Samsung Galaxy Tab S11 11" Gray 2025
The 3nm MediaTek chip and 12GB of RAM drive smooth multitasking in a 5.5mm-thin, IP68-rated chassis that weighs just 481g. Its 11-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display and improved S Pen offer a natural writing experience, complemented by Galaxy AI features like Note Assist for automatic summarization. This tablet is best for students and mobile note-takers who need a durable, lightweight device for organizing ideas and sketching on the go.
Snapshot
The 30-Second Version
The Galaxy Tab S11's MediaTek chip scores in the 98th percentile for CPU performance, making it one of the fastest tablets around. The 120Hz AMOLED display and excellent battery life make it a joy for streaming and reading, though the 162-nit brightness and slower UFS 3.1 storage are weak spots. At around $800 with the S Pen included, it's a killer entertainment tablet, especially if you're already using a Samsung phone.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Top-tier CPU performance in the 98th percentile 99th
- Gorgeous 120Hz AMOLED screen with vivid colors 98th
- Incredibly thin and light at 5.5mm and 481g 98th
- IP68 water and dust resistance for peace of mind 95th
- Excellent real-world battery life praised by owners
Cons
- Base 128GB storage uses slower UFS 3.1
- S Pen drops Bluetooth support from previous gen
- Face unlock is inconsistent per user reports
- Screen brightness of 162 nits is underwhelming
- Business use score of 52.2 limits productivity chops
What owners think
The Word on the Street
How owner sentiment changed over time
ExclusiveBased on when customers actually wrote their reviews - so you can see whether early praise held up.
Based on 98 dated customer reviews, grouped by calendar quarter. Period analysis is in English.
The proof
Performance
That 3nm MediaTek processor is the real deal. It's in the 98th percentile for CPU and 96th for GPU, which puts it ahead of most tablets in our database for raw compute and graphics grunt. In practice, you're looking at app launches that feel instant and zero lag when you've got a video call running alongside a note-taking app. The 12GB of RAM sits in the 81st percentile, which is well above average and keeps things humming even with a dozen Chrome tabs open. The 120Hz AMOLED panel makes every swipe and scroll buttery smooth, and the 2560x1600 resolution keeps text crisp for reading.
But there's a weird disconnect with that 162-nit brightness spec. In our screen testing, it's in the 84th percentile overall, which suggests the color accuracy and contrast are doing the heavy lifting, because that peak brightness is mediocre at best. Indoors it's fine, but you'll be squinting if you try to use it in direct sunlight. The 8400mAh battery is a strong point, landing in the 83rd percentile, and owners back this up with praise for all-day endurance. Just don't expect the base 128GB of UFS 3.1 storage to win any speed awards, it's a middle-of-the-pack 65th percentile showing that feels a generation behind the rest of the hardware.
Specifications
Full Specifications
Processor
| CPU | MediaTek Dimensity 9400+ |
| Cores | 8 |
Memory & Storage
| RAM | 12 GB |
| Storage | 128 GB |
| Storage Type | SSD |
| Expandable | Yes |
Display
| Size | 11" |
| Resolution | 2560x1600 (QHD) |
| Panel | AMOLED |
| Refresh Rate | 120 Hz |
| Brightness | 162 nits |
Connectivity
| Wi-Fi | ✓ |
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth 5.4 |
| USB-C | 1 |
| Cellular | No |
Features
| Stylus Support | Yes |
| Stylus Model | S Pen |
| Fingerprint Reader | Yes |
| Face Unlock | Yes |
| IP Rating | IP68 |
Physical
| Weight | 0.5 kg / 1.1 lbs |
| OS | Android 16 |
vs Competition
Stacked against the Apple iPad Pro M5, the Tab S11 holds its own on raw CPU and GPU muscle but falls behind on storage speed and that buttery Apple Pencil integration. The iPad Pro is the better pure creative tool, but you'll pay a premium for it. The Microsoft Surface Pro 11th Edition is a different beast entirely, running full Windows and crushing the Tab S11's business score of 52.2, but it's heavier and pricier. The Xiaomi Pad 7 and Lenovo Idea Tab Pro are closer competitors in the Android space, and while they might offer better value on paper, neither matches the Tab S11's display quality or Samsung's ecosystem perks like seamless phone-to-tablet handoff. If you're already in the Samsung world with a Galaxy phone and Buds, the integration here is a real differentiator that owners rave about.
| Spec | Samsung Galaxy Tab S11 11" | Apple iPad Pro M5 | Microsoft Surface Pro 11 | Lenovo Yoga Tab Plus ZAEG0096US | Xiaomi Pad 7 2AFZZCRP4CG | Vekfulpc T60 Pro |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CPU | MediaTek Dimensity 9400+ | Apple M5 | Intel Core Ultra 7 268V | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 | 2800 MHz | 2.2 GHz |
| RAM (GB) | 12 | 16 | 32 | 16 | 8 | 8 |
| Storage (GB) | 128 | 2000 | 1024 | 256 | 256 | 256 |
| Screen | 11" 2560x1600 | 13" 2752x2064 | 13" 2880x1920 | 12.7" 2944x1840 | 11.2" 3200x2136 | 13.4" |
| OS | Android 16 | iPadOS | Windows 11 Pro | Android 14 | Android 14 | Android 15 |
| Stylus | true | true | true | true | true | true |
| Cellular | false | true | false | false | false | true |
| Battery (Wh) | - | 39 | 47 | - | - | - |
| Compare | Compare | Compare | Compare | Compare |
| Product | CPU | GPU | RAM | Screen | Battery | Feature | Storage | User Sentiment | Connectivity | Social Proof |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Samsung Galaxy Tab S11 11" | 98.6 | 97.7 | 80.7 | 85.4 | 82.2 | 98.3 | 65.3 | 66.1 | 64 | 95.4 |
| Apple iPad Pro M5 Compare | 96.6 | 97.4 | 87.3 | 99.8 | 97.8 | 96.9 | 99.6 | 94.4 | 99.2 | 99.3 |
| Microsoft Surface Pro 11 Compare | 73.3 | 92.6 | 98.9 | 99.5 | 98.8 | 84.5 | 98 | 0 | 93 | 80.6 |
| Lenovo Yoga Tab Plus ZAEG0096US Compare | 69.1 | 66.3 | 92.7 | 97.1 | 89.5 | 96.9 | 83.5 | 94.4 | 93 | 89.4 |
| Xiaomi Pad 7 2AFZZCRP4CG Compare | 97.3 | 95.3 | 66 | 98.8 | 84.6 | 52.9 | 83.5 | 88.2 | 78.3 | 92.6 |
| Vekfulpc T60 Pro Compare | 93.1 | 89 | 66 | 62.7 | 86.6 | 88.7 | 74 | 55.6 | 59.9 | 85.3 |
Price
Value & Pricing
Pricing is a bit of a mystery here, with a wild spread from $800 to $18,951 across vendors, which is clearly some listing anomalies in the mix. The realistic price for this 128GB Wi-Fi model should hover around that $800 mark, and at that level, you're getting a tablet with best-in-class processing power and a stunning display. The included S Pen adds real value for note-takers and doodlers, even without Bluetooth. Compared to the iPad Pro M5, you're likely saving a chunk of cash while getting a more flexible OS, though you sacrifice some storage speed and that seamless Apple Pencil experience. For an entertainment and reading machine, it's a solid deal.
Read more
Overview
The Galaxy Tab S11's MediaTek 3nm chip lands in the 98th percentile for CPU performance in our tablet database, making this one of the fastest Android slates you can buy right now. Paired with 12GB of RAM, it chews through split-screen multitasking and 4K streaming without breaking a sweat. The 11-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display is a standout too, hitting the 84th percentile for screen quality, though its 162-nit brightness is a head-scratcher that doesn't match the vivid colors and 120Hz smoothness in real-world use. At just 5.5mm thin and 481g, it's absurdly portable, and the IP68 rating means a splash of water won't ruin your day.
Samsung clearly built this for media consumption and light productivity, and it shows in our best-for scores: entertainment at 71.6, reading at 69.5, and art/design at 69. But it stumbles hard in business use at 52.2, so don't expect a laptop replacement. Owners are largely thrilled, giving it a 4.6-star average across 241 reviews, with fast performance and excellent battery life as the recurring highlights. The base 128GB of UFS 3.1 storage is a sore spot though, and the S Pen losing Bluetooth feels like a step backward for a device pitching itself as a creative tool.
Common Questions
Q: How does the Galaxy Tab S11's performance compare to the iPad Pro?
The Tab S11's MediaTek chip is in the 98th percentile for CPU and 96th for GPU in our database, putting it right up there with the iPad Pro M5 for raw power. In day-to-day use, both are incredibly snappy, but the iPad Pro pulls ahead in sustained creative workloads and has faster storage. For streaming, multitasking, and general use, you won't notice a meaningful difference.
Q: Is the S Pen included, and does it have Bluetooth?
Yes, the S Pen comes in the box, but Samsung removed Bluetooth support from this generation. That means no air gestures or remote camera shutter. It still works great for note-taking and drawing with excellent pressure sensitivity, but if you relied on those wireless tricks, it's a downgrade from the Tab S10 series.
Q: Can this tablet replace a laptop for work?
Probably not. Our best-for scores show it's excellent for entertainment (71.6) and reading (69.5), but business use scored just 52.2, which is well below average. The Android OS and lack of a true desktop-class multitasking environment hold it back. It's fine for light email and document editing, but you'll want a Surface Pro or a proper laptop for serious productivity.
Who Should Skip This
If you need a tablet for serious work, look elsewhere. The business score of 52.2 is a clear signal that this isn't built for spreadsheets, presentations, and heavy multitasking. Creative pros who rely on a stylus with Bluetooth features will also be disappointed by the S Pen downgrade. And if you plan to use your tablet outdoors often, that 162-nit screen brightness is going to be a constant frustration. The Microsoft Surface Pro 11th Edition or even a higher-storage iPad Pro M5 would serve you better in those scenarios.
Verdict
The Galaxy Tab S11 is a media and reading powerhouse that happens to be one of the fastest Android tablets we've tested. The 98th percentile CPU and 96th percentile GPU scores aren't just numbers, they translate to a tablet that feels snappy and future-proof for years of streaming, browsing, and light creative work. The display is a joy for content, the battery lasts ages, and the build quality is top-notch with that IP68 rating. Just know what you're getting into: the base storage is slow, the S Pen took a step back, and this isn't a laptop replacement for serious work. If your priorities are entertainment, reading, and staying in the Samsung ecosystem, this is an easy recommendation.