Apple iPad Air 11-inch (M2) / Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 (11-inch, Wi-Fi)

Apple iPad Air 11-inch (M2): 11-inch iPad Air (M2), 2024; Wi-Fi and Wi-Fi + Cellular (A2899, A2903); 128 GB, 256 GB, 512 GB, 1 TB. The 13-inch iPad Air (M2) and the M3 and M4 iPad Air models are separate.

Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 (11-inch, Wi-Fi): Galaxy Tab S8 11-inch; Wi-Fi and 5G versions, 8/12 GB RAM + 128/256 GB storage (options vary by market). The Galaxy Tab S8+ (12.4-inch) and Tab S8 Ultra (14.6-inch) are separate models with different display types and batteries.

SpecificationApple iPad Air 11-inch (M2)Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 (11-inch, Wi-Fi)
Release year20242022
Display11-inch Liquid Retina, LED-backlit IPS; 2360 × 1640 pixels, 264 ppi; 500 nits; P3 wide colour, True Tone

Full lamination and anti-reflective coating remove the gap between glass and panel to reduce reflections. The display is 60 Hz; there is no ProMotion.

Apple		11-inch 2560 × 1600 (WQXGA), 276 ppi LTPS TFT; up to 120Hz

LTPS TFT is an LCD panel type; unlike the AMOLED displays on the Tab S8+ and Ultra it uses a backlight. The adaptive refresh rate drops when content is still and can be locked to 60 Hz in settings. Rounded corners and the camera hole make the visible area slightly smaller than 11 inches.

Samsung
ChipApple M2; 8-core CPU (4 performance, 4 efficiency), 9-core GPU, 16-core Neural Engine Apple—
Memory8 GB RAM

It is the same on all storage options.

Apple		—
Storage128 GB, 256 GB, 512 GB or 1 TB Apple—
CamerasRear 12 MP wide (ƒ/1.8, 4K 60 fps video); front 12 MP landscape Center Stage camera (ƒ/2.0)

Because the front camera sits on the long edge, your face is centred in video calls when the tablet is in a keyboard; Center Stage follows you as you move.

Apple		Rear: 13MP AF + 6MP Ultra-Wide + Flash; front: 12MP (Ultra-Wide); 4K @ 30fps recording

The front camera sits on the long edge, suited to landscape video calls.

Samsung
Pencil and accessoriesApple Pencil Pro and Apple Pencil (USB-C); magnetic Pencil connector; Smart Connector

Apple Pencil Pro adds squeeze and barrel-roll gestures; Apple Pencil 2 is not listed as compatible with this model.

Apple		—
USB-CCharging, DisplayPort and USB 3 (up to 10 Gb/s)

Suitable for an external display and fast SSDs; it is not Thunderbolt.

Apple		—
WirelessWi-Fi 6E (2×2 MIMO); Bluetooth 5.3; 5G (sub-6 GHz) and eSIM only on the cellular model Apple—
Battery28.93 Wh lithium-polymer; up to 10 hours web or video on Wi-Fi

Web browsing on mobile data drops to up to 9 hours.

Apple		—
Audio and securityLandscape stereo speakers, dual microphones; Touch ID in the top button Apple—
Size and weight247.6 × 178.5 × 6.1 mm; 462 g Apple165.3 × 253.8 × 6.3 mm; 503 g (Wi-Fi), 507 g (5G) Samsung
Processor—4 nm 64-bit octa-core processor

Samsung’s spec table does not name the chip; Tom’s Guide lists it as the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 in its test unit.

Samsung
Memory and storage—8/12 GB + 128/256 GB; microSD up to 1 TB

Memory and storage options vary by market, model and colour; the microSD card is sold separately.

Samsung
Battery and charging—8,000 mAh (typical); Super Fast Charging 2.0 (up to 45W)

Chargers are sold separately; the box includes the S Pen and a USB-C cable. 45W speed needs a compatible adapter.

Samsung
Operating system—Android 12.0 at launch Samsung
S Pen and accessories—S Pen (BLE, in box); compatible with Book Cover Keyboard and Keyboard Slim

The S Pen charges wirelessly when attached to the magnetic strip on the back. Keyboard covers attach to the contact pins on the edge and are sold separately.

Samsung
Sound—Quad Stereo Speakers with Sound by AKG, Dolby Atmos; 3 microphones

There is no 3.5 mm headphone jack; wired headphones need USB-C or a USB-C to 3.5 mm adapter.

Samsung
Connectivity—Wi-Fi 6E (802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax), Wi-Fi Direct, Bluetooth 5.2; USB Type-C (USB 3.2); 5G/LTE on cellular model only

Wi-Fi 6E’s 6 GHz band needs a compatible router and depends on regional availability. Tom’s Guide confirms DisplayPort video output over USB-C.

Samsung
Security—Fingerprint with Side Key; Samsung Knox including Knox Vault Samsung
Colours—Graphite, Silver, Pink Gold

Colour availability varies by market and carrier.

Samsung