Recently someone asked me: Who doesn’t even care about Android tablets? If it were you, you might feel indifferent to a quality Android tablet. Even Google admits Will not make new tablets It seems to have been forgotten Pixel Tablet. But that didn’t stop Samsung from releasing the 11th-generation Galaxy S11 series, including the 11-inch standard model and the 14.6-inch Ultra. The latter is more interesting among the couple, because not only is this what Samsung calls the thinnest tablet ever, but it also offers new DEX multitasking features and of course AI tools. Also, if you forget the company’s iconic stylus, it still exists and is in the launch of the series and gets another redesign.
These days, my stylus is limited to e-paper writing tablets (e.g. Outstanding paper professional and Kindle scribebut I am still a big fan of S Pen. Since I was in charge, I have loved Samsung’s stylus Omnia II Boss, when it’s like a mini retractable pointer that extends like an old car antenna. The accompanying version of the Tab S11 Ultra has a hexagonal shape with grip strength, making it more similar to a No. 2 pencil, and its nib has also been adjusted to be more conical.
From the short time I was doing in a hands-on training, the latest S-pen didn’t perform amazingly. Of course, it’s much lighter than the Marker Plus from the excellent Paper Pro. But despite its similarity to the No. 2 Pencil, Samsung’s new stylus doesn’t feel better than the Kindle Scribe’s Pen, a simple cylindrical piece. Actually, I like the smoothness of the edges of the latter and it all seems to offer similar liquidity and responsive writing. I didn’t have much resistance when I dragged the nib of the S Pen to the screen of the Tab S11 Ultra to scrape off the “Hello Engadget”.
Unlike the S Pen that previously had special features powered by Bluetooth, such as remote camera controls, this version has no other connectivity. It draws power from the tablet’s screen like other EMR (Electromagnetic Resonance) tablets without charging. Samsung does have it magnetically fixed to the S11 Ultra, which, for example, can prevent you from putting it in a café. But from previous experience, I can say that if you throw it into a wallet or bag, the magnet isn’t enough to put the S pen on the tablet. You will need a case of a dedicated holder to really protect the stylus.
Speaking of which, Samsung has made some new covers and keyboards for the Tab S11 Ultra as its Pogo pins have been moved from the bottom edge to the rear. This means neither your old or existing Samsung keyboard case will be compatible, and if you want to turn the S11 Ultra into a competent 2-in-1, you have to buy a new version. Samsung has improved its latest tablet case, though, and it seems the repositioned Pogo pins allow the company to make its origami cover one piece instead of two copies. The new Pro keyboard case will not be available on startup, so you have to wait to get it and may rely on Bluetooth accessories during this time. Alternatively, you can get a slender keyboard without a trackpad.
Once you connect the work keyboard, you may get the job done on the S11 Ultra. This is largely thanks to the improved DEX mode, namely Samsung’s multitasking software for Android devices. The new tablet ship with a UI 8 will get new multitasking features such as extension mode and support up to four dedicated customizable workspaces. The former basically allows you to wirelessly extend the monitor to other screens, such as another tablet or even a laptop or monitor, to simulate a two-person monitor setup. I haven’t seen this in person yet, so I can’t tell the delay and ease of use, but the idea is theoretically good and the iPad can’t do that.
However, you may not even need an extra screen, as the Tab S11 Ultra’s monitor is 14.6-inch, which Samsung says is the largest. It provides the vitality and brightness typical of the company AMOLEDS, which means the color is saturated and brings a pleasant multimedia experience. Like the recent models, the S11 Ultra’s panel refreshes up to 120Hz for smoother scrolling and animation, and has a keen resolution of 2,960 x 1,848. If you really care about numbers, then know that the Tab S11 Ultra also gets 1,600 columns of brightness.
All of this is powered by a 3NM Mediatek Dimente 9400+ processor, which the company says is the first for tablets and boosts CPU and GPU performance by 20%. According to Samsung, Neural Processing Units (NPUs) also saw a 30% jump. This means that AI tools such as writing and drawing aids should be faster and smoother.
In addition to these tools (which can help you adjust the tone of messages or turn rough sketches into mature artworks), the Tab S11 Ultra will also support Google’s Gemini Live so you can have more natural conversations with your assistant. Samsung has also introduced Galaxy AI overlays for its notes and browser apps, allowing you to drag on a removable panel at the top of these windows for easy reference.
Despite how I published this article, I’ve actually been a fan of the Samsung Galaxy Tab S series. I love how thin and sturdy they are – they just feel like waving sharp gadgets. The Tab S11 Ultra is only 5.1mm (0.2 inches) thin (0.2 inches) and weighs just 1.53 pounds (692 grams), which is impressive. As I aimed the camera at it, holding it with just one hand felt effortless, and the tablet was relatively easy to manipulate despite the size of 8.2 by 12.8 inches.
By the way, the S11 Ultra’s bezel is 5.2mm, meaning even the barely-less borders are thicker than the device. If you need to compare, the 2024 13-inch iPad Pro is also 5.1mm thinner. The Tab S11 Ultra has a larger screen while maintaining a slim profile. It is also rated IP68, so it can withstand the same amount of dust and moisture as the average smartphone today.
While I can’t test the battery life of the Tab S11 and Tab S11 Ultra in hand-on activities, I think their respective 8,400mAh and 11,600mAh cells should provide enough runtime to get the job done on the go. Samsung said they will all last for about 13 hours. I will take this opportunity to point out that the Tab S11 is a quality device with noticeably thick bezels around its 10.9-inch screen. It supports Wi-Fi 6e, while Ultra can use Wi-Fi 7 if you still want a headphone jack. Meanwhile, the Ultra does not have a 3.5mm audio socket.
In most other ways, the Tab S11 and its Ultra siblings have similar specifications. Both have a 13-megapixel rear camera and a 12MP front sensor, although the Ultra has an additional 8MP Ultrawide setup. They support a redesigned pen, with on-screen fingerprint sensor, use the same processor, boot with the same 12GB RAM, and then to 2TB of storage while running Android 16.
I’m very interested in the Tab S11 Ultra’s promise of portable productivity in a handsome package, but I don’t use a tablet at all. My personal laptop is a Samsung Galaxy book that feels like a suitable mid-screen that can join me with my small screen (phone), big screen (TV) and small screen (watch). I don’t need to throw it Smedium Screen into mixture. I already have a Kindle and a great thesis professional, and it has also been replaced by books and notebooks.
That said, for non-Apple people who use tablets as laptop replacements, artists who want to paint in color or those who just like 15-inch thin and light touch screens only for any reason, the Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra should be a worthwhile choice. This will be a huge investment, selling for $1,200. This is more expensive than most laptops and does not include accessories like a keyboard case or mouse. The Base Tab S11 costs $800, which is also more than the oversized ones Medium-sized laptops on the marketso you will pay a premium for portability.
