The Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra could be a laptop replacement if it weren’t for the Book Cover Keyboard

If you are certainly one of the madlads that sprung for Samsung’s largest tablet, the Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra, then you definitely most likely are the form of one who needs to get some paintings achieved someday. Whether that is checking and responding to emails, or perhaps simply having the ability to have a laptop-sized show to far off get right of entry to your PC while you are clear of house. No topic the explanation why, it’s most likely that you just even have regarded as choosing up Samsung’s Book Cover Keyboard to head with it.

In our evaluate of the Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra, I made a few feedback about this keyboard and a few of the frustrations that you just will have to be expecting. Considering the sheer dimension of this tablet, pairing it with a keyboard is nearly a should, as it can be a bit too bulky to carry and use like you possibly can with one thing like the Galaxy Tab S8 and even the Tab S8 Plus. But then there is the complete DeX side of those tablets, which lets you ditch the comically unoptimized Android interface for one thing this is if truth be told helpful.

In my time with this tablet and the accompanying Book Cover Keyboard, I got here to the realization that Samsung is doing the whole thing it can to emulate Apple in some shape or model. No topic what iPad you need to get, rather than the new iPad Mini, Apple provides a keyboard case to pair with the iPad of your selection. Samsung is taking place the identical direction, however the Book Cover Keyboard for the Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra is somewhat other in comparison to the Tab S8 and S8 Plus.

With the ones smaller tablets, Samsung opted for a extra conventional technique to the keyboard as you’ll be able to simply fold the case again, prop up the tablet, and feature speedy get right of entry to to the keyboard. But with the Ultra, it appears this wasn’t an possibility, as Samsung as a substitute opted for a Microsoft Surface method with the integrated again quilt that comes with a integrated adjustable kickstand, whilst the tablet itself “docks” into the removable keyboard.

While I’ve realized over the years that this genre is not actually for me, I used to be hoping that the keyboard itself would make up for the stand. In many ways it has, and others it hasn’t.

Price and availability

The Samsung Book Cover Keyboard retails for $350 and comprises a e book quilt case and a keyboard. On its personal, the e book quilt case totals in at round $100, which necessarily costs the remainder of the ensemble at necessarily $250. You can get the Samsung Book Cover Keyboard without delay from Samsung or Best Buy.

What I appreciated

As somebody who spends maximum in their day typing away on other computer systems or tablets, it’s essential to have a keyboard this is at ease to sort on. It’s why I transfer between the chiclet-style keys from Apple’s Magic Keyboard and certainly one of the many mechanical keyboards that I’ve in my arsenal. The Tab S8 Ultra is nearer to the Magic Keyboard with its chiclet-style, however nonetheless supplies sufficient go back and forth and comments that I do not really feel like I’m typing on a flat piece of plastic. Every keystroke is correctly registered and the keys are spaced in such a method that I do not really feel like I’ve to succeed in too a ways to hit keys like delete or break out.

Part of the price related to the Book Cover Keyboard is available in since you are supplied with the again quilt case with the adjustable stand. While I discussed that I’m now not a large fan of the Surface kickstand, it’s now not all that unhealthy, and does fold a ways again sufficient to stay the Tab S8 Ultra propped up at slight perspective if I’m the usage of the tablet to take some notes.

In true Samsung model, the corporate has carried out a few other shortcuts that make it simple to understand what you’ll be able to do with the keyboard without having to depend on the touchscreen or trackpad. Simply urgent Cmd + / in any app will floor the shortcuts which might be to be had for no matter app you might be lately the usage of. Then, there are the APP shortcuts in the serve as row that may be re-programmed to open any app of your opting for. This makes it extraordinarily simple to release your most-used or favourite apps, which is unquestionably a great contact.

Another extraordinarily helpful characteristic of the Book Cover Keyboard is the integrated backlight. It may also be adjusted with a aggregate of Fn + F12, making it very best for the ones overdue nights the place you do not want to activate a bunch of lighting fixtures however wish to nonetheless be in a position to peer the keys.

The largest reason I really like the keyboard is on account of the typing enjoy and the proven fact that I will move from tablet mode to DeX mode simply by connecting the keyboard. There’s a surroundings that permits DeX once the keyboard connects to the tablet, so I will get proper to paintings without having to mess around with the settings and even dive into the Quick Settings toggles.

What I did not like

As somebody who’s repeatedly seeking to tweak their work-life steadiness, particularly running from house, there are occasions after I simply need to take a seat on my sofa and get some writing achieved in the front room. It was once straight away obvious that this keyboard isn’t supposed for that. You can inform proper out of the field, however it’s simply extraordinarily flimsy and will simply be contorted even with no need your wrists resting on the palm rests and the tablet propped up in your legs.

Typing is not such a lot the drawback, as it’s unquestionably a bit bulky every now and then, however as a substitute it’s the trackpad. Oh, the trackpad. If there is any flex in the keyboard in any respect, get able for misclicks when attempting to make use of the Tab S8 Ultra on the rest rather than a flat floor. I used to be actually hoping that I might be in a position to depart my MacBook Pro in its dock and use the Tab S8 Ultra in all places else clear of my table however it’s simply now not strong sufficient.

As I used to be running in this piece, the trackpad additionally simply stopped responding for a few seconds. I have not been in a position to determine precisely why this occurs once in a while, however it’s extraordinarily irritating to mention the least. And there is the complete “lengthen” that you must maintain when waking up the keyboard if it is going into sleep mode to maintain battery existence. Press any of the keys or faucet on the trackpad and there is a lengthen prior to it if truth be told wakes. But the worst section is that if you are in a phrase processor of any sort, the ones key presses will ultimately sign in which is solely any other frustration.

Sure, I could simply get a kind of lap table stands and use that to take a look at and paintings whilst sitting someplace rather than my table or a desk. But that isn’t the level, and I’m now not going to throw the lap table factor into my backpack simply so I will use my tablet’s keyboard if I’m clear of house or don’t need to take a seat at a desk. It’s simply extraordinarily disappointing for an differently forged enjoy.

The Samsung Book Cover Keyboard comes with the e book quilt case and the keyboard, and totals at $350. On its personal, the e book quilt case retails for round $100, making the remainder of the ensemble necessarily $250. This is unquestionably a steep value, however it’s arduous to argue when Apple’s iPad Pro Magic Keyboard is available in at the identical $350 and does not come with a again quilt that may be got rid of and used simply with the tablet. Where the value does come into query is whilst you notice that Apple’s Magic Keyboard has no such flexibility problems as you’ll be able to use the iPad just about anyplace, and should not have to fret about the trackpad unintentionally registering clicks on every occasion the keyboard deck is even somewhat flexed.

Should you purchase the Book Cover Keyboard?

If you could not already surmise, there is nearly no circumstance the place I might suggest this keyboard to any individual. In truth, I might have already returned mine if it weren’t for the proven fact that the Book Cover Case continues to head out and in of inventory and that’s a lot more essential to me than the keyboard portion of the set. I would not essentially say that I paid $350 simply to have the again quilt with kickstand, as I do use the keyboard when I’m at a table at house or at a native espresso store. It’s simply the ones “in-between” instances the place the keyboard belongs in the bin.

I’m keeping out hope that Brydge finally ends up making a keyboard replacement for the Tab S8 Ultra, however it does not actually appear as even though that may come to fruition. This leaves me having a look for different replacements and the choices are actually narrow outdoor of piecemealing in combination a answer. I’ve in the end reached the level that I in large part do not even trouble the usage of Samsung’s Book Cover Keyboard until I’m heading out to a espresso store.

Instead, my Tab S8 Ultra setup is composed of the following:

• Book Cover Case
• Logitech MX Keys Mini
• Logitech MX Master 3 or MX Anywhere 2S

Not simplest is that this certainly one of the easiest exterior keyboards and does make for an more straightforward answer if I wish to use the Tab S8 Ultra with DeX Mode on a greater track, however all of the identical keyboard shortcuts are to be had, and Logitech’s mouse choices are merely superior. Plus, there is the added advantage of now not desiring to be repeatedly reminded that I just about threw cash down the drain in this aggregate.