While their names might seem similar, there are actually some important differences between the Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 and the Tab A8. The S8, as the “S” moniker implies, is the Korean electronics giant’s flagship product, offering all the bells and whistles you would expect from its top-of-the-line offering. The A8 is a budget device aimed at appealing to the middle of the market. It’s for people who want a large-screened tablet but aren’t particularly interested in having the fastest processor or best components.
Build differences
The Tab S8 is made of a metal unibody, similar to Apple’s devices, such as the iPhone 11, iPhone 12, and iPhone 13. This gives it a premium feel and convinces you that it will last for years to come. The A8, on the other hand, has a metal frame and a glass back. The product still feels premium in your hand compared to early tablets, but the build quality isn’t quite the same.
Display differences
There are also differences in the display. With the Tab S8, you get a whopping 11-inch LTPS LCD display with a massive 2560×600-point resolution (similar to many 28-inch PC monitors). The device also permits a 120 Hz refresh rate, allowing you to play back all your videos in a silky smooth format.
The Tab A8, on the other hand, is a regular 1920×1200 HD LCD display. It’s 10-5 inches, corner to corner, and refreshes at 60 Hz.
Battery differences
Battery differences between the two models are relatively small, but still significant to many users. The Tab S8 comes with an 8,000 mAh battery with 45W wired fast charging support. The Tab A8, by contrast, comes with a slightly smaller 7,040mAh battery and a 15W charger out of the box.
Security differences
As for security, the S8 comes with a handy side-mounted fingerprint scanner for easy unlocking. The A8 comes with face unlock but doesn’t offer a fingerprint scanner.
Storage differences
In terms of storage, you get significantly more on the Tab S8 than the Tab A8. The former gives you between 128 and 256 GB, depending on the model you choose, while the latter gives you 32 GB. RAM is also double on the Tab S8, making multitasking easier.