REVIEW: Can the Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra replace a notebook?

O Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra It's the top-of-the-line tablet from Samsung For 2025. It brings the improvements that had already been implemented in the previous model, such as IP68 protection and the use of Galaxy AI throughout the system. However, more than ever, can it replace a conventional notebook? Find out with us in the full review.

Design

Following the pattern of previous versions, the Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra It's a fairly large tablet with a clear objective: to resemble a notebook. Its body is very similar to the previous model, measuring 32cm in height, 20cm in width, and 5cm in thickness. This makes it a slightly thinner tablet than the... S10Ultra And best of all, it's also lighter, weighing 692g compared to the previous model's 718g. The included keyboard cover is also slightly different, providing more stability for use as a notebook, although it still retains some of the problems of previous models and has some new ones.

The sides of the tablet feature the now-standard volume and power buttons, as well as microphones for audio capture and the SIM card tray. At the top, there's another microphone, plus two of the stereo speaker outputs. Finally, at the bottom, there's a USB-C port and the other speaker outputs.

The Tab S11 Ultra's body is very sturdy, made of aluminum, ensuring a very attractive look. It's only available in gray and features IP68 protection for water and dust resistance. As usual, the S Pen is included, now in a hexagonal shape, very reminiscent of a pencil.

Keyboard cover and S Pen

Samsung decided to include a keyboard cover with its tablets a few years ago, and this tablet is no exception. However, the cover design has changed, and while it has brought improvements, I can also say it has regressed. Let's start with what's good.

By far the most pleasing improvement here is that the case now provides a secure grip for the tablet on any surface, whether on your lap, a table, or even in bed. Typing here is also quite comfortable, although the keyboard is a small and simplified design, thankfully in the ABNT2 standard.

And that's where the problems begin. The first complaint compared to previous models is that we no longer have a backlit keyboard, and it also doesn't include a touchpad, leaving us with either a touchscreen or an external mouse. Although it's quite sturdy, I missed the ability to tilt the tablet or use it without the keyboard, something that was possible with the old detachable model. Finally, the S Pen doesn't have any kind of protection in this case, meaning it's always exposed to external hazards, which, in my opinion, is the biggest drawback.

Speaking of which, Samsung presented a slightly different model of the S Pen here. It comes redesigned in a hexagonal shape that looks like a pencil. It's more comfortable to use, but I noticed that it lost its Bluetooth functions from previous models. In other words, no gestures for taking photos, changing songs, and so on. It's worth mentioning that I tested my Galaxy Tab S6 Lite S Pen here and the tablet recognized it without problems.

Fabric

O Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra It retains the 14.6-inch screen. In terms of size, it remains the same as all previous Ultra models. It's a perfect size for use as a laptop and guarantees excellent viewing for watching movies, series, and also for gaming, as it offers an average brightness of 1000 nits and can reach 1600 nits at its maximum. Considering its size, this is great.

Screen technology is the Dynamic Amoled 2X, with refresh rate of 120Hz LTPO and support to HDR10 +This combination guarantees excellent performance in any activity. The resolution is 1848 x 2960 pixels (a variant of 2K), it has a 16:10 aspect ratio and an anti-reflective coating. Samsung hasn't specified whether it will retain Gorilla Glass for screen protection.

Due to its screen size, using it as a conventional tablet is quite uncomfortable for active tasks such as typing, gaming, and browsing apps. On the other hand, using the included keyboard cover changes things somewhat, allowing you to take full advantage of the screen and its functions. For watching movies and series, I still think a detachable cover would be more interesting here, but the one in the kit is okay for that purpose.

In gaming, the situation gets more complicated. Using the tablet without the case is practically impossible because everything is too far away for your fingers. And with the keyboard case, most mobile games aren't compatible with a mouse and keyboard, leaving us with the option of using a joystick – and well, that's an extra expense to complete the experience.

In work experiences like writing part of this review, editing images and even videos, the experience is great, even if it's a bit strange. It's similar to a PC, but it has its limitations, which can be a little confusing.

Processor

O Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra It's a natural evolution of the previous model in that respect. If before we had the chipset Mediatek Dimensit 9300+Samsung maintained the partnership and put the Mediatek Dimension 9400+ In this model, now with 3 nanometers, it is the main competitor of... Snapdragon 8 EliteTwo Galaxy S25.

I have no complaints about this model. The Mediatek chipset is powerful in both its processor and its... GPU (Immortalis-G925). System apps always run quickly and smoothly, as do apps that open instantly.

I also tested the tablet with some games, including Bully: Anniversary Edition, Minecraft, GTA and others. Those that are compatible with 120Hz were tested and again with a great experience.

Another test I did was to make the experience similar to that of a PC. I split the Chrome screen with more than one tab, played YouTube Music, and tested a video call on Google Meet, and again, everything flowed very well, without any freezes or stutters. I did experience some limitations due to the system with certain functions, but nothing related to performance.

Insights

We tested the Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra in some benchmarks to stress the chipset and put what we say to the test and see how it performs:

AnTuTu Benchmark

Geekbench 6

Memory and storage

O Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra It arrives in Brazil solely and exclusively in the model of 512GB of storage and 12GB RAM. This combination is excellent and sufficient for most cases, bearing in mind that this model does not offer the option of adding a memory card.

The system is still compatible with RAMPlus up to 12GB, that is, you can use up to 12GB of internal storage to optimize apps running in the background.

Audio

Like previous models, the Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra It delivers powerful sound. There are four speakers, two on each side of the tablet. They feature technology. Dolby Atmos And they are very competent. Whether for listening to music, playing games, or watching movies and series, these speakers meet the user's needs very well.

System and apps

O Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra hits the market with Android 16 under the interface One UI 8.0Visually, it changes little from the previous version, but we've seen significant improvements in Samsung apps such as... Now Brief which is now smarter. It's worth mentioning that this is the most important part for the "notebook-like" experience that the Galaxy Tab can offer.

In the previous model, the Samsung DeX It was starting to undergo changes, being neither a "giant smartphone" nor a laptop. Now we finally have a mix of both, allowing you to use the tablet like a tablet and also manage apps like on a desktop without having to activate a specific mode for it, just by using the Cmd+Tab To open a new desktop screen.

Using DeX for the first time, I see that the apps have no difficulty running with the screen in landscape mode. Some are more stretched, but now they're functional. In previous versions, using DeX was a box of surprises, since not everything would work properly.

As the current operating system stands, it's safe to say that using the Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra as a notebook is quite easy. Some adjustments are necessary, mainly because some PC apps aren't yet available here, but I didn't feel at all behind for using a tablet and not a notebook or PC.

Regarding the apps, it's worth mentioning that they still use their Android versions, with slight adaptations to work on a larger screen and, most of the time, in landscape mode. The widgets remain, and on such a large screen, there's plenty of room to be even more creative with them.

Galaxy A.I.

O Galaxy A.I. The Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra brings some new features compared to the previous model, mainly regarding text editing. However, these were subtle improvements that arrived with the... One UI 8, which we had already seen at the launch of the Galaxy S25 Ultra.

In addition to having a writing assistant, smart notes, audio recording transcriptions, an interpreter, AI-powered image recreation, and even AI-assisted drawing, I want to highlight the function of... Noise eliminationThis is one of the coolest and most useful features when it comes to AI. The feature is quite intelligent and perfect for when you're recording in very noisy places.

Another feature that deserves to be mentioned here is the Now Brief It "reads" your tablet activity to offer you a smart summary of things. For example, it can provide you with a Spotify playlist at that moment, show the weather forecast, give you news, and show you the most relevant YouTube videos. It's interesting, but I think it's too hidden.

Finally, the Health Assistant It will provide you with health insights and guidance based on the data it collects in... Samsung health.

Connectivity and networks

O Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra is compatible with Wi-Fi 7 and bring Bluetooth 5.4 with codecs A2DP e LEIt is also compatible with GPS, GLONASS, BDS, and GALILEO, but being a tablet, it doesn't have NFC. The USB-C port present here is the... 3.2In addition, it features magnetic connectors for attaching to the keyboard cover.

On the screen, it features a biometric sensor with optical technology for unlocking, in addition to the main sensors such as accelerometer, gyroscope, proximity, and others. Samsung DeX It also works wirelessly, either on your PC via the app or on Samsung Smart TVs.

Battery and charging

Are 11600 mAh Battery capacity in the Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra. 300mAh more than the previous model and if we compare it to the... Galaxy s25 ultraWe have just over two units of these models here in a very superficial comparison. The screen is much larger, as are the processor differences. It's worth mentioning that this model still retains a lithium-ion battery, just like Samsung smartphones. In other words, no... silicon-carbon over here.

Just like last year, the MediaTek It maintains excellent performance to save battery when necessary. In other words, I only noticed the energy consumption when I actually used the tablet's screen while it was on. With the screen off, it lasted for days without any problems.

On a typical work afternoon, with constant use of Google Chrome, YouTube Music, and the apps for testing this review, the average battery consumption was 30-40% per day, depending on what I was testing, screen brightness, and other factors. Therefore, I can say that the tablet can last about two days with my type of work before needing to be plugged in.

Speaking of power outlets, it is compatible with charging from 45W And thankfully, Samsung included a compatible charger with this model, instead of the weak 15W one from last year. It takes about 2 hours to reach 100% charge, which is a reasonable time for a battery of this size and with this charger.

Frontal camera

Here's the main difference in this model regarding the cameras. In Galaxy Tab S3 Previously, Samsung opted to place a dual camera setup on the front. This year, however, the strategy was different, featuring only one front camera. Since it's a tablet, this isn't as impactful, but it's curious that they kept the two rear lenses, given that we rarely use tablets for taking photos like we do with smartphones.

The selfie camera here is in the format... UltraWide With a 12MP front camera. For videos, it's possible to record in up to 4K, with a 30-frame refresh rate, in addition to various camera functions such as portrait mode and other effects. Check out some recordings made with the Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra's front camera:

Back camera

And finally, we have the front cameras. We have one. Wide 13MP and a UltraWide We have 8MP cameras here. Again, I emphasize that they are not comparable to those of a smartphone. Just like the front cameras, they record in up to 4K30 and have a wide variety of effects from the camera app. Check out some photos taken with the rear lenses:

Price and availability

The Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra arrived in Brazil in September 2025 with a suggested retail price of... R$9.999Currently, it can be found at more attractive prices.

• R$7.599 on Mercado Livre
• R$7.599 on Amazon
• R$7.219 in Magazine Luiza

Conclusion

O Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra It is an extremely powerful tablet and finally fulfills the bet of Samsung in making their tablets an attractive alternative to a conventional notebook. The Android system still needs improvements to become even more interesting in the desktop experience, but the interface One UI Samsung's technology is quite mature and offers features and possibilities that make it easy to use the tablet like a notebook.

Furthermore, however large the tablet may be, it's still just one big screen, which facilitates its portability. It's impossible not to notice that this model has suffered some... downgrades Also, features like the S Pen without Bluetooth, the simpler (albeit sturdier) keyboard cover, and the loss of the second front lens leave us on a tightrope when we weigh it up.

Even though the operating system and even its hardware are ready to function like a desktop, we still have usage barriers that prevent complete migration, since we are still on the Android system, therefore, many apps are not yet available here.

Finally, it's worth mentioning that the tablet's price isn't very competitive either. If the idea is to replace a laptop, the first thing this tablet should have is a more attractive price. It ends up being a less certain choice since notebooks in the same price range tend to offer just as good performance with all the support of Windows or Mac.

Technical specifications

Córdoba	Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra
Colors	Moonstone Grey
Fabric	14,6-inch screen with rounded corners Dynamic AMOLED 2X Technology Resolution of 2.960 x 1.848 pixels (WQXGA+) 120Hz refresh rate Anti-glare coating HDR10 + 1600 nits peak brightness
Protections	IP68 against water and dust Aluminum structure (Enhanced Armor Aluminum)
Processor	Mediatek Dimensity 9400+ (4nm) Immortalis-G925 GPU
System and interface	Android 16 via One UI 8.0 Seven years of OS updates Seven years of security updates Support for Galaxy AI
Connectivity	Wi-Fi 7 Bluetooth 5.4 MicroSD card tray for cards up to 2TB
Battery and charging	11.200 mAh Charging up to 45W
Rear cameras	Main: 13 MP F/2.0 (Wide) Secondary: 8 MP F/2.2 (ultrawide) Records videos in 4K at 30 FPS
Frontal camera	12MP Ultra Wide camera optimized for video calls. Records videos in 4K at 30 FPS
Memory and storage	512GB + 12GB RAM
Dimensions (WxHxD, mm) Weight	208.5 x 326.3 x 5.1 mm 692g
Price	R$7.599 on Mercado Livre R$7.599 on Amazon R$7.219 in Magazine Luiza

So, what do you think of the Galaxy Tab S11 UltraAre you planning to buy it? Comment below and take the opportunity to check out our other reviews and articles.

See also other features

REVIEW: Galaxy Tab S10 FE democratizes AI on large screens

REVIEW: Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra is the top Android tablet in 2024

reviewed by Luis Antonio Costa in 24 / 11 / 2025