There are two new challengers for a spot on our best Android tablets list, as Samsung has launched the Galaxy Tab S11 and Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra. Unveiled as part of Samsung's IFA announcements, these two premium tablets are equipped with a number of upgrades that have got me excited to try them again, with all the apps I need for work, so I can see how close they come to replacing my laptop.
The Galaxy Tab S11 (from $799 / £799 / AU$1,399) measures 11 inches, while the Ultra remains a massive 14.6 inches. But while its display is expansive, the Tab S11 Ultra (starting at $1,199 / £1,199 / AU$2,099) is the slimmest Galaxy Tab that Samsung's yet produced, measuring 5.1mm (0.2 inches) thick. It's lighter than the last generation too, at 692 grams (24.4 ounces).
The 469g (16.5 ounces), 11-inch model may not be a record-breaker like the Ultra is, but it's still a welcome sight, as Samsung only produced the Galaxy Tab S10 series in Plus and Ultra variants. Given that the rival iPad Pro offers both 11-inch and 13-inch versions, and the OnePlus Pad 3, our current best Android tablet, doesn't have a small version, Samsung is smart to corner this niche.
Galaxy Tab S11 |
Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra |
|
Starting price |
$799 / £799 / AU$1,399 |
$1,199 / £1,199 / AU$2,099 |
Display |
11-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X (2,560 x 1,600) |
14.6-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X with anti-reflection layer (2,960 x 1,848) |
Refresh rate |
120Hz adaptive |
120Hz adaptive |
Chipset |
Dimensity 9400 Plus |
Dimensity 9400 Plus |
RAM |
12GB |
12GB, 16GB (with 1TB storage) |
Storage |
128GB, 256GB, 512GB / Expandable up to 2TB |
256GB, 512GB, 1TB / Expandable up to 2TB |
Cameras |
13MP rear, 12MP front |
13MP main and 8MP ultrawide rear, 12MP front |
Battery |
8,400 mAh |
11,600 mAh |
Charging |
45W wired |
45W wired |
Operating system |
Android 16 with One UI 8 |
Android 16 with One UI 8 |
Size |
9.99 x 6.51 x 0.22 inches |
12.85 x 8.21 x 0.20 inches |
Weight |
469g / 1.06 pounds |
692 grams / 1.52 pounds |
Dust/water resistance |
IP68 |
IP68 |
Colors |
Gray, Silver |
Gray, Silver |
Samsung promises up to 1,600 nits of brightness from these tablets' AMOLED 2X displays, which should keep Samsung's slates at the top of the tablet brightness charts. And there's a little more display space to appreciate that brightness on the Ultra, as it now has a new, smaller notch design (albeit with one fewer camera).
To accompany these tablets, Samsung has a redesigned S Pen, with a hexagonal barrel and a solid cone tip. It's a big change from previous, soft-tipped S Pens, and there's no longer a magnetic strip on the back to store it on either. But for users familiar with the Apple Pencil on the best iPads, this should feel quite comfortable.
For multitaskers, Samsung has made some upgrades to the Tab S11's DeX desktop mode. With a monitor attached, you can now expand your workspace, rather than just mirror it, with Extended mode. And if you want even more space, DeX now supports up to four workspaces to arrange your apps across.
Samsung's Galaxy AI features benefit from the tablet's large screen. Like the Galaxy Z Fold 7, Google Gemini can now be used in a movable overlay, allowing you to place the output from your ever-ready chatbot where you need it as you switch between apps. And features like Drawing Assist are definitely at their best when used with a stylus on a large canvas.
More traditional productivity apps, like Notion, Goodnotes, LumaFusion and Clip Studio Paint, come pre-installed on the Tab S11 series, and with bonuses like templates or free trials as a deal-sweetener. Samsung's clearly still keen on users trying to use their tablets more like laptops, in case the upgrades to DeX didn't make that clear.
Driving the Tab S11 is a Dimensity 9400 Plus chipset, the first 3nm chip Samsung has used on a tablet. The result of this new chip is apparently performance increases of 24% for the CPU, 27% for the GPU and 33% for the NPU over the Tab S10.
Users can opt for 128GB, 256GB or 512GB of storage for the Galaxy Tab S11, and pick from 256GB, 512GB and 1TB in the case of the Tab S11 Ultra. By default, the tablets are Wi-Fi only, but 5G can be optionally added to any model for a little extra cash.
Our full review of the Galaxy Tab S11 series is on the way, but the specs and feature list alone show Samsung is serious about reclaiming its crown as the iPad Pro alternative of choice.
The productivity potential, between the updates to DeX, the redesigned S Pen and of course the new chipset, looks higher than ever, but anyone wanting the best tablet for their money should still find that the Tab S11 or Tab S11 Ultra can easily handle the basics of browsing and streaming.
But this isn't all that Samsung is announcing at IFA. For instance, take a look at the Galaxy S25 FE, Samsung's new entry-level flagship phone.
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