Is this the do-it-all device for women who are already doing it all? Kelly road-tests Samsung’s new Galaxy Tab S11 to find out – here’s her review!
Look, I’ll be honest – I’m currently in Fiji attending a friend’s wedding, and I’d much rather not be working. But hey, when you run a business, replying to a few emails with a margarita firmly in hand is no big deal, so I’ll take it.
What is making life a lot easier is what I’m using to type this review out – my new Galaxy Tab S11 which has, quite simply, changed the game as to how I’m working and living. I legit didn’t realise when I embarked on testing it out how helpful it would actually be in my day-to-day life.
I’ve never had a tablet before, and I’ll admit, when I think of tablets, I think of boomers who take them to concerts to take pictures and block your view. But, turns out they are a handy little accompaniment to life that fits into far more scenarios than I first thought.
First Impressions: Tiny, Mighty, Pretty
If you’re not familiar, the Galaxy Tab is Samsung’s tablet, which is to say it’s the Android world’s answer to the iPad. It’s a touchscreen that sits somewhere between your phone and your laptop in size: big enough to comfortably watch shows, read, type and work on, but small and light enough to throw in a bag and use on the couch, in bed, or in the car (parked, obviously). The “S” series is Samsung’s premium range, and the Tab S11 is the latest model, which comes in two sizes: the 11-inch version that I’m reviewing here, and a supersized 14.6-inch Ultra. Each comes with the S Pen stylus in the box, so you can write and draw on the screen too.
For me, the 11-inch is perfect – it fits in most of my handbags as well as my work bag, and she’s slim, light and chic. It’s about half a kilo and slimmer than most magazines, which means it genuinely disappears into a tote bag, nappy bag or travel bag.
The screen is the star. It’s bright, sharp and properly luminous, the kind of screen that makes everything from Netflix to your kid’s school portal look beautiful (well, kind of). Crucially, it’s bright enough to actually read outside (Fiji tested), so you can sit in the sun with a coffee (cocktail) and still see your emails or shows.
The Pros, In Plain English
Here’s what I absolutely loved:
The screen is glorious. Movies, recipes (I couldn’t believe how handy it was for this!), picture books, Pinterest spirals at 10pm. Everything looks stunning, and it’s one of the brightest tablet screens out there. I also love using it for my 10am Sunday morning reading (the Capsule newsletter of course, if you’re missing out, sign up here!) because everything is just that much bigger, brighter and better.
It’s ridiculously portable. Thin, light, and tough enough to handle life in a busy household, including the occasional splash. It’s water resistant, though I wouldn’t recommend testing this in the bath. Mine did get an accidental splash when the wind knocked over a flower vase, and it was absolutely fine.
The battery actually lasts. A full day of solid use, easily – I’ve actually managed to get two out of it quite a few times. And it charges quickly when you do finally remember to plug it in.
The pen comes in the box. Samsung includes its S Pen stylus at no extra cost (unlike some). It’s brilliant for jotting lists, signing and returning school forms, marking up documents, and keeping small artists occupied. I’ve used it to edit photos with precision, as well as sign PDFs for the weird life admin that pops up.
The camera is surprisingly handy. Not for family portraits and OBVIOUSLY not for concerts – please, lovely boomers, just use your phones – but it’s perfect for scanning receipts, permission slips and documents, and the front camera does a respectable job on work Zoom calls.
It will last for years. Samsung is promising seven years of software updates, which in tech terms is practically a lifetime commitment.
There’s a kids’ mode. I haven’t tested this yet as a childfree gal, but Samsung Kids gives you a walled garden with time limits and app controls, so you can hand it over without anxiety-scrolling about what they might find. However I did use it to play Bluey to my new puppy, so does that count?
The Bit That Sold Me: It Talks To My Phone
Here’s where things get genuinely magic if, like me, you’re already a Samsung girlie. Because I have the Galaxy S26 Ultra, the Tab S11 and my phone behave like two halves of the same brain and this is where the idea of a true portable office comes to life.
Texts and calls can come through on the tablet, so when my phone is buried at the bottom of my bag (always), I can reply from the couch. I can copy something on my phone and paste it straight onto the tablet – no emailing things to myself like it’s 2014. Photos I take on my phone land on the tablet almost instantly with Quick Share, which has been a game changer for pulling interview snaps and screenshots into articles. And if I start reading something on my phone, I can pick it up on the bigger screen mid-scroll, if I’m using Samsung’s own apps such as Samsung Internet and Samsung Notes.
My Galaxy Buds also switch automatically between devices, so if I’m watching something on the tablet and a call comes through on my phone, the audio just… moves. No fiddling with Bluetooth menus while the phone rings out. When you’re juggling deadlines and dinner, these tiny removed frictions add up to something that feels suspiciously like… calm? Competence? Like I have my shit together? Perfection.
The Portable Office Upgrade – What Makes All the Difference
If you work from cafes, the car, or anywhere that’s not your normal desk, do yourself a favour and get the Book Cover Keyboard Slim. It snaps on, protects the screen, and turns the Tab S11 into a legitimately good little laptop. The keys feel proper to type on (this entire review was written on it), and paired with Samsung’s desktop-style mode, you get awesome split screens for multitasking or multimedia watching. For anyone who wants to leave the laptop at home, this combo is legit.
The Honest Bits – Factors to Consider
First, that keyboard cover I just raved about? It’s sold separately and it isn’t cheap (around $239), and if you’re upgrading from an older Galaxy Tab, your old cover won’t fit this one. Factor it into the budget from day one, because the tablet is only half a portable office without it, in my opinion.
I also wish the stylus that comes with the tablet could be inserted into the tablet itself, like my phone. I’ve almost lost the stylus a few times because it detaches from the magnetic back of the tablet, so you do need to keep an eye on it.
Also worth noting, this is a premium tablet with a premium price tag, starting at around $1,450 in NZ (often discounted to $1,300 or less) and climbing towards $1,800 for the top storage option. It’s an investment. If all you want is something for Netflix and the odd recipe, a cheaper Samsung tablet will do you fine. The Tab S11 will earn its keep when it’s pulling double duty as your work machine, your family organiser and your entertainment hub.
The Verdict
The Galaxy Tab S11 is a bit of tech that has made my life feel lighter rather than busier, and I’m surprised at how much I actually use it. It’s beautiful, it’s fast, it goes everywhere, and if you’re already carrying a Galaxy phone and Buds, the way everything connects feels less like a feature and more like a small daily kindness. Add the keyboard cover and it’s the portable office I didn’t know I was waiting for.
Transparency: While we have an ongoing partnership with Samsung, this review is completely independent and has not been signed off, viewed or edited by Samsung prior to publication, and remains our honest opinion.
