Last week, I argued that Samsung has a mid-range tablet problem, the Galaxy Tab S8 lacks a mid-range competitor suitable for the new iPad Air below. Based on a review of the iPad Air 5 by Luke Filipowicz with a glossy one on our sister site iMore, Apple's new tablet has met high expectations in terms of its amazing performance and affordability. This is basically the iPad Pro Lite.
And as Luke noted in his review, "If you like color," you'll prefer the iPad Air to the more expensive Pro. "I like Air's purple color scheme, and it's a lot more fun to look at than the big black or silver case offered by the base iPad and iPad Pro models," he explained. Apple often sells explicit color technology, with the iPad Air 5's non-gray color (pink, purple, blue, and starlight) being a perfect example. However, most premium device designs have a "No Fun Allow" policy. One that can be said to be shared by Samsung.Obviously, if you offer MacBook Pro or iPad Pro in any color other than Silver or Space Gray, professionals will riot and decide that they are not professional enough to work. I don't understand the logic, but the strategy only makes the iPad Air more attractive.
Samsung follows in Apple's footsteps and releases only the Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra which replaces the laptop with one color, graphite. Theoretically, like a desktop tablet that is constantly glued to the cover of a book, background color is not so important.
For other Galaxy Tab S8 and Galaxy Tab S8 + colors, Pink Gold and Silver, Samsung designers have obviously chosen them for their great professionalism. These are underestimated, almost white tones that have minimal effect. And when you use them with a keyboard cover, they're also designed for portable use. Especially the Base Tab S8.
Not much has changed since the 2020 Tab S7, which launched in three colors: Mystic Black, Mystic Silver and Mystic Bronze. And to be honest, the bronze S7 looks and bears a striking resemblance to the Pink Gold S8 if you put them together. The Samsung Tab S7 only added some original color to the lineup when it released a gorgeous mythical navy variant almost half a year later.
Following that thought, I look forward to releasing more color for Samsung's Galaxy Tab S8 lineup. Samsung has a history of following in the footsteps of Apple's designers - the Galaxy S22 phone like the iPhone 13 and the Notch Tab S8 Ultra, see more recently - but I think it should mimic the vibrant iPad Air template, not the professional Pro template.
Samsung knows exactly how to add color to its design, but it does so with its Galaxy phone, not the tablet. On all three S22 phones you will find variants of Green, Cream, Sky Blue, Purple, Rose Gold, Graphite, Red and Burgundy. The Galaxy Tab S8 will look beautiful in green or burgundy, at least in my opinion. Instead, you get almost black, light gray and pink lemonade.
So I don’t understand why tablets don’t get the same love and care when it comes to color. Even Samsung's budget tablets such as the A8 and A7 have the same static color options: gray, silver and some gold / pink options. Only the Galaxy Tab S7 FE has recently launched with a fourth color (mythical green) in memory.
I find it ridiculous because when 9 out of 10 people use a phone case, I suspect that more people use their tablets uncovered, which makes its color more relevant. And yet, in most cases, brands will offer at most a few color options, one of which is always black.
Galaxy Tab S8 Plus Rose Gold
Darker colors make an expensive device less subjective and more suited to your taste. Even if Samsung makes them on limited stock, exclusive to samsung.com as it does with its Galaxy S phones, I have no doubt they will sell. Tab S8 Pre-Order Tab S7 has doubled the pre-order, and even if they're the best Android tablets out there, I'm not the only one who wants more variety.
I will have to return the Galaxy Tab S8 + soon which Samsung lent me for my review, and I am seriously considering spending my own money for a new one at that time. But I'm hopeful that Samsung will release it in better colors first.