Samsung’s new flagship Galaxy tablets are the iPad Pro for Android fans – but something’s missing

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ZDNET’s key takeaways

• Samsung released a new Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra and Tab S11 starting at $1,200 and $800, respectively.
• The new tablets feature the MediaTek Dimensity 9400+ processor, AMOLED displays with a refresh rate up to 120Hz, and RAM starting at 12GB.
• Samsung discontinued the Tab Plus model this year in favor of the standard 11-inch model.

After adopting a new brand of processors for its tablets last year, Samsung is now releasing its 2025 line of flagship Galaxy tablets, this time with the MediaTek Dimensity 9400. The Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra and Tab S11 are available for purchase starting today, featuring One UI 8 on board and a redesigned S Pen.

“The Galaxy Tab S11 series combines AI innovation with refined hardware to deliver a true multitasking experience that reflects Samsung’s deep experience in mobile productivity,” said Jay Kim, executive vice president at Samsung Electronics. “With the latest Galaxy AI and new multimodal capabilities, these flagship tablets enable ultimate efficiency — empowering users to work, create, and flow more naturally across a versatile, large screen.”

Also: The tablet that made me ditch my Kindle and iPad now has a worthy follow-up

The Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra is a 14.6-inch tablet with Wi-Fi 7 support, an anti-reflective AMOLED display, and internal storage variants from 256GB to 1TB. The base model S11 features an 11-inch AMOLED screen, Wi-Fi 6E support, and internal storage variants from 128GB to 512GB. 

Notably, a Plus model is absent this time. 

Samsung released the 14.6-inch Tab S10 Ultra and 12.4-inch S10 Plus last year, skipping the base model S10 altogether. This time, however, the company skipped the mid-sized model and opted to release only the base and Ultra configurations. This marks the biggest difference between the two released models, which may be a welcome change for consumers.

The redesigned S Pen now comes with all S11 Series tablets and has a cone-shaped tip that Samsung says supports steeper tilt angles. This makes it easier to create shading and angled strokes in a way that feels more natural on a user’s hand. The S Pen now features a hexagonal body, like a traditional pencil, which could help it feel more comfortable during long periods of use. 

Also: I’ve tested dozens of tablets and this is the first Android model to truly replace my iPad Pro

The new S Pen supports Quick Tools and has a new Sticky Notes integration. So when you’re drawing or writing with the S Pen, you can pull up a floating toolbar to change pen styles, colors, or settings quickly, like the Apple Pencil Pro’s squeeze gesture does. If you need to write down a quick note, the Sticky Notes integration lets you create a note without leaving the page you’re working on. 

For durability, both tablets feature an IP68 rating, making them dust-tight and capable of withstanding being submerged in water for up to 30 minuted in up to one meter depths. While this is the third consecutive line of Samsung tablets with an IP68 rating, it is still the only mainstream flagship tablet to be waterproof, with the exception of rugged tablets. For comparison, the iPad doesn’t even have an IP rating.

The Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra starts at $1,200 for the 256GB storage option with 12GB of RAM, though you can get up to 16GB of RAM if you choose a higher storage model. The Tab S11 tablet is available at a $800 starting price for the 128GB storage option with 12GB of RAM. Both tablets are available in Gray and Silver finishes.