The Galaxy Tab S11 Extremely is completely ridiculous, however that hasn’t stopped me liking it

It has taken me some time to make peace with the Samsung Galaxy Tab S11 Extremely. The factor is, I quite prefer it, however I’m undecided if I ought to. Let’s get into why this large pill is a conundrum and whether or not you need to take into account shopping for one.

6.5/10

SoC

MediaTek Dimensity 9400+ (MT6991)

Show dimensions

14.6-inch

Storage

256GB, 512GB, or 1TB

It is unattainable to disregard the large, 14.6-inch display on the Samsung Galaxy Tab S11 Extremely, or the big battery, and S Pen included within the field. Sadly, it is also arduous to disregard the excessive worth.

Execs & Cons

• Large display is nice for video
• One UI 8 works properly on a pill
• Lengthy battery life
• S Pen included

• Common sound high quality from the audio system
• Cumbersome and ungainly
• Awkward to make use of fingerprint sensor

Specs, worth, and availability

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S11 Extremely pill is on the market in three totally different variations. The 256GB mannequin prices $1,199, the 512GB mannequin is $1,319, and the highest 1TB model is $1,619. It’s obtainable in both grey or silver colours.

Samsung doesn’t provide a 4G or 5G model of the Galaxy Tab S11 Extremely. The costs said listed here are the complete worth, however Samsung typically has offers and presents on virtually all its cell gadgets; it’s price looking for one earlier than shopping for should you’re not in a rush.

It is one in all two Galaxy Tab S11 fashions, with the opposite being a smaller 11-inch model that shares lots of the similar technical options and equivalent software program, however in a extra handy dimension to hold round. It begins at $799, and you may see the dimensions distinction within the photograph above.

Have a look at the dimensions of that factor

Fairly the handful

The Galaxy Tab S11 Extremely has an enormous 14.6-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display on the entrance; that is actually the primary purpose anybody would take a look at this mannequin over every other.

If the Tab S11 is a TV display, the Tab S11 Extremely is a theater display. It’s enormous, and though the show is huge, vivid, easy, and detailed, the general dimension additionally has a adverse affect. Check out the photograph under to see the dimensions distinction between the Extremely and the 6.7-inch Honor Magic8 Professional.

It’s not a pill I need to carry round with me. It’s solely 5.1mm thick, so there’s not a lot to carry on to, and it’s practically 700 grams heavy, so it’s a continuing battle to carry it regular or comfortably.

I don’t suppose it really works in portrait orientation due to this, because it’s so top-heavy. It’s a critical draw back as a result of it doesn’t actually work as an eReader various, or for searching on-line content material like that both. You’ll transfer your complete hand to work together with the highest of the display, quite than simply your fingers or thumbs, because it’s typically a clumsy stretch in any other case.

Panorama is the Tab S11 Extremely’s most well-liked orientation, the place it manages to virtually utterly obscure a cat, but it surely’s nonetheless fairly huge when attempting to play some video games. All that is most noticeable while you come from a extra standard-sized pill. Whereas I don’t suppose it’s all dangerous, you need to actually take into account what you need to use your pill for and set up if the Tab S11 Extremely’s dimension is smart.

I’ve settled down into utilizing the Tab S11 Extremely on a stand, so I can benefit from the beautiful display with out having to prop it up or maintain it. It actually feels just like the Tab S11 Extremely is made for video, so this hands-off use doesn’t really feel like a waste. A minimum of, till you get to the value, however I’m getting forward of myself right here.

Longer battery life

Cost and overlook

The Galaxy Tab S11 Extremely has an 11,600mAh battery inside, which is significantly bigger in capability than the 8,400mAh battery within the Galaxy Tab S11. After I examined the 2 tablets back-to-back, the Galaxy Tab S11 Extremely lasted 4 hours longer taking part in video than the Tab S11, taking 14-and-a-half hours earlier than the battery was flat. This can be a main profit of selecting the bigger mannequin.

It’s recharged utilizing a USB-C cable, and the pill helps 45W charging; this takes an hour-and-a-half. This can be a nice efficiency given the battery’s capability, and solely marginally longer than the Galaxy Tab S11’s cost time.

Lengthy battery life and quick charging, mixed with good effectivity from the MediaTek processor, make the Tab S11 Extremely really easy to stay with. A 30-minute YouTube video at full brightness takes 4% battery, and an analogous time taking part in Asphalt 9: Legends takes 8%. I haven’t actually thought of battery life in any respect. The Galaxy Tab S11 Extremely sits on my desk taking part in video or on-line radio, and I sometimes choose it as much as browse a number of apps, and the battery lasts for days.

Tab S11 Extremely is a homebody

Fingerprint sensor is an issue

Nice battery life and big dimension make the Galaxy Tab S11 Extremely a real homebody. It loves spending time in the home, and appears on the outdoors in concern as one drop would quickly make a multitude of its beautiful display. In the event you’re going to make use of it within the security of your personal house, you might need to flip the safety features off, as a result of they’re one of many worst elements of the S11 Extremely. It’s secured by face recognition or a fingerprint sensor, however neither has been carried out properly.

The fingerprint sensor is within the display, and never solely is it awkward to find, but it surely’s gradual and unreliable. It’s instantly irritating, so you might look to make use of the face unlock as a substitute. It’s not a lot better, largely as a result of the digital camera is on the aspect (in portrait) of the pill, and by no means appears to be in the precise place to really see your face.

Tablets with a fingerprint sensor within the energy button make much more sense, and it’s a disgrace Samsung didn’t observe that pattern right here, because it’s far too tempting to easily flip the safety features off, attributable to pace and ergonomics points.

Efficiency variations?

On-paper solely

The MediaTek Dimensity 9400+ processor powers each the Galaxy Tab S11 Extremely and the Galaxy Tab S11, however in response to Samsung’s comparability spec desk, the S11 Extremely’s chip has the next 3.73Ghz/3.3GHz/2.4GHz pace, up from the three.4GHz/2.8GHz/2GHz pace for the S11.

I haven’t observed any change in response, smoothness, or general efficiency coming from the Tab S11 to the Tab S11 Extremely. I used each Geekbench 6 and 3DMark benchmarking apps to see if any variations may very well be noticed in specialist checks. The Galaxy Tab S11 Extremely recorded an 11,585 rating in 3DMark’s Photo voltaic Bay take a look at, whereas the Tab S11 scored 11,282. Working the CPU take a look at in Geekbench 6 noticed the Tab S11 Extremely rating principally the identical because the S11 in each single and multi-core.

Credit score: Samsung

It’s attainable Samsung has printed the improper information on its web site, because the Geekbench 6 app lists the Tab S11’s CPU as having the speeds related to the Extremely mannequin, and never the decrease figures on Samsung’s web site.

Moreover, in its announcement, MediaTek doesn’t point out the S11 Extremely’s supposedly barely increased speeds, and says the Dimensity 9400+ chip powers the whole S11 sequence of tablets. Android Police has contacted Samsung for clarification.

Regardless of the scenario with the processor, the Tab S11 Extremely could be specced with 1TB of inside space for storing, and it will get 16GB of RAM as a substitute of 12GB on the similar time. There’s additionally no 128GB choice, as there’s on the Tab S11.

Tech carried over from the S11

S Pen and extra

The Galaxy Tab S11 Extremely has Android 16 with Samsung’s One UI 8 put in, and it really works rather well on the pill’s large display. I significantly respect the cut up Fast Settings and Notification shades, a function that works greatest on tablets.

The large display can be nice for utilizing a couple of app, as it could actually show as much as three apps on the similar time, though the side-by-side cut up display works greatest, and a fourth floating app excessive. It provides you actual multi-tasking energy. To make the most of its means as a piece machine, you may want a keyboard, and Samsung’s personal Ebook Cowl Keyboard Slim is $210.

Samsung consists of an S Pen stylus within the field, and it’s the identical kind you get with the S11 pill. It’s pretty snug to carry, and it performs properly on the display, however the feeling of contact is sort of synthetic. It doesn’t cease the PenUp app from being enjoyable, although.

On the again of the pill is a 13-megapixel digital camera, identical to the Tab S11, but it surely’s joined by an 8MP wide-angle digital camera. Given the Tab S11 Extremely’s homebody standing, I can’t think about a scenario the place you’d want a poor-quality 8MP wide-angle digital camera, but it surely’s there should you do.

It’s the identical 12MP digital camera on the entrance for video calls, and it labored with out a problem in the course of the Google Meet calls I’ve tried it with. It’s good to see house for a MicroSD card, the place as much as 2TB of further space for storing could be added.

Audio efficiency is similar because the Tab S11, which is unlucky. Whereas there’s loads of quantity from the quad audio system, they lack depth, and bass response actually suffers regardless of the big general enclosure. It is the one adverse level within the Tab S11 Extremely’s in any other case glorious media means.

Do you have to purchase the Galaxy Tab S11 Extremely?

Is it actually price it?

I stated initially I didn’t really feel as if I ought to just like the Galaxy Tab S11 Extremely, so let me clarify. It’s too huge to hold round, it doesn’t include a keyboard to make it extra helpful (though you’ll be able to spend extra to get one), and the value is unjustifiably excessive. Go away this stuff apart for a second, and the Tab S11 Extremely is an excellent at-home pill companion. I’ve actually loved watching movies and taking part in video games on the massive display. Nonetheless, I hold coming again as to if I’d spend $1,200 on one, and the reply might be not.

This is similar worth as a mid-level 13-inch Apple MacBook Air, and a contact lower than a 13-inch Apple iPad Professional. The MacBook could be extra versatile and simpler to journey with, whereas the iPad Professional remains to be the benchmark pill by way of software program and app availability.

Whereas there’s nothing improper with the Galaxy Tab S11 Extremely, you’ve acquired to place numerous worth on its huge display to justify paying out for it, particularly when the cheaper Galaxy Tab S11 is in any other case the identical, and simpler to hold round and maintain. In the end, I prefer it as a result of it’s a bit foolish. Nobody wants a $1,200 14.6-inch pill, but it surely’s undeniably cool to make use of one. However liking it as a result of it exists is just not the identical as recommending it as a product to purchase.

Suppose very rigorously about your necessities earlier than selecting the Extremely over the 11-inch Galaxy Tab S11, after which suppose very rigorously about that mannequin over cheaper tablets just like the OnePlus Pad Go 2. It is simple to get carried away on the planet of Android tablets, when the key is to grasp that the cheaper fashions could also be simply positive for many media-based wants.

6.5/10

SoC

MediaTek Dimensity 9400+ (MT6991)

Show dimensions

14.6-inch

Storage

256GB, 512GB, or 1TB

You pay lots for the Samsung Galaxy Tab S11 Extremely, so that you greatest ensure you are going to make full use of the massive display. In the event you’re not satisfied you’ll, the smaller, cheaper Galaxy Tab S11 is the higher purchase.