If you want a big-screen Android slate that can double as a laptop, this Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra review is for you. We tested Samsung’s newest flagship tablet to see how the DeX overhaul, battery life, display, and performance stack up in 2025. Our focus keyword is Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra review. We’ll show where it outperforms rivals, where it still trails an iPad Pro, and who should buy it for work, study, and creative projects.
Overview and key takeaways
The Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra is Samsung’s largest, most capable Android tablet. It targets professionals, students, and creators who need a flexible device for touch, pen, and desktop-style work. The headlining change is a more polished DeX experience in One UI 8, which improves windowing, multi-monitor behavior, and input ergonomics.
- DeX upgrades: More desktop-like behavior with better window management and external display flow.
- Battery: All-day endurance for productivity and streaming with quick top-ups over USB‑C.
- Display: Large, bright AMOLED with smooth scrolling and accurate color for content work.
- Performance: Snappy app launches and fluid multitasking for office work, notes, and light editing.
Bottom line: If your use case blends pen input, split-screen research, and occasional clamshell work, the Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra is the best Android tablet to consider in 2025.
Design and display
The Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra keeps a sleek, rigid chassis with thin bezels that help with grip. The large AMOLED panel is bright, punchy, and color-accurate without drifting into oversaturation. Smooth refresh keeps pen strokes and scrolling fluid in creative apps and browsers.
- Build: Rigid frame and premium finish that resists flex in daily carry.
- Comfort: Wide canvas for split views, pen notes, and video sidebars.
- Visibility: Excellent indoor clarity and strong outdoor readability for maps and docs.
Creators will like the calibration options. You can target natural color for design tasks, then switch to a vivid mode for movies and games. Text looks crisp with high pixel density, so reading feels easy on the eyes.
S Pen experience and accessories
The S Pen remains a core reason to choose a Galaxy tablet. Latency is low, palm rejection is reliable, and handwriting-to-text keeps up with quick notes. The keyboard cover turns the tablet into a compact laptop, and the trackpad feels natural for DeX navigation.
- Notes: Screen-off memo makes fast capture possible without unlocking.
- Markup: PDFs, slides, and screenshots are easy to annotate and share.
- Creative: Sketches, storyboards, and rough edits feel smooth and precise.
Tip: Map your top pen shortcuts. Assign double-tap for eraser or lasso to speed up your workflow in Samsung Notes and supported design apps.
DeX: the desktop story in 2025
DeX is the differentiator. One UI 8 brings a more polished taskbar, better snapping, and fewer oddities with window focus. External display behavior is smarter, so you can keep a primary canvas on the tablet and a reference screen on a monitor without constant juggling.
- Windowing: Snap zones and consistent tiling reduce friction with multiple apps.
- External monitors: Cleaner scaling and fewer hiccups when docking and undocking.
- Shortcuts: Keyboard-driven workflows feel closer to a traditional PC environment.
These changes don’t make a workstation-class PC obsolete. They do make everyday office tasks and research sessions pleasant in a tablet-first setup. For more context on DeX’s gains in One UI 8 on tablets, see Android Authority’s analysis of the Tab S11 series improvements (source).
Performance and thermals
General performance is snappy. App launches are quick, two to three windows run smoothly, and pen input remains responsive. Under heavier loads like long browser sessions with many tabs or quick video edits, the tablet stays composed, with only mild warmth on the back panel.
- Everyday use: Email, docs, web, and chat switch without stutter.
- Creative: Light photo edits and basic timelines are fine; complex work favors a PC.
- Thermals: Predictable warmth under load, not hot, and no dramatic throttling in day-to-day tasks.
The Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra won’t replace a high-power laptop for heavy creator workflows. It will cover a surprising amount of work when you lean on DeX, cloud apps, and an efficient pen-first routine.
Battery life and charging
Battery endurance is a strength. Mixed office work, notes, video calls, and streaming can carry you through a full day. Quick top-ups over USB‑C get you from low to useful during a short break. Wireless charging pads for tablets remain rare, so keep a compact USB‑C charger in your bag.
- All-day use: Meetings, docs, and streaming end with comfortable reserves.
- DeX sessions: Expect higher draw; plug in during desktop-like work.
- Health: Adaptive charging and moderate temps help preserve long-term battery.
Power users who routinely dock in DeX mode should treat the S11 Ultra like a laptop and stay plugged in while working at a desk.
Audio, cameras, and connectivity
Speakers are loud and clear for calls, lectures, and movies. Microphones isolate voice well enough for meetings, though headsets beat any built-in mic in noisy spaces. Cameras are tablet-good; they handle scans, whiteboards, and decent light video calls without fuss.
- Audio: Quad speakers with good separation and dialogue clarity.
- Cameras: Solid for document capture and calls; not a content creator’s primary camera.
- Connectivity: Fast Wi‑Fi and stable Bluetooth keep accessories connected.
For audio upgrades or sleep-friendly listening, consider ultra‑low profile buds like the Soundcore Sleep A30 (review). If you live in Apple’s ecosystem, our AirPods Pro 3 analysis offers context on call quality and ANC trade-offs (read more).
Software polish and ecosystem
One UI 8 feels cohesive on a screen this big. Multi-window gestures, a tidy quick settings layout, and full-featured Notes make good use of space. If you own a Galaxy phone, continuity features like auto-hotspot and shared clipboard reduce friction.
- Continuity: Phone-to-tablet features smooth your daily routine.
- Security: Clear permission prompts and timely updates build trust.
- Storage: Cloud sync keeps large files off local storage when possible.
Samsung’s update policy for premium devices continues to improve. Always confirm exact OS and security support for your region on the official site (samsung.com).
Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra vs the competition
Flagship tablets are excellent across platforms in 2025. The Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra competes by offering a large, color-accurate display, a great pen, and DeX for desktop-like use. Apple’s iPad Pro still wins on some pro apps and peak performance. Microsoft’s Surface line stays best for Windows-first needs.
| Device | Best for | Strengths | Trade-offs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra | Pen-first workflows and DeX desktop use | Great AMOLED, polished DeX, solid battery | Pro apps selection trails iPad in some niches |
| iPad Pro (2025) | Peak performance and creative app depth | ProMotion, powerful chips, rich pro software | No DeX-like desktop; different multitasking model |
| Surface Pro | Windows apps and enterprise workflows | Full desktop software, legacy compatibility | Heavier OS overhead, tablet-first UX compromises |
Considering phone-tablet pairings? Check our recent phone reviews for ecosystem context: Galaxy S25 Ultra review, iPhone 17 Pro Max review, and iPhone Air review.
Pricing and configurations
Pricing and storage tiers vary by region and retailer. Pen support is included; keyboard covers and cases add to the total. If you plan to use DeX often, budget for the keyboard cover and a quality USB‑C hub for displays and peripherals.
- Storage: Choose enough local space if you edit media; cloud can handle the rest.
- Accessories: Keyboard cover, pen tips, and a compact USB‑C charger are smart buys.
- Deals: Watch seasonal bundles for keyboard or case discounts.
Always verify current pricing and configurations on Samsung’s official site (samsung.com) and reputable spec databases like GSMArena.
User experience: day-to-day reality
The Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra shines when you use it as a tablet and a mini desktop. Read and annotate in portrait, then dock for spreadsheets and slides in DeX. The pen makes meetings more productive, and the display feels luxurious for reading and course videos.
- Meetings: Notes and markups are faster than typing for many people.
- Research: Split view with browser, PDF, and notes is a sweet spot.
- Travel: Big screen for media; battery handles flights and hotel work.
If you want a single device that flexes between media, notes, and light desktop work, this tablet feels purpose-built for 2025.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Polished DeX that finally behaves like a real desktop environment.
- Large, color-accurate AMOLED that flatters media and helps creative work.
- S Pen is precise, responsive, and truly useful for notes and markups.
- All-day battery for tablet tasks with fast USB‑C top-ups.
- Strong accessory ecosystem for desk and travel setups.
Cons
- Pro app depth still favors iPad in some creative niches.
- DeX power users should stay plugged in during long desktop sessions.
- Keyboard cover adds cost and weight; choose wisely.
Final verdict
The Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra is the most convincing Android tablet for laptop-style work in 2025. DeX is mature enough to rely on, the display is a joy for reading and media, and the S Pen gives you a productivity superpower. If your daily work leans on notes, markups, research, and web apps, this tablet can stand in for a thin-and-light laptop. If you live in pro-grade creative suites, a Windows PC or iPad Pro may still fit better.
Pair it with the right phone and earbuds for a seamless setup. See our deep dives on Galaxy S25 Ultra, iPhone 17 Pro Max, and even wearable cameras like the Ray‑Ban Meta Smart Glasses to round out your kit.
FAQs
Is the Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra good enough to replace a laptop?
For notes, docs, web apps, and split-screen research, yes. For heavy creative tools and specialized desktop apps, keep a PC or Mac.
How does DeX compare to a real desktop OS now?
One UI 8 makes DeX feel more predictable and desktop-like. It’s not full Windows or macOS, but it’s great for office workflows.
How long does the battery last?
All day for tablet tasks and media. In long DeX sessions, plug in like you would with a laptop.
Is the S Pen included and worth using?
Yes, and it’s excellent. It speeds up notes, markups, and quick creative sketches. Latency and accuracy are strong.
Should I buy the keyboard cover?
If you plan to use DeX for email, docs, and spreadsheets, the keyboard is a smart upgrade. It turns the tablet into a mini laptop.
How does it stack up to iPad Pro?
Samsung wins on DeX and pen-included value. iPad Pro still leads in some pro app ecosystems and peak performance.
Does it work well with Galaxy phones?
Yes. Auto-hotspot, shared clipboard, and ecosystem features reduce friction in daily use.
What about long-term updates?
Samsung’s flagship support has improved. Confirm OS and security timelines for your region on samsung.com.
Sources and further reading
- Samsung product info and regional configurations: samsung.com
- One UI 8 DeX improvements on tablets (Tab S11 series): Android Authority
- Specifications context and comparisons: GSMArena
- Battery context vs phones: 9to5Mac battery test insights
- Related on our site: Galaxy S25 Ultra review, iPhone Air review, Ray‑Ban Meta smart glasses
