The Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra is an incredible tablet on its own. So do you really need its $349 keyboard accessory? Let's take a closer look and see.

By Joe MaringPublishedShareTweetEmail

The Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra is the most powerful tablet Samsung's ever made, and if you want to make it even more functional, the $349 Book Cover Keyboard might be a tempting accessory. But do you really need it? Tablets have come a long way in a handful of years. In the days of the early iPads and Android tablets, they were relegated to movie watching, gaming, and web browsing. Today, they can be full-on laptop replacements.

This is a point Samsung's really trying to make with the Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra. Released in February 2022, the Tab S8 Ultra has every flagship spec imaginable. There's a 14.6-inch AMOLED display, Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 processor, up to 16GB of RAM, two front-facing cameras, and a gigantic 11,200 mAh battery. It's a bit overkill for streaming Netflix and playing Call of Duty: Mobile, but that's because Samsung envisions the Tab S8 Ultra as being used for so much more.

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One of the ways Samsung is marketing the Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra is as a laptop replacement. While the tablet doesn't come with a keyboard in the box, Samsung does sell an optional accessory called the 'Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra Book Cover Keyboard.' It's a $349 accessory that adds a physical keyboard to the Tab S8 Ultra, making it look and feel like a traditional laptop. But with the Tab S8 Ultra already starting at $1099, is this additional $349 accessory actually worth it?

Why You Do (And Don't) Need The Book Cover Keyboard

What's interesting about the Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra Book Cover Keyboard is that it's actually two accessories in one. The first part is a protective cover that magnetically attaches to the back of the Tab S8 Ultra. Along with adding a protective layer and covered housing for the S Pen, it also has an adjustable kickstand for propping the Tab S8 Ultra up on a table/desk.

After attaching the back cover and extending the kickstand, users can then attach the included keyboard to the bottom of the Tab S8 Ultra. And what a keyboard it is. It has large and backlit keys, a full function row at the top, and even a built-in trackpad at the bottom. Furthermore, attaching the keyboard automatically enables DeX mode on the Tab S8 Ultra. DeX swaps out the normal Android UI for something that looks like a Windows desktop — including PC-like web browsing, the ability to run apps in multiple windows, and more. When you're done using the keyboard, you can close it up to fully protect the Tab S8 Ultra, or detach it and keep using the tablet with the protective cover on the back.

Is all of that worth $349? That really depends on what you're using the Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra for. If someone's buying the tablet to browse the web, watch movies, and draw with the S Pen, the Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra Book Cover Keyboard probably isn't needed. However, if you're trying to use the Tab S8 Ultra as a productivity machine for typing documents, managing emails, and responding to Slack messages, the Book Cover Keyboard is well worth considering. The best part? The Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra Book Cover Keyboard is free for a limited time. Simply head to Samsung's website, pre-order the Tab S8 Ultra before February 25, and the Book Cover Keyboard is included as a free accessory. That offer won't be around forever, so if you're planning on buying the S8 Ultra and want a keyboard to go with it, you better act fast.

Next: Galaxy Tab S8 Vs. Galaxy Tab S7

Source: Samsung

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Joe has been actively writing and talking about consumer tech since 2012. His biggest passion lies with smartphones, but he's happy to talk your ear off about just about anything with a CPU. He lives in Kalamazoo, MI with hiswife, two cats, and pit bull/boxer mix.