Samsung Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra Hands On: 5 Reasons You Shouldn’t Buy It

2 2 minutes read

Samsung has once again launched a new addition to its line of gigantic tablets with the Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra. Following in the footsteps of its predecessors, the Tab S11 Ultra boasts impressive specs that make it one of the most capable Android tablets on the market. With a stunning 14.6-inch AMOLED display, a slim 5.1mm chassis, a MediaTek Dimensity 9400+ chipset, and a massive 11,600mAh battery with 45W charging, this tablet offers a top-notch performance.

In addition to its hardware prowess, the Tab S11 Ultra also comes with quad speakers, three cameras, and Samsung’s magnetic S Pen stylus included in the box. Initial testing suggests that it may surpass the previous Tab S10 Ultra in terms of performance. However, despite its impressive features, there are five significant obstacles that prevent it from being a recommended purchase for most consumers.

First and foremost, the price of the Tab S11 Ultra is a major deterrent. With a starting price of £1,199/$1,199 and going up to £1,349 for the 5G models, it is a considerable investment for a tablet. In comparison, the M3 iPad Air offers similar performance at half the price, making it a more affordable alternative.

Furthermore, to fully utilize the Tab S11 Ultra, users will need to purchase additional accessories such as the ‘Book Cover Keyboard Slim’, which is sold separately. The cost of the keyboard cover is not yet revealed, but based on previous models, it is expected to be around £199/$199.

Another drawback of the Tab S11 Ultra is its size. With dimensions of 208 x 326mm, the tablet is unwieldy and cumbersome to use as a handheld device. While it may work well with the keyboard cover attached, it raises the question of why not opt for a laptop instead.

The S Pen stylus included with the Tab S11 Ultra has undergone a redesign, offering a more natural writing experience. However, it lacks Bluetooth Low Energy support, which was available in previous models, limiting its functionality as a remote control across various apps.

Lastly, while the One UI 8 software on the Tab S11 Ultra provides a solid user experience, the limitations of Android as a productivity device remain. App developers often neglect to optimize their apps for Android tablets, resulting in a lack of dedicated tablet apps and desktop functionality.

In conclusion, while the Samsung Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra offers impressive hardware and features, its high price, additional accessory costs, unwieldy size, S Pen limitations, and software constraints make it a challenging recommendation for most users. Keep an eye out for our full review to see if the Tab S11 Ultra can defy expectations.