Apple iPad Air 13-inch (M2, Wi-Fi) / Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 (11-inch, Wi-Fi)

Apple iPad Air 13-inch (M2, Wi-Fi): 13-inch iPad Air (M2), Wi-Fi model; 128 GB, 256 GB, 512 GB and 1 TB. The Wi-Fi + Cellular model (A2899/A2903) is 1 g heavier and uses eSIM only. The 11-inch iPad Air (M2) and the later M3 version are separate models.

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 13-inch (M2, Wi-Fi)Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 (11-inch, Wi-Fi)
Release year20242022
Display13-inch Liquid Retina, LED-backlit IPS; 2732 × 2048 pixels, 264 ppi; 600 nits; P3 wide colour; True Tone; fully laminated; antireflective coating

Full lamination removes the gap between the glass and the panel, so the pencil tip appears closer to the image. Apple ProMotion (120 Hz) is not on this model.

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
Chip and memoryApple M2; 8-core CPU (4 performance + 4 efficiency), 9-core GPU, 16-core Neural Engine; 8 GB RAM

Memory is 8 GB on every configuration and cannot be upgraded later.

Apple		—
Storage128 GB, 256 GB, 512 GB, 1 TB Apple—
Pencil and keyboardApple Pencil Pro and Apple Pencil (USB-C); Apple Pencil hover; Smart Connector

Apple Pencil Pro pairs and charges on the magnetic connector on the side. The Smart Connector powers a keyboard without a separate battery or pairing.

Apple		—
CamerasRear: 12 MP wide, ƒ/1.8, 4K at 60 fps; Front: landscape 12 MP Ultra Wide, Center Stage

Placing the front camera on the long edge keeps the face centred in video calls when used landscape with a keyboard.

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
AudioLandscape stereo speakers; dual microphones Apple—
USB-C and external displayUSB-C: charging, DisplayPort, USB 3 (up to 10 Gb/s); one external display up to 6K at 60 Hz Apple—
WirelessWi-Fi 6E (2x2 MIMO); Bluetooth 5.3

Wi-Fi 6E uses the 6 GHz band with a compatible router, which means less interference on busy networks.

Apple		—
AuthenticationTouch ID in the top button Apple—
Battery36.59 Wh lithium-polymer; up to 10 hours of web or video on Wi-Fi Apple—
Size and weight280.6 × 214.9 × 6.1 mm; Wi-Fi model 617 g Apple165.3 × 253.8 × 6.3 mm; 503 g (Wi-Fi), 507 g (5G) Samsung
ColoursBlue, Purple, Starlight, Space Gray AppleGraphite, Silver, Pink Gold

Colour availability varies by market and carrier.

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