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Review: Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra

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Samsung’s new Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra tablet is possibly one of the biggest out there on the market with a brilliant display. The tablet comes with a 14.6-inch Super AMOLED touchscreen display that offers a WQXGA+ resolution of 2960-by-1848 pixels. You also get a colour depth of 16M and a pixel density of 240 pixels per inch (ppi). The display also offers a refresh rate of 120Hz and it supports HDR10+. It also offers an aspect ratio of 16:10 and the display is protected by Corning’s Gorilla Glass 5.

Under the hood, the Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra is powered by an octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 processor. Now, this is coupled with either 8GB, 12GB, or 16GB of RAM and 128GB, 256GB, or 512GB of storage space, respectively. It’s also a good thing that Samsung has built a microSDXC card slot into the device that supports microSDXC cards with storage capacities of up to 1TB.

The Tab S8 Ultra runs on the Android 12 operating system with Samsung’s One UI 4.1 running on top of it. The tablet derives its power from a 11200mAh battery, which supports 45W fast charging. And the tablet weighs around 726-gms. The overall design is quite slim and neat – it is just 5.5mm thin. The overall build quality is also excellent. All of the tech is packed into its Armor Aluminum body, which feels very nice and solid to hold.

Connectivity options include WiFi or 5G, depending on your preference. On the front, just above the massive display, you get dual selfie cameras. Now, this includes the 12MP wide-angle camera that offers an aperture of f/2.2 and a 12MP ultrawide camera that offers an aperture of f/2.4. The front cameras can capture 4K videos at either 30fps or 60fps and 1080p videos at 30fps.

At the back of the device, you will find the dual-camera setup that includes the primary 13MP wide-angle autofocus lens with an aperture of f/2.0, and a 6MP ultrawide lens with an aperture of f/2.2. You get additional features such as an LED flash, HDR, and panorama mode. With the rear cameras, you can shoot 4K videos at 30fps and 60fps, and 1080p videos at 30fps.

While there is no 3.5mm audio jack, you do get a quad stereo speaker setup, which is tuned by AKG. Connectivity options on the Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra include USB Type-C, Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, 5G, and GPS. Sensors on the tablet include an accelerometer, ambient light sensor, gyroscope, proximity sensor, and compass/magnetometer.

One of the biggest plus points of the Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra is its display – it is one of the most striking displays we have come across on a tablet. It was a pleasure watching web shows on platforms such as Amazon Prime Video, OSN Plus, and Netflix. Everything looked fabulous. Scrolling through menus and feeds felt very smooth, thus adding a real sense of speed to the whole user interface.

Inside the box, you also get an S Pen along with the tablet, which felt more natural given the softer, more pen-like tip. The S Pen uses Wacom’s tech and hence, supports up to 4096 levels of pressure sensitivity with tilt recognition. The S Pen worked really well on most apps such as Samsung Notes, which lets you take notes and indulge in some sketching, and ClipStudio, which lets you sketch with layer support and loads of brush options.

Thanks to its strong specs sheet and excellent software integrity, the Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra is a beast when it comes to performance and productivity. Couple the tablet with a Bluetooth keyboard and mouse, fire up Samsung DeX, and you now have a tablet that lets you work across multiple windows with ease – just like you would on any laptop.

The front and rear cameras on the Tab S8 Ultra did an amazing job at capturing photos and videos. The tablet’s massive 11200mAh battery means that you can continue using the tablet for a couple of days without worrying about running out of juice. And if you need to quickly top up the battery, you can always use a 45W supercharger with it. Of course, since Samsung does not include a charger in the package, you need to purchase one separately.

For a price starting at AED 4999, the Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra comes across as an amazingly powerful productivity device. So if you are looking for a tablet with a massive screen that can fit into your overall workflow, the Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra will serve you well.

Price: AED 4999 onwards

Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra AED 4999 onwards
  • Final Rating
4

Summary

The Tab S8 Ultra runs on the Android 12 operating system with Samsung’s One UI 4.1 running on top of it. The tablet derives its power from a 11200mAh battery, which supports 45W fast charging. And the tablet weighs around 726-gms. The overall design is quite slim and neat – it is just 5.5mm thin. The overall build quality is also excellent. All of the tech is packed into its Armor Aluminum body, which feels very nice and solid to hold.

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OnePlus Unveils Nord 5 Among Five New Product Launches

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OnePlus is expanding its product ecosystem with the announcement of five new devices, including the latest addition to its popular Nord smartphone lineup. These new products are slated to launch in Europe and India next month, with full specifications and pricing to be revealed at the official launch event on July 8th.

Leading the charge is the Nord 5, the newest mid-range smartphone from the company. Notably, it’s the first Nord device to incorporate a flagship Qualcomm chip – the Snapdragon 8S Gen 3, designed for more affordable flagship phones. The Nord 5 will also boast an upgraded cooling system and support for LPDDR5X RAM. While full details are pending, initial images show a distinctive “Dry Ice” pale blue finish and a dual rear camera setup.

Joining the Nord 5 is the Nord CE5, expected to be a more budget-friendly option, though details are currently limited to its “Marble Mist” finish. Celina Shi, OnePlus’ European head of marketing, confirmed in an interview that both the Nord 5 and Nord CE5 will feature the new customizable Plus Key (replacing the signature Alert Slider) and enable the AI Plus Mind feature.

OnePlus is also introducing the OnePlus Pad Lite, described as an “entry-level” tablet. It retains the central, circular camera design seen on older OnePlus tablets, differentiating it from the newer Pad 3. While official specifications are scarce, a recent leak suggests it will feature an 11-inch LCD display, run on the MediaTek Helio G100 chipset, and be available in an optional cellular version.

Rounding out the announcements are a smaller 43mm OnePlus Watch 3, complementing the existing 47mm model, and a new pair of earbuds, the OnePlus Buds 4. These earbuds will include dual drivers, support Hi-Res audio, and be available in green or dark gray.

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Samsung Health Hub Streamlines Doctor-Patient Communication

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Samsung is stepping up its game in the health tech race with plans to develop a new hub, designed to simplify how users share health data directly with their doctors between appointments. This initiative aims to bridge the disconnect often experienced when patients struggle to recall medical advice or fitness suggestions.

Dr. Hon Pak, a Samsung health executive, highlighted the company’s commitment to cutting down this gap. They’re working on tools that will funnel data collected from smartwatches into a central location, also providing nudges to help users stay on track with doctor-prescribed goals. Pak emphasized the need to move away from fragmented health solutions. “There are a lot of innovations out there but it’s siloed,” Pak said. “We think there’s a responsibility and a potential for bringing the experience into an ecosystem so that the users have a more simple experience rather than having 10 different apps to manage your condition.”

While the full hub is still some time away, Samsung recently announced new features coming to its smartwatches as part of a One UI 8 software update. These enhancements will include tools for measuring antioxidant levels and vascular load, alongside a running coach and upgrades to sleep management. The features will be available on last year’s Samsung Galaxy Watch models, with the bedtime coach specifically coming to the Galaxy Watch 5 and newer devices. A beta program for these features is set to launch this month in the US and South Korea.

To check antioxidant levels on a new-generation Samsung watch, users will simply press their fingertip against the sensors on the device’s back. The feature can then suggest nutritional adjustments, like eating antioxidant-rich berries, to help improve readings. The vascular load feature measures pulse waves during sleep to assess arterial pressure, aiming to better identify the risk for stroke and other cardiovascular issues. The new running feature will help users train for races by analyzing baseline performance, and an enhanced sleep tool will suggest optimal bedtimes based on several days of analyzed data.

Smartwatches are evolving beyond simple notification companions, increasingly merging with sports watches and even medical-grade wearables. Competitors like Apple Inc., Garmin Ltd., and Alphabet Inc.’s Google have already made significant advancements in measuring heart conditions and sleep.

This shift towards more comprehensive health features in wearables aligns with broader trends, as noted by Pak. Increases in chronic diseases, healthcare workforce shortages, and rising medical costs are leading more people to seek care from home. “The burden is now on the patients and the families that have to provide that care,” he explained. “So with that, we have to be in the home.”

Samsung’s health platform currently boasts about 68 million monthly active customers. Looking ahead, Pak mentioned that more health sensors are planned for future Samsung devices, including earbuds. While features like cuff-less blood pressure tracking and non-invasive glucose tracking are in development, they are still years away from release.

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ASUS ROG Elevates Handheld Gaming with New ROG Xbox Ally and Ally X Models

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ASUS Republic of Gamers has partnered with Xbox to introduce the next generation of portable gaming: the ROG Xbox Ally and ROG Xbox Ally X. These premium handheld devices merge console-quality performance with PC versatility in an ergonomic design, setting a new standard for gaming on the go.

The new series features a completely reimagined chassis designed for extended play sessions, with comfort-focused ergonomics inspired by Xbox controllers. The flagship Ally X model takes immersion to the next level with advanced impulse triggers that deliver precise haptic feedback, mirroring the premium console gaming experience.

Powering these devices are cutting-edge AMD processors tailored for handheld gaming. The standard Ally model features the AMD Ryzen Z2 A Processor, while the high-end Ally X boasts the more powerful Ryzen AI Z2 Extreme Processor. Both chipsets are engineered to balance performance and efficiency, enabling smooth gameplay across all genres while optimising battery life.

Running on Windows 11 with a customised Xbox interface, the devices offer the best of both worlds: seamless access to Xbox Game Pass alongside the full flexibility of a Windows PC. The optimised software environment provides quick access to games and settings, creating a console-like experience while maintaining the open ecosystem PC gamers expect.

The ROG Xbox Ally series represents a significant evolution in portable gaming technology, combining Xbox’s gaming expertise with ASUS ROG’s hardware innovation. Gamers in the UAE can look forward to the devices launching later this year, with regional pricing and availability details to be announced in the coming months.

This collaboration marks a major milestone for handheld gaming, offering players unprecedented freedom to enjoy their favorite games anywhere without compromising on performance, comfort, or game library access. The ROG Xbox Ally series demonstrates ASUS’s continued commitment to pushing the boundaries of gaming technology in the Middle East and worldwide.

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