Samsung Announces Refreshed Galaxy Tab S11 and High-End Tab S11 Ultra

09/04/2025 Tablets

Samsung just launched its new flagship Android tablets, the Galaxy Tab S11 and S11 Ultra. Think of them as refined versions of the Galaxy Tab S10 series, with a few interesting tweaks. The most immediate change? Samsung's streamlining the lineup, ditching the "Plus" model for now. So, we're back to a standard Galaxy Tab S11, sporting a more compact 10.9-inch AMOLED screen. It's a similar strategy they might use with the Galaxy S26 series, potentially renaming the base model to "Pro".

The Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra is still a behemoth with its 14.6-inch AMOLED display, but Samsung's trimmed it down to a single front camera. This means a smaller notch and a hair more screen, which they're touting as the "biggest screen on a Galaxy Tab ever". The resolution remains the same, though. Both displays boast a smooth 120Hz refresh rate and 1,600 nits of peak brightness. The Ultra gets an anti-reflective coating, while the standard S11 makes do with regular glass (though you can add a screen protector).

While the Ultra keeps its dimensions, it's now slimmer at just 0.20 inches and lighter at 692 grams. The regular S11 is even sleeker at 0.22 inches and a featherweight 469 grams. Impressively, both tablets are IP68-rated for water and dust resistance despite their thin builds.

Interestingly, the Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra gets a slightly bigger battery at 11,600mAh, while the Tab S11 gets a smaller 8,400mAh unit. Both support 45W fast charging, the same as before.

Camera-wise, the Ultra sticks with a 13MP primary and 8MP ultrawide on the back, but it swaps the dual front cameras for a single 12MP ultrawide. The standard S11 gets a 13MP rear camera and a 12MP ultrawide front camera.

Under the hood, both tablets are powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 9400+, a slightly overclocked version of the Dimensity 9400. This new chipset should bring a decent performance boost. Memory options are generous, with the Ultra offering up to 16GB of RAM and 1TB of storage, while the standard S11 maxes out at 12GB of RAM and 512GB of storage. Both support microSD card expansion up to 2TB.

On the software side, we're looking at One UI 8 based on Android 16, complete with the usual Galaxy AI features. There's also a new floating Galaxy AI overlay for easier multitasking. Samsung DeX gets a big upgrade with support for four workspaces and multi-screen setups. However, you can't use DeX without an external monitor anymore.

The S Pen has been redesigned with a hexagonal shape, but Samsung's removed Bluetooth support, so no more air gestures or wireless camera control. The keyboard folio has also been slimmed down, and a "Pro" keyboard is coming in 2026.

One notable change is that neither tablet offers cellular connectivity anymore. However, the Ultra does feature more advanced Wi-Fi 7. If you need cellular, you'll have to stick with the older Galaxy Tab S10 Plus. The Galaxy Tab S10 FE models will also remain on sale until their replacements arrive.

The Galaxy Tab S11 starts at $799.99 for the 128GB model, while the Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra starts at $1,199.99. Both are available starting today.