Samsung's Galaxy Tab S11 Ships MediaTek Dimensity 9400+, 120Hz AMOLED, and a Magnetic S Pen at $799

What it is

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S11 is Samsung's 2025 flagship Android tablet, launched September 2025 alongside the larger Tab S11 Ultra. The Tab S11 base model carries an 11-inch 1600x2560 Dynamic AMOLED 2X display with 120Hz adaptive refresh and 1,600 nits peak brightness, a MediaTek Dimensity 9400+ chipset (not Snapdragon 8 Elite, as some early reporting suggested), IP68 dust and water resistance, and a redesigned magnetic hexagonal S Pen that charges by proximity rather than Bluetooth. The tablet weighs 469g.

Pricing: $799.99 US base for 11-inch 128GB; $1,199.99+ for Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra 14.6-inch per MacRumors. 9to5toys tracks Amazon sales to $640 on the base.

What's interesting

The Dimensity 9400+ is the surprise. Tech Advisor benchmarked the Dimensity 9400+ at roughly parity with Snapdragon 8 Elite on CPU and ahead on GPU tests. For gaming, the Tab S11 matches OnePlus Pad 3 performance; for content creation using DaVinci Resolve mobile or similar Android-native video apps, the Adreno-class GPU in the 9400+ is competitive with Apple M2 iPad Air.

The new S Pen design is worth calling out. The redesigned pen is hexagonal rather than round (better grip, less rolling on flat surfaces), charges automatically via magnetic attachment to the tablet's edge (no Bluetooth batteries), and supports the new tilt-angle detection for wider-stroke drawing. For digital artists using Clip Studio Paint or Autodesk Sketchbook, the upgrade is immediately visible.

The AMOLED 2X panel at 1,600 nits peak brightness outdoors matches the iPad Pro M5's Tandem OLED peak (1,600 nits HDR). For sun-lit outdoor use, the Tab S11 stays readable where many Android tablets wash out.

IP68 is unusual for a flagship tablet. Most premium Android tablets (OnePlus Pad 3, Xiaomi Pad 7 Pro) are IP54 or unrated; Samsung ships full dust sealing and 1-meter water immersion on the Tab S11.

What's missing or unverified

The Tab S11 runs One UI 7 based on Android 15. Samsung's commitment is 7 years of Android updates and security patches, competitive with Pixel and ahead of most Chinese Android brands. One UI adds visual polish but also adds tablet-specific bugs that take time to settle; MyNextTablet reported some DeX multitasking edge cases at launch.

At $799.99, the Tab S11 is priced against the Apple iPad Air M3 at $599-$749 and the iPad Pro M5 at $999+. The Tab S11 sits between the two Apple options, which makes the purchase decision narrow.

Expert Reviews called it "safe but somewhat stale", meaning the Tab S11 is very competent but does not break new ground versus the Tab S10. For Tab S10 owners, the upgrade is incremental.

DeX desktop mode is the productivity lever Samsung leans on, but third-party Android tablet apps remain weaker than iPadOS apps for certain creative workflows (Procreate, Affinity suite). For art and design primary use, iPadOS still has deeper app support.

The keyboard folio is a $299-$349 accessory, which Samsung strangely doesn't bundle. For a serious productivity setup, budget accordingly.

Who it's for

Android-first users upgrading from Tab S9 or earlier. Artists who use Clip Studio Paint, Autodesk Sketchbook, or similar Android-native tools. DeX productivity users who will exercise the desktop mode. Users who want a flagship-class tablet but are committed to the Samsung ecosystem.

Not for: iOS switchers (Apple's creative-app depth remains larger), Tab S10 owners (upgrade is incremental), or budget buyers (the Tab A9+ at $219 covers most consumption use cases).

Verdict

The Galaxy Tab S11 at $799 is the best Android tablet for flagship buyers in 2025-2026. Dimensity 9400+ performance, new magnetic S Pen, IP68 durability, and a 1,600-nit AMOLED display all hit pro-tier specs. Against the Apple iPad Pro M5 at $999+, the Samsung wins on price and on IP68; it loses on creative-app ecosystem depth. For Android-committed buyers, this is the right pick.