The Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 is reportedly getting an upgrade. Competition in the Android tablet market has been much less recent, but Samsung is still creating some of the best competition to the Apple iPad.

With the release of the Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 and Galaxy Tab S7 Plus last fall, our attention has turned to the upcoming Samsung Galaxy Tab S8.

Although not yet officially announced, we have learned through SamMobile that Samsung may have leaked the existence of the Galaxy Tab S8 itself. It's a pretty safe bet that this device is on the horizon.

While a release doesn't seem imminent, a handful of rumors are already flying around that the Galaxy Tab S8 upgrade will likely include a faster Snapdragon 888 chip and software upgrades for better multitasking likely.

Below is what we know so far about the Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 and some of what to expect from the device.

According to leaker Ice Universe, the Galaxy Tab S8 line could be in line with the Galaxy S22 phone lineup. And that seems to be January or February 2022.

The Galaxy Tab S7 and Galaxy Tab S6 were both launched in August, but Samsung may have delayed their launch due to a global chip shortage.

We will not know for sure how Samsung will price the Galaxy Tab S8 until much closer to launch, but there are some conclusions that can be drawn from past pricing.

The Galaxy Tab S7 started at $649.99 / £619 / AU$1,149, while the more expensive Galaxy Tab S7 Plus started at $849.99 / £799 / AU$1,549.

It would not be shocking if the Galaxy Tab S8 were more expensive than the previous model, as the general trend for the Tab series is for prices to increase with each new generation.

A relatively unknown YouTube channel, The Galox, may have leaked Galaxy Tab S8 specifications. However, we recommend taking a skeptical approach, as this information is most likely not warranted.

If these rumors are to be believed, the Galaxy Tab S8 will likely feature a Snapdragon 888 chipset and offer 8GB RAM in the standard model and 12GB RAM in the Plus variant.

The Galaxy Tab S7 was powered by Qualcomm's Snapdragon 865 Plus, but the new Snapdragon 888 should provide a suitable upgrade and boost the raw power of the Galaxy Tab S8.

Storage options range from 128GB to 256GB, and up to a much more substantial 512GB at the top end.

According to Samsung's own leaks discovered by SamMobile, the Galaxy Tab S8 will have a microSD card slot that supports cards up to 1TB. The tablet will also feature a nano-SIM card slot and support for 5G connectivity is also assured.

In our review of the Galaxy Tab S7, we praised the tablet's beautiful 120Hz display, and we expect the Galaxy Tab S8 to continue to impress.

According to Galox, the Galaxy Tab S8 will offer an 11-inch 120Hz LCD, while the Plus model will feature a 12.4-inch 120Hz AMOLED panel.

The fingerprint sensor will also be the same as on the Galaxy Tab S7, again located on the top edge power button.

Leaker Evan Blass posted an image on Twitter of what the tablets would look like: the Galaxy Tab S8 and Tab S8 Plus would follow the design of the Galaxy Tab S7, but the larger Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra has a notch for the camera, as in the rendering posted by Steve Hemmerstoffer (more commonly known as OnLeaks).

Rumors, again brought by The Galox, suggest that the battery capacity of the Galaxy Tab S8 and Galaxy Tab S8 Plus will not change from the Galaxy S7 series.

This means that the Galaxy Tab S8 has 8,000mAh and the Galaxy Tab S8 Plus has 10,090mAh.

In disappointing news, the tablet's fast charging capability is also said to be downgraded to 25W. We have already seen the Galaxy S21 Ultra discontinue 45W fast charging, so this is certainly likely.

By the time the Galaxy Tab S8 is released, the latest iPad will almost certainly be on the market. So Samsung will have to offer the A-game to keep up with Apple's giant tablet.

Here's what we think Samsung needs to do to remain in the battle for tablet supremacy.

More ports: One of the biggest advantages of the Galaxy Tab compared to the iPad is that it is a more suitable replacement for a laptop. However, the lack of ports on the Galaxy Tab S7 undermined the versatility of a tablet with only one USB-C port; we hope the Galaxy Tab S8 will add at least one USB-C port, and we would not say no to the re-introduction of a headphone port (although it seems highly unlikely). (although it seems unlikely).

Standardized AMOLED: The AMOLED display on the Galaxy Tab S7 Plus is gorgeous and one of the key features of this tablet. However, the standard Galaxy Tab S7 has an LCD screen instead. If that happens, the price of the Galaxy Tab S8 will go up, but I would like to see both models come standard with AMOLED displays.

Better Keyboard Cover: Now, this is not strictly related to the Galaxy Tab S8 itself, but the Book Cover Keyboard is an essential accessory, and I would still like to see it improved. The layout of the Galaxy Tab S7 keyboard cover felt quite cramped, so if the Galaxy Tab S8 is released with a new variant, we'd like to see larger keys. As for the adjustable hinge, it would be wise to take a cue from Apple's Magic Keyboard.