If you’re after a premium tablet that doesn’t have an Apple logo plastered on the back, Samsung’s Galaxy Tab family is most people’s go-to. Except maybe not this year, after Samsung unveiled two new (and very expensive) tablets — the Galaxy Tab S11 and Tab S11 Ultra — once again bumping the usual trio down to just a duo.
“Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra is the thinnest Galaxy Tab to date, without compromising performance, going beyond a slim form factor to show what a premium tablet can be. Together, the series is built for effortless productivity on the go, combining pro-grade hardware with experiences optimized for a large screen,” Samsung said.
All Dexed out
The biggest upgrade this year isn’t the S11 Ultra’s unusually slim form factor at 5.1mm, putting it on par with the iPad Pro, but instead the redesigned S Pen that brings a new cone-shaped tip that supposedly allows for a more controlled experience from all angles. Don’t worry, both the Tab S11 and Tab S11 Ultra include one out of the box.
If it’s a smaller screen (and cheaper price) you’re after, the Tab S11 is equipped with an 11in AMOLED (2,560 x 1,600), while the Ultra questions just how full that wallet really is with a 14.6in AMOLED (2,960 x 1,848) display. Both screens are well up to the task of gaming with a 120Hz refresh rate and hit a peak of 1,900 nits of brightness.
As for what’s juicing these beautiful machines, the answer is the same for both: MediaTek’s Dimensity 9400+ SoC. The Ultra does at least prove its worth with up to 16GB RAM and 1TB storage, while the Tab S11 makes do with 12GB of RAM across the board, with up to 512GB of storage. Like the Galaxy S25 FE that turned up earlier today, both devices will ship with One UI 8 by default.
Read More: Samsung’s Galaxy Tab S10 Lite pops up online with September availability
While 45W charging was impressive last year, or even the year before, it’s a perk that quickly loses its sheen as time wears on and other companies continually up the ante. Either way, both the Tab S11 and Tab S11 Ultra feature 45W charging to accompany the 8,400mAh and 11,600mAh batteries under the hood, respectively.
If you’re the type to actually use the shooters on the back of your tablet, you won’t be disappointed here. 13MP sensors will handle the bulk of your photography ambitions on both tablets, though the Ultra takes it a step further with an extra 8MP ultrawide shooter. Flip ’em around, and meet the 12MP selfie-camera embedded in the pinhole of both devices.
All that can be had for a starting price of $800 (∼R14,200) for the Galaxy Tab S11, while the Ultra demands a pretty $1,200 (∼R21,300) before it’ll come home with you. Both devices will be available in “select markets” starting today, 4 September, though any interested Saffas will have to wait for more news on the Tab S11 family locally.
