Thinking of buying an Android tablet? The Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 and S7 FE are among the best options to consider due to their price. The Tab S7 FE debuted in mid-2021, but the S8 is a 2022 device.
Here is a direct comparison between the Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 and the S7 FE. We dive into various key features and finally give you some tips to help you make an informed decision. Let’s dive into it.
1. Design
Design-wise, the Tab S8 and S7 FE are similar. First, both have relatively small bezels, but they aren’t too thin. This is handy for holding the tablet as it helps prevent accidental touches, which are especially common when dealing with such a large screen device with bare hands.
They both have flat screens and square bezels on the sides. The speakers are mounted at the bottom next to a charging port. The S8 also includes additional speakers at the top, for a total of four.
A fingerprint reader lives on the side of the S8, although the S7 FE doesn’t include one (it has face unlock instead). But similar to the S7 FE, the S8 includes a power button and volume rockers at the top.
The S8 is available in Graphite, Silver, or Rose Gold, while the S7 FE comes in four colors, Mystic Black, Mystic Silver, Mystic Green, or Mystic Pink.
2. Display
The S8 has an 11-inch LCD screen that refreshes at 120Hz. The screen has a resolution of 1600 x 2560 pixels and a larger 16:10 aspect ratio.
If you want a slightly larger screen, then the S7 FE is your choice as it features a 12.4-inch LCD screen with identical resolution and aspect ratio. However, the S7 FE doesn’t even support a 90Hz refresh rate, let alone the 120Hz available on the S8.
Additionally, the S8’s Corning Gorilla Glass 5 protection gives it an edge over the S7 FE. And as expected, both have S Pen support, and they come with one out of the box.
3. Hardware Specifications
Another thing that sets the S8 apart is its processor. Qualcomm’s flagship 4nm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chip powers the S8 paired with an Adreno 730 GPU. This flagship chip works with either 8GB or 12GB of RAM. This is the same chip that powers Samsung’s Galaxy S22 series devices, the company’s flagship phones for 2022.
On the other hand, the S7 FE depends on Qualcomm’s mid-range Snapdragon chips. The 5G-powered S7 FE uses the 8nm Snapdragon 750G 5G chip, while the Wi-Fi-only version runs on the 6nm Snapdragon 778G 5G. The SoCs are paired with 4 GB, 6 GB or 8 GB of memory.
You can get the Galaxy Tab S8 and S7 FE in different memory and storage configurations. The S8 comes in 8/128GB, 8/256GB, and 12/256GB, while the S7 FE offers 4/64GB, 6/128GB, and 8/256GB. Storage is expandable, as both have dedicated microSD card slots with support for up to 1TB.
Both devices use USB Type-C ports, a staple in 2022 and beyond.
4. Battery
Battery life is as important for tablets as it is for smartphones. Due to their screens, the S8 and S7 FE must include larger battery capacities to deliver meaningful screen time. The S7 FE beats the S8 for raw battery capacity thanks to its 10,090 mAh battery – the S8 has an 8,000 mAh battery. However, keep in mind that a bigger battery means extra weight.
Both are non-removable batteries, which has become standard these days. In case you were wondering, here’s why many smartphones have ditched removable batteries. Fast charging is also available and both devices top out at 45W. According to Samsung, this should fill the S7 FE in around 190 minutes and the S8 in 80 minutes.
5. Android and One UI
Out of the box, the Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 runs One UI 4.1 based on Android 12. The S7 FE, on the other hand, debuted One UI 3.1 based on Android 11. Although the S7 FE does not run the Android’s latest version at the time of writing, this is one of the devices slated to receive Android 12.
Thanks to Samsung’s update policy, the S8 will receive four major Android updates and receive security updates for five years.
6. Camera
Moving on to the camera department, the S8 has a dual camera on the back, while the S7 FE only has a single shooter on the back. The S8 includes a 13 MP, f/2.0 wide camera with autofocus. The secondary camera is a 6MP, f/2.2 ultrawide shooter.
The S7 FE has a single 8MP snapper. For selfies, the S8 has a 12MP, f/2.4 ultrawide with a 120-degree field of view, and the S7 FE sports a 5MP selfie camera. For video, the Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 can shoot up to 4K while the S7 FE hits 1080p.
7.Audio
For audio, the Galaxy Tab S8 includes four stereo speakers. The S7 FE, on the other hand, has a dual stereo speaker setup. Both systems are tuned by AKG, as has become standard for mid-range to high-end Samsung Galaxy devices. With that in mind, the S8 has the edge over the S7 FE when it comes to sound.
Which should you choose?
For the most part, the Galaxy Tab S8 has the edge over the S7 FE. The cameras, audio, hardware, and display all favor the S8. And while the S7 FE has a bigger battery, screen time shouldn’t be that different. The S8 counteracts this by using a smaller screen and a more power-efficient chip.
However, the S8’s starting price might make it difficult for most. It starts at $699.99 for a Wi-Fi-only model with 128GB. The slightly older S7 FE is priced very competitively.
However, if you’re going to keep the tablet for a long time and enjoy gaming or other resource-intensive tasks, the S8 should be your only option.
It has better value for money overall and has various modern features that you will surely appreciate like the 120Hz display and a fingerprint reader. Moreover, it has a longer battery life than the S7 FE.
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