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As observed with its smartphones, Samsung does not tend to revolutionize its products from one generation to the next. The Korean manufacturer prefers gradual evolution—perhaps too gradual for some.
This approach is evident in both its tablets and smartphones. The new Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra exemplifies this. While it doesn’t introduce major changes compared to last year’s Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra—which we reviewed and were impressed by its outstanding performance—the new model incorporates small updates here and there (processor, battery, design, and dimensions) that make it even more appealing.
Is the Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra truly the powerhouse tablet that Samsung claims it to be? Is it flawless? In short, does it justify its price? Let’s find out.
Technical Specifications
| Model | Samsung Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra |
|---|---|
| Dimensions | 208.5 cm x 326.3 mm |
| Screen Size | 14.6 inches |
| Resolution | 2960 x 1848 pixels |
| Pixel Density | 239 ppi |
| Screen Technology | AMOLED |
| RAM | 12, 16 GB |
| Internal Memory | 256, 512, 1024 GB |
| Rear Camera | 13, 8 MP |
| Front Camera | 12 MP |
| Video Recording | 4K@30 FPS |
| Wifi | Wi-Fi 7 (be) |
| Bluetooth | 5.4 |
| NFC | No |
| Waterproof | Yes |
| Weight | 692 grams |
| Colors | Silver, Gray |
| Product Sheet |
Design
The Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra boasts a substantial size of 20.8 x 32.6 x 0.51 cm, which is expected given its massive 14.6-inch screen that Samsung consistently chooses for its high-end tablet (this size has remained unchanged for a few generations).
Despite a reduction in weight from 718 grams to 692 grams and a decrease in thickness (5.1 mm versus 5.4 mm for the Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra), the tablet remains somewhat cumbersome, especially when held in portrait mode.
Another minor complaint: the tablet’s edges are very (perhaps too) square. While this is trendy in smartphones, the sharp edges can sometimes make the tablet uncomfortable to hold.
Otherwise, the Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra exhibits an exceptional level of finish. However, some might regret that only two color options are available: silver or gray (Samsung has traditionally offered more cheerful, festive colors on its smartphones).
Additionally, the fingerprint scanner located at the bottom of the screen is highly responsive, and the ability to add a microSD card for extra storage is a definite plus.
Like its predecessor, the tablet is IP68 certified, meaning it can be used in the bathtub without fear of accidental immersion. Also, like the Galaxy S smartphones, its durability is enhanced by an Aluminum Armor frame.
And for those who were dismayed by the large notch on the screen of the Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra, the new tablet’s notch is smaller (and thus much less obtrusive). This change is due to a new camera configuration on the tablet (see the photo section).
The Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra also comes with its stylus, which is always handy for drawing, taking notes, or even using certain apps. Two magnetic areas on the tablet allow it to firmly hold the stylus, which can help prevent it from being lost and charge it simultaneously.
One might wish for a foldable stand, like the one on Microsoft’s Surface Pro 12. Such a feature would be useful for watching videos without having to hold the tablet. It could be placed on a table at various angles.
Screen
The Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra’s main highlight is its 14.6-inch OLED panel. This screen provides optimal viewing comfort when watching movies, series, YouTube videos, or browsing social media.
Moreover, the images are displayed in high resolution (2960 x 1848 pixels).
The maximum refresh rate is 120 Hz. In the settings, there are only two options: Standard mode (60 Hz) or Automatic mode (up to 120 Hz depending on the application used).
Importantly, the screen’s bezels are thin, allowing you to focus on the images displayed rather than the black bands that surround them.
Regarding the performance of the OLED panel, the manufacturer claims a maximum brightness of 1000 nits in Adaptive Brightness mode, with an HDR peak that can reach 1600 nits.
According to our measurements, which were conducted with a Calibrite Display Pro HL probe and the CalMAN Ultimate software by Portrait Displays, Samsung’s claims are accurate.
Indeed, while the brightness in standard mode is only 450 nits, it indeed rises to around 1000 nits when adaptive brightness is activated (945 nits, to be precise), in SDR mode.
And as promised, watching HDR content causes the maximum brightness to reach 1686 nits. Thus, the visual quality of movies streamed on platforms like Netflix or Disney+ is optimal.
Of the two color profiles available in the display settings, Vivid or Natural, the latter offers the best average Delta E (4.3 in this case). This value, higher than 3, is not ideal if accurate, realistic colors are important to you.
However, the average color temperature is 6611 K, very close to the ideal value (6500 K), ensuring a fairly neutral colorimetry leaning slightly towards blue. Finally, the Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra’s screen is capable of displaying 147% of the BT.709 color space, 99% of the DCI-P3 gamut, and 67% of the BT.2020.
Performance
In terms of performance, Samsung employs the MediaTek Dimensity 9400+ SoC here, a recent upgrade from the Dimensity 9300+ that powered the Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra. This chipset is also found in the Xiaomi 15T Pro, which we recently reviewed.
As we noted during the Xiaomi 15T Pro test, the Dimensity 9400+ delivers top-notch performance, comparable to some smartphones equipped with Qualcomm’s leading chip of 2025, the Snapdragon 8 Elite.
Thus, the tablet is highly responsive, regardless of the task at hand. Even the most sophisticated games, such as Fortnite or Genshin Impact, run with perfectly smooth animations (60 frames per second in Epic quality in Fortnite or up to 120 frames per second at the lowest graphic setting).
It’s worth mentioning that the main high-end tablet competitor, the Microsoft Surface Pro, features Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X Plus (or X Elite) processor, which generally performs well, except in terms of the GPU, which significantly lags behind the GPU Adreno in recent Snapdragon chips or the MediaTek Dimensity 9400+’s Immortalis-G925 GPU.
Software
The Samsung Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra runs on Android 16, with the custom OneUI 8 interface. Like the brand’s smartphones, Android updates and security updates are assured for no less than 7 years. Thus, this purchase can be considered a long-term investment.
In addition to Gemini Live, all the features of Galaxy AI, introduced on the Galaxy S series smartphones like the Galaxy S25 Ultra, are present. The sidebar provides direct access to certain applications (note-taking, photo gallery, etc.) and AI-powered tools such as Now Brief and the Interpreter function.
It also includes the Generative Sketch tool, which allows both skilled and novice graphic artists to generate sophisticated drawings by simply sketching a rough outline on the screen using the S Pen. Of course, one can later share their creation with friends or save it to their documents for further editing, for example, using Samsung’s pre-installed PenUp app.
The combination of the stylus and the large usable surface allows for the creation of fairly complex works (or almost!), with about ten different styles.
In addition to translation, transcription, and writing assistance tools, there are also AI-powered photo editing tools. These allow you to move or remove one or more elements from an image; add objects by roughly drawing them; or use the Portrait Studio function to transform portraits or photos of animals using four modes (Studio, 3D Cartoon, Fisheye, or Oil Painting).
Lastly, like the S series smartphones, Samsung DeX mode allows the tablet to be connected to a display via USB C or Bluetooth, providing a work environment very similar to Windows. This enables access to files on Google Drive or Microsoft OneDrive. In this case, adding the Book Cover Keyboard and a Bluetooth mouse can transform the tablet into a genuine personal computer.
Camera
Like the previous model, the Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra still features two rear lenses: a wide-angle and an ultra-wide-angle, paired with 13-megapixel and 8-megapixel sensors, respectively.
The change, however, lies in the removal of the ultra-wide-angle front lens. Now, there’s only one wide-angle lens, working with a 12-megapixel sensor.
Is this a significant loss? It seems that Samsung does not consider it so, and that the ability to take ultra-wide-angle selfies was ultimately not a priority for users.
In practice, using a tablet of this size to take photos on the street is not the most convenient. Nonetheless, it’s possible, and the images produced by the two lenses are quite good when lighting conditions are favorable.
At most, one might use the 2x digital zoom if you want to get a closer view of your subject. However, it’s best to stick to this magnification level and not take photos with the 4x digital zoom (and definitely not with the maximum zoom, 8x), as precision significantly decreases.
The selfies, meanwhile, are captured at a resolution of 3 megapixels, which is quite low. Despite this, the photos are precise, with or without the Portrait mode and its characteristic blur effect.
Audio
The tablet is equipped with four speakers, located on the edges on either side of the screen. It must be acknowledged that they deliver quite impressive audio quality, whether for gaming, watching movies, or listening to music.
Their power is considerable, and the balance between different frequency ranges is well maintained. Notably—and this is rare enough to mention—the bass is perfectly audible. They even make the tablet vibrate when held, preferably in landscape mode so that the sound is directed to the left and right.
The only issue, in this case, is that our hands tend to cover two of the speakers, which is less satisfactory.
Battery Life
The latest (small) novelty introduced by the Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra, compared to the Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra, lies in the capacity of its battery. Indeed, it has increased from 11200 mAh to 11600 mAh. It’s worth noting that this is slightly less than the battery capacity of the OnePlus Pad 3 tablet (12140 mAh).
This improvement is welcome, as the high resolution of the screen contributes
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Maya Singh is a senior editor covering tablets and hybrid devices. Her work explores how these tools reshape digital productivity and learning. She also contributes to feature editorials on emerging tech.