Apple iPad Air 2022 vs Samsung Galaxy Tab S8: Apple has dominated the tablet market for a long time but now Samsung is joining the market making it very uncomfortable for Apple. After the release of the Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 (which is loved by many), Apple is responding by releasing an Apple M1-powered iPad Air 2022.
This Apple iPad Air 2022 vs Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 post will show which is the better tablet between these two devices. And I’ll also explain which you should buy and why.
Note: The Apple iPad Air 2022 is also referred to as the iPad Air 5 to iPad Air (5th generation).
See Also: Used iPhone 13: Save up to $200 on your next iPhone 13
Apple iPad Air 2022 vs Samsung Galaxy Tab S8
| Specifications | iPad Air 2022 | Galaxy Tab S8 |
| Display | 10.9-inch, LCD | 11-inch, 120Hz |
| RAM | 8GB | 8/12GB |
| Storage | 64/256GB | 128/256GB |
| Back Camera | 12MP | 13 + 6MP |
| Front Camera | 12MP | 12MP |
| Chipset | Apple M1 | Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 |
| Software | iPadOS 15 | Android 12 |
| Battery | 28.6Wh | 8,000mAh (45W) |
| IP Rating | N/A | N/A |
Display and Design
The iPad Air 2022 comes with a 10.9-inch display, an IPS LCD panel, and a peak brightness of 500 nits. It has a 1640 x 2360 pixels resolution and it has Scratch-resistant glass with an oleophobic coating. Its build material is Glass front, aluminum back, and aluminum frame. The device has support for Stylus support (2nd gen) and a keyboard.
See Also: Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra vs iPad Pro (2021): Which is better
The Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 comes with an 11-inch display, has a TFT panel, and also has support for a 120Hz refresh rate. It has a display resolution of 1600 x 2560 pixels and its peak brightness is 1000 nits. The front display is protected by Gorilla Glass 5 and it also has Stylus support (Bluetooth integration, accelerometer, gyro) with a 6.2ms latency and keyboards.
It’s safe to say you’ll get a better display experience when using the Galaxy Tab S8 tablet. The 120Hz high refresh rate makes the screen respond faster and extra smooth and the display of the Galaxy Tab S8 is also brighter than that of the iPad Air 2022.
See Also: Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra vs Galaxy Tab S7 Plus: Which should you buy
Camera
When it comes to cameras the Apple iPad Air 2022 has a single rear and front camera. At the rear, it has a 12MP wide-angle camera with dual-pixel PDAF and a 12MP ultra-wide-angle camera upfront. The rear camera can shoot videos in 4K resolution and it has gyro-EIS for video stabilization.
The Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 features dual rear cameras and a single front camera. At the rear, it has a 12MP wide-angle camera and a 6MP ultra-wide camera. Upfront it comes with a single 12MP camera. Both the back and front cameras of the Galaxy Tab S8 can record videos in 4K resolution and use the center stage feature.
The camera inside the iPad Air 2022 is very good and can take great photos and videos. But, the camera setup of the Galaxy Tab S8 is better. The cameras of the Galaxy Tab S8 give you better video quality when making video calls.
See Also: Apple iPad Air 2022 vs iPad Pro 2021: Which should you buy
Performance | Storage | RAM | 5G
The performance of the iPad Air 2022 and Galaxy Tab S8 is very different. This is because the Apple iPad Air 2022 feature the Apple M1 chip while the Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 features the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chip. Although the chipset inside the Galaxy Tab S8 is really good, its performance is still below that of the chipset inside the iPad Air 2022.
The RAM inside the iPad Air 2022 is 8GB and the storage options are 64GB and 256GB. While the RAM inside the Galaxy Tab S8 is 8/12GB and the storage options are 128GB and 256GB. None of these two tablets has space for a 3.5mm jack port but the Galaxy Tab S8 has space for storage expansion via a microSD card.
See Also: Apple iPhone SE 2022 vs iPhone SE 2020: Should you upgrade
When it comes to performance such as playing heavy games and rendering high graphics, the iPad Air 2022 is the better device. It’s not that the Galaxy Tab S8 can’t play heavy games and render high graphics, it’s just that the iPad Air 2022 does it better and faster with its Apple M1 chip inside.
Software
The Apple iPad Air 2022 boots Apple iOS 15 out of the box. Apple has promised years of major software updates and monthly security patches for this iPad. While the Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 boots Android 12 out of the box. Samsung has promised at least three years of major software updates and five years of monthly security patches for this Galaxy Tab.
See Also: Apple iPhone 13 vs Galaxy S22: Which is better
Going by the software update policy of Apple and its history, the Apple iPad Air 2022 has the better software update plan and policy. Even though Samsung has stepped up its software update and policy plans in recent years, it’s still not on the level of Apple yet.
Battery
The Apple iPad Air 2022 is powered by a 28.6Wh battery with 18W charge support. While the Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 is powered by an 8,000mAh battery with 45W fast charge support. When it comes to battery, the Galaxy Tab S8 will take you a long time and it’ll also be easy for you to charge with its 45W fast charge.
See Also: Apple iPhone SE 2022 vs iPhone 13 Mini: Which should you buy
Apple iPad Air 2022 vs Samsung Galaxy Tab S8: Price
The price of the Apple iPad Air 2022 is $599 for the 8GB RAM and 64GB storage configuration. While the price of the Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 is $700 for the 8GB RAM and 128GB storage configuration. So, between the iPad Air 2022 and Galaxy Tab S8 which should you buy? See the verdict section below the table to know which to buy and why.
Buy iPad Air 2022 and Galaxy Tab S8
| Galaxy Tab S8 | Price |
| Buy on Amazon | $700 |
| Buy on Amazon UK | £649 |
| iPad Air 2022 | Prices |
| Buy on Amazon | $449.00 |
| Buy on Amazon (EUR) | €689.00 |
| Buy on Amazon (UK) | £569.00 |
Apple iPad Air 2022 vs Samsung Galaxy Tab S8: Verdict
So, between the Apple iPad Air 2022 and Samsung Galaxy Tab S8, which is better and why? The Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 is the more complete device between these two and here is why.
When it comes to performance, the Apple iPad Air 2022 is ahead of the Galaxy Tab S8. It no doubt has better CPU and GPU cores and this means a faster rendering of high graphics and playing of intensive games. But, you need more than just performance when considering buying a tablet, and this is where the Galaxy Tab S8 takes the crown.
The Galaxy Tab S8 is the more complete device between these two. Its display has a high refresh rate, its screen is brighter, it has more camera options, it has a better battery life with faster charge tech, has four stereo speakers, has better storage options with space for storage expansion, and it features a very powerful chipset too. Overall, the Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 is the more complete tablet to buy.
If I’m to score both devices, I’ll score the iPad Air 2022 (46%) and the Galaxy Tab S8 (54%). although the iPad Air 2022 is cheaper and has a better chipset, the Galaxy Tab S8 brings more to the table and this makes it a more complete tablet.
Photos: Tech Gear Talk
