The software and apps available on the Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 tablet are a very important part of the tablet experience. From using core apps like What’s App and Instagram to more advanced features like changing the refresh rate on the tablet or even using Google apps like Google Duo and the search engine itself, 

There are a lot of apps we use in our everyday lives that make life easier for us, and they are usually present on all of our phones and tablets. So, in this article, I’ll be discussing the apps and software that you will typically see on the Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 and how they impact our everyday lives. 

Related posts to read: Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Review.

OS and UI 

In short, the OS is important to the tablet because it is what all the other apps operate from, and they can’t work without it. While the UI is important because it is what we use to interact with our phones and tablets, it is also what allows us to interface with and interact with all of the apps that take centre stage on our phones. One can’t work without the other, or better yet, we can’t use the tablet without making use of both of them. 

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 is shipped with Android 12 OS and additional Samsung software, such as a modified user interface, enhanced compatibility with other Samsung devices, and proprietary applications like Samsung Notes. Moreover, it has One UI 4.1 from Samsung as its user interface. It has, however, received the Android 12L update, which gives the gadget several new features made for larger screens.

The Galaxy Tab S8 offers Samsung DeX for a PC-like computing interface in addition to strong support for split-screen multitasking. Some people can find this mode useful, especially for business or productivity tasks. The ability to copy text from your Galaxy S22 phone and paste it on the Tab S8 Plus or to easily share accessories like Bluetooth keyboards or Galaxy Buds is one of my favourite aspects of the Galaxy line of products. 

The use of these tools is flawless and improves the experience of owning various Samsung ecosystem devices. Despite this, certain significant restrictions come with using an Android tablet that Samsung’s DeX cannot overcome.

Android 12 

Google’s brand-new design language for 2021, “Material You,” will be implemented in the majority of Android 12’s features. The company redesigned the whole user interface, giving Android perhaps its largest visual makeover ever. Android 12 is, in Google’s words, the “most personal OS ever.” When touched, the platform now has new animations and dynamic, moving colours. Many of the widgets were redesigned by Google with the user in mind, and it made sure to add extra accessibility features to aid those with impaired vision.

One UI 4

Customization is one of One UI 4’s main features. The personalization possibilities for both the home and lock screens in One UI 4 this year are the most obvious differences. Widgets have been refreshed with a fresh new style that matches Android 12’s “Material You” design overhaul, beginning with the home screen. 

The appearance of widgets has been flattened and rounded, and some widgets—like the dual clock—now switch between bright and dark modes in accordance with the time of day. These widgets won’t change their colour to match the background like Material You does, but who knows, that might change in the future.

Pre Installed Apps 

Samsung prides itself on being able to provide as much as Google can and always seems to try to design its UI and apps to be in direct competition with Google. I don’t know if they do this to spite Google or if they eventually want to leave Google. Either way, Samsung has a few pre-installed apps that will always be running on their phones, and most of the time they are just bloatware.

It might be challenging to determine which of the many preinstalled apps on Samsung devices are essential. It’s simple to delete Samsung apps, but it’s equally simple to discover that the app you destroyed was essential to the operation of your phone. I’ll walk you through them even though, as a general rule, any software that allows you to delete it using the conventional manner is probably secure.

You can remove the following apps from your Samsung Galaxy Tab S8:

Smart Switch

• Samsung Pass
• SmartThings
• Samsung Members
• Samsung Wallet
• Samsung DeX
• Game Launcher
• Samsung Kids
• Samsung Health
• Samsung Global Goals
• Galaxy Store
• Find My Mobile
• Samsung Internet
• Samsung Health Monitor
• Samsung Cloud
• PENUP
• Galaxy Themes
• Microsoft Office
• Samsung Notes
• Microsoft Outlook
• Bixby
• LinkedIn

Samsung makes it a habit of pre-installing a lot of apps on your phone, and for some strange reason, they put so many of them. I don’t know if it is a requirement or if they do it just to mess with us. A friend of mine at the office has a theory; he believes that Samsung is paid to load some of these extra apps that most of us won’t use. I tend to agree with this because what exactly am I going to do with Microsoft Outlook? 

Google Apps and Services

With any good Android device, Google will also install some of their own apps onto the phone. However, unlike Samsung, I actually find the app selection from Google to be very useful. I also like how they have organised their apps into one neat Google folder. I feel everything feels connected with Google, and Android 12 only makes the experience smoother. 

As far as apps and services go, Google has a nice assortment for you to pick from; you have the basic ones like Gmail, Google Drive, the Google search widget, Google Maps, Google Keyboard, Google Files, Docs, Sheets, Google Duo, Google Chat, and YouTube. 

I don’t use all of these apps, but the ones I do use are always impressive. Since the Android 12L update for tablets, a lot of their apps have become more optimised to fit the entire screen. Although Google still has a few apps I don’t like and think should be removed, apps like Google News seem very irrelevant, and I won’t lie to you—I can’t remember the last time I used Google News for anything. 

Another app I don’t like is Google Assistant, which is much like Bixby on Samsung. Google has its own voice-activated assistant, and I hate it. It never tracks my voice properly, and it always feels like a wild goose chase when I try to get it to turn on an app. Google needs to work on that.

Third-Party Apps

If you are looking for third-party apps that aren’t made by either Google or Samsung, then you can just head down to their app stores and find what you are looking for. There are almost an unlimited number of apps available on the Play Store or Samsung’s App Store, from games like Chess and Subway Surfers to productivity apps like Clip Studio Paint and Adobe Photoshop. You can also find simple social media apps like Instagram, TikTok, WhatsApp, Telegram, and even Snapchat (does anyone still use Snapchat?).

Sideloaded Apps 

“Sideloading” often refers to the process of putting an APK-format application package onto an Android device. These files are typically downloaded from places other than Google Play, the official app store.

To install sideloaded apps from other sources, please follow these steps; 

Step 1: Go to the Settings menu. Step 2: Select Security and Privacy. Step 3: Enable sideloading by tapping the toggle next to “Apps from Unknown Sources.”

Software Updates and Support 

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 family has received the same level of system and security updates from Samsung as the Galaxy S22 smartphones. That entails five years of security patches and four years of OS upgrades. That should distinguish the Tab S8 family from other Android tablets and represent an industry-leading posture.

A two-year guarantee is provided for the Samsung Galaxy Tab S8. With its Care+ plan, which varies in price depending on the region, Samsung also provides additional insurance against damage and theft.

Conclusion 

The software and apps on the Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 are always available and should give you the best levels of performance. With five years of security patches and four years of OS upgrades promised by Samsung, you should be able to use this phone for a very long time. Thank you so much for reading this article. Please feel free to ask as many questions as you want because I’m very eager to answer them.

Useful Links:

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References:

• About the Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Tablet.
• About the Samsung Galaxy.