Tech
Samsung's latest flagship tablet is bigger and thinner, but there's just one catch: It has a notch.
The Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra has been leaked, and, much like the previous Tab S7 models, it’s got big Apple iPad Pro vibes.
Based on rumors from 91Mobiles, it seems Samsung will launch three Galaxy tablets: The Galaxy Tab S8, Galaxy Tab S8+, and the cutting edge Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra. According to the report, the S8 Ultra “will be the top-end variant boasting of the best of the best features.”
Based on early renders created in collaboration between OnLeaks (Steve Hemmerstoffer) and 91Mobiles, all we really know is what the tablet looks like so far. However, the Tab S7+ could give us a general idea of what to expect, at least as a baseline.
If rumors are true, the tablet’s dimensions are 325.8 x 207.9 x 5.4mm, which, if you live stateside, comes out to 12.8 x 8.1 x 0.21 inches. Compared to the Tab S7+, this S8 Ultra is slightly larger and thinner overall. The larger chassis and thinner bezels will reportedly accommodate a 14.6-inch display. The tradeoff for such a large display: a notch.
First phones, then laptops, and now tablets — the notch is purportedly making an appearance on the Tab S8 Ultra. Hate it or tolerate it, until under-display cameras become a widely-adopted feature, notches are just an inevitability stemming from thinner bezels and larger display. According to renders of the other Galaxy Tab S8 tablets, the high-end Tab S8 Ultra is most likely the only one in the lineup with a notch.
Whether the flagship Tab S8 Ultra launches with a notch is still up in the air, as renders are not 100 percent complete. Even so, the notch is rather small compared to the rest of the tablet.
The tablet’s announcement was expected at Samsung’s Unpacked Part 2 event, which ended up being arguably the biggest snooze fest of the year. With the holidays quickly approaching and stories of major iPhone 13 and Nintendo Switch shortages, it’s likely the never-ending chip shortage may be affecting the production of the Tab S8 Ultra. If that’s true, a 2022 release date may not be out of the question.