Samsung Galaxy Tab S 14.6" S11 Ultra Grey 2025

The Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra has the best tablet screen we've ever recorded and a battery that just won't quit. The S Pen and AI features make it a creative powerhouse. Just know that the CPU and GPU are mediocre and the Wi-Fi 5 is a real letdown. It's perfect for artists and media lovers who don't need a laptop replacement, especially if you can grab a renewed model in the $1,100 range.

The Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra is the kind of tablet that makes you stop and stare. Not just because of its sheer size, a 14.6-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display that is, according to our database, the absolute best right now in its class, but because Samsung managed to squeeze it all into a surprisingly slim and portable body. This is a device built for a specific type of person: the digital artist who wants a canvas that goes anywhere, the note-taker who craves an infinite digital notebook, or the media junkie who treats video like a religious experience. It's a big, beautiful statement piece that screams 'I'm serious about my content consumption and creation.' But before you swipe your card, you should know that 'serious' also means a few compromises that might not be obvious from a spec sheet.

At its core, the S11 Ultra leans hard into AI, with features like Drawing Assist that turns your rough sketches into polished art in seconds and Writing Assist that acts like a personal editor for your text. The included S Pen, now with a hexagonal design, is central to these tricks. Samsung DeX also promises a desktop-like experience, letting you juggle up to four windows across the tablet and an external monitor. This is a device that wants to be your main machine for creative and light productivity work, all while you're lounging on the couch or working from a coffee shop.

But here's where things get interesting. Despite its premium AI features and that glorious screen, the tablet runs on a Samsung D9400+ chip that lands in the bottom half of our performance rankings, and it sticks with a Wi-Fi 5 modem that feels generations behind. It's like buying a top-tier 4K TV and then hooking it up to a basic cable box. The 12GB RAM and 512GB storage are solid, and the 11,600mAh battery is a standout, but the foundation has cracks. This tablet is a perfect case of knowing exactly what you're getting into before you buy.

Look, let's talk raw numbers. That screen? It's not just good, it's the best. In our database, 1600 nits of brightness and a 120Hz refresh rate on a 14.6-inch AMOLED panel puts it at the very top, above every other tablet we've tested. Outdoor visibility is fantastic, colors pop like they're in a competition, and scrolling through content feels absurdly smooth. The battery life backs up the visual feast, too. A 23-hour video playback claim is massive, and in our experience it regularly punches into the top tier, easily lasting through a full day of Netflix binging or a long-haul flight without breaking a sweat. This is an entertainment juggernaut.

But once you move away from the screen and battery, the story shifts. The Samsung D9400+ chipset delivers a GPU and CPU that fall behind most competitors. Real-world implications? For drawing, note-taking, and running the AI features, it feels snappy enough. But when you start pushing it with heavy multitasking in DeX mode, or try to play demanding games at high settings, you'll feel the limits. The bigger head-scratcher is the Wi-Fi 5. While your phone and laptop are zipping along on Wi-Fi 6E or 7, this tablet is stuck in the slow lane. Streaming high-bitrate 4K video might stutter if your network is congested, and large file downloads feel like they're taking a detour. It's a frustratingly weak spot in a device that otherwise shouts 'premium.'

Pricing on the S11 Ultra is a game of two halves. Across vendors, we're seeing a spread from $1,100 all the way up to $1,750. That lower end comes from Amazon's renewed listing, which is a compelling way to get this expensive slate for a lot less if you don't mind a non-sealed box. At full MSRP, you're entering territory where you can snag a well-equipped laptop or a competitor's flagship tablet. The value really depends on which price you pay. For someone who will use that AMOLED panel and S Pen every day, even $1,400 might feel fair. If you're just browsing the web and watching YouTube, you're leaving a lot of talent on the table and money out of your wallet.

Compared to the Apple iPad Pro M5, the S11 Ultra gives you a bigger, theoretically brighter screen and the S Pen included, which saves you $100+ right there. The Xiaomi Pad 7 Pro undercuts it significantly while offering solid performance, but lacks the IP68 and that jaw-dropping display size. The Lenovo Idea Tab Pro also sits lower on the price ladder. So if you value screen real estate and stylus-driven art above everything else, the Galaxy's cost can be justified. If not, look to the renewed deal or just step down to something more sensibly sized and priced.

The most direct rival is the Apple iPad Pro M5. That tablet will outrun the S11 Ultra in any raw performance test, thanks to Apple's silicon, and its app ecosystem for artists is more mature with software like Procreate. But the iPad's screen doesn't quite match the size and brightness of this Galaxy, and you'll have to buy the Apple Pencil separately. For creatives who are already deep in the Samsung or Android ecosystem, the Tab S11 Ultra's DeX mode and AI tools can feel more flexible, especially with real multitasking. The choice really comes down to whether you prioritize computational muscle or visual immersion.

The Microsoft Surface Pro EP2-20077 deserves a mention, especially if you're eyeing this tablet for business. Our data shows the Galaxy's weakest area is business, scoring a mediocre 54, while a Surface Pro with full Windows handles productivity apps without compromise. But the Surface is heavier, often more expensive when spec'd up, and its display can't touch this AMOLED in contrast or brightness. On the other end, the Xiaomi Pad 7 Pro and Lenovo Idea Tab Pro offer better price-to-performance for general tasks, but they're smaller and lack the S11 Ultra's IP68 rating and stylus integration. If you want the biggest, most stunning screen on the market and don't need a laptop replacement, Samsung stands alone. If your work involves spreadsheets and complex software, look elsewhere.

Skip the S11 Ultra if your tablet life revolves around heavy productivity, software development, or intense gaming. The CPU and GPU just aren't built for that, and the weak business score in our testing confirms it. You'd be much happier with a Microsoft Surface Pro for real Windows apps or an iPad Pro M5 for a blazing fast, app-rich experience. Also, if you can't stand outdated networking, the Wi-Fi 5 modem will drive you nuts every time you download a large game or stream a high-quality movie on a busy network. And if you want something light to read on the couch, the 1052g weight makes one-handed use a chore; a smaller, cheaper tablet like the Xiaomi Pad 7 Pro would be a better everyday companion.

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra is a love letter to artists, note-takers, and anyone who considers their tablet a primary entertainment screen. For these users, the combination of that record-setting display and the integrated S Pen with AI smarts is genuinely hard to beat. The battery life means you can sketch, watch, and doodle all day without hunting for an outlet, and the IP68 rating lets you do it by the pool without a care. If you find a renewed deal for around $1,100, it becomes an even sweeter proposition.

However, if your tablet needs extend beyond art and media, the S11 Ultra starts to stumble. The weak CPU and GPU performance means this isn't a gaming powerhouse or a business laptop substitute, and the ancient Wi-Fi 5 connection is a daily annoyance that's impossible to ignore once you notice it. For serious productivity, we'd point you to the Surface Pro. For the best all-around power and app library, the iPad Pro M5 is the smarter buy. And if you just want a big screen for casual browsing, there are far cheaper slabs that will do the job. This is a specialist's tool delivered in a spectacular, if slightly flawed, package.