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Samsung Galaxy Tab S11: A Productivity-First Tablet
At Squaredtech, we constantly evaluate how flagship tablets shape the balance between productivity and entertainment. Samsung has stepped forward with the Galaxy Tab S11 series, a lineup designed to rival Apple’s iPad Pro and challenge the OnePlus Pad. Unveiled at IFA 2025, the new Galaxy Tab S11 and Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra represent a direct push into the premium Android tablet market.
Samsung’s strategy is clear. With an 11-inch base model and a larger 14.6-inch Ultra edition, the company is addressing different user needs in one product family. The tablets feature slimmer builds, brighter AMOLED 2X displays, and a MediaTek Dimensity 9400+ chipset that promises record-breaking performance. Most importantly, Samsung has made major upgrades to its DeX desktop environment, giving professionals new ways to work across multiple desktops and monitors.
Check Out Our Article of Xiaomi Pad 7 Launches with 11.2-Inch Anti-Glare Display – Is This the Ultimate Tablet Upgrade? Published on February 4th, 2025 SquaredTech
But perhaps the most controversial move is Samsung’s redesigned S Pen. The stylus now resembles the Apple Pencil, with a hexagonal barrel and a firmer cone tip. The change has sparked debate, but it signals Samsung’s intent to make the Tab S11 series a serious laptop replacement for both creators and professionals.
Key Specs and Models in the Samsung Galaxy Tab S11 Series
Samsung has released two distinct models within the Galaxy Tab S11 series.
Galaxy Tab S11 (11-inch model):
- Price: Starting at $799 / £799 / AU$1,399
- Display: 11-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X (2,560 x 1,600)
- Refresh Rate: 120Hz adaptive
- Chipset: MediaTek Dimensity 9400+ (3nm)
- RAM: 12GB
- Storage: 128GB, 256GB, 512GB (expandable up to 2TB)
- Cameras: 13MP rear, 12MP front
- Battery: 8,400 mAh with 45W wired charging
- Operating System: Android 16 with One UI 8
- Dimensions: 9.99 x 6.51 x 0.22 inches
- Weight: 469g (1.06 pounds)
- Resistance: IP68 water and dust proof
- Colors: Gray, Silver
Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra (14.6-inch model):
- Price: Starting at $1,199 / £1,199 / AU$2,099
- Display: 14.6-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X with anti-reflection layer (2,960 x 1,848)
- Refresh Rate: 120Hz adaptive
- Chipset: MediaTek Dimensity 9400+ (3nm)
- RAM: 12GB or 16GB (with 1TB storage)
- Storage: 256GB, 512GB, 1TB (expandable up to 2TB)
- Cameras: 13MP main, 8MP ultrawide rear, 12MP front
- Battery: 11,600 mAh with 45W wired charging
- Operating System: Android 16 with One UI 8
- Dimensions: 12.85 x 8.21 x 0.20 inches
- Weight: 692g (1.52 pounds)
- Resistance: IP68 water and dust proof
- Colors: Gray, Silver
The Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra stands out not just for its size but also for its design. At only 5.1mm thick, it is the slimmest Galaxy Tab Samsung has ever produced. Despite the larger display, it manages to weigh less than its predecessor, making it a surprisingly portable large-format tablet.
For users who prefer compact devices, the 11-inch Tab S11 fills an important gap. Samsung’s previous flagship tablet lineup skipped smaller variants, while Apple’s iPad Pro and OnePlus Pad already covered those niches. By offering two screen sizes, Samsung ensures the Tab S11 series appeals to both mobile professionals and creative power users.
Productivity Features: DeX, AI, and Pre-Installed Apps
Samsung has made productivity the centerpiece of the Galaxy Tab S11 launch. The most significant upgrade is to DeX Mode, Samsung’s desktop-style interface.
- Multi-Desktop Support: Users can now create up to four desktops, each running different apps. This makes app organization and multitasking far easier than before.
- Extended Monitor Mode: Instead of just mirroring content to an external display, users can extend their desktop, effectively creating a dual-monitor workstation.
Squaredtech analysts see this as a critical feature for professionals who want to run complex workflows without relying on a laptop.
Samsung has also integrated Galaxy AI across the Tab S11 series. The large screen allows users to keep a movable Google Gemini overlay active while working. Features like Drawing Assist help creators refine their sketches, while the stylus offers precision editing in apps like Clip Studio Paint.
On the software side, Samsung pre-installs a suite of productivity apps such as Notion, Goodnotes, LumaFusion, and Clip Studio Paint. These apps come with bonus features like free trials or templates, signaling Samsung’s effort to position the Tab S11 as a direct laptop alternative.
Hardware Power: MediaTek Dimensity 9400+ and Brighter Displays
The MediaTek Dimensity 9400+ chipset is the first 3nm processor Samsung has used in a tablet. According to Samsung, this architecture delivers:
- 24% faster CPU performance
- 27% stronger GPU performance
- 33% more efficient NPU (Neural Processing Unit)
This makes the Tab S11 series one of the fastest Android tablets ever built.
Both models also feature AMOLED 2X panels with brightness peaks up to 1,600 nits, keeping them at the top of display benchmarks. The Ultra model features a smaller notch design and an anti-reflection layer, which reduces glare in bright environments.
From our perspective, these improvements directly target professionals working outdoors or in bright offices, where screen clarity and reflection control are vital.
The Controversial New S Pen
Samsung’s redesigned S Pen is arguably the most divisive feature of the Tab S11. Gone is the soft, rubberized tip of previous generations. In its place is a cone-shaped, solid tip inside a hexagonal barrel.
This change makes the S Pen feel more like the Apple Pencil, which has long been the standard in the iPad ecosystem. While this may improve precision for drawing and writing, some long-time Samsung fans may resist the shift.
Another key change is the removal of the magnetic strip that previously allowed the S Pen to snap onto the back of the tablet. Instead, Samsung has shifted storage options in a way that aligns with Apple’s approach.
We view this as a sign that Samsung is no longer just competing with Apple but deliberately aligning its design language with established iPad workflows.
Final Thoughts: Can the Galaxy Tab S11 Replace a Laptop?
The Galaxy Tab S11 series represents Samsung’s boldest attempt yet to capture the productivity tablet market. With DeX upgrades, a powerful new chipset, and a controversial S Pen redesign, Samsung is clearly trying to bridge the gap between tablets and laptops.
For professionals who rely on Android ecosystems, the Tab S11 and Tab S11 Ultra stand out as legitimate iPad Pro alternatives. The 11-inch model caters to users who want a portable, mid-range work device, while the Ultra model is built for those who need maximum screen space and power.
At Squaredtech, our editorial stance is that Samsung has raised the bar for Android tablets. The company has positioned the Tab S11 series as productivity-first devices, giving professionals, students, and creatives a viable option to replace their laptops.
The final question is whether users will embrace the redesigned S Pen and whether Samsung’s AI integrations will prove valuable in everyday workflows. What is clear is that Samsung has made a statement: the Galaxy Tab S11 series is not just an update—it is a direct strike at the iPad Pro’s dominance.
Squaredtech will continue to test both models in real work environments, but based on early analysis, these tablets are shaping up to be Samsung’s strongest answer yet to Apple’s long-standing productivity crown.
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