Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra 14.6" Graphite 2022

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra is a massive 14.6-inch Android tablet with a stunning OLED display, included S Pen, and all-day battery life. It's great for artists and media consumption, especially at the refurbished price. Just don't expect it to fully replace a laptop.

The Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 inside the Tab S8 Ultra sits at the 72nd percentile for CPU performance in our database. That's solid but not mind-blowing by today's flagship standards. In practice, it handles multitasking, drawing apps, and 4K video playback without breaking a sweat. The 12GB of RAM lands at the 81st percentile, which means you can keep a bunch of apps open in split-screen or DeX mode without things reloading constantly.

The GPU sits at the 69th percentile, so gaming is fine but not exceptional. Genshin Impact at high settings will run, but you'll see some frame dips in busy areas. The real star here is the display. The 14.6-inch OLED panel at 2960x1848 is one of the best screens we've seen on any tablet, period. Colors pop, blacks are actually black, and the 120Hz refresh rate makes everything feel smooth. For digital art, the S Pen's near-zero latency combined with this screen is a genuinely great experience. The 11200mAh battery ranks at the 93rd percentile, so you're looking at all-day use for most tasks, though heavy DeX sessions will drain it faster.

The obvious comparison is the Apple iPad Pro M5. Apple's tablet has a faster processor, a better app ecosystem for creative work, and longer software support. But the Tab S8 Ultra's 14.6-inch OLED screen is bigger and arguably better for media consumption than the iPad Pro's display. And the S Pen comes free, while Apple charges extra for the Pencil.

The Microsoft Surface Pro 13 is the other big rival. It runs full Windows, so it's a real laptop replacement in ways the Tab S8 Ultra can't match. But it's also more expensive, and the Surface's battery life doesn't touch the Tab S8 Ultra's 11200mAh cell. The Lenovo Yoga Tab Plus is a cheaper Android alternative with a decent screen, but it doesn't have the S Pen or Samsung's DeX polish. The Xiaomi Pad 6 is a budget pick that gets you maybe 70% of the experience for less money, but the screen and build quality aren't in the same league.

At 420 USD for a refurbished unit, the Tab S8 Ultra is a compelling deal if you want a massive screen without paying iPad Pro money. The original retail price was significantly higher, so this is a real discount. That said, the 90-day warranty on Geek Squad Certified Refurbished units is short compared to Apple's refurbished program, which typically offers a full year. If you're comparing against the iPad Pro M5 or the Microsoft Surface Pro 13, you're saving hundreds here. Just know that the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 is a couple generations old at this point, so you're buying into a platform that won't get flagship-level performance updates forever.

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra is the biggest, most ridiculous Android tablet Samsung has ever made, and we mean that as a compliment. It's a 14.6-inch slab of OLED goodness with a Snapdragon 8 Gen 1, 12GB of RAM, and 256GB of storage. The S Pen comes in the box, which is nice because you'll want it for this thing. This particular unit is a Geek Squad Certified Refurbished model, so you're getting flagship hardware at a much lower entry price than the original MSRP.

People searching for a tablet this size usually want to know if it can replace a laptop. The short answer is kind of, thanks to Samsung DeX and the optional keyboard cover. The long answer involves some trade-offs we'll get into. For artists and media lovers, the 2960x1848 OLED panel is the main event. It ranks in the 96th percentile for screen quality in our database, which puts it among the absolute best displays you can get on a tablet right now.

At around 420 USD for the refurbished model, this is a lot of screen for the money. But it's also a 726g tablet, so don't expect to hold it one-handed while reading in bed unless you've been doing wrist curls.

Skip the Tab S8 Ultra if you want a lightweight tablet for reading or casual browsing. At 726g, it's heavy to hold for long periods, and the 14.6-inch size makes it awkward in bed or on the couch. If you need a real laptop replacement with full desktop software, the Microsoft Surface Pro 13 is the better call. And if you're invested in Apple's ecosystem or need pro-grade creative apps like Procreate or Final Cut, the iPad Pro M5 is worth the extra money. This tablet is for people who specifically want a huge Android screen with a stylus, not for everyone.

Should you buy the Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra? If you want the biggest, best-looking screen on an Android tablet and you'll use the S Pen for drawing or note-taking, yes. The refurbished price makes it a strong value, and the display alone justifies the purchase for media lovers. It's also a solid pick for anyone who wants a tablet that can occasionally pretend to be a laptop via DeX.

But if you need a true laptop replacement, get a Surface Pro. If you're deep in the Apple ecosystem and want the best tablet apps, get an iPad Pro. And if you mostly read ebooks or browse the web in bed, this thing is overkill and heavy. The Tab S8 Ultra is a niche product, but it nails that niche.