Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 vs Apple iPad Air (5th generation)

By Billy G. · Founder & Lead EditorVerified May 29 by Billy G.

Samsung Galaxy Tab S8
Samsung Galaxy Tab S8
Apple iPad Air (5th generation)
Apple iPad Air (5th generation)
Verified Confidence: 85%

Verdict: iPad Air (5th generation) wins on performance longevity and ecosystem integration with M1 chip benchmarks 20% higher multi-core than Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 per Geekbench. Tab S8 counters with 120Hz display and MicroSD expansion but trails in software support duration. iPad Air is the stronger pick for most buyers seeking future-proofing.

Winner: Apple iPad Air (5th generation)

Samsung Galaxy Tab S8: 6.5/10

Apple iPad Air (5th generation): 7.5/10

Spec-by-spec comparison

Samsung Galaxy Tab S8Apple iPad Air (5th generation)
display11-inch LCD 120Hz10.9-inch Liquid Retina 60Hz
processorQualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1Apple M1
ram8GB LPDDR4X8GB unified
storage128GB UFS 3.164GB NVMe

Samsung Galaxy Tab S8

What works

  • 120Hz refresh rate for smoother scrolling
  • DeX desktop mode for productivity
  • MicroSD card slot for expandable storage

What doesn't

  • Only 3 years of OS updates promised
  • LCD panel with lower peak brightness than OLED rivals

Apple iPad Air (5th generation)

What works

  • M1 chip delivers strong sustained performance
  • Longer software support with 6+ years of updates
  • Excellent build quality and Apple Pencil 2 support

What doesn't

  • No expandable storage option
  • 60Hz display feels dated next to 120Hz tablets

Bottom line

Our pick: Apple iPad Air (5th generation).

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