Galaxy Tab S11 Review for Drawing: Pen in the Box, OLED
Quick verdict
A fast, bright OLED tablet with an excellent pen that comes in the box. The new S Pen drops Bluetooth, and the screen is glossy.
Buy it if
- You want a pen included, not sold separately.
- You want a bright 120Hz OLED screen.
- You want long software support for school or work.
Skip it if
- You need Procreate. It's iPad only.
- You want a matte screen out of the box.
- You relied on the old S Pen's Bluetooth tricks.
Specs
| Screen | 11 in Dynamic AMOLED 2X (OLED) |
|---|---|
| Resolution | 2560 x 1600 |
| Refresh rate | 120Hz |
| Brightness (claimed) | Up to 1,600 nits peak |
| Chip | MediaTek Dimensity 9400+ |
| Storage | 128 GB + microSD (this listing) |
| OS | Android 16, 7 OS upgrades promised |
| Pen | S Pen (Wacom EMR, no battery) |
| Pen included | Yes |
| Weight | 469 g |
Pros and cons
Pros
- S Pen in the box, and it never needs charging.
- Excellent pressure and palm rejection.
- Bright 120Hz OLED screen.
- IP68, microSD, and 7 years of OS upgrades promised.
Cons
- The new S Pen drops Bluetooth features.
- The hexagonal pen makes the button hard to find by feel.
- Old S Pen tips don't fit.
- No charger in the box.
Real-world math
The real cost. The S Pen is included. With the iPad Air, you add an Apple Pencil Pro. That makes the Tab S11 the better deal than its sticker suggests, if the two are close in price.
Drawing space. The 11-inch 16:10 screen works out to about 237 x 148 mm, or 351 square centimeters. That's about the same as the iPad Air, just a little wider and shorter.
Sharpness. 2560 x 1600 on 11 inches is about 274 pixels per inch. Very sharp.
Storage. This listing is 128 GB, but it takes microSD cards up to 2 TB. The iPad can't expand.
Drawing on it
Parka Blogs praised the pressure, the smooth line tapering and the reliable palm rejection. The new S Pen has a tapered tip, which makes it easier to tilt the pen low for shading brushes.
The OLED screen is bright and sharp at 120Hz. It's glossy. Many artists add a paper-feel protector.
What changed with the new S Pen
Samsung redesigned the pen with a hexagonal body and dropped Bluetooth. You lose air gestures and remote camera control. The side button is harder to find by feel. Old S Pen tips don't fit this pen. For drawing, none of that matters much. For heavy S Pen fans, it might.
How it compares
| Spec | Samsung Galaxy Tab S11 | Apple iPad Air 11-inch (M4) | Wacom MovinkPad 11 |
|---|---|---|---|
| My rating | 8.7/10 | 8.8/10 | 8.2/10 |
| Screen | 11 in Dynamic AMOLED 2X (OLED) | 10.86 in Liquid Retina, laminated, anti-reflective | 11.45 in IPS, matte anti-glare |
| Resolution | 2560 x 1600 | 2360 x 1640 (264 PPI) | 2200 x 1440 |
| Refresh rate | 120Hz | 60Hz | 60/90Hz |
| Brightness (claimed) | Up to 1,600 nits peak | 500 nits | 400 nits |
| Chip | MediaTek Dimensity 9400+ | Apple M4 | MediaTek Helio G99 |
| Storage | 128 GB + microSD (this listing) | 128 GB (this listing) | 128 GB, 8 GB RAM |
| OS | Android 16, 7 OS upgrades promised | iPadOS | Android 14 |
| Pen | S Pen (Wacom EMR, no battery) | Apple Pencil Pro or Apple Pencil (USB-C) | Wacom Pro Pen 3 (slim), battery-free |
| Pen included | Yes | No | Yes |
| Weight | 469 g | 464 g | 588 g |
| Check price | Check price Review | Check price Review |
FAQ
- Does the Galaxy Tab S11 come with the S Pen?
- Yes. Samsung includes the S Pen, a USB-C cable and a SIM/microSD pin. There's no charger in the box.
- Does the S Pen need charging?
- No. It uses Wacom's battery-free EMR tech. The new one also drops Bluetooth, so air gestures are gone.
- Can I use Procreate?
- No, Procreate is iPad only. On Android, artists use apps like Clip Studio Paint, Infinite Painter, Ibis Paint and Krita.
- How long will it get updates?
- Samsung promises up to 7 Android upgrades and 7 years of security updates for the Tab S11.
Bottom line
If you want an Android tablet for drawing and school, this is the one I'd buy. The pen is in the box, the screen is great, and it'll get updates for years. Artists set on Procreate should get the iPad Air instead.