Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Versus Galaxy Tab S7

Samsung’s new Galaxy Tab S8 is one of the manufacturer’s most impressive tablets ever, following in the footsteps of numerous highly rated predecessors. Joined by the Galaxy Tab S8 Plus and S8 Ultra, the smallest of the three, the 11-inch Galaxy Tab S8, is Samsung’s follow-up to the 2021 Galaxy Tab S7.

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 is still available alongside the Galaxy Tab S8, and for less money. To see what’s changed and whether the costlier Galaxy Tab S8 is now the model to buy, we’ve pitted the existing tablet against its eventual replacement to see how they compare.

Both the Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 and Galaxy Tab S7 get 11-inch displays. Each has a 120Hz refresh rate and resolutions of 2560 x 1600. In addition, the Galaxy Tab S7 features a low-temperature polysilicon display. Meanwhile, the newer Galaxy Tab S8 gets an upgraded liquid crystal version that Samsung says is the brightest and boldest ever.

That said, even side-by-side, it’s hard to tell the two apart. On paper, the newer Samsung Galaxy Tab S8’s screen is technically superior. But most users won’t notice, especially under normal day-to-day use.

Another area that Samsung has sought to improve its latest 11-inch Galaxy Tab is when it comes to its chip. The older Samsung Galaxy Tab S7’s Snapdragon 865+ processor is hard to fault. Be that as it may, the next-generation Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 replacement in the 2022 Galaxy Tab S8 is even better.

More powerful and offering greater efficiency, it’s an important factor for various reasons. These reasons include when it comes to running the newly unveiled Galaxy Tab S8’s much-improved camera setup. More on that in a moment.

Elsewhere, Samsung’s 6GB RAM option looks to have ended with the Galaxy Tab S7. The Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 is now available exclusively with 8GB of memory. However, it loses the range-topping 512GB storage option that’s still available with the older Galaxy Tab S7. Either way, both offer storage expansions of up to 1TB via MicroSD.

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 and Galaxy Tab S7 both get the same 8,000mAH battery. This is plenty for at least a day of pretty relentless use in most cases.

Where the newer tablet does improve, though, is in terms of network connectivity. Here, the new Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 gets Wi-Fi 6E support. As a result, it’s capable of up to double the bandwidth and maximum speed of the older Wi-Fi 6 configuration found in the Galaxy Tab S7. That’s a massive win for the Galaxy Tab S8, which also gets Bluetooth v5.2 versus the Galaxy Tab S7’s Bluetooth v5.0.

In arguably less important news, the Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 is also sold in a new pink-gold color, as well as gray and silver. The Galaxy Tab S7, on the other hand, remains available in black, silver, bronze, and navy. There’s no longer a black option on the Galaxy Tab S8, nor can fans of Samsung’s Mystic Navy or Mystic Bronze choose these colors again should they wish to upgrade.

Dimensions-wise, the Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 and Galaxy Tab S7 are identical in size while further weighing precisely the same at 1.10 lbs apiece. Both also get an S Pen stylus as standard, although the Galaxy Tab S8 comes with the newer model.

As far as picture-taking abilities, the latest-generation chip in the Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 sees the newer model outperform the Galaxy Tab S7 quite significantly. On paper, the changes look fairly minor. Yet, Samsung has, it says, in an effort to cater to an increasingly video-first world, ensured that the Galaxy Tab S8 gets one of its best camera setups ever. Much beyond that, both get the same speakers and sound system, and neither has an audio jack.

Many had expected the new Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 to incur a sizable price increase over the Galaxy Tab S7 or for the manufacturer to immediately and substantially discount the latter model that the Galaxy Tab S8 ultimately replaces. However, that’s not been the case. And, as such, the Galaxy Tab S8 costs just $50 more than the Galaxy Tab S7. This decision sees the two models priced at $699.99 and $649.99, respectively.

Solely on the basis that the newer Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 is just $50 more expensive than the still-available Galaxy Tab S7, it makes sense to opt for the current-generation model in most cases. Add in the fact that the Galaxy Tab S8 is more powerful, boasts a better camera, and gets faster Wi-Fi. And it’s something of a no-brainer unless the price of the Galaxy Tab S7 is later reduced dramatically.

Warranty provisions are essentially the same across both the Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 and Galaxy Tab S7. Samsung tablets come with a limited warranty and buyers can pay to upgrade with Samsung Care+. However, Samsung’s warranty coverage is still limited and expensive.

Instead, customers can choose Upsie for warranties that are affordable and comprehensive. Upsie cuts out the jargon and many of the limitations that often come with extended warranties sold by manufacturers and retailers. Perks of an Upsie tablet warranty include protection against manufacturing defects, mechanical faults, and other failures, as well as accidental damage protection covering drops, cracks, and liquid spills.

With Upsie, Samsung Galaxy Tab warranty claims are unlimited up to a tablet’s purchase price, too. Customers can purchase an Upsie warranty for any tablet bought in the last 60 days. Find out more exclusively at Upsie.com.