(Credit: Eric Zeman)
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Samsung has updated its high-end tablet lineup with the Galaxy Tab S11 and the Tab S11 Ultra, which both ship with Galaxy AI on board starting today. The two tablets share a similar design and many specs, while carrying over some features from previous generations. Here's what we learned in our time with Samsung's latest slates.
Time-Tested and Refined Hardware
Samsung makes some of the best Android tablets available, and its new devices look to keep the company on track. The smaller Galaxy Tab S11 features an 11-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display with a 2,560-by-1,600-pixel resolution, a refresh rate up to 120Hz, and a peak brightness of 1,600 nits. It is surrounded by a sizeable black bezel.
The Tab S11 Ultra's huge 14.6-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display features a resolution of 2,960 by 1,848 pixels and an anti-reflection coating; otherwise, it has the same specs as its smaller sibling. The Ultra's thinner black bezel intrudes slightly upon the display for its front-facing camera, though the notch is smaller than last year's Tab S10 Ultra.
The Galaxy Tab S11 measures 6.51 by 9.99 by 0.22 inches (HWD) and weighs 1.06 pounds, while the Tab S11 Ultra is giant at 8.21 by 12.85 by 0.20 inches and weighs 1.52 pounds. The new Ultra is a hair thinner and 0.06 ounces lighter than the S10 Ultra (8.21 by 12.85 by 0.21 inches, 1.58 pounds). Perhaps Samsung slimmed its slate down to catch up to Apple's iPad Pro, which is also 0.20 inches thick.
Both Samsung tablets have a 13MP rear camera, while the S11 Ultra adds an 8MP ultra-wide. They both have 12MP front-facing cameras. The two devices are available in Gray and Silver.
The Armor Aluminum frame and glass create a cohesive package that feels well-balanced in the hand, just like the tablets' predecessors.
Samsung redesigned the included S Pen stylus, moving to a hexagonal shape similar to a wooden pencil with a larger nib. This new S Pen feels similar to using a No. 2 pencil, and sketching on the Tabs' large screens felt natural. The tablets and S Pens are IP68-rated for dust and water protection, so you can enjoy them both by the pool.
Inside, MediaTek Brings the Brains
Samsung uses a MediaTek 9400+ processor to power the Tab S11 line, an upgrade from the MediaTek 9300+ in the Tab S10 series. Samsung did not specify how the two chips differ, but MediaTek says the 9400+ is built more specifically for AI applications and is 20% faster than the MediaTek 9400 at agentic AI calculations. The Tab S11 series runs Android 16 and includes Galaxy AI, Samsung's suite of AI tools.
For power, the Tab S11 packs an 8,400mAh battery while the Tab S11 Ultra has an 11,600mAh battery. Both charge at up to 45W via wire. Samsung didn't say how long the batteries will last.
The Galaxy Tab S11 comes with 12GB of RAM and three storage configurations: 128GB ($799.99), 256GB ($859.99), and 512GB ($979.99). Meanwhile, the Tab S11 Ultra comes in three varieties: 12GB RAM with 256GB of storage ($1,199.99), 12GB of RAM with 256GB of storage ($1,319.99), and 16GB of RAM and 1TB of storage ($1,619.99). Samsung continues to offer a microSD card slot, too, so you can add up to 2TB using a microSD card.
The new Samsung Galaxy Tab S11 line is available to order starting today, Sept. 4. We expect to receive review units soon and will have full reviews posted in the weeks ahead.
In the meantime, check out our picks for the best Android tablets to see what else is out there.