Samsung Galaxy Tab S8, S8+, S8 Ultra release date, specs and rumours

Samsung’s Galaxy Tab S Android tablets are some of the best in their field. While Android tablets are few and far between these days, the Galaxy Tab S range is one of the strongest competitors to Apple’s iPad.

The latest Galaxy Tab S tablets to appear were the Tab S7 and Tab S7+ – along with the Fan Edition later down the line – but there are now strong rumours surfacing about their successors, with talk of a Samsung Galaxy Tab S8, S8+ and an S8 Ultra.

Here’s everything we have heard so far about the Galaxy Tab S8 variants so far.

Release date and price

Galaxy Unpacked reveal on 9 FebruaryPre-order from 9 FebruaryAvailable 25 February

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 and S7+ arrived in August 2020, while the Galaxy Tab S6 and S6+ arrived in August 2019. It would therefore have been logical to suggest August 2021 for the Galaxy Tab S8 tablets, though of course that date has come and gone.

A number of rumours now suggest that the Tab S8 tablets will appear alongside the Galaxy S22 phone series at the company’s Galaxy Unpacked event on 9 February. The event is official, but the products we can expect to see then isn’t confirmed.

In terms of price, the Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 started at £619 in the UK and $649.99 in the US, while the S7 Plus started at £799 in the UK and $849.99 in the US. It wouldn’t be too surprising to see the Galaxy Tab S8 and S8 Plus around the same, perhaps with a slight increase, while the S8 Ultra will be more expensive on account of its larger screen size and features.

A leaked press release claims the devices will be available to pre-order from 9 February and available from 25 February.

Samsung Galaxy Unpacked 9 February: How to watch

Design

S8: 253.8 x 165.3 x 6.3mm / 503gS8+: 285 x 185 x 5.7mm / 567gS8 Ultra: 208.6 x 326.4 x 5.5mm / 726g

While we’ve seen a bunch of photo-based leaks, there aren’t any specific details surrounding the use of materials in the Galaxy Tab S8 series – not even the leaked press release says, though we would expect an aluminium construction across the board.

The three devices will be different sizes according to rumours, too, at 11-, 12.4-, and 14.6-inches across the respective Tab S8, Plus and Ultra models. Early rumours of an under-display camera seem to be unfounded, based on leaks. 

We’d expect the Tab S8+ and Tab S8 Ultra to have an under-display fingerprint sensor, just like the Tab S7+ did. The standard Tab S8 model meanwhile, could stick to a side-mounted fingerprint sensor, like the S7.

Display

S8: 11-inch, LCDS8+: 12.4-inch, AMOLEDS8 Ultra: 14.6-inch, AMOLEDS8 Ultra only: Notched display

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 features an 11-inch IPS LCD display with a 2560 x 1600 resolution, while the Tab S7+ features a 12.4-inch Super AMOLED panel with a 2800 x 1752 pixel resolution. Both have a 120Hz refresh rate.

It’s been suggested the Tab S8 devices will be available with display sizes between 11-inches and 14.6-inches. The smallest is claimed to be LCD, while the 12.7-inch model and the 14.6-inch model are said to be OLED panels.

Rumours from early January 2022 and supported by the leaked press release suggest what the Galaxy Tab S8, S8+ and S8 Ultra might offer in terms of resolution: 2560 x 1600 for the 11-inch; 2800 x 1752 for the 12.4-inch; and 2960 x 1848 for the 14.6-inch panel.

Perhaps most interesting of all is that, like Apple with the 2021 MacBook Pro redesign, the Tab S8 Ultra appears to feature dual front-facing cameras in a notched display design. The smaller tablets don’t feature such a notch, for better or worse.

We’d expect specifications for the S8 and S8+ to be at least on par with their predecessors, though it is likely there will be improvements, such as an adaptive refresh rate, for example, like the Galaxy S21 series offers. 

Hardware and specs

All models: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 platformS8: 8/12GB RAM, 128/256GB storage, 8000mAh battery, microSDS8+: 8/12GB RAM, 128/256GB storage, 10090mAh battery, microSDS8 Ultra: 8/12/16GB RAM, 128/256/512GB storage, 11200mAh battery, microSD

According to rumours, the Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 and S8+ are tipped to come with 8GB and 12GB of RAM and storage options of 128GB and 256GB. The larger S8 Ultra model meanwhile, is claimed to be coming with 8GB, 12GB or 16GB RAM and 128GB, 256GB or 512GB of storage. All three models are expected to offer microSD support up to 1TB.

All three models are said to be available in Wi-Fi only, or 4G/LTE/5G variants. It’s thought they will come with a flagship processor, likely to be the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 platform – not the earlier Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 or 888 Plus as previously thought.

After some two-ing and fro-ing of leaks discussing battery sizes, it now seems fairly certain that a 11,200mAh battery will feature in the Tab S8 Ultra, while the S8 Plus is said to come with a 10,090mAh capacity, and the standard S8 an 8000mAh capacity. Fast-charging support is expected on all models.

Camera

S8/S8+: Dual rear (13MP+6MP), 12MP frontS8 Ultra: Dual rear (13MP+6MP), dual front (12MP+12MP)

In terms of other specifications, it’s said the three models will all have dual rear cameras comprised of 13-megapixel and 6-megapixel snappers. A flash is also expected.

The front camera is said to be 12-megapixels on the S8 and S8+, while the S8 Ultra is reported to come with a dual front camera with 12-megapixel and 12-megapixel sensors – that’s why, in the case of the last, there’s a notch.

Samsung Galaxy Tab S8+ and S8 Ultra rumours: What’s happened so far?

Here is everything we have heard so far about the Galaxy Tab S8 tablets.

8 February 2022: Samsung’s entire Galaxy Tab S8 lineup – press release and all – leaks online

Serial leaker Ev Leaks posted a number of images of the Galaxy Tab S8 range on his Leakland Substack, including the press release, revealing key details.

collection:Ev Leaks leak

7 February 2022: Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra leaks in wild, S22 Ultra packaging appears too

Lanzuk posted a number of images of the Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra showing the rumoured notched design in the wild.

collection:Lanzuk leak

20 January 2022: Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra and Plus listed on Amazon ahead of launch, specifications revealed

After accidentally leaking the Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra 5G on its own support pages, Samsung then seemingly listed both that and the Samsung Galaxy Tab S8+ on Amazon in France.

collection:Samsung Galaxy Tab Amazon leak

17 January 2022: Unpacked reveal date, 8 February?

More specifications leak, with a reveal date suggested to be 8 February at the Galaxy Unpacked event.

6 December 2021: Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra leak reconfirms notched display

EV Leaks reconfirms the Ultra’s double front camera and notched display.

Samsung Galaxy Tab S8, S8 Plus, and S8 Ultra. pic.twitter.com/tQZNW30Dn1

— Ev (@evleaks) December 6, 2021

3 November 2021: Samsung Galaxy tablets going into production soon

A leak from display industry veteran, Ross Young, claims that the new Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 will start production in mid-December. With the S8+and S8 Ultra models following in late January.

New Samsung Galaxy tablets getting closer to production. New LCD Tab A8 to start production in mid-December with OLED S8+ and S8 Ultra in late January.

— Ross Young (@DSCCRoss) November 3, 2021

25 October 2021: Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra renders show notched display

OnLeaks reveals the Ultra’s notch display and massive 14-inch panel size.

And, following my #Samsung #GalaxyTabS8 leak, now comes your very first look at the MASSIVE #GalaxyTabS8Ultra! (360° video + stunning 5K renders + dimensions)

On behalf of my Friends over @91mobiles -> https://t.co/jEPtgn1jvc pic.twitter.com/iCmZuSdvWE

— Steve H.McFly (@OnLeaks) October 23, 2021

27 July 2021: Rumours of Samsung Galaxy S8 Ultra appear again

Leaker Ice Universe tweeted some battery specifications for the Galaxy Tab S8+ and S8 Ultra, with details on when they are expected to be released.

Tab S8 + will be released with S22. SM8450, One UI 4.0，10090mAh battery. But this is not the best. There is “Ultra”. I won’t say it first. Let’s wait and see.

— Ice universe (@UniverseIce) July 27, 2021

7 July 2021: Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 won’t arrive until early 2022

A leaker called lanzuk posted on a Korean social media site that the Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 won’t arrive until early 2022. The leaker also mentions an S8 Ultra tablet.  

31 May 2021: Leak reveals a number of Samsung Tab S8 specifications

Twitter user FronTron revealed a number of specifications surrounding the Galaxy Tab S8 tablets spotted on Naver – a Korean social media site. It’s not clear exactly where the specs came from though and the tweet has since been deleted, though TechRadar published the details before.