The Galaxy Tab S8 and Galaxy Tab S8+ are both compelling tablets from Samsung. Available for $699 and $899, respectively, which one is ultimately the better purchase? If you're in the market for an Android tablet, it's hard to do much better than what Samsung's offering. The Galaxy Tab S series is the flagship lineup, the Galaxy Tab A focuses on competitive pricing, and there are some interesting mid-range models like the Tab S7 FE and Tab S6 Lite.
In February 2022, Samsung expanded its tablet lineup once again with the Galaxy Tab S8 family. There are three models to choose from this time around, including the Galaxy Tab S8, Galaxy Tab S8+, and Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra. Considering the Ultra's gargantuan size and price, the decision for most shoppers will likely come down to the Tab S8 and S8+. There's a difference of $200 between the two, and surprisingly, the Tab S8 and S8+ have more in common than you might expect.
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Perhaps the biggest similarity is the processor. Whether you buy the Tab S8 or Tab S8+, both tablets have the same Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 processor. It's the latest Qualcomm chip currently available and the same one present in the Galaxy S22 series. Similarly, both tablets have a choice between 8 or 12GB of RAM, along with 128 or 256GB of storage. If you find yourself needing more storage space, there's a microSD card slot for expanding it up to 1TB. And the similarities don't stop there. The Galaxy Tab S8 and Galaxy Tab S8+ have two rear cameras (13MP primary + 6MP ultra-wide), 12MP front-facing camera, Wi-Fi 6E, up to 45W charging, and optional 5G/LTE connectivity.
Everything Different Between Tab S8 & Tab S8+
If it sounds like the Tab S8 and Tab S8+ are virtually identical, that's because they are. The core experience of both is mostly the same. However, there are a couple of key differences that help justify the Tab S8+'s higher asking price. The biggest upgrade is its display. For its part, the regular Galaxy Tab S8 has an 11-inch LCD display with a resolution of 2560 x 1600. The Tab S8+ is better in every regard. It has a larger 12.4-inch screen, swaps out the LCD panel for a Super AMOLED one, and increases the resolution to 2800 x 1752. Both tablets have good-looking displays, but the Tab S8+'s is objectively nicer to look at.
The bigger display size also means a larger physical footprint for the Tab S8+. It measures 185.0 x 285.0 x 5.7mm and weighs 567g. The regular Tab S8 is thicker, but it's also smaller and lighter — measuring 165.3 x 253.8 x 6.3mm and weighing 503g. Naturally, the larger size grants the Tab S8+ with a bigger battery. The baseline Tab S8 has an 8,000 mAh battery, whereas the Tab S8+ gets a beefier 10,090 mAh one. The last difference isn't immediately noticeable, but it shouldn't be overlooked. While both tablets come with a free S Pen, the latency between them is substantially different. The Tab S8's S Pen has a latency of 6.2ms, and the Tab S8+'s S Pen has a latency of just 2.8ms. Both are faster than the 9ms latency of the Tab S7 and S7+, but avid drawers will get a more natural experience with the Tab S8+.
Are those things ultimately worth spending an extra $200 for? That really comes down to what you're comfortable spending. The $699 price for the Tab S8 is a solid value. It has an incredible processor, a premium design, and its display looks very good. Anyone with another $200 burning a hole in their pocket gets some nice upgrades with the Tab S8+. However, if you don't personally think they're worth it (or don't want to go over your budget), Samsung's regular Galaxy Tab S8 holds its own against the Tab S8+ incredibly well.
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Source: Samsung
ShareTweetEmailStudio Display Vs. Pro Display XDR: $1,600 And $5,000 Monitors ComparedRelated TopicsAbout The Author Joe Maring (1421 Articles Published)Joe has been actively writing and talking about consumer tech since 2012. His biggest passion lies with smartphones, but he's happy to talk your ear off about just about anything with a CPU. He lives in Kalamazoo, MI with hiswife, two cats, and pit bull/boxer mix.