Samsung Galaxy Tab A11 review: Compact, capable & cheap

Greatest Costs In the present day: Samsung Galaxy Tab A11

Whereas a lot tech is refreshed yearly, Samsung waited just a little longer to launch a brand new era of price range Android pill. The Galaxy Tab A11 is right here eventually although, aiming to be the most effective worth pill cash can purchase. 

It’s value mentioning that Samsung determined to skip the Tab A10 title, maybe due to the two-year hole since the A9 sequence launched. The Galaxy Tab A9 was considered one of our favorite low cost tablets of all time, so the Tab A11 has massive sneakers to fill. 

Whereas the Galaxy Tab A11 – kindly offered for evaluate by AO – is perhaps not possible to inform other than the Tab A9 by merely taking a look at it, it does include some upgrades and even a cheaper price. 

While you put this all collectively, together with the truth that small price range tablets are onerous to come back by as of late, the Tab A11 is a winner.

Design & Construct 

• Appears to be like equivalent to Tab A9 
• Brilliantly transportable 
• Two colors 

There’s oddly little to say concerning the Galaxy Tab A11 design and that’s as a result of Samsung has actually used the A9’s chassis. It’s equivalent down to each millimetre, button, port and bezel.  

You title it, it’s visually the identical. This new mannequin is a tiny bit heavier, however we’re speaking 3-4g, relying on whether or not you select Wi-Fi or LTE, so not an quantity you’d discover. 

Chris Martin / Foundry

The one different distinction I can see right here is that the Tab A9 got here in a pleasant Navy Blue color – which I examined –  however that’s not accessible within the Tab 11. There are solely two colourways on sale. 

I’ve been testing the Gray possibility (beforehand known as Graphite) however there’s additionally Silver in case you favor. 

The repurposed design makes it really feel a tad dated however it’s nonetheless a classy little pill and at this value, fashion isn’t typically excessive up the precedence checklist for producers. 

I’d say the most effective factor concerning the Galaxy Tab A11’s design is how compact it’s. At simply 8mm and 335g, this factor will go all over the place with you with out being a hindrance. In reality, I may even match it in a few of my (males’s) trouser pockets. 

If you’re in search of an affordable, compact, transportable Android pill, then that is it.

Chris Martin / Foundry

There’s no IP score for mud or water resistance, however we wouldn’t anticipate that in a price range pill. Thankfully, the gadget feels slightly extra premium than the value suggests, with a largely metallic construct, although not unibody.  

Like one of many classics of small tablets, the Google Nexus 7, it’s designed for use in portrait mode like your telephone, however stereo audio system are positioned so they’re on both facet when held in panorama. 

All in all, it’s an not possible sport of spot the distinction from its predecessor, however ‘if it ain’t broke’… 

Display screen & Audio system 

• 8.7-inch LCD 
• New 90Hz refresh price 
• Stereo audio system now have Dolby Atmos 

Simply by wanting, it appears as if the display and audio system are equivalent to the Galaxy Tab A9, however that is the place the A11’s largest upgrades are hiding. 

The display has remained the identical dimension, which for me is a superb stability of ‘larger than your telephone however sufficiently small to be extremely transportable’, and makes use of LCD tech, however Samsung has elevated the refresh price to 90Hz – this was beforehand solely accessible on the Tab A9+. 

If this implies nothing to you, it helps the expertise feel and look smoother, particularly when scrolling by way of content material. Because the display is refreshing extra instances per second, it’s much less jerky.

Observe: Any banding you may see within the photographs of the display right here is just a results of taking photographs of it and never seen by the human eye.

Chris Martin / Foundry

Though issues like an AMOLED panel could be good, it’s an excessive amount of to anticipate at this value. I might choose holes within the show efficiency, mentioning viewing angles and inconsistent lighting, however it’s all completely acceptable. 

For much less cash than quite a lot of earbuds, you get a superbly vibrant and crisp picture and there’s good peak brightness, too. I measured it at 528 nits (within the center), which is just a little higher than the Tab A9. 

In the event you want a bigger display than 8.7-inch, the Galaxy Tab A11+ gives an 11-inch show. As does the Xiaomi Redmi Pad 2.

Transferring on to the audio system; they’re positioned simply as earlier than. In the event you maintain the pill in panorama mode, they’re on both facet and in direction of the highest, so that you gained’t cowl them up.

Chris Martin / Foundry

It’s a intelligent system for when you’re watching video content material and there’s Dolby Atmos assist now, too. It’s not a large enchancment, nevertheless it does create a extra spacious really feel to the sound. 

You continue to get a headphone port, so there’s no want to attach Bluetooth headphones in case you don’t need to. 

Specs & Efficiency 

• Mediatek Helio G99 
• As much as 8GB RAM 
• As much as 128GB storage 

By way of efficiency, all the things is similar because the Tab A9, beginning with the Helio G99 processor, which is now three years outdated. 

The entry-level mannequin comes with a primary 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage however you may double each to eight/128GB in case you splash an additional £40, which can be a really sensible funding.

Chris Martin / Foundry

Not solely will that additional storage imply you may obtain extra apps and so forth, however the reminiscence will assist with efficiency – particularly in the long run. Samsung nonetheless gives a MicroSDXC card slot so it’s potential so as to add storage (as much as 2TB) to both mannequin must you run out (bear in thoughts the OS, plus different pre-installed bits take up round 20GB). 

As soon as once more, I’ve been testing the cheaper and extra primary spec mannequin and whereas it’s not snappy like a hungry crocodile, it’s actually not painfully gradual and one thing that needs to be averted like some price range tablets. 

In fact, a more recent processor could be welcome and there’s an opportunity the pill would possibly wrestle by the point it will get its closing software program replace however that’s partly as a result of Samsung gives lengthy assist (extra on that later). 

Chris Martin / Foundry

The underside line is the Galaxy Tab A11 is a flexible all-rounder so long as you don’t push its limits with duties that needs to be reserved for costlier and highly effective tablets. You’ll be able to browse the online, use social media, take a video name and do a bit of sunshine gaming with out main hiccups.

Samsung Galaxy Tab A11 benchmarks

I discover it barely odd which you could as soon as once more go for a Wi-Fi solely mannequin or an LTE (4G) model of the Tab A11, however client selection is welcome and in case you want 4G information on the go in your low cost pill, you may have it in case you’re completely satisfied to pay additional. 

In different wi-fi specs, there’s not a lot to write down residence about, with a primary setup consisting of Bluetooth 5.3 and Wi-Fi 5. Preserving prices down is the secret, so that you get outdated specs with no frills – there’s no NFC or a fingerprint scanner – however you most likely gained’t discover. 

Cameras 

• 8Mp rear digicam 
• Upgraded 5Mp entrance digicam 

Whereas the Galaxy Tab A11 has the identical 8Mp digicam as its predecessor, it’s nice to see a tech firm prioritise the entrance digicam for an improve. 

On a pill, we really feel this one is way extra necessary as you’re extra seemingly to make use of the gadget for duties equivalent to video calls. Taking photographs with the rear digicam is awkward, even on a compact gadget like this and, in case you want high-quality outcomes, you ought to have the ability to use your telephone as an alternative. 

I’d personally slightly there wasn’t a rear digicam in any respect. This may get monetary savings and cease the pill wobbling on a flat floor as a result of lens protruding.

Chris Martin / Foundry

As soon as once more, the rear digicam ought to solely be used in case you completely must. The standard is primary and fuzzy, with issues getting the white stability proper, amongst different issues – and that’s when utilizing it in daylight. 

The front-facing digicam is now way more usable, with cheap high quality if the lighting is nice. There’s a wider shot mode in case you favor, which I might use for the reason that framing isn’t nice in any other case – holding the pill usually places you proper on the backside of the body. 

The portrait mode isn’t too dangerous both and I’ve additionally discovered the upgraded digicam helped the face unlock characteristic work higher, as nicely. 

Battery Life & Charging  

• 5100mAh  
• Adapter not included  
• 15W charging 

We’re again to a piece the place nothing has been modified for the reason that Tab A9, so the Galaxy Tab A11 has a battery no bigger (or smaller even) than many telephones. 

Thankfully, the low-power chip operating issues right here does an inexpensive job of conserving issues environment friendly. In our standard PCMark for Android Work 3.0 battery take a look at, the pill managed 12 hours and 59 minutes. 

That’s 48 minutes higher than its predecessor and you’ll as soon as once more see an hour of streaming devour just a little over 10% of the battery energy.

Chris Martin / Foundry

That’s not dangerous and will get you thru most flights. Nevertheless, issues aren’t in any respect cheery in terms of charging. 

Samsung doesn’t present an adapter within the field and charging is painfully gradual at simply 15W most. 

I attempted varied chargers I must hand and the most effective I noticed was 7% in quarter-hour and 14% in half-hour, identical to the Tab A9. You’ll have to plan upfront when taking the Tab A11 out and about as a result of a full cost takes just a few hours. 

Software program & Apps 

• Android 15 
• One UI 7 
• Lengthy software program assist promise 

As you would possibly anticipate from a price range pill, the Galaxy Tab A11 doesn’t include the newest variations of software program, so that you get Android 15 with Samsung’s personal One UI 7 interface. 

There’s an replace to Android 16 and One UI 8 rolling out on the time of writing, however I haven’t seen it pop up on my pattern but. As such, I’ve examined it on the software program you get out of the field, however you might be able to improve it immediately – although One UI 8 is a delicate replace anyway.

Chris Martin / Foundry

Regardless of being two years newer than the Galaxy Tab A9, the expertise feels very comparable, that means that total, it’s fairly clear, fashionable and simple to navigate. 

Samsung provides some options you don’t see on its telephones as a result of bigger display, equivalent to the sting panel. Right here you may swipe in from the facet the place there’s an virtually hidden gray tab to get fast entry to a choice of apps you select. 

Chris Martin / Foundry

That’s the default, however you too can swap on different panels within the settings, equivalent to Folks, Duties, Climate and extra, which you’ll be able to then scroll by way of. It’s value messing round with, as some might actually be helpful and time-saving. 

When you may have an app open full display, you get just a little taskbar on the backside like a desktop PC. Right here you may entry the navigation buttons, app icons and a shortcut to all of your apps. 

It’s just a little small and appears dated to me, however you may customise it just a little or swap it off in case you don’t prefer it. 

Chris Martin / Foundry

Extra helpful in my expertise is with the ability to run two apps without delay and regulate how a lot of the display every takes up. I don’t hassle doing this on a telephone display, however it’s way more advantageous on this bigger dimension. 

As is typical for a Samsung Galaxy, there are quite a lot of pre-installed apps, together with the corporate’s personal, that are virtually all simply duplicates of higher Google ones. There’s additionally a choice of Microsoft apps and the likes of Netflix, Spotify, Temu, TikTok and Monopoly Go. 

Whereas these would possibly assist hold the price of the pill down and may virtually all be uninstalled, it’s nonetheless fairly bloated. You don’t get any Galaxy AI options at this value, however Google Gemini is inbuilt that can assist you with varied issues, although you may’t use Circle to Search, which is a disgrace.

Chris Martin / Foundry

There’s an enormous hidden improve in terms of software program as a result of Samsung now guarantees a whopping seven years of assist. That’s up from 4 years on the Tab A9 and matches its flagship gadgets, together with the Galaxy Tab S11 Extremely.

Many rivals don’t even make a promise of how lengthy you’ll get new OS variations and safety patches, so this provides quite a lot of worth. One of many most important questions which can’t be answered is how the processor will deal with the newest software program and apps in seven years’ time, however Samsung clearly believes it will likely be capable of. 

Worth & Availability 

Launched quietly in September, the Galaxy Tab A11 begins at simply £149, which is really £20 cheaper than its predecessor. Plus, we’ve already seen it drop to as little as £99 in Black Friday gross sales.

It’s as soon as once more accessible in 4 fashions, relying in your reminiscence and storage wants, in addition to the necessity for information connectivity. There are solely two primary colors this time round, although. 

Listed below are all of the fashions to select from: 

• 4/64GB – £149 
• 8/128GB – £189 
• 4/64GB + LTE – £199 
• 8/128GB + LTE – £239 

As talked about earlier, it might be well worth the further £40 for double the RAM and storage, particularly when eager about efficiency in direction of the top of its lifespan. 
 
Oddly, the Galaxy Tab A11 isn’t accessible within the US but, however you should buy it within the UK from nearly all over the place that sells tech, together with the official Samsung retailer, Amazon, Argos, Currys and Very. 

Our evaluate pattern was offered to us by AO. 

Try our information to the most effective price range tablets to see what the Galaxy Tab A11 is up in opposition to. 

Chris Martin / Foundry

Must you purchase the Samsung Galaxy Tab A11? 

Whereas the Galaxy Tab A11 appears equivalent to its two-year-old predecessor, that doesn’t matter all that a lot. 

It’s a classy pill that’s a uncommon breed as of late. Really compact, however large enough when in comparison with most telephones to make it worthwhile. 

Samsung has added some necessary upgrades right here in addition to decreasing the value. The restrictions of the Tab A11 are completely cheap contemplating the worth on supply. 

Most significantly, you now get a 90Hz refresh price on the display, making the expertise smoother, plus there’s a whopping seven years of software program assist, eclipsing rivals. 

Moreover, the entrance digicam has been upgraded, making it way more helpful for video calls and selfies.

You’ll have to restrict your expectations the place efficiency is worried, however the Galaxy Tab A11 is an exceptionally good worth pill. If you’d like a compact, transportable Android pill at a really reasonably priced value, then you needn’t look any additional. 

Specs

• Android 15, One UI 7
• 7 years software program assist
• 8.7in, HD+, TFT LCD, 90Hz
• MediaTek Helios G99
• 4/8GB RAM
• 64/128GB storage
• microSD card slot (as much as 2TB)
• 8Mp most important digicam
• 5Mp front-facing digicam
• Stereo audio system with Dolby Atmos
• Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac
• 4G LTE (elective)
• Bluetooth 5.3
• Headphone jack
• USB-C port
• 5100mAh battery
• 15W charging
• 211 x 124.7 x 8mm
• 335g
• Launch colors: Gray, Silver