Huawei MatePad 11 (2023) vs Samsung Galaxy Tab S8: The Ultimate Tablet Battle

The tablet market is heating up, and two contenders are vying for your attention: the Huawei MatePad 11 (2023) and the Samsung Galaxy Tab S8. Both offer compelling features, but cater to slightly different needs. Let's dive into a detailed comparison to help you decide which one is right for you.

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🏆 Quick Verdict

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 takes the crown with its superior Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chipset, brighter display, and faster charging. However, the MatePad 11 (2023) offers a more budget-friendly option with a solid performance and impressive Huawei features, making it a strong contender for value-conscious buyers.

PHONES
Phone Names	Huawei MatePad 11 (2023)	Samsung Galaxy Tab S8

Network
2G bands	N/A	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bands	N/A	HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands	N/A	LTE
5G bands	-	SA/NSA
EDGE	No	-
GPRS	No	-
Speed	-	HSPA, LTE, 5G - cellular model only
Technology	No cellular connectivity	GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G

Launch
Announced	2023, March 23	2022, February 09
Status	Available. Released 2023, March 31	Available. Released 2022, March 22

Body
Dimensions	253.7 x 165.3 x 7.2 mm (9.99 x 6.51 x 0.28 in)	253.8 x 165.3 x 6.3 mm (9.99 x 6.51 x 0.25 in)
SIM	No	Nano-SIM (cellular model only)
Weight	480 g (1.06 lb)	503 g (Wi-Fi), 507 g (5G) (1.11 lb)
	Stylus support (magnetic)	Stylus, 6.2ms latency (Bluetooth integration, accelerometer, gyro)

Display
Protection	-	Corning Gorilla Glass 5
Resolution	2560 x 1600 pixels, 16:10 ratio (~275 ppi density)	1600 x 2560 pixels, 16:10 ratio (~274 ppi density)
Size	11.0 inches, 348.3 cm2 (~83.1% screen-to-body ratio)	11.0 inches, 350.9 cm2 (~83.6% screen-to-body ratio)
Type	IPS LCD, 120Hz	TFT LCD, 120Hz

Platform
CPU	Octa-core (1x3.2 GHz Kryo 585 & 3x2.42 GHz Kryo 585 & 4x1.80 GHz Kryo 585)Octa-core (1x2.84 GHz Cortex-A77 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A77 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55)	Octa-core (1x3.00 GHz Cortex-X2 & 3x2.50 GHz Cortex-A710 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A510)
Chipset	Qualcomm SM8250-AC Snapdragon 870 5G (7 nm)Qualcomm SM8250 Snapdragon 865 5G (7 nm+)	Qualcomm SM8450 Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 (4 nm)
GPU	Adreno 650	Adreno 730
OS	HarmonyOS 3.1	Android 12, up to 4 major Android upgrades, One UI 6.1.1

Memory
Card slot	microSDXC (dedicated slot)	microSDXC (dedicated slot)
Internal	128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 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	LED flash, HDR, panorama	LED flash, HDR, panorama
Single	13 MP, f/1.8, PDAF	-
Video	4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps	4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30fps

Selfie camera
Dual	-	12 MP, f/2.4, 120˚ (ultrawide)
Features	-	HDR
Single	8 MP, f/2.0	-
Video	1080p@30fps	4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30fps

Sound
3.5mm jack	No	No
35mm jack	No	No
Loudspeaker	Yes, with stereo speakers (4 speakers)	Yes, with stereo speakers (4 speakers)
	Tuned by Harman Kardon	Tuned by AKG

Comms
Bluetooth	5.1, A2DP, LE	5.2, A2DP, LE
NFC	No	No
Positioning	No	GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO - cellular model only
Radio	No	No
USB	USB Type-C 3.1, OTG	USB Type-C 3.2, magnetic connector
WLAN	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct

Features
Sensors	Accelerometer	Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass
	-	Wireless Samsung DeX

Battery
Charging	22.5W wired 5W reverse wired	45W wired, 100% in 80 min
Type	Li-Po 7250 mAh	Li-Po 8000 mAh

Misc
Colors	Black, Blue, White, Purple	Graphite, Silver, Pink Gold
Models	DBR-W10	SM-X700, SM-X706, SM-X706B, SM-X706U, SM-X706N
Price	About 300 EUR	About 350 EUR
SAR EU	-	0.87 W/kg (body)

Huawei MatePad 11 (2023)

More affordable
Solid performance for everyday tasks
Good battery life
Huawei ecosystem integration

Less powerful than Tab S8
Slower charging
Less vibrant display
Limited Google Services

Samsung Galaxy Tab S8

Top-tier performance
Brighter and more vibrant display
Fast charging (45W)
S Pen support
Excellent camera system

More expensive
Can get warm under heavy load

Display Comparison

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 boasts a brighter and more vibrant 11-inch LCD display with a 120Hz refresh rate, offering a smoother visual experience. The MatePad 11 (2023) also has an 11-inch LCD, but its brightness and color accuracy are slightly less impressive. The Tab S8's display is noticeably better for media consumption and creative tasks.

Camera Comparison

The Galaxy Tab S8 generally offers better camera performance, with improved image quality and video recording capabilities. Both tablets have decent front-facing cameras for video calls, but the Tab S8's rear cameras are more versatile. The MatePad 11 (2023) camera is adequate for casual snapshots.

Performance

The Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 in the Galaxy Tab S8 provides significantly faster performance than the Snapdragon 870 (or 865) in the MatePad 11 (2023). This translates to smoother multitasking, faster app loading times, and better gaming performance. While the MatePad 11 (2023) is still capable, the Tab S8 is in a different league.

Battery Life

The Galaxy Tab S8 has a larger battery and supports significantly faster 45W charging, allowing for quicker top-ups. The MatePad 11 (2023) offers a respectable battery life, but its 22.5W charging is slower. The Tab S8 provides a more convenient charging experience.

Buying Guide

Who should buy the Huawei MatePad 11 (2023)? Users seeking a budget-friendly tablet with good performance for everyday tasks, media consumption, and note-taking, especially those already invested in the Huawei ecosystem. Who should buy the Samsung Galaxy Tab S8? Users prioritizing top-tier performance, a vibrant display, S Pen support, and a premium Android tablet experience.