Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra: The best tablet in the world?

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra is the largest and most expensive tablet in the current Galaxy Tab S8 range. At 14.6 inches, the tablet takes on unprecedented dimensions and is simply huge. While it has the highest resolution, it has a lower pixel density than its two siblings. But it is also brighter. The refresh rate is either 60 or 120 Hz, but adaptive control is unfortunately not available. 

The S8 Ultra is powered by the fast Snapdragon 8 Gen 1, which is equipped with 8, 12 or 16GB of RAM depending on the chosen configuration. A microSD slot is also available. For communication, Samsung always relies on Wi-Fi 6E, including the 6 GHz band, Bluetooth 5.2 and a UWB chip. 5G models are also available, but do not support mmWave.

The quad speakers have a balanced sound, but lack a little depth. Another positive feature is that the USB port can also be used for image output. The tablet can also be used as an additional screen on a Windows PC via a wireless connection, whereby touch and pen inputs remain supported. The Lenovo Tab P12 Pro, which even has a faster USB port, also supports touch and pen input.

In terms of display, the iPad Pro 12.9 is even brighter but this only concerns peak luminance levels in our review, otherwise it is on a par with the Tab S8 Ultra. Performance is a different story. Thanks to the M1 chip, the Apple tablet enjoys a considerable speed advantage, but this applies to every Android tablet. In terms of speakers, however, the iPad is even richer in sound and closes the gap to the deep tones. It also scores better in terms of battery life.

The Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra is probably not quite enough to be the best tablet in the world. Nevertheless, Samsung offers an attractive package overall and is also on par with Apple regarding its long update timeframe. For Windows users in particular the Samsung tablet is often the better choice, but for those who are willing to make a few sacrifices, the Lenovo Tab P12 Pro is a much cheaper alternative. For those who value display space above all else, the Tab S8 Ultra is a must-have and will certainly not disappoint.

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra is available in various configurations directly from Samsung, but also from major retailers such as Amazon.