Is Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra The iPad Pro Killer? — Features and Specifications
The iPads used to be the uncontested choice for tablets. They are everywhere and used by everybody —artists, students, professionals, and even your three-year-old cousin during family gatherings. Apple really took advantage of its early head start and reinvented the market, which made iPads synonymous with tablets.
Enter Samsung, the forefront of the Android versus iOS debate. In what used to be the awkward larger-phone-turned-tablet scenario, Samsung has been perfecting the tablet game worthy of battling against the iPads. Now, they might have just done it.
Introducing The Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra
Samsung had just released the potential iPad Pro killer and everyone is hopeful for this tablet. The Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra is as powerful as it could get. While the Galaxy Tab line-up includes decent, budget-friendly models, the Tab S8 Ultra is Samsung’s latest high-end flagship device.
The Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra price starts at $1,099 depending on the RAM and total storage capacity. The box includes the latest version of S-Pen and data cable. Previous models of Tab S in the United States have the Samsung Book Cover Keyboard included but for the Tab S8 lineup, it has to be purchased separately. Now let’s talk about specs:
- Operating System: Android 12, One UI 4.1
- Chipset: Qualcomm SM8450 Snapdragon 8 Gen 1
- CPU: Octa-core
- RAM: 12 GB
- Storage: 256 GB expandable up to 1TB with MicroSD
- Display: 14.6” Super AMOLED, 120 Hz
The Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra is loaded with hardware to make it the ultimate productivity device. You can run any software that you needed to multitask and you won’t experience any lag or strain at all. Gaming is also not a problem, as it could run even high-demanding titles and still give you the best experience. Just connect a supported controller and you’re good to go.
When it comes to the size of the screen it is similar to that of a laptop just optimized a little bit so the portrait orientation feels just right. But you get the best experience with Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra on landscape mode especially when you’re using Samsung’s Book Keyboard.
The display is phenomenal as expected from Samsung’s flagship devices. In fact, the OLED panel might just be this tablet’s best selling point. While the iPad Pro tends to have slight unwanted blooming on high-contrast images, the Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra remains as detailed and accurate. These minute details are really what makes the Tab S8 Ultra shine.
Why Choose Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra Over iPad Pro?
Both tablets pretty much offer incredible functions that justify the price investment. Buying the 2022 iPad Pro guarantees you a tried-and-tested experience that is familiar to anyone. It will be even better if you have the whole Apple ecosystem. On the other hand, the Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 pushes the boundaries of the tablet-laptop hybrid more and it can be the better option if you’re looking for new things.
For us, there are significant reasons why you should choose Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra over the iPad Pro. Here’s what we think:
1. Dedicated Software That Turns Your Tablet into a Computer
When Samsung DeX was released on previous models of Tab S, it was still this clunky software that is more gimmicky than functional. Now, it is the future of tablet productivity.
Samsung DeX is a platform that allows you to use your Galaxy device (in this case, the Tab S8 Ultra) as a desktop PC or as a laptop when paired with a keyboard and mouse. You can also connect your tablet to an external monitor through a cable or wirelessly via a Miracast-enabled display.
If Apple users use their iPads as a secondary monitor connected to their MacBooks, then you have the Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra powering exactly like a Windows PC. With Samsung DeX, you’ll have completely different software at your disposal. Now you don’t have to choose between buying a laptop or a tablet because you can have both with Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra.
2. Includes A More Intuitive S Pen
The Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra already comes with the S Pen as a set, while you need to purchase the Apple Pencil separately from the iPad.
Both styluses are pretty much the same when it comes to hold and feel, sensitivity, and accuracy. However, the S Pen offers more customization and features. The S Pen comes with both a hard tip and a soft-rubbery pen tip that can make your strokes more accurate depending on what you’re doing.
The S Pen is also gesture-enabled. The Air Actions let you wave your S Pen like a wand and do different tasks like swiping, opening an app, controlling music or camera, and more. This might feel gimmicky for some but once you tried it out, it’s surprisingly convenient.
3. The Front Camera is Perfect for Videoconferencing
One thing that is noticeable about iPads when using the front camera is that the angle and positioning of it are awkward in landscape orientation. Now that everyone is in a Zoom meeting at least once a day, this gets even more irritating.
Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra went all out on their cameras. For the moments where you need to record a video of yourself, the front cam allows you to shoot in 4K. There’s also an Auto Framing feature where the camera follows and focuses on you as you move. Once the camera detects that there’s a group of you, it automatically zooms out to fit everyone in the frame. All these are very handy in video calls.
Is There A Reason Why I Should Choose An iPad Over Galaxy Tab?
One thing we can tell you is that purchasing the Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra is worth the money. But there are still some factors that put the iPad Pro over the Tab S8 Ultra.
The major dealbreaker is the availability of optimized apps. Apple managed to get a monopoly on some exclusive productivity applications that some might miss when using an Android tablet. Another factor is if you’re already using an Apple product, then might as well purchase an iPad because the Apple ecosystem is amazing for maximizing productivity.
So is Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra the iPad Pro killer? Only you can determine that. What we’re sure about is that the competition is tight and it’s expected to get even more interesting in the future.
