I tried a big new iPad rival from Samsung with features Apple won’t match

If you want a truly premium tablet with a supersized screen, you probably aren’t going to find much better than the latest Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra. This gargantuan device even makes Apple’s largest 13-inch iPad Pro look decidedly small when placed side by side. That’s thanks to Samsung cramming a whopping 14.6-inch display inside the S11 Ultra’s striking slimline design. It’s not the only difference between what Apple offers with the Tab also getting an anti-reflective screen and digital pen as standard (you don’t have to pay extra) - Samsung is also currently running a deal that offers a free keyboard case as well.

But can a tablet simply be too massive, and is it better to buy something less bulky? Having put the Tab S11 Ultra through its paces at home, on planes and on trains, the answer to that question is simple.

Yes, it’s far too enormous for most, but I’ve loved every minute of using it. The screen is so big and pixel-packed, it almost feels like you have a top-end TV in your backpack.

Watching blockbuster movies, browsing the web, playing games, and multitasking are all a joy on this Dynamic AMOLED 2X panel. Colours pop, blacks are rich, movies look crisp, and, thanks to its 120Hz technology, everything feels silky smooth and stutter-free. It even has an anti-glare coating as standard (that’s something Apple charges £100 extra for), so your boxset binges aren’t ruined by annoying reflections.

Along with its stunning display, the Tab S11 Ultra also feels premium in your hands. It gets a matt-finish metal design that measures in at just 5.1mm thick.

My only gripe with its styling is that, due to its size, it’s not that easy to hold for long periods, so a case with a kickstand is definitely something to consider adding to your shopping basket.

Head under the body, and it’s powered by a MediaTek Dimensity 9400+ processor. That chip makes this machine incredibly capable, and I honestly doubt you’ll find anything it can’t cope with.

High-intensity tasks, including gaming, photo retouching and video editing, can all be performed with ease, and it also helps provide a slick experience when using Samsung’s DeX.

For those not in the know, DeX lets you use your Samsung smartphone or tablet like a desktop computer. By connecting it to a monitor, keyboard, and mouse, you get a PC-style interface where you can run Android apps, multitask in windows, and increase productivity on a larger screen.

With DeX enabled on the Tab S11 Ultra's huge display, you can easily create a desktop with up to 4 workspaces.

It’s really handy if you want to work and play on the giant screen, and it also allows you to mirror your tablet onto larger displays, such as a TV.

Of course, like all of Samsung’s most recent gadgets, the Tab S11 Ultra comes packed with AI.

That means it will edit your documents via Galaxy AI’s Writing Assist, improve your doodles using Drawing Assist and make things easier to find on the web thanks to Google’s Circle to Search technology.

Gemini is also baked in, which means you can chat to this device like it’s a real personal assistant.

I’m not a massive fan of too much AI, but these features definitely make more sense on a tablet than a smartphone, and you might actually find some of this intelligence is handy when producing documents or getting creative. To help boost productivity further, the Tab S11 Ultra also comes with a new digital S Pen in the box - take note, Apple!

It works well for writing notes and doodling, plus it features a new hexagon design, which makes it feel far more like a real pencil. Samsung has removed Bluetooth connectivity this year, so you can’t use the new pen as a remote control, for example, but other than that, it’s a decent stylus.

Sadly, unlike the Galaxy S25 Ultra phone, the S11’s pen doesn’t tuck inside the tablet, so I guarantee you’ll lose it at the bottom of your rucksack at least once.

Other features worth a mention include some pretty epic battery life - I’ve managed to watch a three-hour Marvel movie and only lost 10 percent of the power.

There’s also a dual-lens camera, a speedy fingerprint scanner under the display and very good speakers with Dolby Atmos.

It’s pretty hard to fault the S11 Ultra, but it’s not perfect.

That 14.6-inch display really is a bit too big for most people, and you should seriously consider whether you want something so huge.

With prices starting from £1,199 it’s also ludicrously expensive, and that leads me onto my next issue.

To make things feel a bit more affordable, there is a free keyboard case - worth £199 - available until the end of October via a deal on Samsung’s website

This accessory does make the device feel a little more like a laptop, but this is still very much a tablet.

And that’s still a problem I have with all tablets, as, despite bigger screens and more power, they still can’t match what most of us do on our portable PCs.

In my honest opinion, quickly editing documents, saving files, sending attachments and working for hours on end is simply more efficient on a proper PC.

That means this could end up being a very expensive way to watch Netflix and play the occasional game of Candy Crush.

If you want a large screen Android tablet but don’t need the power of the Tab S11 Ultra, it’s worth considering the OnePlus Pad 3. It has a 13.2-inch display and costs £599 - exactly half the price of the Galaxy.

Have I enjoyed the Tab S11 Ultra? 100 percent yes, and this is an amazing device that looks great and offers one of the best visual experiences on the market.

Would I rush to splash nearly £1,200 on the Tab S11 Ultra? Probably not, as it’s too big and far too expensive.

If you simply want an Android device for a boxset binge, writing some emails and browsing the web, the brilliant Galaxy Tab S10 FE is less than half the price and still offers a pretty stunning experience. There is also a smaller version of the Tab S11 which starts from £799 as is also worth a look.

Also, don’t forget that Apple has just announced a big iPad Pro refresh with these premium tablets all getting a new M5 processor, Wi-Fi 7 and improved 5G connectivity.