Samsung Galaxy Tab S11 3-Month Review: Is it really a laptop replacement?

I don’t often get to review devices for a quarter of a year – so how has my opinion changed on the Samsung Galaxy Tab S11 over that timespan?

Ethical disclosure: The Samsung Galaxy Tab S11 used in this review was sent to me by Samsung, and they’ve indicated that they’re not asking for it back. I mention this upfront because I do feel that ethical disclosure is an important matter, though others clearly think differently on this score. Nonetheless, whether a product is staying with me makes no difference to my evaluation, or to put it slightly more bluntly: I’m not for sale.
For more on ART’s Ethics policy, see here.

I’ve long put forward the proposition that in the consumer space, Apple’s base level iPad is the model that most folks should buy.

Sorry, Android fans, but the level of work put into most Android apps nearly always tends towards Android phone form factors, not consumer tablet experiences. Far too many Android apps don’t play nicely in terms of layout or screen space when they flip from portrait to landscape mode, if they think of tablets at all.

The Galaxy Tab S11 didn’t exactly turn up in my reviews lab as an entirely fresh prospect either; it’s certainly still Samsung’s premium tablet but the early reviews are all out there if you want to find them, so I was looking for a slightly different angle on this one, if you’ll allow me.

Thinks: Alex, your name is on the masthead, you don’t have to ask permission. Still, politeness is a virtue, right?

In any case, I can run down the basics of the Galaxy Tab S11 pretty quickly for those who just want the feeds and speeds style approach. Here you go:

My one big takeaway from that specs sheet isn’t to do with MediaTek processors per se; it’s more the realisation that this is one of very, very few Samsung Android devices that supports microSD card expansion.

For those who just want to know if it’s faster than older Android tablets, here you go:

For those who care, yes, there’s a newer Apple iPad Pro with the M5 processor as the competitor here; I’d gladly review that if Apple ever bothered to return emails or phone calls, but as it doesn’t do so, so I can’t recommend or comment on the new iPad Pro lineup any further at all. If Apple ever gets interested in independent and ethical approaches to reviews, they know how to get in touch with me.

The pitch for the Galaxy Tab S11 (and larger Tab S11 Ultra) are that they’re Samsung’s specific offering against more professional-grade tablets such as Microsoft’s Surface Pro line or Apple’s iPad Pro lineup.

The argument that a tablet can replace your working machine entirely is one that’s typically fallen a little flat for my tastes, but with a longer review period in mind, I figured I’d test the Galaxy Tab S11 a little differently this time out.

As such, when I went overseas – the same timeframe that led to my reviews of the Simify eSIM service, SIXT’s EV hire and the Daiso Tablet Pen – for the first time in many years, I didn’t take a laptop with me.

Yes, this was a holiday, but as a freelance journalist it’s pretty rare for me not to end up working on something when I travel, so a thin and light laptop is typically a must.

Instead, this time (and, to be fair, helped by the fact that Samsung also sent the accompanying 11 inch Galaxy Tab S11 Keyboard Case with the Tab S11), the Tab S11 would be my only “computer” for any and all tasks, both productive and entertaining.

Also Read

Simify Global eSIM Review

SIXT EV Hire UK Review: DO NOT HIRE

Daiso Touch Pen Review: Budget Apple Pencil Killer? [Video]

The Tab S11 is meant to be a productivity machine, so let’s tackle that first. In terms of raw power I have few issues; the apps I needed – predominantly a little light word processing such as taking the notes in for that extensive SIXT EV Hire review, along with some image processing – were fine, and I had few issues even if I had many, many research browser tabs open.

While I didn’t have any work-related meetings while I was travelling, I did use the Tab S11’s front-facing camera for more than a few video calls home, and there is performed perfectly well. I still wouldn’t use a tablet as my primary camera unless I was absolutely desperate, mind you, simply because the larger form factor makes it more difficult to quickly frame subjects and take shots.

I’m also not a big stylus-on-tablet user – mostly because my practical art skills suck — but it is worth noting if that’s important to you that Samsung, unlike Apple, does include its S-Pen stylus in the box with the Galaxy Tab S11.

It works fine, even if my own skills with it are lacking, though its magnetic attachment to the tablet could be a little stronger; more than once pulling the Galaxy Tab S11 out of a bag on my travels was enough to send the S-Pen spilling to the ground.

ARTWORK FOR SALE. Don’t rush all at once, mind.

Samsung – like every other tech company out there – wants to talk up its AI chops, and while they’re present if you need them, in all honesty I’ve barely touched on them because I’m not exactly the world’s biggest fan of AI generally and what it’s doing to creative workers (including, selfishly, myself).

If you want actual human-written content, support it — or see it wither and die, and then wonder where it went…

It is interesting to note that we’re into 2026, past the date when Samsung said it may charge for its Galaxy AI features across all devices that use it — and this would include the Galaxy Tab S11.

That wording has now reportedly changed to say that basic Galaxy AI features will remain free, though newer ones might attract a charge. That is, I suppose, useful for some if you were already in that ecosystem, but I can’t honestly say that I am, because I’m not a broad fan of this kind of AI mush anyway.

What I am a fan of is Samsung’s take on how Android apps can work within a tablet interface, with the choice of full-screen apps or windowed apps absolutely built in. It’s quite simple to move and resize apps, have multiple on-screen or set up multiple windows, and there’s enough processing power under the hood to make this work most of the time.

I do have to say most of the time; some Android apps do misbehave a little if they’re not front, centre and full-screen, though that tended more towards the entertainment side of matters than the productivity side. But in this aspect, I reckon Apple’s on notice, because right now in terms of the way the OS handles windowing apps, Samsung solidly has a lead.

On the entertainment side, the Tab S11 performed quite well as a basic video watching system for catchup TV and streaming, with its speakers loud enough to provide two person entertainment in the hotels where the TVs left… shall we say… a little to be desired.

Physically, the Tab S11 is nice and light by itself, though the design style isn’t exactly showy in any real way. Here in Australia we’re seemingly only getting the Moonstone Grey version, though Samsung does also have a Platinum Silver variant in other markets. I’d generally favour colour choices, but neither of those appear anything but workmanlike to my eyes.

I did mention that Samsung sent the official keyboard case for the Galaxy Tab S11 my way as well, and it’s important to note that this is not in any way a standard inclusion; if you want one it’ll cost you an additional $299 to add it to your tablet.

I’ve used it a lot – and before you ask, yes, this review has been written on it – and it’s got the exact same issue that every other 11 inch mostly-flat keyboard I’ve ever used has had.

It’s quite cramped because there’s only just enough space for all the keys as it is, and in keeping it slender (which they very much need to) it’s also robbed of much in the way of keyboard travel. If you type at the speed that I do, expect a few errors to creep in from time to time.

Battery life on the Galaxy Tab S11 over this period has been interesting, because it’s quite variable. Samsung’s official line for the Galaxy Tab S11’s 8400mAh battery is that it should be good for “up to” 18 hours of video playback.

Rather predictably, it doesn’t really hit those heights, or at least I couldn’t make it work that way, though I was able to use it to watch a lot of downloaded streaming shows on the rather long flights between Australia, Japan and the UK without the Tab S11 going flat, which is perhaps enough for most folks.

As always it’s a question of usage; on days where I was using the Tab S11 a lot, and especially if I did mix it up between productivity apps and entertainment apps (and especially games) then I could send it into lower battery status territory before the day was out. Officially it’ll support up to 45W charging, but as is the style of the day, there’s no in-box charger supplied with the Galaxy Tab S11.

Samsung Galaxy Tab S11: Alex’s Verdict

Bonus cat photo for reading the whole review. Well done you.

Will the Galaxy Tab S11 replace my everyday laptop for travelling?

Not… quite, but I very much could get most of my work duties done on it if I absolutely had to.

It’s absolutely way and above anything else I’ve tried as an Android replacement for a laptop, however, and if you do need something that’s significantly lighter than any laptop you might choose to buy then it’s definitely worthy of consideration in that productivity space.

While Samsung does produce actual laptops, it’s had a very on-again-off-again approach to releasing those in Australia, and right now we’re in a long drought of those not being a feature down under, which means if you’re a real die-hard Samsung fan, this is about as close as you can (officially) get.

My own needs do still stretch just a little further on a day-to-day basis than any tablet OS is currently meeting, but Samsung’s come closer than anyone else – including iPadOS – has managed to date. If your workflow is predominantly Google and you want an ultra-portable option for your day to day work, I could see this working well for some professional users for sure.

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