When will the Samsung Galaxy Tab S8/S8+/S8 Ultra launch?
Using previous members of Samsung‘s Galaxy Tab S line as a guide is a tricky tightrope to walk, partly as a result of the more recent return to a multi-device strategy and partly because of how Samsung has viewed the Galaxy Tab S line and its purpose over the years.
Previous entries in the Tab S line have launched as early as March and as late as September, with 2020’s Tab S7 and Tab S7+ making their debut in August; arriving as part of one of the company’s own-brand ‘Unpacked’ events alongside other productivity-focused devices, like the Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra.
This seems like a logical strategy to continue, partly as it pulls focus solely on Samsung, letting the company hit numerous market segments in one go (looking at everything that was announced this year) and also sits at a relatively quiet time in the year, long after the hype of the company’s own Galaxy S smartphones have launched and in plenty of time before the likes of Google’s next Pixel phones or Apple’s next iPhones break cover.
Indeed, the first Unpacked event of the year took place on 14 January and played host to the Galaxy S21 range (plus Galaxy Buds Pro and SmartTag), but new tablets were distinctly absent.
A new report from Korean publication Digital Daily, quotes a local Samsung representative, who has stated that the next Unpacked will take place on 11 August, elaborating, “the broadcast time is the same as before”, which would suggest an 11pm KST (Korean Standard Time)/3pm BST/10am ET start time.
This next unpacked is slated to play host to at least five new products including the Tab S8 range, alongside the Galaxy Z Flip 2/3 and Z Fold 3.
How much will the Samsung Galaxy Tab S8/S8+/S8 Ultra cost?
In a monster leak that emerged at the end of May, hosted in a since-deleted tweet (at the request of the source) by tipster FrontTron, it looks as though we can expect three devices this year, rather than 2020’s pair of Tab S entries.
While their names aren’t yet official (the leak uses codenames Basquiat 1, 2 and 3), it looks as though Samsung has a Tab S8, Tab S8+ and Tab S8 Ultra to unleash upon the market in the coming months, with the leak including Korean pricing, split across three SKUs for each model: WiFi-only, LTE and 5G (with approximate directly converted regional pricing in parentheses next to each value).
The base WiFi-only Tab S8 is listed at KRW₩829,000 (£530/€610/US$750), while the LTE version starts at ₩929,000 (£590/€685/$840) and the 5G variant costs from ₩1,029,000 (£655/€780/$930).
Then there’s the larger Tab S8+ which starts at ₩1,149,00 (£730/€850/$1,040), the LTE version is priced at ₩1,249,000 (£795/€920/$1,130) and the addition of 5G raises the starting price to ₩1,349,000 (£860/€1,000/$1,220).
Last but not least is the sizeable Tab S8 Ultra, which costs from ₩1,469,000 (£940/€1,085/$1,325), ₩1,569,000 (£1,000/€1,160/$1,415) and ₩1,669,000 (£1,065/€1,230/$1,510) for the WiFi, LTE and 5G flavours, respectively.
Like its smartphones, the ‘S’ line of Samsung’s Galaxy Tab family has always served as the flagship, the premium, the most feature-rich of its slate offerings and as a result, the one with the most demanding price tag.
Also, like its smartphones (and the wider market as a whole), the asking price for Tab S slates has been creeping up each year too, with notable spikes driven by leaps in networking technology – such as 5G.
In the UK, 2017’s Galaxy Tab S3 and 2018’s Tab S4 both cost £600, the Tab S6 pushed the price to £619, which is the starting mark for the current WiFi-only Tab S7, while adding 4G costs £100 more and adding 5G costs £200 more (using the Tab S7+ as a guide). Based on the leaked Korean pricing, Samsung isn’t placing as larger a premium on the cellular models, with smaller price hikes between variants.
What features could the Samsung Galaxy Tab S8/S8+/S8 Ultra offer?
Samsung doesn’t readily push either Tab S7 as a laptop replacement to the same degree as Apple does its iPads or Microsoft its Surface 2-in-1s, however, they’re still some of the most capable slates out there, especially in the Android camp; which is sorely lacking in decent competition.
While some details remain a mystery (such as exactly what silicon will power these 2021 tablets [assumed to be Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 888]), the table of leaked specs confirms returning features like quad speakers, S Pen support and 45W fast charging across the range.
The Tab S8 is said to centre around a 120Hz 11in LTPS TFT display, while the Tab S8+ and Ultra will benefit from 120Hz AMOLED panels, instead; with the Plus measuring in at 12.4in and the Ultra an expansive 14.6in.
There’s also mention of a dedicated keyboard accessory for each model (priced at ₩198,000 [£125/€145/$180], ₩220,000 [£140/€160/$200] and ₩320,000 [£205/€235/$290], respectively). The notable price hike of the Ultra’s keyboard dock relates to an apparent versatility not afforded to the other two Tab S8 entries.
Samsung’s One UI user experience already handles features like multi-window Android interaction fairly well but better app support is really the key to getting the most out of the tailored hardware and software the Tab S8 line will have on offer. As such, it’s Samsung’s responsibility to work with third-parties to bring better app support for its features and devices, such as its low latency S Pen, come Tab S8 launch time.
All three Tabs feature a dual 13Mp + 5Mp rear camera setup, while the Tab S8 Ultra’s front 8Mp snapper is accompanied by a secondary 5Mp ultrawide, which is shown in home fitness and video conferencing use cases.
RAM and storage across the small and medium-sized slates is comparable, while the Ultra also benefits from the option of a 12GB RAM/512GB SKU not afforded to the base or Plus models.
More storage was just one of the features we’d hoped to see in this year’s Galaxy Tab S line, so we’re crossing our fingers that these specs hold water.
Before the Tab S8 series arrives, we’re expecting a more affordable version of Samsung’s flagship 2020 tablets to launch. Here’s everything you need to know about the Galaxy Tab S7 FE.
Read next: Best tablets