Anyone just lately requested me: Who even cares about Android capsules anymore? If that is you, you might be almost certainly feeling the similar indifference in opposition to top class Android capsules. Even Google has conceded it gained’t be making new capsules and turns out to have already forgotten about the Pixel Pill. However that’s no longer preventing Samsung from freeing the Eleventh-generation Galaxy Tab S11 collection, comprising the 11-inch same old type and 14.6-inch Extremely. The latter is the extra fascinating of the pair, because it’s no longer handiest what Samsung says is its thinnest pill ever, but in addition provides new Dex multitasking options and, in fact, AI gear. Plus, when you forgot, the corporate’s hallmark S Pen stylus nonetheless exists, and has gained but any other redesign along the release of the collection.
At the present time, my stylus use is restricted to those for e-paper writing capsules just like the reMarkable Paper Professional and the Kindle Scribe, however I stay an enormous fan of the S Pen. I’ve liked Samsung’s stylus since my time as an Omnia II proprietor, again when it was once like a mini retractable pointer that prolonged like outdated automobile antennas. The model accompanying the Tab S11 Extremely has a hexagonal form to its grip that makes it extra carefully resemble a No. 2 pencil, and its nib has additionally been tweaked to be extra conical.
From my temporary time with it at a hands-on consultation, the most recent S Pen didn’t really feel outstanding. It’s no doubt so much lighter than the reMarkable Paper Professional’s Marker Plus. However regardless of its similarity to a No. 2 pencil, Samsung’s new stylus didn’t really feel higher to carry or write with than the Kindle Scribe’s pen, which is an easy cylindrical piece. I if truth be told like how easy the latter’s edges are, and each looked as if it would ship in a similar fashion fluid and responsive writing. I didn’t really feel a lot resistance as I dragged the S Pen’s nib around the Tab S11 Extremely’s display screen to scrawl out “Hi Engadget.”
Not like some earlier S Pens that had Bluetooth-powered particular options like faraway digicam keep watch over, this model has no further connectivity. It attracts energy from the pill’s display screen like different EMR (electromagnetic resonance) capsules and gained’t wish to be charged. Samsung did make it connect magnetically to the S11 Extremely, which is able to assist save you you misplacing it in a restaurant, as an example. However from earlier revel in, I will be able to say that the magnets aren’t robust sufficient to stay the S Pen at the pill for those who toss it in a handbag or bag. You’ll desire a case with a devoted holder to in point of fact protected the stylus.
Talking of, Samsung has made some new covers and keyboards for the Tab S11 Extremely, since its pogo pins had been moved from the ground edge to its rear. This implies none of your outdated or current Samsung keyboard circumstances shall be appropriate, and also you’ll have to shop for the brand new model if you wish to flip the S11 Extremely into a reliable 2-in-1. Samsung advanced the circumstances for its newest pill, regardless that, and it kind of feels the repositioned pogo pins have allowed the corporate to make its origami covers a unmarried piece as a substitute of a two-parter. The brand new Professional keyboard case gained’t be to be had at release, so that you’ll have to attend to get it and possibly depend on a Bluetooth accent within the period in-between. Or you’ll be able to get the Slender Keyboard, which doesn’t have a trackpad.
When you get a operating keyboard hooked up, you’ll most likely have a pleasing time getting paintings finished at the S11 Extremely. That’s thank you largely to the enhanced Dex mode, Samsung’s multitasking tool for Android units. The brand new pill ships with One UI 8, which will get new multitasking options like Prolonged Mode and give a boost to for as much as 4 devoted customizable workspaces. The previous mainly means that you can wirelessly prolong your show to different monitors, like any other pill or perhaps a computer or display screen, to simulate a dual-monitor setup. I didn’t get to peer this for myself but, so I will be able to’t talk to the latency and straightforwardness of use, however the concept is good in concept, and is one thing iPads can’t do but.
It’s possible you’ll no longer even want additional monitors, regardless that, because the Tab S11 Extremely’s show is a roomy 14.6 inches, which Samsung says is its greatest but. It provides the vibrancy and brightness that’s conventional of the corporate’s AMOLEDs, that means colours are richly saturated and make for an relaxing multimedia revel in. Like fresh fashions, the S11 Extremely’s panel refreshes at as much as 120Hz for smoother scrolling and animations, and has a quite sharp answer of two,960 x 1,848. In case you in reality care about numbers, then know that the Tab S11 Extremely will get as much as 1,600 nits of brightness, as smartly.
All that is powered by way of a 3nm MediaTek Dimensity 9400+ processor, which the corporate mentioned is a primary for its capsules and brings 20 p.c advanced CPU and GPU efficiency over the former era. The neural processing unit (NPU) additionally sees a leap of 30 p.c, consistent with Samsung. That implies AI gear like Writing Help and Drawing Help must be quicker and smoother.
Along with the ones gear, which let you alter the tone of your messages or flip your tough sketches into full-fledged artwork, the Tab S11 Extremely can even give a boost to Google’s Gemini Are living so you’ll be able to have extra herbal conversations with the assistant. Samsung could also be rolling out a Galaxy AI overlay for its Notes and browser apps, permitting you to tug round a transportable panel on best of the ones home windows for more uncomplicated reference.
In spite of how I began this newsletter, I’ve if truth be told lengthy been partial to Samsung’s Galaxy Tab S line. I really like how skinny and durable they’re — they simply really feel like sharp units to wield. And at simply 5.1mm (0.2 inches) skinny and weighing simply 1.53 kilos (692 grams), the Tab S11 Extremely is impressively svelte. Conserving it up with only one hand whilst I aimed my digicam at it felt easy, and regardless of measuring 8.2 x 12.8 inches, the pill was once fairly simple to move.
By way of the best way, the S11 Extremely’s bezels measure 5.2mm, that means even the barely-there borders are thicker than the software. And when you wanted a comparability, the 13-inch iPad Professional from 2024 was once additionally 5.1mm skinny. The Tab S11 Extremely has a larger display screen whilst conserving that narrow profile. It is also rated IP68 so it could actually face up to about an identical quantity of mud and water ingress as the typical smartphone lately.
Whilst I wasn’t in a position to check the battery lifetime of the Tab S11 and Tab S11 Extremely on the hands-on match, I believe their respective 8,400mAh and 11,600mAh cells must supply plentiful runtime to get paintings finished at the move. Samsung says they’ll each ultimate about 13 hours on a price. I’ll take this chance to show that the Tab S11 is a miles much less top class software, with noticeably thicker bezels round its 10.9-inch display screen. It helps Wi-Fi 6E, whilst the Extremely will get as much as Wi-Fi 7, and it has a headphone jack for those who nonetheless need one. The Extremely, in the meantime, does no longer have a three.5mm audio socket.
In maximum different respects, the Tab S11 and its Extremely sibling percentage an identical specifications. Each have 13-megapixel rear cameras and 12MP entrance sensors, regardless that the Extremely has an extra 8MP ultrawide setup. They give a boost to the redesigned S Pen, have in-screen fingerprint sensors, use the similar processor, get started on the identical 12GB of RAM and move as much as 2TB of garage, all whilst operating Android 16.
I’m in point of fact intrigued and tempted by way of the Tab S11 Extremely’s promise of moveable productiveness in a good-looking package deal, however I merely don’t use capsules in my existence. My private computer is a Samsung Galaxy Guide, and that looks like an appropriate medium-screen to enroll in my small display screen (telephone), giant display screen (TV) and tiny display screen (watch). I don’t wish to throw a smedium display screen into the combo. I have already got a Kindle and a reMarkable Paper Professional that take where of books and notebooks, too.
That mentioned, for the non-Apple individuals who use capsules as computer replacements, artists who need to comic strip in colour or just any individual who simply likes a 15-inch skinny and lightweight touchscreen for no matter explanation why, the Galaxy Tab S11 Extremely must be a worthy possibility. It’s simply going to be somewhat the hefty funding at $1,200 to start out. That’s dearer than maximum laptops, and doesn’t come with equipment like keyboard circumstances or mice but. The bottom Tab S11 is going for $800, which could also be dearer than the plethora of midrange laptops in the marketplace, so that you’ll be paying a top class for portability.
