Samsung Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra Review: Android Tablet Perfection

Introduction

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra represents the pinnacle of Android tablet technology in 2025, delivering a truly premium experience that rivals laptop functionality. With its enormous 14.6-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display, powerful MediaTek Dimensity 9400+ processor, and comprehensive feature set including IP68 waterproofing, this tablet is designed for professionals, creatives, and power users who refuse to compromise.

Samsung has created a device that excels equally at productivity tasks, creative work, media consumption, and gaming. The inclusion of the S Pen stylus, massive 11,600mAh battery, and latest Android 16 with One UI 8 makes this one of the most capable Android tablets ever produced.

Design and Build Quality

Premium Construction and Materials

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra exemplifies premium tablet design with its sleek aluminium unibody construction. Despite its substantial 14.6-inch display, Samsung has managed to keep the profile remarkably slim at just 5.1mm thick. The tablet weighs 692g, which is impressively light considering the screen size, though extended one-handed use will still prove challenging due to the sheer dimensions.

The build quality is exceptional throughout, with no flex or creaking when pressure is applied. The edges are gently curved, making the tablet comfortable to hold despite its size. Samsung offers the Tab S11 Ultra in two sophisticated colourways: Moonstone Grey and Platinum Silver, both featuring a matte finish that resists fingerprints admirably.

IP68 Waterproof Certification

One of the most impressive features of the Tab S11 Ultra is its IP68 rating, providing comprehensive protection against dust ingress and water immersion up to 1.5 metres for 30 minutes. This certification is exceptionally rare in tablets of this size and makes the Tab S11 Ultra suitable for use in challenging environments, whether that's working poolside, reading in the bath, or using the device outdoors without concern.

Handling and Ergonomics

The Tab S11 Ultra's massive screen size is both its greatest strength and occasional weakness. Whilst the large display is magnificent for productivity and media consumption, the 326.3 x 208.5mm footprint means this tablet demands two-handed operation for most tasks. The weight distribution is excellent, however, preventing hand fatigue when the tablet is propped up or resting on a surface.

Display Excellence

Stunning 14.6-Inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X Panel

The display is undoubtedly the Tab S11 Ultra's standout feature. The 14.6-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X panel delivers absolutely stunning image quality with a resolution of 2960 x 1848 pixels. This high pixel density ensures razor-sharp text rendering, making the tablet excellent for extended reading sessions or document editing.

The colour reproduction is exceptional, with Samsung's AMOLED technology delivering deep, inky blacks and vibrant, saturated colours. The display covers 100% of the DCI-P3 colour gamut, making it suitable for professional photo and video editing work. Colour accuracy is excellent out of the box, though Samsung provides multiple colour profile options for those who prefer different looks.

120Hz Adaptive Refresh Rate

The 120Hz refresh rate provides wonderfully smooth scrolling through websites, documents, and social media feeds. The adaptive nature means the refresh rate adjusts dynamically based on content, conserving battery life when displaying static images whilst ramping up to 120Hz for animations and touch input. The touch responsiveness is excellent, with minimal latency between stylus input and on-screen response.

Brightness and Outdoor Visibility

Peak brightness reaches an impressive 930 nits, ensuring excellent outdoor visibility even in direct sunlight. HDR10+ support means compatible video content displays with enhanced dynamic range, providing a cinematic viewing experience. The anti-reflective coating effectively reduces glare, further improving usability in bright environments.

Performance and Power

MediaTek Dimensity 9400+ Processor

Samsung has equipped the Tab S11 Ultra with MediaTek's flagship Dimensity 9400+ processor, a powerful chipset built on a 3nm process. This represents a significant performance leap over previous generation tablets, delivering desktop-class computing power in a tablet form factor.

In daily use, the processor handles everything effortlessly. Multitasking between numerous apps, editing high-resolution photos, rendering videos, and even demanding gaming all proceed without stuttering or slowdown. The processor's AI capabilities enable intelligent features throughout the system, from enhanced photo processing to predictive text input.

RAM and Storage Configurations

The Tab S11 Ultra is available in three configurations:

• 12GB RAM / 256GB storage
• 12GB RAM / 512GB storage
• 16GB RAM / 1TB storage

Even the base 12GB RAM configuration provides ample memory for heavy multitasking. The 16GB option is recommended for professionals running demanding applications like video editing software or virtual machines. Storage is fast UFS 4.0, ensuring quick app launches and file transfers.

Thermal Management

Despite its slim profile, the Tab S11 Ultra includes an advanced vapour chamber cooling system that effectively dissipates heat during demanding tasks. Even during extended gaming sessions or video rendering, the tablet remains comfortable to hold, with heat distributed evenly across the chassis rather than concentrated in specific areas.

Software Experience

Android 16 with One UI 8

The Tab S11 Ultra ships with Android 16 and Samsung's One UI 8 interface. Samsung's tablet-optimised UI makes excellent use of the large screen, with thoughtful features designed specifically for large-format devices.

The taskbar provides quick access to frequently used apps and recent applications, similar to a desktop operating system. Split-screen multitasking is excellent, allowing you to run up to three apps simultaneously with adjustable window sizes. Samsung DeX mode transforms the interface into a desktop-like environment when connected to an external display or keyboard, complete with resizable windows and a proper taskbar.

Long-Term Software Support

Samsung commits to five years of security updates and four generations of Android OS upgrades, ensuring the Tab S11 Ultra remains secure and receives new features for years to come. This extended support period provides excellent value retention and peace of mind for professional users who depend on their devices.

Pre-Installed Applications

Samsung includes a thoughtful selection of productivity applications optimised for the large display and S Pen input. Samsung Notes provides powerful note-taking capabilities with handwriting recognition, PDF annotation, and cloud synchronisation. Samsung's office suite integrates well with Microsoft 365, enabling seamless document editing.

S Pen Functionality

Included Stylus with Advanced Features

The S Pen is included with the Tab S11 Ultra, magnetically attaching to the rear of the tablet for storage and wireless charging. The stylus features Bluetooth connectivity, enabling air gestures and remote control functionality for presentations or photography.

Low Latency and Precision

Latency between stylus input and on-screen response is remarkably low at just 2.8ms, providing a natural writing and drawing experience that feels almost indistinguishable from pen on paper. The S Pen features 4,096 pressure sensitivity levels, enabling subtle line weight variations essential for digital art.

Creative and Productivity Applications

For creatives, the combination of the expansive display, accurate colours, and responsive S Pen makes the Tab S11 Ultra an excellent digital art tablet. Applications like Clip Studio Paint, Adobe Fresco, and Procreate (when available) run excellently. For business users, the S Pen transforms the tablet into a powerful note-taking device for meetings or lectures.

Battery Life and Charging

Massive 11,600mAh Battery

The Tab S11 Ultra's enormous 11,600mAh battery provides outstanding endurance. Samsung rates the tablet for up to 23 hours of video playback on a single charge, and real-world usage confirms these impressive figures. With moderate mixed use including web browsing, document editing, video streaming, and gaming, expect 2-3 days between charges.

For intensive tasks like video editing or gaming, you'll still achieve a full day of use without needing to reach for the charger. This exceptional battery life makes the Tab S11 Ultra suitable for international travel without anxiety about finding charging opportunities.

45W Fast Charging

The tablet supports 45W fast charging, though the charger must be purchased separately (only a USB-C cable is included). With a compatible 45W charger, the battery charges from empty to full in approximately 80 minutes. A 30-minute charge provides enough power for several hours of use.

Whilst 45W charging is respectable for a device with such a large battery, we would have appreciated even faster charging speeds given the battery capacity. Some competing tablets offer 65W or even 80W charging capabilities.

Audio Quality

Quad Speaker System with Dolby Atmos

The Tab S11 Ultra features a sophisticated quad speaker system tuned by AKG, with speakers positioned to deliver stereo sound regardless of how the tablet is held. The speakers are impressively loud, easily filling a medium-sized room with sound.

Audio quality is excellent for a tablet, with clear vocals, decent midrange, and surprising bass presence. Dolby Atmos support creates an expansive soundstage when watching compatible content, providing an immersive experience for films and television. Whilst dedicated speakers will always provide superior audio, the Tab S11 Ultra's speakers are more than adequate for casual listening and media consumption.

Camera Capabilities

Rear Camera System

The rear camera system comprises a 13MP main sensor and an 8MP ultra-wide camera. Image quality is acceptable for document scanning and video calls, though it's clear Samsung doesn't expect users to primarily use this tablet for photography. Photos are reasonably detailed in good lighting but struggle in low-light conditions with visible noise.

The ultra-wide camera is useful for capturing whiteboards or large documents, though image quality takes a noticeable step down from the main sensor. Both cameras can record 4K video at 30fps.

Front-Facing Camera

The 12MP front camera is positioned on the longer edge of the tablet, placing it centrally when the device is used in landscape orientation - the natural orientation for video calls. Image quality is good, with accurate colours and adequate detail for professional video conferencing.

Samsung includes an auto-framing feature that digitally tracks your movement, keeping you centred in frame even if you move around during calls. This works surprisingly well and adds polish to video presentations.

Connectivity Options

Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4

The Tab S11 Ultra includes Wi-Fi 7 support, providing blazing-fast wireless connectivity and reduced latency when used with compatible routers. Backward compatibility with Wi-Fi 6E, 6, and older standards ensures connectivity with all routers.

Bluetooth 5.4 provides stable connections to wireless headphones, keyboards, mice, and other peripherals. The tablet can maintain multiple simultaneous Bluetooth connections without interference.

USB-C Port

A single USB-C 3.2 port handles charging and data transfer. The port supports DisplayPort output, enabling connection to external monitors up to 4K resolution at 60Hz. Data transfer speeds are fast, useful when moving large video files or photo libraries.

Use Case Scenarios

Professional Productivity

The Tab S11 Ultra excels as a portable productivity device. The large screen comfortably displays full desktop websites and documents, whilst Samsung DeX mode provides a desktop-like experience when paired with a keyboard and mouse. Microsoft 365 integration is excellent, with full-featured versions of Word, Excel, and PowerPoint running smoothly.

Creative Work

For digital artists, photographers, and video editors, the Tab S11 Ultra provides a capable mobile workstation. The accurate colour reproduction and responsive S Pen enable professional creative work. Adobe Creative Cloud applications run well, though complex operations will still benefit from desktop hardware.

Media Consumption

As a media consumption device, the Tab S11 Ultra is exceptional. The expansive AMOLED display provides a cinematic viewing experience for films and television. The quad speakers deliver room-filling audio. The excellent battery life means you can watch multiple films during long-haul flights without concern.

Gaming

The powerful Dimensity 9400+ processor handles demanding mobile games effortlessly. The 120Hz display provides smooth gameplay, whilst the large screen offers excellent visibility. The tablet remains cool during extended gaming sessions thanks to the efficient cooling system.

Value Proposition

Pricing and Competition

At £1,199 for the base 256GB model, the Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra sits firmly in the premium tablet category. The 512GB model costs £1,299, whilst the top-tier 1TB model with 16GB RAM is priced at £1,499. These prices position the Tab S11 Ultra as a direct competitor to Apple's iPad Pro 12.9-inch.

Comparison to iPad Pro

The Tab S11 Ultra offers several advantages over the iPad Pro: a larger display, AMOLED technology with superior contrast, IP68 waterproofing, and an included S Pen stylus. The iPad Pro counters with stronger app ecosystem optimisation, particularly for professional creative applications, and Apple's industry-leading customer support.

Who Should Buy the Tab S11 Ultra?

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra is ideal for:

• Professionals needing a portable workstation for productivity tasks
• Digital artists and graphic designers requiring a large, colour-accurate display
• Students taking notes and annotating documents with the S Pen
• Media enthusiasts wanting the best possible viewing experience
• Business users presenting to clients or conducting video conferences
• Anyone seeking the ultimate Android tablet experience

Conclusion

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra represents the absolute pinnacle of Android tablet technology in 2025. It delivers professional-grade performance, an absolutely stunning 14.6-inch AMOLED display, comprehensive IP68 waterproofing, and outstanding battery life in a premium package.

The MediaTek Dimensity 9400+ processor provides more than enough power for any task, from complex spreadsheets to video editing. The included S Pen with low latency makes this an excellent device for note-taking, document annotation, and digital art. The combination of quad speakers with Dolby Atmos, HDR10+ support, and that magnificent display creates an exceptional media consumption experience.

The Tab S11 Ultra isn't perfect - the size and weight require two-handed operation, charging could be faster, and the premium pricing will deter some potential buyers. However, for those seeking the best Android tablet available without compromise, the Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra delivers on every front.

If you need a large-format tablet for professional work, creative pursuits, or simply want the finest media consumption device available in the Android ecosystem, the Samsung Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra is an outstanding choice that justifies its premium positioning.