Early indications are that the Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 series of tablets is proving very popular with consumers: pre-orders on the standard Galaxy Tab S8 and Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra are now halted in the US while Samsung takes a break.

XDA Developers spotted the development and received a comment from Samsung, revealing that the pre-order pause was due to “overwhelming demand” in the first 48 hours the tablets were available to order in advance.

“We are delighted with the consumer response to our new Galaxy Tab S8 lineup,” Samsung said. “We are working quickly to keep up with consumer enthusiasm and demand. Please stay tuned for more updates.”

Press pause

There’s no word yet on whether pre-orders will reopen in the US before the devices officially go on sale on February 25. For now, the Galaxy Tab S8 Plus is still available for pre-order, but that might not be the case for long.

We’ve heard no reports of pre-orders stopping outside of the US, and at the time of writing all models are still in stock and available to pre-order in the UK.

With manufacturers facing global chip shortages until at least next year, it’s perhaps unsurprising that Samsung is having availability issues with its new tablets, but let’s hope they don’t last. long time.

Analysis: Android tablet fans are here

The news that Samsung had to suspend pre-orders on the Galaxy Tab S8 and Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra suggests that the demand is there when it comes to Android tablets – as long as manufacturers are ready to deliver premium products in this category.

For a long time, Apple’s iPads have been the benchmark for those interested in tablet form factor, and Apple has done a good job of covering multiple price points and sizes with its lineup – see the iPad mini, the iPad Pro and soon. There are always the Amazon Fire tablets if you’re on a budget.

But the same benefits you get from an Android phone are also true for Android tablets: more customization options, fewer restrictions, and not being locked into the Apple ecosystem. It’s a shame that hardware and software have let potential Android tablet buyers down in recent years.

Hopefully the arrival of the Android 12L and Galaxy Tab S8 series heralds the start of a truly competitive Android tablet market, although other companies will also have to rise and be counted with their own high-end Android slates. .