plug into it.
If you’re worried about charge times, don’t. The tablet ships with a 45W charger capable of providing a full recharge in around 80 minutes.
Audio
Reviewers were happy to report that the four speakers on the Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra were excellent. They had good bass and treble and worked well for watching media or using it as a speaker. Not to mention three mics and noise cancellation for video calls and conferences.
Accessories
The S-Pen comes included with the Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra and is easily magnetically attached to the side of the tablet. There is also the option to buy a case-and-keyboard combo to use the tablet in a more laptop-like configuration.
Specs at a Glance
- Aluminum design
- 14.6-inch AMOLED display
- Qualcomm SM8450 Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 processor
- 8/12/16GB of RAM
- Android 12
- 128/256/512GB of storage
- 13MP+ cameras
- 11,200mAh battery, 15 hours battery life
- Four speakers
- S-Pen and Keyboard case combo
- Can be used as a charging dock for other devices
The Bottom Line
The Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra is a big beautiful machine for a particular type of person—mostly creatives and productivity-focused professionals.
Yet, it may be considered unwieldy and too big for those who are only looking for something to watch streaming services or use casually as a second screen. Its size also is less than ideal for gaming unless you plan to use a controller.
Pocket-Lint states, “If you're looking for a tablet with a huge screen - perhaps to consider as a laptop replacement by using some accessories - then they don't really come bigger than the Tab S8 Ultra.”
Tom’s Guide says, “The Samsung Galaxy S8 Ultra impresses with its large screen, multiple cameras, and overall thin design. It is tailor-made for creatives and hybrid work.”
What the Critics Are Saying...
- Matthew Miller, ZDNetThe Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra is a nice demonstration of Samsung's technical innovation, but the S8 and S8 Plus are likely much more practical for most people. When you jump to a tablet of this size and price, a full-fledged laptop is a better option than a tablet with an operating system that is...
- Leigh :) Stark, PickrSamsung’s Tab S8 Ultra is an interesting device, though one that seems to be really niched. On the one hand, it’s a beautiful piece of engineering, delivering a super thin tablet with a lovely massive screen you won’t want to take your eyes off and some excellent capabilities not unlike Samsung’s “u...
- Jonathan Bray, Expert ReviewsThat battery life, coupled with the incredible display, bundled stylus and competitive pricing makes me desperately want to recommend the Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra as an alternative to the 12.9in iPad Pro. It is, in many respects, a ground breaking product. Alas, I can’t, and that’s due to a stead...
- Stephen Fenech, Tech GuideThe Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra certainly demonstrates that bigger can mean better and it offers a lot of space for work and play and offer a quality experience for whatever you choose to do.
- Daniel Schmidt, NotebookcheckWith its 14.6-inch Super AMOLED display, the Samsung Galaxy S8 Ultra tablet is a real eye-catcher in the truest sense of the word. But its strengths are not only aesthetic: The fast Snapdragon ensures superb performance in all areas, the speakers deliver good sound, DeX mode can be run directly on t...
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