Galaxy Tab S8+: 12-inch high-end tablet with Super AMOLED display

Also good: Like the Tab S7+, the Tab S8+ refreshes the image up to 120 times per second (120 Hertz refresh rate). This ensures smooth picture reproduction of cinema hits and games. New: The screen is framed in a housing made of so-called armor aluminum. Samsung promises a 39 percent increase in torsional rigidity. In addition, the case should be more scratch-resistant.

Under the hood of the S8+, which measures 185×285 millimeters in size and is only 5.7 millimeters thick, no stone has been left unturned: the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 from Qualcomm, which was originally to be called the Snapdragon 898, serves as the drive. The graphics chip Adreno 730, which is responsible for image reproduction, is also implanted on the SoC. Incidentally, this Snapdragon CPU is one of the first processors that the manufacturer Qualcomm with fine 4-nanometer structures has largely manufactured directly at Samsung. Compared to the older Snapdragon 865+, Samsung wants to guarantee a 24 percent increase in processor speed, and the graphics chip is said to work 52 percent faster.

The processor is supported by 8 gigabytes of RAM for fast swapping of calculated data. Good: Samsung wants to deliver the Galaxy Tab S8+ with Android 12, which is stored on a 128 or 256 gigabyte internal memory, depending on the model. As with the S7+, it can be expanded by a maximum of 1 terabyte using an rmicroSD card.

Also good: There is a 12-megapixel camera on the front, which is supposed to capture your own likeness in video calls. In conferences with several people in front of the display, the camera automatically focuses on the face of the current speaker, according to Samsung. According to the manufacturer, three built-in microphones ensure clear recording and transmission of speech and suppression of background noise. The S8 also has a 13-megapixel camera on the back for taking photos and videos – including autofocus and flash.

At home, the Tab S8+ connects to the internet via fast Wifi 6E – provided the user already has a Wifi 6E router. Juicy: Samsung also offers 5G versions of the Tab S8+ for an additional charge of around 150 euros. If there is no 5G network, you can surf the Internet with the Tab S8+ via LTE.

The prices for the new Tab S8 series are steep anyway (overview in the table above). It is all the more surprising that Samsung even saves on the power supply. The 10,090 mAh battery of the S8+ can be fully charged in 82 minutes via a USB-C connection and a 45-watt fast charging power supply (from 35 euros). Samsung specifies the maximum battery life as up to 14 hours. If true, that would be a very good value. However, the upcoming tests will have to show how long the S8+ can really do without a power outlet.

In contrast to the power adapter, however, the S-Pen required for inputting with a pen is included with the tablet. According to the manufacturer, it can implement up to 4,096 line widths – and with a comparatively small delay of only 2.8 milliseconds, says Samsung. This is where the S Pen differs from the model that Samsung includes with the normal S8 (delay: 6.3 milliseconds). In addition, the S-Pen can also be used as a remote control for playback control of presentations and music, but also as a “trigger” for taking selfies. Incidentally, you stow the S Pen in a recess on the back of the Tab S8 Plus, where the S Pen battery can be recharged at the same time.

But the Tab S8+ not only brings new hardware, but also useful functions. For example, the playback of headphones such as the Galaxy Buds can be switched from smartphone to tablet and vice versa without laborious coupling and decoupling – this should also work with separate keyboards. “Copy” content such as text modules from the tablet and “paste” it on the cell phone – that should also work. In addition, you should be able to jump almost seamlessly from your smartphone to your tablet if you are logged in to both devices with the same Samsung account. Data can also be shared quickly and easily between the devices via “Quickshare”, and work can be synchronized with the cell phone with third-party apps such as “Clip Studio Paint” and its “Companion” mode. For example, you can use your cell phone to outsource the color palette.

Customers can now pre-order the Samsung Galaxy Tab S8+, sales will start on February 25, 2022. The smallest version of the Galaxy Tab S8+ with WiFi and 128 gigabytes of memory costs 949 euros, the largest version with 256 gigabytes of memory and 5G costs 1,149 euros to book.