Samsung Galaxy Tab 12.4" Galaxy Tab S8+ Graphite 2022

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S8+ pairs a gorgeous 12.4-inch AMOLED screen with a responsive S Pen at a price that's hard to beat on the refurbished market. It's perfect for artists, students, and streamers who want a premium media tablet without paying premium prices, but its aging processor and limited software support mean power users should look ahead.

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S8+ is one of those devices that just feels premium the moment you pick it up. The massive 12.4-inch AMOLED screen dominates the experience, and with a 120Hz refresh rate, everything from scrolling Twitter to sketching with the included S Pen looks incredibly smooth. If you're searching for a large Android tablet that can double as a media machine and a digital notebook, this one lands near the top of the list, especially at refurbished prices that start around $325. That's a lot of screen for the money.

Under the hood you're getting a Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chip with 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage, which won't break any records in 2025 but still feels snappy for everyday tasks. Wi-Fi 6E, a fingerprint reader, and support for up to 1TB of expandable storage round out a feature set that our database rates as basically unmatched in this category. The real draw, though, is that S Pen. Samsung's stylus tech is the best you'll find outside of a Wacom tablet, and the near-zero latency makes note-taking and drawing feel surprisingly close to pen on paper.

It's not the newest kid on the block, and you'll feel the age in some areas like the camera performance or the fact it shipped with Android 12. But if you're hunting for a tablet that nails the entertainment and art side of things without demanding flagship 2025 money, the Tab S8+ still makes a compelling case. The refurbished market is where this tablet truly shines, with some units selling for over $800 less than brand-new alternatives.

In real-world use, the Tab S8+ handles multitasking like a champ. Split-screening apps with Samsung DeX running in the background didn't make it sweat, and even heavier games ran at respectable frame rates. Our benchmark database puts the CPU in the 83rd percentile among tablets, which means it's still well above average even if it's a couple generations behind the latest Snapdragon chips. For artists and students, that translates into a smooth experience with apps like Clip Studio Paint or Krita, and the 8GB of RAM keeps things moving until you really start pushing layers and file sizes.

The 12.4-inch AMOLED display is the clear star here. It sits in the 95th percentile for screen quality, and it's not hard to see why. Colors are punchy without being cartoonish, and the 2800x1752 resolution makes text look razor-sharp. Watching movies or editing photos on this panel is genuinely enjoyable, and the 120Hz refresh rate makes every interaction feel fluid. Battery life is another bright spot. We saw north of 10 hours of mixed use thanks to that 10,090mAh cell, which lands in the 90th percentile and means you can leave the charger at home for a full day of work or binge-watching.

Here's where things get interesting. The price spread on the Galaxy Tab S8+ is wild. We've seen it as low as $325 for a Geek Squad Certified Refurbished unit on Newegg, while sealed-in-box models can creep past $1,150. That $825 gap means you need to shop smart. For around the $400 mark you're getting a display and stylus experience that rivals tablets costing twice as much. If you're a student, an artist on a budget, or just someone who wants a giant screen for Netflix and notes, the refurbished Tab S8+ is an absurd value. Just don't pay full price for a new one. At that point, you'd be better off looking at a discounted Galaxy Tab S9 FE or even an iPad Air.

The iPad Pro M4 is the obvious elephant in the room. It outmuscles the Tab S8+ in raw performance and has a display that's technically better for HDR work, but it starts at over $1,000 and the Apple Pencil is a separate purchase. For pure digital art, the Tab S8+ holds its own at a fraction of the cost, especially since the S Pen comes in the box. The Xiaomi Pad 7 Pro and Lenovo Idea Tab Pro offer similar specs for less money new, but their stylus support and software polish don't match what Samsung delivers with DeX and the S Pen. If you're considering a 2-in-1 for productivity, the Microsoft Surface Pro 11th Edition runs full Windows and is a much stronger laptop replacement, but it's heavier, pricier, and overkill for someone who just wants to sketch and stream.

Skip the Galaxy Tab S8+ if you need a tablet for serious gaming or video editing. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 is fine for daily use but chugs with modern 3D titles at max settings, and creative pros who rely on DaVinci Resolve or Final Cut will be disappointed. Also, if you want a true laptop replacement, the Microsoft Surface Pro 11th Edition runs full Windows and gives you desktop app support. And if you're already deep into Apple's ecosystem and want seamless sync with your iPhone and MacBook, the iPad Air or refurbished iPad Pro will serve you better.

Should you buy the Samsung Galaxy Tab S8+ in 2025? If you find a clean refurbished unit under $400, the answer is an easy yes. The screen alone is worth the price of admission, and the S Pen makes it one of the best tablets for drawing and note-taking that doesn't require selling a kidney. It handles media, light multitasking, and casual gaming with ease, and the feature set, from expandable storage to Samsung DeX, is still ahead of most Android tablets.

But this isn't the tablet for everyone. If you crave the absolute fastest chip, the latest iPadOS apps, or a device that will feel fresh for another five years, you'll want to look elsewhere. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 is already showing its age, and with only a couple of Android updates left, the software longevity is a concern. For the right buyer, though, the Tab S8+ is a steal.