Samsung Galaxy Tab S11

What do people actually want from an Android tablet? It's a question that's been on our minds for a few years now, and judging from the Samsung Galaxy Tab S11, it's been on Samsung's too.

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Price when reviewed: £799

After a year in which the company dropped the regular model from its premium tablet range, leaving only the Samsung Galaxy Tab S10+ to accompany the flagship Ultra model, the South Korean manufacturer has decided on yet another new approach. This time around, there's no Samsung Galaxy Tab S11+, with only a Samsung Galaxy Tab S11 and a Samsung Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra to choose from.

With prices starting from £799, you're getting a highly capable 11-inch tablet with strong performance, a bright screen, powerful software, and a bundled-in stylus. But aside from Samsung's lineup indecision, there isn't much that's new or interesting here.

DESIGN

The fact that you can specify your Samsung Galaxy Tab S11 in Grey or Silver speaks to the general lack of inspiration that surrounds the design and feel of this tablet.

It looks a lot like last year's model. And the year before that. In fact, glancing back as far as our Samsung Galaxy Tab S7+ review of 2020 reveals the same basic, flat-edged style.

Tablet design in general has remained pretty samey since the 2018 iPad Pro 3, of course, and Samsung has steadily refined its approach over the years. These days, there's an in-display fingerprint sensor rather than the old power button-based solution.

Progress? Perhaps. It's certainly more convenient to unlock when the tablet is lying flat on a table. Conversely, my own thumbprint doesn't seem to register quite as consistently as I'd like.

IP68 certification is another positive design flourish that Samsung brings to the table(t), making bath times with Disney+ feel much less precarious. It's a sense of reassurance that you don't get with the £999 iPad Pro.