Choosing the right Android tablet can be tough, especially with Samsung's impressive lineup. The Galaxy Tab S8+ offers flagship power, while the Tab S7 FE provides a more budget-friendly option. Let's dive into a head-to-head comparison to see which tablet deserves your money.
🏆 Quick Verdict
The Galaxy Tab S8+ is the clear winner for performance and display quality, thanks to its Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 and brighter screen. However, the Tab S7 FE remains a compelling choice for those prioritizing affordability and a large display, especially if raw power isn't a top concern.
| 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 | LTE | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 20, 25, 26, 28, 32, 38, 40, 41, 66 |
| 5G bands | SA/NSA | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE, 5G - cellular model only | HSPA, LTE, 5G - cellular model only |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2022, February 09 | 2021, May 25 |
| Status | Available. Released 2022, April 14 | Available. Released 2021, June 18 |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | - | Glass front, aluminum back, aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 285 x 185 x 5.7 mm (11.22 x 7.28 x 0.22 in) | 284.8 x 185 x 6.3 mm (11.21 x 7.28 x 0.25 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM (cellular model only) | Nano-SIM (cellular model only) |
| Weight | 567 g (Wi-Fi), 572 g (5G) (1.25 lb) | 608 g (1.34 lb) |
| | Stylus, 6.2ms latency (Bluetooth integration, accelerometer, gyro) | Stylus support |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 | - |
| Resolution | 1752 x 2800 pixels, 16:10 ratio (~266 ppi density) | 1600 x 2560 pixels, 16:10 ratio (~243 ppi density) |
| Size | 12.4 inches, 446.1 cm2 (~84.6% screen-to-body ratio) | 12.4 inches, 445.8 cm2 (~84.6% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | Super AMOLED, 120Hz, HDR10+ | TFT LCD |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (1x3.00 GHz Cortex-X2 & 3x2.50 GHz Cortex-A710 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A510) | Octa-core (2x2.2 GHz Kryo 570 & 6x1.8 GHz Kryo 570) - 5G modelOcta-core (1x2.4 GHz Cortex-A78 & 3x2.2 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.9 GHz Cortex-A55) - Wi-Fi model |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM8450 Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 (4 nm) | Qualcomm SM7225 Snapdragon 750G 5G (8 nm) - 5G modelQualcomm SM7325 Snapdragon 778G 5G (6 nm) - Wi-Fi model |
| GPU | Adreno 730 | Adreno 619 - 5G modelAdreno 642L - Wi-Fi model |
| OS | Android 12, up to 4 major Android upgrades, One UI 6.1.1 | Android 11, upgradable to Android 14, One UI 6 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (dedicated slot) | microSDXC (dedicated slot) |
| Internal | 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 8GB RAM, 512GB 16GB RAM | 64GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 8GB 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 | - |
| Single | - | 8 MP, AF |
| Video | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Dual | 12 MP, f/2.4, 120˚ (ultrawide) | - |
| Features | HDR | - |
| Single | - | 5 MP |
| Video | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | No | No |
| 35mm jack | No | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers (4 speakers) | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| | Tuned by AKG | Tuned by AKG |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.2, A2DP, LE | 5.2, A2DP, LE (Wi-Fi), 5.2, A2DP, LE (5G) |
| NFC | No | No |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO - cellular model only | GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO - cellular model only |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 3.2, magnetic connector | USB Type-C 3.2, magnetic connector |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6 (Wi-Fi), Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac (5G) |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Accelerometer, proximity, compass, gyro (5G model only) |
| | Wireless Samsung DeX | Samsung DeX |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 45W wired, 100% in 82 min | 45W wired, 100% in 190 min |
| Type | Li-Po 10090 mAh | Li-Po 10090 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Graphite, Silver, Pink Gold | Mystic Black, Mystic Silver, Mystic Green, Mystic Pink |
| Models | SM-X800, SM-X806, SM-X806B, SM-X806U, SM-X806N | SM-T730, SM-T733, SM-T736B, SM-T735 |
| Price | About 950 EUR | About 650 EUR |
| SAR EU | 0.68 W/kg (body) | 1.15 W/kg (body) |
| Tests |
|---|
| Display | - | Contrast ratio: 1886:1 (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker | - | -27.2 LUFS (Good) |
| Performance | - | AnTuTu: 292530 (v8), 355430 (v9)
GeekBench: 1904 (v5.1)
GFXBench: 9.7fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
Samsung Galaxy Tab S8+
- Flagship Performance
- Brighter, 120Hz Display
- Faster Charging
- Better Cameras
- Premium Build Quality
- Higher Price
- Can run warm under heavy load
- Battery life not as exceptional as S7 FE with light use
Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 FE
- More Affordable
- Large Display
- Good Battery Life (with light use)
- S Pen Included
- Lower Performance
- Less Bright Display
- Slower Charging
- Less Premium Build
Display Comparison
The Tab S8+ boasts a significantly superior display. It features a brighter panel (typically around 600-700 nits peak brightness vs. the S7 FE's 522 nits) and often includes a 120Hz refresh rate for smoother scrolling and animations. While both offer excellent contrast ratios, the S8+'s overall visual experience is noticeably more premium. The S7 FE's display is still good, but lacks the vibrancy and fluidity of the S8+.
Camera Comparison
The Tab S8+ generally has better camera hardware and image processing. While neither tablet is a photography powerhouse, the S8+ captures more detailed and vibrant photos, especially in good lighting conditions. Low-light performance is also improved on the S8+. The S7 FE's cameras are adequate for video calls and casual snapshots.
Performance
Here, the S8+ absolutely dominates. Its Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chipset is a flagship-level powerhouse, easily handling demanding games and applications. The S7 FE, with either the Snapdragon 750G or 778G, offers decent performance for everyday tasks, but struggles with more intensive workloads. Expect noticeable lag and slower loading times on the S7 FE compared to the S8+.
Battery Life
The Tab S8+ has a larger battery capacity (10,090 mAh vs S7 FE's 7,040 mAh) but the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 is more power-hungry. While the S8+ offers good battery life, the S7 FE, with its less demanding chipset, can often stretch further on a single charge, especially with lighter usage. The S8+ charges significantly faster (45W vs 190 min for S7 FE).
Buying Guide
The Samsung Galaxy Tab S8+ is ideal for power users, creatives, and anyone who demands top-tier performance for gaming, multitasking, and demanding apps. The Tab S7 FE is perfect for students, casual users, and those seeking a large, capable tablet for media consumption and light productivity without breaking the bank.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Is the S7 FE still worth buying in 2024?
Yes, the S7 FE remains a good value option for budget-conscious buyers who don't need top-tier performance. It's a solid choice for media consumption and light productivity.
❓ Does the S8+ get hot during gaming?
The S8+ can get warm during extended gaming sessions or when running demanding apps, but it's generally manageable. Samsung has implemented thermal management to mitigate this.
