iPad Air 2022 vs Galaxy Tab S8: The Ultimate Tablet Showdown
| Phones Images | |||||
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🏆 Quick Verdict
The iPad Air 2022 boasts the M1 chip's raw power and seamless iOS integration, ideal for creative professionals and Apple ecosystem users. The Galaxy Tab S8 shines with its vibrant display, S Pen support, and Android versatility, making it a great all-rounder for productivity and entertainment.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Apple iPad Air (2022) | Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 11, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 46, 48, 66, 71 - A2589 | LTE |
| 5G bands | 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 28, 29, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 71, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA/Sub6 - A2589, A2591 | SA/NSA |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE, 5G | HSPA, LTE, 5G - cellular model only |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 46, 48, 66, 71 - A2591 | - | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2022, March 08 | 2022, February 09 |
| Status | Available. Released 2022, March 18 | Available. Released 2022, March 22 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front, aluminum back, aluminum frame | - |
| Dimensions | 247.6 x 178.5 x 6.1 mm (9.75 x 7.03 x 0.24 in) | 253.8 x 165.3 x 6.3 mm (9.99 x 6.51 x 0.25 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + eSIM | Nano-SIM (cellular model only) |
| Weight | 461 g (Wi-Fi) / 462 g (5G) (1.02 lb) | 503 g (Wi-Fi), 507 g (5G) (1.11 lb) |
| Stylus support (2nd gen) | Stylus, 6.2ms latency (Bluetooth integration, accelerometer, gyro) | |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | Scratch-resistant glass, oleophobic coating | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 |
| Resolution | 1640 x 2360 pixels (~264 ppi density) | 1600 x 2560 pixels, 16:10 ratio (~274 ppi density) |
| Size | 10.9 inches, 359.2 cm2 (~81.3% screen-to-body ratio) | 11.0 inches, 350.9 cm2 (~83.6% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | Liquid Retina IPS LCD, 500 nits (typ) | TFT LCD, 120Hz |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (4x3.2 GHz & 4xX.X GHz) | Octa-core (1x3.00 GHz Cortex-X2 & 3x2.50 GHz Cortex-A710 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A510) |
| Chipset | Apple M1 | Qualcomm SM8450 Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 (4 nm) |
| GPU | Apple GPU (8-core graphics) | Adreno 730 |
| OS | iPadOS 15.4, upgradable to iPadOS 26.1 | Android 12, up to 4 major Android upgrades, One UI 6.1.1 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | No | microSDXC (dedicated slot) |
| Internal | 64GB, 256GB 8GB RAM | 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM |
| - | UFS | |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Dual | - | 13 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (wide), 1/3.4", 1.0µm, AF 6 MP, f/2.2, (ultrawide) |
| Features | HDR | LED flash, HDR, panorama |
| Single | 12 MP, f/1.8, (wide), 1/3.0", 1.22µm, dual pixel PDAF | - |
| Video | 4K@24/25/30/60fps, 1080p@25/30/60/120/240fps; gyro-EIS | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30fps |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Dual | - | 12 MP, f/2.4, 120˚ (ultrawide) |
| Features | HDR | HDR |
| Single | 12 MP, f/2.4, 122˚ (ultrawide) | - |
| Video | 1080p@30/60fps | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30fps |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | No | No |
| 35mm jack | No | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers | Yes, with stereo speakers (4 speakers) |
| - | Tuned by AKG | |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.0, A2DP, EDR | 5.2, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | No | No |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS (5G model only) | GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO - cellular model only |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 3.1 Gen2, DisplayPort, magnetic connector | USB Type-C 3.2, magnetic connector |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, hotspot | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (top-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, compass, barometer | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| - | Wireless Samsung DeX | |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | - | 45W wired, 100% in 80 min |
| Type | Li-Ion 7600 mAh (28.6 Wh) | Li-Po 8000 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Space Gray, Starlight, Pink, Purple, Blue | Graphite, Silver, Pink Gold |
| Models | A2588, A2589, A2591, iPad13,16, iPad13,17 | SM-X700, SM-X706, SM-X706B, SM-X706U, SM-X706N |
| Price | About 550 EUR | About 350 EUR |
| SAR EU | - | 0.87 W/kg (body) |
Apple iPad Air (2022)
- Blazing-fast M1 chip
- Excellent iOS integration
- Lightweight and portable
- Beautiful Liquid Retina display
- Slower charging speeds
- Limited multitasking compared to iPadOS
- No included stylus
Samsung Galaxy Tab S8
- Vibrant 120Hz display
- Included S Pen stylus
- Versatile camera system
- Fast 45W charging
- Android flexibility
- Performance slightly behind the M1
- Software updates can be slower
- Larger and heavier than iPad Air
Display Comparison
The Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 takes the display crown with its 11-inch 120Hz LCD boasting vibrant colors and excellent brightness. While the iPad Air 2022's Liquid Retina display is also impressive, the Tab S8's slightly larger size and higher resolution offer a more immersive experience. Both offer excellent viewing angles and color accuracy.
Camera Comparison
The Galaxy Tab S8 has a more versatile camera system with a wider ultrawide lens, offering more creative options. The iPad Air 2022's single rear camera is adequate for basic photography, but lacks the flexibility of the Tab S8's setup. Both front-facing cameras are suitable for video calls.
Performance
The iPad Air 2022's M1 chip delivers blistering performance, easily handling demanding tasks like video editing and gaming. The Galaxy Tab S8's Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 is no slouch either, providing smooth performance for most users. However, the M1 generally edges out the Snapdragon in sustained performance and raw power.
Battery Life
Battery life is comparable between the two, offering around 10-12 hours of mixed usage. The Galaxy Tab S8's 45W charging is significantly faster than the iPad Air 2022's slower charging speeds.
Buying Guide
Who should buy the Apple iPad Air (2022)? Creative professionals, students deeply embedded in the Apple ecosystem, and those prioritizing raw processing power. Who should buy the Samsung Galaxy Tab S8? Android users, artists who value pen input, and those seeking a versatile tablet for both work and play.