Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra vs Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE+
The Verdict
Samsung's flagship Tab S8 Ultra dominates with a stunning 14.6-inch Super AMOLED display running at 120Hz, paired with the powerful Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 processor and up to 16GB RAM for seamless multitasking and gaming. Its superior build quality, stylus support, and Wi-Fi 6E connectivity justify the premium positioning. Conversely, the Galaxy Tab S9 FE+ offers remarkable value at half the price, delivering a 12.4-inch TFT LCD screen, respectable Exynos 1380 performance, and impressive 20-hour battery life for everyday browsing and media consumption. Storage expandability and stylus inclusion appear on both devices. Budget-conscious buyers seeking a capable daily driver will appreciate the FE+ model's efficiency and longevity. However, creatives and power users demanding superior display quality, raw performance, and future-proofing should choose the Tab S8 Ultra, despite its significant cost premium.
Who Should Buy
Buy the Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra if…
- →Massive 14.6" Super AMOLED screen is unmatched for media and multitasking
- →S Pen included in the box with low 2.8 ms latency
- →Samsung DeX provides a desktop-like experience
Buy the Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE+ if…
- →Large 12.4-inch display is great for multitasking and media
- →S Pen included in the box at no extra cost
- →IP68 water and dust resistance — rare for mid-range tablets
Category Scores
Pros & Cons
Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra
Pros
- Massive 14.6" Super AMOLED screen is unmatched for media and multitasking
- S Pen included in the box with low 2.8 ms latency
- Samsung DeX provides a desktop-like experience
- Up to 16 GB RAM and 512 GB storage for power users
- 120Hz refresh rate for smooth scrolling and pen input
Cons
- Extremely large and heavy at 726 g — not pocketable
- Display notch is distracting on a tablet this premium
- Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 runs warm under sustained loads
- Android tablet app ecosystem still trails iPadOS
- $1,099+ is laptop territory pricing
Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE+
Pros
- Large 12.4-inch display is great for multitasking and media
- S Pen included in the box at no extra cost
- IP68 water and dust resistance — rare for mid-range tablets
- MicroSD card expansion up to 1 TB for extra storage
- 10090 mAh battery provides excellent endurance
Cons
- TFT LCD panel has weaker colors and contrast than AMOLED
- Exynos 1380 is a mid-range chip — struggles with heavy tasks
- 90Hz refresh rate is behind the 120Hz on Galaxy Tab S9
- No AMOLED display at this price point is disappointing
- 627 g is heavy for extended handheld use
Full Specifications
| Spec | Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra | Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE+ |
|---|---|---|
| Software | Android 12 (One UI 4.1, upgradable to One UI 6+) | Android 13 (One UI 5.1) |
| Body | ||
| Weight | 726 g (Wi-Fi) | 627 g |
| Dimensions | 326.4 x 208.6 x 5.5 mm | 285.4 x 185.4 x 6.5 mm |
| Battery | ||
| Battery life | Up to 14 hours video playback | Up to 20 hours video playback |
| Capacity | 11200 mAh | 10090 mAh |
| Display | ||
| Size | 14.6 inches | 12.4 inches |
| Type | Super AMOLED | TFT LCD |
| Resolution | 2960 x 1848 | 2560 x 1600 |
| Refresh rate | 120Hz | 90Hz |
| Storage | ||
| Storage options | 128 GB, 256 GB, 512 GB | 128 GB, 256 GB |
| Expandable storage | ||
| Processor | ||
| RAM | 8 GB / 12 GB / 16 GB | 6 GB / 8 GB |
| Chipset | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 (Octa-core, Adreno 730) | Samsung Exynos 1380 |
| Connectivity | ||
| USB | USB-C 3.2 | USB-C 3.2 |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 6E | Wi-Fi 6 |
| Cellular | ||
| Stylus Support | ||
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This comparison is based on verified manufacturer specifications covering display, performance, camera, battery, and build quality. Scores are generated by analyzing specs across weighted categories on a 10-point scale. Learn more about our methodology.
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