Diehard Note users may think otherwise, but Samsung made a good call in replacing the Galaxy Note with the Galaxy S22 Ultra, which is launching today along with the S22+ and S22 smartphones. Ten years is more than enough time to concede the inclusion of a stylus doesn't necessitate a separate phone brand—and it's also now debatable whether a stylus makes a modern phone any more useful.

Don't get me wrong, the Note was necessary in its day. When Samsung launched the original Galaxy Note a bit more than a decade ago, the phone was innovative beyond its included S Pen. Indeed, that first Note launched with a then-mammoth 5.3-inch display—a nice piece of real estate on which to draw. Over the next few years, the Note's display expanded to 5.7 inches (the Note 7), and then to 6.3 inches (the Note 8), and then to 6.9 inches (the Note 20 Ultra). The “phablet” phone era was not only introduced, but also embodied, by the Note. And today all competitors follow suit with massive phones.

But let's consider what's changed since the Note launched in 2011. When the first Note hit the market, users were still used to jotting down notes in journals and legal pads. These folks adopted the Note as an extension of their habits. But what we all now realize, explicitly or subconsciously, is that we've evolved beyond inking notes with a pen—electronically or otherwise—and have adopted other methods of archiving data. We're adept at typing with our thumbs in cloud documents and email. We record our Zoom calls. We use voice recording and voice dictation. We all have our own methods of taking notes and keeping track of to-dos, and the wide variety of options has made inked notes less relevant than ever before.

Adam Patrick Murray / IDG

That's not to say Samsung's new Galaxy S22 Ultra doesn't benefit from its integrated S Pen, which now fits within an integrated holster, just like in previous Notes. It's a fine accessory, though I believe the S22 Ultra's S Pen will be used more as a controller than a note-taking or drawing tool by most people. Beyond that, the S Pen gives Samsung an excuse to release a slightly taller S22 Ultra, with a slightly larger battery inside. The new Galaxy S22 and S22+ lack the integrated S Pen, and they're slightly thinner and smaller than the Galaxy S21 and S21+ as a result.

By now, Note diehards should be chasing me with pitchforks. To them, I say use your S Pens on the new Galaxy Tab S8 tablet, also released today. Its inking experience is superb.

Galaxy S22 Ultra specs: Here's what's new

Samsung is releasing three new phones within the Galaxy S22 lineup: the 6.8-inch S22 Galaxy Ultra, the 6.6-inch Galaxy S22+, and the 6.1-inch Galaxy S22. Prices range from $799.99 for the base S22, to $999.99 to the S22+, to $1,199.99 for the S22 Ultra. Memory options on the Ultra range from 8GB to 12GB, and storage from 128GB to 1 TB. On the S8 and S8+ tablets, the choices are much simpler: 8GB of memory, with 128GB or 256GB of storage. Samsung also told us the Galaxy S22 series includes Qualcomm's 4nm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 processor inside.

The phones come in a variety of colors, from Phantom Black, Phantom White, Green, and Burgundy, plus Pink Gold for the S22+ and S22 models.

If that all sounds too expensive, consider a number of ways to save: Through February 24, 2022, consumers who pre-order a device are eligible to upgrade to the next storage tier when purchasing 128GB or 256GB models. This offer also includes eligibility to redeem an additional Samsung Credit of up to $200 for Galaxy S22 Ultra, $150 for Galaxy S22+, or $100 for Galaxy S22. This credit can go toward the purchase of the new Samsung Freestyle projector or recently updated Galaxy Watch 4. Those who pre-order a Galaxy S22 device starting today can also receive up to 25 percent off any Galaxy Tab S8.

Adam Patrick Murray / IDG

Samsung's S22 Ultra replaces the S21 Ultra 5G, essentially adding just the integrated S Pen to the S22 generation. (Note that the S21 Ultra was compatible with the S Pen, but the pen shipped separately.) Both the S21 Ultra and S22 Ultra offers what Samsung calls a “Dynamic AMOLED 2X adaptive 120Hz display,” (3200×1400) with the same 6.8-inch screen size. The S22 still uses in-display fingerprint recognition.

The S22 Ultra's quad camera specifications haven't changed as far as the number of lenses and their resolution. Its “space zoom” is still 100X (10X optical, 10X digital zoom). Samsung deserves credit for slightly shrinking the S22 Ultra from 165 mm to 163.5mm, whi le only widening the phone from 75.6mm to 77.9mm. The other notable improvement is in the battery capacity, as it's increased from 4855mAh to 5,000mAh. The S22 Ultra and S22+ now has integrated WiFi 6E, up from WiFi 6 (802.11ax) in the S21 generation.

Specs notwithstanding, the camera's AI has improved, as it can now track and focus on 10 different people, and even recognize the penumbra of pet hair for accurate portrait mode. Samsung says it uses depth maps to focus on even a single strand of hair. It also reportedly adjusts the zoom angle, though we'd have to test that to see the full impact.

The S22 boasts improved optical image stabilization (OIS), which Samsung calls Super Steady. And in low light, Samsung's Adaptive Pixel technology will combine nine pixels into one shot with the phone's multiple cameras, compositing them into a single pixel with an improved image. (The pixel sensor remains 2.4um, the same as in the S21 Ultra.) The Ultra cameras ship with Samsung's Expert RAW app, offering controls like ISO, shutter speed, histogram control and more.

The idea is that you'll be able to capture a 108-megapixel detail image plus a separate image optimized for lighting, then combine the two. Samsung says that these new cameras process four times more data than the previous generation thanks to the camera using uncompressed data internally. Night portrait mode is available on both the front and rear camera.

Adam Patrick Murray / IDG

Galaxy S22+ and S22 specs: Here's what's new

The S22 and S22+ physically offer only slight differences from the S21 generation: At 6.1-inches and 6.7-inches, both the S22 and S22+ are just 0.1 inches smaller. The S22+ is both slightly shorter and thinner as well, while the s22 is shorter, thinner, and narrower than the S21. Battery life has slightly decreased as a result. The display density remains unchanged, Samsung said. In terms of screen brightness, the S8 offers 1,300 nits, while the S8+ can put out 1,750 nits of brightness. (The S22 Ultra does as well.)

The cameras, though, differ more significantly. While the user-facing selfie cameras remain the same, the S21 and S21+ offered a 12Mpixel ultrawide camera, a 12MP wide-angle camera, and a 64MP telephoto. Both the S22 and S22+ offer a 12Mpixel ultrawide (F2.2), an 50Mpixel (F1.8) wide camera, and a 10Mpixel (F 2.4, 3X optical zoom) telephoto.

Adam Patrick Murray / IDG

Samsung's new phones include a new Digital Wallet app, which will store digital IDs, payment, and even digital keys for cars, home and office. They're stored within the Knox digital lockbox.

If you'd like to dive deeply into the full list of specifications, they're listed below. You can open the image in a new tab to zoom in.

Samsung

During a product briefing, I spent less than 60 minutes with the S22 line-up, and didn't notice any obvious weak points. Note, though, how the S22's form factor doesn't allow you to scroll more than a few notes within the space allowed by the screen. Instead, it feels far more useful to use the S Pen as a way of navigating to utilities, or other controls.

We'll have to test how the improved camera AI features play out in real life: Can we actually track 10 people during the waning (?) days of a pandemic? Will the processor prove to be faster and more responsive over daily use? And how long will the battery hold up? Samsung has promised performance leaps for its cameras, though they sound vaguely similar to the previous generation. All of these are questions the new S22 phones will have to answer during the course of a review. Stay tuned for coverage on PCWorld or sister site, Tech Advisor.

People turn to large Android tablets for streaming and even work, and Samsung's new Galaxy Tab S8 family of tablets—with screens now up to 14.1 inches—offer massive, detailed displays for both consuming and creating content. While the large panels can feel a little awkward in tablet mode, Samsung's laptop-like tablet looks absolutely amazing.

Samsung will offer three tablets: the new 14.1-inch Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra, the 12.4-inch Tab S8+, and the 11-inch Tab S8, with prices ranging from $699.99 for the S8 to more than $1,099.99 for the new Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra. Samsung previously released only a pair of Samsung Galaxy S7 devices, so the new “Ultra” size is truly new…and there's even a phone-like camera notch on it, too.

Sales of tablets, like Chromebooks, surged during the height of the pandemic in 2020, then dropped—analyst firm IDC reported that tablet sales dropped 12 percent, to 46 million tablets. (IDC is owned by PCWorld's parent company, IDG.) If it feels like there are few tablets besides those from Samsung and Apple, and Amazon's Fire, that's somewhat true, too. Worldwide, Apple dominates the tablet market, with 38 percent market share. Samsung is right behind, with 15.9 percent, then Lenovo and Amazon with 10.0 percent and 7.9 percent, respectively, which helps explain why Apple, Samsung, and Lenovo dominate store shelves.

Adam Patrick Murray / IDG

Several years ago, Android tablets carved out a discrete market—Android apps were only available to Android phones and tablets, and Windows apps only ran on PCs. Now, the line is blurring: Android apps are en route to being natively supported in Windows PCs, and most of Microsoft's mobile apps exclusively run on Android, not Windows Phone.

Over time, the Galaxy Tab series has continuously improved. The new Tab S8 series retains its strengths (beautiful 120Hz AMOLED screens just under 4K resolution, far better than what you can find on a typical Windows laptop, paired with phone-quality high-resolution cameras) but pushes further into productivity territory with split screens that can now accommodate three snapped apps. There's an updated Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 processor inside versus the 865 used inside the Tab S7, plus new Wi-Fi 6E support for improved connectivity. Samsung's Windows-like DeX desktop has slightly improved, too, and Samsung's optional keyboard covers advance productivity further. Finally, every member of the Tab S8 generation also includes a Samsung S Pen inside the box, with decreased latency.

Specific improvements include the Galaxy Tab S8 (and S8+) camera: Compared to the Tab S7 (8Mpixel front-facing camera, 13Mpixel+5Mpixel ultrawide rear-facing camera), the S8 and S8+ now offer a 12Mpixel front-facing camera and a 13Mpixel+6Mpixel rear camera capable of recording in 4K video quality. There are Dolby Atmos-powered quad speakers, three mics, and noise cancellation, too. Everything else, from the weight, screen dimensions and resolution, and wired I/O, remains unchanged from Samsung's 7th-gen Tab tablets. (Neither the S8 nor the S8+ offer a model with 512GB of storage any more, however.)

The Tab S8 series can also fast-charge itself to 100 percent in 90 minutes, a feature which is slowly coming to PCs. In a novel twist, the Tab S8 can be used to charge Samsung's new S22 smartphones by connecting them with a USB-C cable, and Galaxy Bud earbuds can now roam between the two devices as well, pairing as needed.

All this hits some of the PC's weak points: high-resolution, high-refresh rate laptop PC screens are relatively rare, and the user-facing cameras rarely go above 1Mpixel or 1080p resolutions. Samsung's new Tabs are important because of those features alone.

We had a chance to go hands-on with the new Galaxy Tab series in advance of Samsung's Unpacked presentation. A complete list of the available specifications for all three tablets is below.

IDG

Hands on with the Galaxy Tab S8

While the 11-inch Tab S8 can be used as a “personal” tablet for content consumption, it's difficult to see the S8+ and S8 Ultra as anything but laptop replacements. They're simply too big. Even then 13-inch Surface Pro 8 is ungainly, and the 14.6-inch Tab S8 Ultra is just a massive sheet of glass. Pairing it with a superb 13Mpixel rear camera seems a little absurd, as holding a 14-inch tablet in front of your face is less about taking a photo than it is shading yourself from the sun. It's a little weird to realize, then, that this massive 14.6-inch slab of glass is a third of a pound lighter than the Surface — and it's made of Armor Aluminum, which promises to be rugged and more scratch-resistant than the Galaxy S7, too.

Front cameras, though, do matter, especially in a Zoom-centric world. It's interesting to note that most laptops offers a 1Mpixel user-facing camera, while the Tab S8's user-facing cameras are all 12Mpixels. And yes, the images and video they capture look great. Why wouldn't they, from a company that sells phones, often on the strength of the phones' camera? According to Danielle Moten, Samsung's senior manager of product management, there are new software controls to disable the camera for privacy's sake—although, the hardware shutters that some laptops offer are still a superior solution.

What quickly becomes clear is that these new Tabs work best with a keyboard attached. Samsung provides a number of them. What it calls the Book Cover Keyboard, made of “premium antimicrobial polyurethane,” connects to the Tab via a magnetic connection, offering a full-size keyboard and glass touchpad. I found it to be surprisingly good: comfortable and responsive. A separate, detachable portion provides a kickstand that seemed sturdy enough.

Samsung didn't provide pricing for its keyboards, however. However, customers who pre-order Galaxy Tab S8 and S8+ from Samsung.com can receive a free Slim Book Cover Keyboard, Samsung said.
Customers who pre-order Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra will receive a free Backlit Book Cover Keyboard.

Interestingly, the Tab series offers you two ways to work, powered by its One UI Tab 4 user interface. The first, the more conventional way of launching Android apps, allows you to launch a single app across the breadth of the screen, naturally. But you can now fill the screen with three apps—one snapped in portrait mode on one side of the screen, and two smaller landscape windows on the other portion. Interestingly, this is pretty much how I work, with one main screen and two smaller windows across a second display. (I actually use a third display, too.) It's a fairly natural way to break up several apps across multiple windows. Swiping with three fingers switches between app desktops, too.

Mark Hachman / IDG

I didn't see as much improvement in DeX, Samsung's more business-oriented workspace. DeX swaps spanned application windows for more Windows-like windows that can be moved around the screen, and it can now be used in portrait mode, too. The updated version offers more transparency between the windows. I'll have to try it out more if and when we receive review units.

The inking experience, though, really impressed me. Measuring how well a device inks is a relatively straightforward process, asking three basic questions: Does the ink meet the pen's nib, or is it offset? Is there noticeable latency? And is there jitter when you ink, producing a wavy line even when using a straight edge? I didn't notice much latency at all. When inking, however, the inked line wasn't offset in the slightest. Even more impressively, there was hardly any discernible jitter at all, even inking slowly on a diagonal—far better performance than I've seen on any tablet from any manufacturer.

Mark Hachman / IDG

I was unable to test some of the Tab's other features, such as video playback, how well it connects to a PC as a second screen, and how well the face recognition and fingerprint scanner work. (The fingerprint scanner is mounted in the display on the Tab S8 Ultra and S8+, and in the power button on the S8.) We'll have to save those things for a review.

At $1,099 (and most likely $1,299 or $1,399 for the versions with increased memory and storage, plus possibly more for the keyboard cover), the Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra certainly approaches laptop pricing territory. What I found surprising is that the proposition doesn't seem that far-fetched.

Dominic Bayley / IDG