Galaxy Tab S8 vs Tab S7: A decent sequel that makes a promise to Android 16

One and a half years have passed since Samsung introduced the Galaxy Tab S7 series, and Samsung is now ready to bring a new generation of flagship tablets to the market under the Galaxy Tab S8 label. Have things changed that much over the past 16 months? Let's find out.

Galaxy Tab S8 vs Tab S7: Display and cameras

Not a lot has changed regarding display technology, but at the very least, the Galaxy Tab S8 comes with an improved camera system.

Like the Tab S7, the 2022 model is equipped with an 11-inch TFT display featuring a resolution of 2560 x 1600 and a refresh rate of up to 120Hz. It has a side-mounted fingerprint scanner, unlike the AMOLED models.

Similarly, the Galaxy Tab S8 carries the same primary 13MP camera as the 2020 model, except now it's accompanied by a 6MP ultra-wide shooter rather than a 5MP one. Samsung also upgraded the selfie camera from an 8MP module to a 12MP ultra-wide unit.

Galaxy Tab S8 vs Tab S7: Performance and battery

Samsung's latest tablets use the new Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chipset. It's manufactured on a 4nm process and should be more energy-efficient than the 7nm Snapdragon 865 SoC found inside the Tab S7 series.

The battery capacity is unchanged. It sits at 8,000mAh for the base Galaxy Tab S7 and Tab S8 models. Likewise, both tablets take advantage of 45W charging capabilities. However, with firmware advancements under the hood, the Tab S8 may recharge faster. We'll have to put that to the test soon, so stay tuned.

The new tablet raises the bar and ships with 8GB of RAM or 12GB for the pricier variant. As you all know, the base Galaxy Tab S7 had 6GB of RAM at the lowest in some markets and 8GB at most, so in theory, the new tablet from Samsung should offer improved multitasking capabilities.

Additional RAM doesn't usually translate into faster performance. However, if more RAM is available, apps will sit idle in the Recent Apps screen for longer.

Galaxy Tab S8 vs Tab S7: Design and build quality

The base Galaxy Tab S8 model doesn't look all that different next to its sibling from 2020, but don't let these appearances deceive you.

Build quality is excellent as always, but furthermore, Samsung is now manufacturing the frame out of Armor Aluminum. The company claims that the new design makes the new Galaxy Tab S8 40% less likely to bend than the Galaxy Tab S7.

Galaxy Tab S8 vs Tab S7: Software and the S Pen suite

One of the best things about the Galaxy Tab S8 relative to the 2020 model is that it ships with Android 12 and One UI 4. Granted, the Galaxy Tab S7 can be upgraded to Android 12, but it won't be long before it receives its last Android OS update.

Meanwhile, Samsung now promises to support the Galaxy Tab S8 series with four major Android OS updates and at least five years of security patches. Therefore, the Tab S8 ships with Android 12, and should, in theory, be upgraded to Android 16 in a few years from now.

The Galaxy Tab S8 is also the first to ship with LumaFusion, which is a powerful multi-track editing app. At the same time, Clip Studio Paint is getting a new feature that lets Galaxy Tab S8 users sync the Galaxy S22 and use it as a screen area dedicated to color palettes and tools.

LumaFusion may be coming to the Galaxy Tab S7 and other tablets, though it appears to be a Tab S8-exclusive for the time being.

Galaxy Tab S8 vs Tab S7: Conclusion

The Galaxy Tab S8 and Tab S7 share some similarities in exterior design and specifications — particularly the display and camera departments. But even if they don't look very different from one another, the Galaxy Tab S8 is a definitive upgrade over the 2022 model in certain areas. And that new four-year Android OS upgrade policy really works well in its favor.

In short, firmware support is stellar, the camera system is improved, and the build quality is superior. The S Pen software suite is richer, and the new tablet series now has more processing power than ever.

However, Galaxy Tab S7 owners who aren't looking to upgrade this year can still get a lot of value out of the S7 model. Not to mention that various software improvements that may seem exclusive to the Tab S8 will eventually make their way to the Tab S7 series.

On the other hand, a good trade-in deal on the Tab S7 can make upgrading to the Tab S8 a worthy proposition. As for new tablet customers, there's no reason to consider the Galaxy Tab S7, now that the improved Tab S8 is out, unless, again, they can find an unbeatable deal.

Samsung
Galaxy Tab S8

Select model SM-X700 Buy Full specs

Samsung
Galaxy Tab S7

Select model SM-T870 Buy Full specs

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