Samsung's Galaxy Tab S8 series: S8 (11-inch), S8+ (12.4-inch) and S8 Ultra (14.6-inch).
Image: SamsungSamsung has announced its 2022 family of Android tablets, the Galaxy Tab S8 series. The new line-up includes a large-screen flagship in the shape of the 14.6-inch Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra, which will undoubtedly get the most attention. There are two other Tab S8 series devices: the 12.4-inch Tab S8+ and the 11-inch Tab S8, which update the existing Tab S7+ and Tab S7.
According to IDC, 46 million tablets shipped worldwide in Q4 2021, an 11.9% decline year over year as demand slowed following strong tablet sales driven by virtual learning, remote work and media consumption during the pandemic. However, shipments were up 3.2% for the full year (168.8m units), with Apple leading the way at 34.2% market share, followed by Samsung (18.3%) and Lenovo (10.5%).
All three Galaxy Tab S8 models are built on frames made from Samsung's durable Armor Aluminum and come in Wi-Fi-only (Wi-Fi 6E) and 5G versions (4G LTE is also supported on latter).
Prices start at$699.99 for an entry-level Wi-Fi-only Tab S8 with 8GB of RAM and 128GB of internal storage. The Tab S8+ costs from$899.99, while the flagship Tab S8 Ultra starts at$1,099.99. Adding 5G, RAM (on the Ultra), storage and optional accessories can boost the cost to premium-laptop levels.
Samsung claims that the Tab S8 Ultra features the company's 'slimmest bezel ever' at 6.3mm, resulting in 'the best screen-to-body ratio for a Galaxy Tab S device' (which we calculate to be 90.8%, compared to 84.6% for the S8+ and 83.6% for the S8). However, the trade-off for this slim bezel is that the S8 Ultra's Super AMOLED screen is interrupted by a notch that accommodates its dual 12MP front-facing cameras, a move that may not prove universally popular.
Features available across the board include Qualcomm's 4nm, 8-core Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 Mobile Platform, Android 12 with Samsung's One UI Tab 4, 16:10 screen aspect ratios with refresh rates up to 120Hz, an S Pen stylus, an ultra-wide-angle (120