Samsung Galaxy Tab S8+ 8+ Tablet 12.4" Graphite 2022

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S8+ is a premium Android tablet with a gorgeous 12.4-inch AMOLED display and an included S Pen. It's great for media, drawing, and light productivity, but battery life and raw performance fall short of Apple's iPad Pro. If you can find it at a discount, it's one of the best big-screen Android tablets around.

Let's talk real-world performance. The Snapdragon chip here lands in the 37th percentile for CPU and 38th for GPU, which tells you this isn't a gaming beast. It's solidly middle-of-the-pack for raw processing power. That means everyday tasks like browsing, streaming, and jumping between apps feel smooth, but don't expect it to crush heavy 3D games at max settings. The 8GB of RAM sits at the 68th percentile, which is above average and helps keep multitasking fluid. You can have a handful of apps open alongside a video call without things grinding to a halt.

The storage situation is fine but not exciting. 128GB is about average for this class, and the microSD slot means you can expand it if you're hoarding movies or large art files. Battery life is where things get a little rough. It ranks in the 32nd percentile, which translates to mediocre endurance. If you're pushing the screen brightness and using 5G, you'll be hunting for a charger by late afternoon. For a tablet pitched at productivity, that's a bit of a letdown.

The elephant in the room is the Apple iPad Pro M5. That tablet's CPU and GPU are in a completely different league, and iPadOS has a much richer app library for creative work. But you'll pay a lot more for that privilege, and you don't get an AMOLED screen unless you step up to the larger Pro model. The Microsoft Surface Pro 11 is another competitor, running full Windows which is a huge advantage for desktop software, though it's heavier and pricier once you add the keyboard.

On the Android side, the Xiaomi Pad 62779 and Lenovo Idea Tab Pro TB373FU are worth a look if you want to save some cash. They both offer solid specs but can't match the Tab S8+'s display quality. The Lenovo in particular is a good budget alternative if you just need a big screen for media. But if you want that premium AMOLED panel and the S Pen experience, Samsung still leads the Android tablet pack here.

Pricing on the Galaxy Tab S8+ is a bit of a moving target since it's been out for a while. At full retail, it's a tough sell against the latest iPad Air or even a discounted iPad Pro. But open-box units around the $739 mark change the math. You're getting a flagship-tier display, a stylus, and 5G for less than a new mid-range iPad. If you're deep in the Samsung ecosystem, the value is even better thanks to things like Samsung Notes syncing and DeX. Just keep in mind that the keyboard case will set you back extra, and if raw performance is your priority, the iPad Pro M5 runs circles around this thing.

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S8+ is one of those tablets that just feels premium the moment you pick it up. At 590g, it's surprisingly light for a 12.4-inch slate, and that massive AMOLED display is the star of the show. If you're hunting for a high-end Android tablet that can double as a portable workhorse and a Netflix machine, this one sits near the top of the list. The S Pen comes in the box, which is a nice touch, and the optional keyboard connector means you can turn it into a decent little laptop replacement with Samsung DeX.

Under the hood, you're getting a Qualcomm Snapdragon chip, 8GB of RAM, and 128GB of storage. It's not the absolute fastest silicon on the market, but for most people, it's plenty snappy. The real draw here is that screen. It's a 2800x1752 AMOLED panel that hits the 94th percentile in our display rankings, which means it's one of the best screens you can get on any tablet right now. Colors pop, blacks are inky, and it gets bright enough to use outdoors without squinting.

Connectivity is another strong point. Wi-Fi 6E and optional 5G mean you're covered whether you're at home or on the go. Samsung clearly built this for people who want a big, beautiful canvas for drawing, note-taking, or just consuming content. It's not a budget tablet by any stretch, but if you can snag an open-box unit like the one we're looking at, the value proposition gets a lot more interesting.

Skip the Tab S8+ if battery life is a dealbreaker for you. It ranks in the 32nd percentile, so heavy users will be reaching for a charger by mid-afternoon. Gamers and video editors should also look elsewhere. The CPU and GPU sit in the 37th and 38th percentiles respectively, which means demanding apps will feel sluggish compared to an iPad Pro M5 or a Surface Pro 11. If you need a tablet that can truly replace a laptop, the Surface Pro 11 runs full Windows and handles desktop software without compromise.

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S8+ is a fantastic tablet for a specific kind of person. If you want the best screen on an Android tablet, a stylus that feels natural, and the flexibility of DeX mode, this is a top pick. It's perfect for artists, note-takers, and anyone who consumes a ton of video. The display alone makes it worth considering, and the included S Pen adds real value.

But it's not for everyone. If you need serious processing power for video editing or 3D modeling, look elsewhere. The battery life is also a weak spot that might frustrate road warriors. For most people, though, especially at a discounted open-box price, the Tab S8+ hits a sweet spot between premium features and real-world usability.