I reviewed the Samsung Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra, and there’s one big reason to buy it
Source: Android Authority
The Samsung Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra is big, heavy, and expensive, but it also has the most impressive display of any Android tablet available today. Movies and games look incredible on the 14.6‑inch AMOLED panel, and paired with fast performance and long battery life, the Tab S11 Ultra is about as high‑end as it gets. So long as you have deep pockets and don’t mind its gargantuan size, it’s a really compelling package.
The Samsung Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra is an incredibly impractical tablet. It’s too big to comfortably hold, is outrageously expensive, and isn’t a good value when put next to its many Android tablet competitors. And even so, I’ve still thoroughly enjoyed my time with it.
The Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra is the fourth installment in Samsung’s “Ultra” tablet ranks, and as a media‑consumption device, it’s basically perfect. With a stunning 14.6‑inch AMOLED display, great speakers, and plenty of processing power and battery life, it’s a truly indulgent tablet. When you’re watching a movie or playing a game, the experience on the Tab S11 Ultra is magical.
But is it an experience worth $1,200? While it probably won’t be for most people, for anyone willing to drop that kind of cash on an ultra‑premium Android tablet, I can’t think of anything better than the Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra. That is, so long as you can wrangle it.
The number one reason to buy the Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra
Joe Maring / Android Authority
If there’s one thing that makes the Tab S11 Ultra worth its exorbitant price tag, it’s the display. At 14.6 inches and with a 90.8 % screen‑to‑body ratio, using the Tab S11 Ultra really does feel like using a miniature TV. This was also true of Samsung’s previous Ultra tablets, and it’s still just as impressive on this year’s model.
Going into this review, I wasn’t sure how I would get along with a tablet this big. If anything, I was worried it would annoy me. However, after taking the Tab S11 Ultra with me on a two‑week vacation to Italy, it clicked.
The display makes the Tab S11 Ultra’s price tag worth it
Almost every night before bed, my partner and I would use the Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra to watch an episode of Gilmore Girls. Propped up on our hotel bed, it was like having a high‑quality AMOLED TV right in front of us. On our train rides across the country, using the Tab S11 Ultra to play a few rounds of Balatro was overkill in the best way possible. And on the many occasions we scanned Google Maps to find a restaurant for dinner, doing so on a 14.6‑inch canvas was just the best.
The display is so big that at one point I was playing Balatro while YouTube TV ran in the smallest possible picture‑in‑picture player. Because the Tab S11 Ultra is so huge, I could still more than comfortably watch the Dolphins and Commanders game even in that “small” PiP window. Where this would have felt cramped on a more traditional 10‑inch tablet, it felt perfect on the Tab S11 Ultra.
Joe Maring / Android Authority
The free stylus that comes bundled with the Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra.
It’s not just the size; the Dynamic AMOLED 2X panel delivers rich colors, deep blacks, and a buttery‑smooth 120 Hz refresh rate. Brightness is impressive—rarely needing to push past 50 %, and at the full 1,600 nits it feels like staring into the sun on a screen this big.
The Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra also shines in audio. Four AKG‑tuned speakers with Dolby Atmos make movies and TV shows sound as if they’re coming from a dedicated Bluetooth speaker rather than a tablet.
My biggest frustration with the Tab S11 Ultra
Joe Maring / Android Authority
All of the above comes at a cost: the tablet’s bulky design. A 14.6‑inch display inevitably results in a large device, and the Tab S11 Ultra is an absolute pain to hold and carry.
Samsung sent me the Tab S11 Ultra without an included case/stand. By the end of day two, I was fed up with trying to hold the tablet and ordered a case from Amazon so I could continue my review testing in peace.
Measuring 326 mm long and weighing 692 g, the Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra isn’t a tablet you’ll want to use for more than a few minutes at a time without a stand. It’s awkward to grip, and the weight is immediately felt. The Tab S11 Ultra is lighter and thinner than the Tab S10 Ultra, but ergonomics will always be an issue with a screen this massive.
Using a case makes the experience much more enjoyable. Propping it up to watch a movie or play a game is delightful, and a keyboard case turns it into a capable productivity device.
If you plan to use the Tab S11 Ultra primarily docked or with accessories, you’ll be fine. But if you want a tablet you can comfortably hold while scrolling Reddit on the couch or watching YouTube in bed, the Tab S11 Ultra will likely annoy you more than anything else. This has been the most frustrating aspect of the tablet during my review period.
Performance, battery life, and software
Joe Maring / Android Authority
If the size doesn’t deter you, the rest of the experience is pretty exceptional.
Performance – Powered by a 3 nm MediaTek Dimensity 9400+ chip and 12 GB or 16 GB of RAM (depending on configuration), the Tab S11 Ultra handles all apps without issue, including split‑screen multitasking and picture‑in‑picture video. Games like Balatro run flawlessly, and more demanding titles such as Call of Duty: Mobile run at max graphics and frame‑rate settings.
Benchmark results back this up. In GeekBench 6 CPU tests, the Tab S11 Ultra is notably faster than the Tab S10 Ultra, though it trails slightly behind the OnePlus Pad 3 with its Snapdragon 8 Elite chip. In the Wild Life Stress Test GPU benchmark, it delivers more stable performance and cooler temperatures than the two competitors.
Battery life – The 11,600 mAh battery easily lasts multiple days. In my usage (≈2 hours of screen time per day, streaming, gaming, navigation, and white‑noise playback at night) I consistently got at least four days per charge.
Software – Samsung’s One UI is well‑optimized for large displays, allowing up to three apps in split‑screen view and a fourth in a floating window. It’s a bit overkill, but on a 14.6‑inch screen it can be useful. First‑party Samsung apps and most Google apps look great. Some Android apps still aren’t fully optimized for tablet‑size displays, but the issue is minor.
One drawback: One UI 8 changes how DeX works on Samsung tablets. You can no longer run Samsung DeX directly on the Tab S11 Ultra’s display; an external monitor is required. This isn’t a problem for entertainment‑focused users, but it limits productivity scenarios, especially with a keyboard case.
Samsung promises major Android OS upgrades and security updates for seven years, so the Tab S11 Ultra will remain supported for a long time.
Should you buy the Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra?
Joe Maring / Android Authority
When I’m watching a movie, playing a game, or running two apps side‑by‑side on its 14.6‑inch screen, I absolutely love it. If media consumption is your top priority and you aren’t concerned about ergonomics or price, the Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra is a fantastic choice. For everyone else, it’s hard to recommend it over smaller, cheaper competitors.
Alternatives
-
Galaxy Tab S11 – $799.99 at Amazon
An 11‑inch version with the same high‑quality AMOLED panel, MediaTek chip, and software, but far more manageable and considerably cheaper. -
OnePlus Pad 3 – $649.99 at Amazon
Offers more raw horsepower, outstanding battery life, fast charging, and great software. Its 13.2‑inch LCD display (144 Hz, 7:5 aspect ratio) is sharp and buttery smooth, and it’s about $500 cheaper than the Tab S11 Ultra.
If it were my money, I’d choose the regular Tab S11 or the OnePlus Pad 3 before dropping $1,200 on Samsung’s Ultra tablet. If you want a more manageable design and better value, those are the better options.
However, if money isn’t an object and you solely care about having the biggest and best tablet display you can get in 2025, the Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra remains unmatched.
Key specs
- New 14.6‑inch display • Upgraded DeX modes • Very thin • Robust AI features
- MSRP: $1,199.99
- Largest display to date for a Galaxy Tab tablet
- 2,960 × 1,848 px resolution at 120 Hz
- 11,600 mAh battery
- Quad AKG‑tuned speakers with Dolby Atmos
Positives
- Stunning 14.6‑inch AMOLED display
- Loud, high‑quality speakers
- Comes with a free stylus
- Great performance and battery life
- Seven years of updates
Cons
- Very heavy and uncomfortable to hold
- Can’t run Samsung DeX without an external monitor
- Extremely expensive
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