Every year around this time, Samsung unveils new versions of its flagship Galaxy Tab S series tablets. For the past couple of years, the updates have been modest improvements, and this year’s Galaxy Tab S11 is no different. There are some notable advancements, though, including a more powerful processor and a slightly slimmer design, which make an already impressive Android tablet that much better.
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One big change: While the Tab S11 line still comes in two sizes, Samsung kept the jumbo 14.6-inch Ultra but dropped the 12.4-inch Plus in favor of a smaller, more affordable 11-inch model. I like that move, as I tend to find the 14.6-inch model a little too big (and expensive) for my needs and prefer the more compact 11-inch size to the 12.4-inch size.
The price for the S11 Ultra hasn’t changed. It starts at $1,200 with 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage. As for the 11-inch Tab S11, it starts at $800 with the same amount of RAM and storage. Both models retain their microSD card slots, so you can easily add more storage by buying a microSD card with up to a 2TB capacity (that’s up from the 1.5TB capacity cards that the Tab S10 supported).
Slightly slimmer and lighter with smaller bezels
Samsung also highlights that both tablets are now slightly thinner and lighter than their predecessors. The Ultra’s gone from 5.4 millimeters thick to 5.1 mm, while its bezel is now 5.2 mm compared to 5.3 mm for the Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra. And its weight has gone from 718 grams to 692 grams. The Tab S11 is now 5.5 mm thick, compared to 5.9 mm for the Galaxy Tab S9. Its bezel has gone from 5.9 mm to 5.5 mm, and its weight has dropped from 498 grams (for the Tab S9) to 482 grams.
Those are relatively small changes, but the devices are a tad slimmer and lighter, and Samsung has also managed to cram a slightly larger battery into the Ultra: it’s 11,600 milliamp hours compared to 11,200 mAh for the Tab S10. The Tab S11 has the same 8,400-mAh battery capacity found in the Tab S9.
As for cameras, both models have a 12-megapixel front cam and a 13-megapixel rear camera. The Ultra adds a second 8-megapixel ultrawide camera on the back. In contrast, the Tab S10 Ultra has a 13-megapixel and 8-megapixel ultrawide rear camera and a 12-megapixel ultrawide front camera, so the new model is missing the 12-megapixel ultrawide front camera.
Sorry for throwing all those numbers at you, but when it comes to tablets these days, specs really do matter. So I’ll keep them coming — wrapping up with a few that highlight the most significant upgrades.
Processor and screen brightness upgrades
Both models are powered by a Mediatek Dimensity 9400 Plus processor that Samsung says has 24% faster CPU performance, 27% faster GPU performance and 33% faster NPU performance compared to the Mediatek 9400 chip in the Tab S10 Series. NPU stands for neural processing unit, which helps drive AI performance and machine learning tasks. In my limited time with the Tab S11 Ultra, I noticed that the AI processing seemed a little zippier.
Samsung used to use Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite processors in its flagship tablets, but shifted to Mediatek chips for last year’s Tab S10, which some people were upset about. We haven’t benchmarked the Tab S11 yet, but the current flagship Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 4 processor does have strong CPU performance. On the other hand, its GPU performance typically isn’t quite as good as the Mediatek Dimensity 9400 Plus, and it runs hotter and is slightly less energy efficient. So each processor has its pros and cons, and I’ll end up comparing the Tab S11 to the OnePlus Pad 3, which has a different aspect ratio but is equipped with a Snapdragon 8 Elite 4 processor and is currently on sale for $649.
The other significant upgrade appears to be in the screen brightness. Both models now offer 1,600 nits peak brightness versus 930 nits peak brightness for the Tab S10. And I should add that the displays are AMOLED, not LCD, with 120Hz refresh rates, so these really are top-of-the-line tablet displays. The resolution of the Tab S11 Ultra’s display is 2960 x 1848 (240 ppi) while the Tab S11’s screen resolution is 2560 x 1600 (275 PPI). By comparison, Apple’s 13-inch iPad Pro’s display offers 2752 x 2064-pixel resolution at 264 ppi while the specs for the 11-inch iPad Pro’s display are listed as 2420 x1668-pixel resolution at 264 ppi.
I should also point out that the larger Tab S11 Ultra has an extra antiglare coating on it, while the 11-inch model doesn’t. Both screens have antireflective qualities, but with a huge 14.6-inch display, it helps to have a little more antiglare tech.
The last hardware change is to the S Pen. It’s been redesigned with a hexagonal grip and a new, larger cone-shaped tip that offers better control. The S Pen is included with the tablet, which is good, though you’ll have to pay extra for a case or keyboard case.
A handful of feature updates that’ll also come to Tab S10
The other changes are software-related, with upgrades to Samsung’s DeX mode, which stands for «desktop experience.» This mode gives the tablet a more PC-like interface and allows you to connect a TV or monitor as well as a Bluetooth keyboard and mouse. Samsung has made it easier to jump into DeX mode, letting you create a true dual-monitor setup with support for multiple screens and up to four customized workspaces.
Samsung has also created a shortcut wheel interface when you’re using the S Pen, making it easier to access certain features. Both of these new features will come to the Tab S10 models with a software update later this year, so they’re not exclusive to the Tab S11.
That’s pretty much the new Tab S11 models in a nutshell. Once I get review samples, I’ll run benchmarks and dive into more hands-on testing and comparisons with other premium Android tablets.
As always, take those list prices with a grain of salt, as Samsung frequently offers discounts and device trade-in options to bring them down. That should be the case this time around, too.
