8.4/ 10 SCORE Samsung Galaxy Tab S11 Pros
Sleek design with slim bezel
Just 5.1mm thick
Top-notch OLED display screen with 120 Hz refresh fee
Speedy efficiency
Good battery life
Upgraded S Pen included
7 years of Android help
Waterproof with an IP68 score
Cons
Expensive
Larger 14.6-inch Tab S11 Ultra works higher as a laptop computer substitute
DeX (desktop) mode is improved however I had hassle wirelessly connecting to a Samsung monitor
When it involves tablets, the perfect dimension is debatable. When Samsung first launched its 14.6-inch Galaxy Tab 8 Ultra again in 2022, CNET’s Josh Goldman described it as a “gigantic premium tablet” with some “killer specs.” It appeared nice for sure functions, equivalent to gaming, however he lamented that from a laptop-replacement standpoint, it wasn’t a Chrome OS-powered Chromebook however ran on Android as an alternative. It was additionally fairly costly.Three generations later, that jumbo 14.6-inch mannequin continues to be round with the Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra ($1,200), however Samsung has additionally introduced again the smaller, extra inexpensive 11-inch mannequin ($800) and ditched the in-between 12.4-inch dimension. I just like the 11-inch model greatest. The 14.6-inch mannequin is a little bit too huge and costly for my wants. So when Samsung reps mentioned they’d a restricted variety of overview samples — and that they may solely ship one mannequin — I opted for the 11-inch Galaxy Tab S11. After testing it for a few month, utilizing it on a few journeys and bringing it to the workplace often, I’m glad I made that alternative. It’s simply simpler to hold round. Samsung Galaxy Tab S11 CPU ARM v8 octa-core 3.73GHz, 3.3GHz, 2.4GHzReminiscence 12GBBattery 128GB inner, microSD as much as 2TBDisplay 2,560×1,600 pixels, 11-inch, 120Hz, Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 275 ppiBattery 8,400 mAh / 45 wattsCamera 13-megapixel rear, 12-megapixel ultrawide frontNetwork Wi-Fi 6EWeight 1.06 kilos (480 grams)OS Android 16.0, One Ul 8 Read extra: Best Tablets of 2025
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The 14.6-inch Tab S11 Ultra alongside the Tab S11, which has an 11-inch display screen. David Carnoy/CNETIn my first overview of the Galaxy Tab S11 line, I spent lots of time analyzing the variations between this 12 months’s S11 and final 12 months’s S10 fashions. There are some notable developments, together with a extra highly effective processor that makes the pill really feel about 25% zippier general, a slimmer design and a better peak brightness for his or her shows, that are fairly spectacular. Beyond that, the variations are modest; see the tip of this overview for a full comparability.The dearer 14.6 Tab S11 Ultra begins at 256GB of storage, whereas the usual 11-inch Tab S11 begins at 128GB; upgrading to 265GB will value you $60. Both retain their microSD card slots, so you possibly can simply add extra storage by shopping for a microSD card with as much as a 2TB capability. That’s up from the 1.5TB capability playing cards that the Tab S10 supported.
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The Tab S11 has a single digicam on again whereas the Tab S11 Ultra has an additional digicam on the again however leaves off the additional entrance digicam that was on the Tab S10 Ultra. Samsung’s new Galaxy S25 FE smartphone is within the picture for dimension comparability. David Carnoy/CNETSamsung Galaxy Tab S11 designI’m unsure if there is a sleeker Android pill on the market. Its 5.1mm thickness matches that of Apple’s 13-inch iPad Pro M5 ($1,299), and it retains the Tab S10’s IP68 score, which implies it is dust-proof and waterproof (it may be submerged in as much as 5 ft of water for 30 minutes). It’s additionally geared up with the Tab 10’s Armor Aluminum Frame, which is meant to assist forestall scratches and dings in case you drop the pill. I did not drop-test it, and usually encourage folks to get a case.The bigger Tab S11 Ultra nonetheless has a digicam notch, which some folks weren’t completely satisfied about. But the smaller Tab S11 would not have a notch and as an alternative has a totally uninterrupted show, with the front-facing digicam hidden within the bezel. Slim and light-weight however not glare-free. David Carnoy/CNETAs I mentioned, the Tab S11’s sharp, vibrant show is likely one of the highlights. Both Tab S11 fashions now supply 1,600 nits peak brightness versus 930 nits peak brightness for the Tab S10, which might help with outside viewing. They have OLED 2X shows with 120Hz refresh charges, which implies they’ve deeper black ranges and higher distinction than LCD. The decision of the Tab S11 Ultra’s show is 2,960×1,848 pixels, whereas the Tab S11’s display screen decision is 2,560×1,600. However, the Tab S11’s display screen is 275 ppi, whereas the Tab S11 Ultra’s is 240 ppi. That means the Tab S11’s display screen appears to be like a little bit sharper.By comparability, Apple’s 13-inch iPad Pro M5’s OLED show gives 2,752×2,064-pixel decision at 264 ppi, whereas the specs for the 11-inch iPad Pro’s ($999) show are listed as 2,420×1,668-pixel decision at 264 ppi.Despite the anti-glare expertise baked into the Tab S11’s display screen, I nonetheless noticed some glare points when utilizing the pill, notably outdoor in vibrant daylight. Note that the anti-glare coating on the step-up 14.6-inch Tab S11 Ultra is certainly a coating and is prone to being scratched off. Our social editor discovered that out when she unboxed final 12 months’s Tab S10 Ultra and by accident put a small however noticeable scratch mark on the display screen’s floor (the glass wasn’t scratched, simply the coating). I’m unsure the coating is such an incredible thought, and I’m glad the smaller Tab 11 leaves it off.Noticeably speedier efficiencyWhen you purchase a brand new pill or PC, it tends to really feel rather a lot zippier than the earlier mannequin you had, particularly if it is three or 4 years outdated. When I purchased my Galaxy Tab S8 Plus three years in the past, it appeared fairly darn zippy. But once I evaluate the expertise of utilizing it now to utilizing the Tab S11, the Tab S8 Plus feels downright sluggish. It’s nonetheless advantageous for lots of what I do with it, together with primary productiveness duties, streaming video and Xbox Cloud gaming with Game Pass Ultimate. But it simply feels a little bit laggy. I’m actually tempted to commerce in my Tab S8 Plus for a Tab S11. (Samsung is providing $450 as a trade-in worth of the S8 Plus.)The Dimensity 9400 Plus includes a Cortex X925 core clocked at 3.73 GHz with a 12-core ARM Immortalis G925 GPU. While you may also really feel a distinction between utilizing a Tab S11 and the Tab S10 Plus, it isn’t almost as vital a leap, which is why I do not suppose it is value upgrading if you have already got a Tab S10 Plus or Tab S10 Ultra. Samsung, like lots of different corporations, is inserting a larger emphasis on AI options, and you’ll actually sense the NPU efficiency bump everytime you have interaction these AI options.
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With sure video games, now you can max out the graphic settings at body charges increased than 60fps. David Carnoy/CNETOn Geekbench 6, which measures uncooked CPU energy, the Galaxy Tab S11 scored 2,763 on the single-core check and 8,762 on the multicore check working Android 16. It scored 20,455 within the GPU check. Meanwhile, the Galaxy Tab S10 Plus got here in at 2,169 for the single-test and 7,126 for the multicore check working Android 14. By comparability, CNET’s Scott Stein says Apple’s new flagship mannequin, the iPad Pro (M5, 2025), scored 16,116 within the multicore check, which is about 10% higher than what 2024’s iPad Pro M4 scored. Needless to say, both iPad Pro’s multicore rating blows away the Tab S11’s. Samsung used to make use of Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite processors in its flagship tablets, however shifted to Mediatek chips for final 12 months’s Tab S10, which some folks have been upset about. Earlier this 12 months, I reviewed the OnePlus Pad 3 ($600), which might be a greater comparability than the iPad Pro. The OnePlus is powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite 4, and it scored 3,077 (single-core), 9,022 (multicore) and 24,366 (GPU) in our exams with Android 15. That’s a bit higher than this Galaxy Tab S11, so folks’s gripes could also be justified. Watch this: Back to the Future: Samsung Galaxy Tab S11 Returns To 11-inch Size
05:30 The Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 4 processor allegedly runs hotter and is much less energy-efficient than the Dimensity 9400 Plus, which is why Samsung could have chosen it for its slimmed-down flagship pill (a slimmer design makes it more durable to dissipate warmth). In different comparisons, the OnePlus Pad 3 is bigger (13.2-inch), weighs 675 grams and has an LCD, not an OLED display screen.I did not do in depth sport testing with Tab S11, however I did run my typical exams with a number of graphically intensive video games, together with Asphalt Legends Unite, with the graphics settings maxed out. It appeared nice. With the Tab S11 fashions, you now have the choice to go along with 96fps and 120fps on the maxed-out graphics setting, whereas it was capped at 60fps with the Tab S9 and Tab S10 fashions. The Tab S11 will get a little bit heat within the heart after longer gaming periods, however stays fairly cool on the edges. (If you are curious, you possibly can learn a thread on Reddit about of us’ experiences with different video games utilizing the Tab S11.) Geekbench 6 CPU (multicore) OnePlus Pad 3 9021Samsung Galaxy Tab S11 8762Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 Plus 7126Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 FE 3871 Note: Longer bars point out higher efficiency
3DMark Wild Life Extreme Unlimited Samsung Galaxy Tab S11 21763Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 Plus 18216Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 FE 5063 Note: Longer bars point out higher efficiency
JetStream 2 Samsung Galaxy Tab S11 266.807OnePlus Pad 3 200.568Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 Plus 173.6Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 FE 148.325 Note: Longer bars point out higher efficiency
Galaxy Tab S11 picture samplesTablets have by no means been identified to take nice images, however a lot of of us nonetheless use their pill’s digicam anyway, notably as a part of their career (actual property brokers, for instance). As famous, each Tab S11 fashions have a 12-megapixel entrance cam and a 13-megapixel rear digicam. The Ultra provides a second 8-megapixel ultrawide digicam on the again. I believed the entrance cam did an honest job throughout videoconference calls (I used Zoom and Google Meet), and I used to be happy with the images I took outdoor, however Samsung’s telephones clearly take higher indoor images.
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The Tab S11 takes respectable outside images with good lighting. David Carnoy/CNET
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The digicam had a more durable time with indoor images in decrease mild. David Carnoy/CNETGalaxy Tab S11 productiveness characteristic upgradesIf you are searching for a pill that is a real laptop computer substitute, your greatest wager is arguably nonetheless Microsoft’s Surface Pro. It runs Windows 11 and begins at $800 for the 12-inch mannequin and $1,200 for the 13-inch mannequin. Both Apple and Samsung have been making some enhancements within the hybrid laptop computer/pill division. In his overview of the brand new iPad Pro M5, CNET editor Scott Stein appears rather less miffed that Apple hasn’t turned its higher-end iPads into touchscreen Macs, saying the most recent fashions are “closer than ever to the future Mac.” For the discharge of the Tab S11, Samsung’s made some upgrades to its DeX mode, which stands for “desktop experience.” This mode offers the pill a extra PC-like interface and permits you to join a TV or monitor in addition to a Bluetooth keyboard and mouse. Samsung has made it simpler to leap into DeX mode, letting you create a real dual-monitor setup with help for a number of screens and as much as 4 custom-made workspaces. The expertise does appear to be improved and extra sturdy, however I could not join wirelessly to a Samsung M8 sensible monitor (it stored disconnecting,, and I could not determine why) so I needed to go along with a wired USB-C connection, which is extra dependable. It’s simpler to get into DeX mode. David Carnoy/CNETI might spend lots of time explaining how the brand new DeX works, and you will find YouTube movies that go into depth on it, however in case you’re new to it, anticipate there to be a little bit little bit of a studying curve to arrange workspaces, regulate DeX settings and totally grasp it. While connecting a monitor to the Tab S11 will provide you with one thing akin to a full desktop laptop expertise once you join a Bluetooth keyboard and mouse, it feels a little bit small as a standalone laptop computer — it simply would not lend itself as properly to split-screen motion in commonplace pill mode (you possibly can multitask with two apps open aspect by aspect) because the bigger 14.6-inch Tab S11 Ultra.I do just like the Tab S11 for mild work on the go, and it really works properly for video conferencing. I additionally favor it for taking notes as a result of it is lighter and simpler to carry than the Ultra (you possibly can set it down flat on a desk and write, however typically you may wish to maintain it). But graphic artists and illustrators will seemingly favor the Ultra’s bigger display screen. The bigger 14.6-inch Tab S11 Ultra goes to be higher for split-screen multitasking. David Carnoy/CNETSamsung has additionally created a shortcut wheel interface once you’re utilizing the S Pen, making it simpler to entry sure options. Both the wheel interface and upgraded DeX mode will come to the Tab S10 fashions with a software program replace later this 12 months, so they don’t seem to be unique to the Tab S11.Like the Tab S10 and S10 FE tablets, the Tab S11 is supplied with quite a lot of AI options, equivalent to AI-powered note-taking, Circle to Search, textual content translation, in addition to sketch-assist and photo-editing instruments, a few of that are helpful and a few of that are simply enjoyable to mess around with. While the Tab S11 would not have any unique new options, the upgraded processor, as I mentioned, makes the AI work quicker, so there’s much less lag time, for instance, as a number of pages of your handwritten notes are analyzed, then transformed right into a set of key highlights (the Cliff Notes model of your notes).I must also level out that Samsung has mentioned the Galaxy Tab S11 is assured to get seven years of main Android OS upgrades and safety updates. The S11 has launched with Android 16 and Samsung’s One UI 8 interface overlaying it, so which means you may be good via Android 23. That’s good, however you may seemingly commerce in your Tab S11 for a reduction on a future Samsung Tab earlier than you get to Android 23. Samsung Galaxy Tab S11 battery lifeReviewers do battery rundown exams in quite a lot of methods. In our check, we set the display screen brightness and quantity to 50%, after which loop a YouTube video (I looped my video of the AirPods Pro 3) that we stream over a Wi-Fi community (the Tab S11 helps WiFi 7 networks, however I examined it on a Wi-Fi 6 community). I ought to level out that at 50% quantity, the pill’s four-speaker setup, which does not appear upgraded, outputs loads of quantity. There’s not a lot bass, however for a pill, the audio efficiency is strong. In my battery check, the Tab S11’s battery conked out after 11 hours and 35 minutes. The Tab S11 Ultra ought to do even higher than that as a result of it has a much bigger battery, however that battery life continues to be fairly strong for a pill. The new S Pen (on proper, included with the S11) has a conical-shaped tip and hexagonal grip. The earlier S Pen is on the left. David Carnoy/CNETTo be clear, you may get significantly better battery life do you have to obtain a video and retailer it domestically on the pill (and do not use Wi-Fi, which has a huge impact on battery life). But in case you play a graphically intensive sport, it’s going to drain your battery rather a lot quicker than watching a video.The Tab S11 helps USB-C wired charging at as much as 45 watts. I used to be in a position to cost the pill to 50% in about 30 minutes and totally cost it in about an hour and a half. Samsung Galaxy Tab S11 equipmentWith some tablets, the corporate contains some kind of case or cowl — or corporations like OnePlus typically supply up an adjunct as a “free gift” together with your buy. The Tab S11 comes with the S Pen, which is nice (Apple doesn’t embrace its Pencil or Pencil Pro with its iPad Pro M5), however nothing else, so you may wish to purchase a case for it. I attempted it with Samsung’s Book Cover Slim Keyboard, which lists for $145, however typically is half off once you bundle it in with a Tab S11. Using the Tab S11 with the dear Book Cover Slim Keyboard case, which lets you prop up the pill and make it seem like a laptop computer (It has no trackpad, nevertheless). David Carnoy/CNETI just like the Book Cover Slim Keyboard case as a result of it is smooth, would not add a lot weight to the pill, and its keys are properly designed and tactile. It additionally has shortcut buttons to DeX mode and AI key you possibly can map to launch Google Gemini, Samsung Bixby or different AI apps. But it is overpriced at its checklist value, is lacking a trackpad and is not geared up with a compartment to retailer the S Pen, which adheres magnetically to the aspect of the pill. That means you may have to attach a Bluetooth mouse if you wish to get the complete laptop-like expertise.Samsung additionally makes a case and not using a keyboard referred to as the Smart Book Cover Slim that retails for $90. Again, it is a good case, however overpriced at full value. It additionally would not have a compartment for storing the S Pen.If you are searching for one thing cheaper to guard Tab S11, Amazon has loads of folio case choices, with respectable ones like this one beginning as little as $19. Samsung Galaxy Tab S11 remaining ideas On the floor, Samsung’s flagship Galaxy Tab Series would not look like a very good worth. But you need to at all times take Samsung’s pill checklist costs with a grain of salt, because it regularly gives reductions and machine trade-in choices to convey the value down. Not everyone has one thing to trade-in — and the trade-in worth tends to be greatest for older Galaxy Tabs — however a few of the worth of proudly owning a Tab is that when you purchase one, you possibly can commerce it in for a pleasant chunk of change even three years later (as I mentioned, the Tab S8 Plus would fetch $450 in trade-in worth whereas the Tab S8 is listed at $400). Apple’s newest iPad Pro fashions are extra highly effective gadgets, however within the Android pill world, anyway, there actually is not something fairly as smooth or slim with an incredible show that provides wonderful efficiency because the Tab S11, which is why we have awarded it an Editors’ Choice. You can actually quibble with Samsung’s alternative of processor and argue that tablets just like the OnePlus Pad 3 are a greater general worth once you evaluate checklist costs, however the Tab S11 continues to be the Android pill to beat. While the 14.6-inch Tab S11 Ultra has its benefits for sure functions and is exclusive within the pill world resulting from its extra-large dimension, for most individuals, the smaller and extra inexpensive Tab S11 makes extra sense.Key variations between the Galaxy Tab S11 and Tab S10The Tab S11 is now 5.5 mm thick, in comparison with 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. Both Tab S11 fashions are powered by a Mediatek Dimensity 9400 Plus processor (the Tab S10 fashions used a Dimensity 9400 processor). NPU stands for neural processing unit, which helps drive AI efficiency and machine studying duties.Samsung says that the processor gives 24% quicker CPU efficiency, 27% quicker GPU efficiency and 33% quicker NPU efficiency in comparison with the Mediatek 9400 chip within the Tab S10 Series.Both fashions now supply 1,600 nits peak brightness versus 930 nits peak brightness for the Tab S10. As with the Tab S10, the TAB S11 shows are OLED, not LCD, with 120Hz refresh charges.While Tab S11 Ultra’s battery has gone from 11,600 milliamp hours in comparison with 11,200 mAh for the Tab S10, the Tab S11 has the identical 8,400-mAh battery capability discovered within the Tab S9.Both Tab S11 fashions have a 12-megapixel entrance cam and a 13-megapixel rear digicam. The Ultra provides a second 8-megapixel ultrawide digicam on the again. In distinction, the Tab S10 Ultra has a 13-megapixel and 8-megapixel ultrawide rear digicam and a 12-megapixel ultrawide entrance digicam, so the brand new mannequin is lacking the 12-megapixel ultrawide entrance digicam. The bigger Tab S11 Ultra has an additional antiglare coating on it, whereas the 11-inch mannequin would not. Both screens have antireflective qualities, however with an enormous 14.6-inch show, it helps to have a little bit extra antiglare tech. The S Pen has been redesigned with a hexagonal grip and a brand new, bigger cone-shaped tip that provides higher management (the S Pen would not have a battery; it attracts energy from the display screen as an alternative).The Tab S10 Series is available in variations with Wi-Fi and 5G mobile, however the Tab S11 at present would not have a 5G mobile choice. It helps the newer Wi-Fi 7 commonplace.