Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra review

With the previous generation, Samsung already raised its tablet size bet to limits that we believed had reached a ceiling. Nothing is further from reality.

The new Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra goes even further, reaching an incredible 14.6 inches. Yes, in tablet format. And yes, you can take advantage of it. We have put it to the test in Technoeager to be able to tell you the best and worst of the most ambitious Galaxy Tab to date.

Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra specifications

This data is not the only amazing one related to the dimensions of the new Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra. This tablet is huge, with a length of more than 32 cm, which makes it a rare bird on the market.

With such a large diagonal, the 16:10 format loses the Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra as a comfortable tablet

The format of the Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra is 16:10, perhaps too extreme to be manageable with such a high diagonal. A format closer to 4:3 would have fit better. In any case, despite its gigantic size, the weight remains at 726 grams, so we can say that it is relatively comfortable in hand, always within the fact that we have almost 15 inches in hand.

The Samsung Galaxy Tan S8 Ultra is made using a strong aluminum case that should in theory protect well against drops and bumps. But it is a tablet so thin and large that it could already have been made of “vibranium” that would continue to transmit a continuous feeling of horror for fear of hitting it or, worse, falling from a certain height.

That rational fear is true that it is lost over time. In addition, the metallic finish has a good grip and there is no feeling that it will slip out of our hands.

In the design of the Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra we do not understand why an adjustable support system has not been integrated as a stand

In the design, and given that it is a tablet that cries out to be used without a cover or accessories, we would have loved to have integrated some type of leg or adjustable support as a stand. I would have given it an amazing game since holding and using this Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra, there hasn’t been a time when I haven’t wanted to have “something” integrated into the design to comfortably and directly place the tablet on the tablet. table in display mode, or for example, to use an external keyboard via Bluetooth.

In the back we have the camera module that protrudes slightly but does not affect the stability of the tablet when we place it on a flat surface.

The controls you will have already imagined that they are almost ridiculous in size if we take into account the global. The three main ones, volume and power, are located on the far right side, and given the almost total symmetry of the equipment, you have to go looking for them continuously. Logically they are not approachable in a natural way.

On the bottom edge we have a single USB-C charging port, and a little above it, under the screen, is the fingerprint reader. Its use is fast and has given us better results than face identification, which the Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra also has.

Its nomadic spirit, despite its size, has meant that Samsung has provided  this model with 5G connectivity (there is also a Wi-Fi-only version, which is also Wi- Fi 6e ), with a microSIM card slot in the lower part of it. right side where the volume controls are.

Finally, on the left side or the lower frame if we hold the tablet in landscape format, there is the proprietary connector to use the Samsung keyboard cover.

I consider this accessory essential even with the little ecosystem of applications prepared to take advantage of an Android tablet as a laptop, but nevertheless we have not been able to analyze it together with the tablet. As an initial promotion, Samsung gives it away (it costs 150 dollars separately) when purchasing the new Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra.

Rear loading system for the S-Pen

The back of the Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra inherits the design and functionality of the previous generation. And I fear that for the worse, because mistakes are repeated.

The most worrying is once again that of the S-Pen storage and charging system, located linearly under the camera module, in a glass area and not metal like the rest of the back.

The S-Pen is stuck to that area thanks to some magnets that we would have liked to be more powerful. If we are going to hold the tablet in our hands or use it with the keyboard-cover, the docking and charging mode is acceptable. But in any other situation we do not see it so clearly.

The only one but at the design level of the Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra is not trivial: the storage and charging mode of an important accessory, its S-Pen

For example, if you have the tablet in your hand with the pencil placed in its enabled area, it will be enough to want to leave it on the table so that there is a high risk that the S-Pen will dislodge in addition to leaving the tablet lame.

On the other hand, as I said, the magnetic coupling system has seemed somewhat weak to me. It is true that it is easily placed well but the feeling of danger of falling and losing was constant. And finally we have the orientation of the S-Pen, which must be with the tip facing up (pointing at the camera module) for it to charge. If you do it in the opposite direction, although it is placed magnetically, the pencil does not charge.

Like having a TV in your hand

In the game of spectacular screens, Samsung is here again at the highest level. It is a maxim of its high-end Galaxy Tab models.

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra is actually almost a portable 14.6-inch TV. The panel, SuperAMOLED, offers a refresh rate of 120 Hz and a resolution of 2960×1848 pixels (density of almost 250 dpi).

With these credentials and after verifying it in our tests, we can confirm the excellent behavior of this screen at all levels, from a very good display at low brightness levels to bordering on excellence with high brightness. It is actually HDR10+.

All the spectacularity and good work of a Samsung SuperAMOLED panel we have it in this Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra in giant format

The panel offers two setting modes: vivid and natural. In the first, the most interesting and without exceeding unnatural saturation, we can also configure the white balance individually. There’s responsive auto-brightness, dark mode, a blue light reduction mode, and of course the choice of 60 or 120 Hz refresh.

Create and enjoy content: the reason for this tablet

There is no doubt that at a technical level, as we have seen and will continue to do throughout the analysis, the Samsung Galaxy Tan S8 Ultra does not have much room for technical improvement. His file is forceful, the same as all his relevant figures.

The doubt comes when we have to focus on what this large screen format can offer us. That’s where Android logically comes in, which is still very limited, even with the efforts of Samsung Dex. It is saved in a format more focused on the tablet but loses when we want to simulate an approach to the laptop.

There, in that use as a laptop with the help of the keyboard case is where the Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra should offer its best version, but it is limited by what is still Android today, even version 12 with which it comes out of series this Galaxy Tab.

It is true that at the productivity level, the large size of the screen is appreciated by allowing you to work with several screens at the same time of a considerable size, but the 16:10 format penalizes it.

Samsung ships the S-Pen as standard with its Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra, allowing us to get creative out of the box right out of the box and power on.

With all this, the Samsung Galaxy Tan S8 Ultra shines in multimedia playback tasks, where it is a continuous enjoyment, as well as in creative tasks. Here I think the size is excessive even to use it as a graphics tablet, but in any case, it has the S-Pen that comes standard (thanks Samsung).

The stylus is light, precise, and has full integration into the Android system and especially Samsung’s own apps. We can for example activate the gestures with the S-Pen to make it an essential and practical element in everyday life with the Galaxy Tab.

If we want to use the S-Pen in creative tasks, this is still a very valid element if we find the right application for the work we want to develop. And there aren’t many really.

We do have some series on the tablet like PENUP (to color, inspire you or learn to draw) or Clip Studio.

And to play what? Well, logically, it won’t be for power, but the screen format so large again penalizes this specific experience unless we use an external controller and then enjoy the huge screen to play.

That is not for power

This Galaxy Tan S8 Ultra has a Snapdragon 8 Gen1 processor combined with up to 16 GB of RAM. The model that we have analyzed had 8 GB of RAM and 128 GB of internal memory (basic model that costs about 1,150 dollars), which can be chosen up to 512 GB, expandable in all cases with microSD cards.

This basic configuration already offers a full tablet experience. Everything runs smoothly, it works instantly and there is no problem with multitasking no matter how many applications we have running in the background.

In figures, this Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra with the Snapdragon 8 Gen1 has exceeded 13,500 points in the PCMark Work 3.0 test as well as 9,000 points in the 3DMark Wild Life test.

In GeekBench, this new Samsung tablet has remained at 1,100 points in the Single Core test and has touched 2,900 in the multi-core test.

Powerful surround sound

In that spirit of a giant screen to enjoy content, speakers play a key role. There are four, located in the corners, and signed by AKG, in addition to compatibility with Dolby Atmos.

The speakers offer clear and very powerful sound. Very powerful actually, although if we hold the equipment with our hands in landscape mode, as would be logical, the placement of the lower speakers means that we end up covering them very easily.

It is best to place them on a table and take advantage of both the good bass boost and the surround sound.

The speakers, four signed by AKG and with Dolby Atmos, sound powerful and have good bass reinforcement. But there is no 3.5mm headphone port

What we do not find in this Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra is a headphone port, so for personal sound you have to resort to wireless equipment.

Autonomy of more than 10 hours

In the market for high-end tablets, with its use beyond pure content consumption, autonomy has ceased to be something to worry about from time to time and has come to occupy an important place in its assessment. . If we are going to use it to work, whether creatively or otherwise, it is important to make sure we do not stay halfway through the workday.

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra has a 11,200 mAh battery, a very high figure but one that must meet the demands of a bright, large screen with a 120 Hz refresh rate.

The reality of our autonomy tests has confirmed just what we expected: it maintains the type by touching 10 hours of screen with the 120 Hz mode active, but it is not the highest figure on the market. Of course, the work day or spending several days watching multimedia content without worrying about loading it is guaranteed.

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra boasts a fast charge of 45 W but nevertheless no charger comes standard with the tablet

In addition to a large capacity, the battery of this Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra enjoys a fast charging system of up to 45W, but we must be the ones who provide it. the compatible adapter as standard only comes with the USB-C charging cable.

With a 65W charger, according to our tests, we managed to go from 10 to 50% battery in one hour and twenty minutes. For the full charge of the tablet we need to wait 3 hours.

Four cameras in one tablet

The level of cameras that we find in tablets has only grown, although logically at a slower rate than in smartphones.

The main ones have gained prominence not to be used in the same way as a smartphone (imagine the size of this Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra) but to be able to take photos and videos that can then be used creatively on the spot.

In this Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra the two rear cameras are a main 13 MP (f2.0) and a second wide angle with a resolution of 6 MP (f2.2).

Its performance is correct in good light, enough to work later at a low level with those images (for example in sketches) or publish them on networks. Video behaves in a similar way, supporting 4K/60fps recording.

As for the secondary photographic section, this Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra also has two cameras, in this case with the same resolution (12 MP), but the second one is wide angle (and f2.4 compared to the f2.2 aperture of the main).

In a tablet of this type, this set of secondary cameras is more interesting and it is where the effort should really be put. Video calls are key and the dual camera of this Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra fulfills this purpose well, greatly improving the results that we can obtain with the webcams of the most expensive laptops.