Sunday Tech Corner with Alex

Morning all! I recently got my hands on the Samsung Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra and wanted to share my overall thoughts and review of the tablet so far.
The main reason I decided to purchase the Samsung tablet was because my Amazon Echo device in the kitchen had started becoming unreliable. It would randomly stop playing videos, and I would constantly have to restart it just to get it working again. At the same time, I also wanted to give Android tablets another try. Samsung seems to be one of the few companies still producing a truly premium Android tablet experience. I’ve tried tablets from other manufacturers in the past, but they always seemed to fall short in one way or another. Last fall, I switched to a Google Pixel phone as my company device so I could better support clients and friends who use Android devices. Overall, I really enjoy the Pixel experience, but I do wish Google had included a bit more processing power. Even during basic gaming or video playback, I noticed occasional stuttering and performance slowdowns. Because of that, I personally wouldn’t recommend the Pixel for heavier gaming or media-focused use.
After using the Pixel for about six months, I decided I wanted to expand further into the Android ecosystem and picked up the Samsung Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra. Whenever I buy technology, I typically go for the top-tier version in the lineup. One thing I quickly discovered, however, was that Samsung does not offer a cellular version of the 1TB model. Honestly, that’s probably one of my biggest disappointments with this tablet. I really wish Samsung offered cellular connectivity across all Ultra configurations.
Once I got past that limitation, I started really enjoying the tablet experience. I also purchased the Samsung keyboard and trackpad case, which I’ve been very impressed with overall. The keyboard feels solid, the shortcut keys are useful, and the build quality feels premium with its aluminum design. My only real complaint is that Samsung didn’t include a charging port on the keyboard itself like Apple does with the iPad Pro Magic Keyboard. That extra charging option would have been a nice addition.

When it comes to productivity, this tablet is honestly amazing. I absolutely love Samsung DeX mode. For those unfamiliar, DeX transforms the tablet interface into a desktop-like environment where you can resize windows, overlap applications, and snap them around the screen much like a traditional Windows computer. There is a bit of a learning curve switching back and forth between regular tablet mode and DeX mode, and I do wish Samsung provided a quicker way to completely disable DeX when not in use. Sometimes apps automatically open in DeX mode when I’d prefer the standard tablet layout.
One feature I’ve really enjoyed is the dedicated Gemini shortcut key on the keyboard. No matter what app you’re using, pressing the key instantly opens Gemini in a split-screen view that takes up about 25% of the screen. It makes multitasking and AI assistance incredibly convenient. I’ve been using Gemini and Google AI tools more frequently lately and plan to cover them in an upcoming Sunday Tech Corner session.
Now, if you’re considering this tablet primarily for creative or professional photo editing work, I would honestly recommend looking elsewhere for now. One thing that surprised me is that there’s currently no full Photoshop or Affinity Photo support available on the tablet. That was definitely disappointing. Thankfully, Lightroom is available, so basic photo editing and adjustments are still possible, but the creative software ecosystem on Android still feels behind compared to the iPad.
And for those worried that this means I’m moving away from Apple — don’t worry! I still heavily use my Apple devices and remain deeply invested in the Apple ecosystem. What I’m really doing is expanding my knowledge and experience further into the Android world so I can better understand and support both platforms.
One of the biggest challenges when using multiple ecosystems is finding apps and workflows that work well across Windows, Android, and Apple devices. That can sometimes be difficult. For note-taking, I’ve been using Microsoft OneNote because it works across all platforms very well. I also use Plaud for recording and transcribing notes. As for file sharing and storage, I’m still experimenting with the best solution. Right now, I’m primarily using Google Drive, and I have to say the way Google Drive integrates directly into Samsung’s file system is very clean and easy to use.
I’m continuing to test different apps and workflows across all my devices and will continue providing updates, tips, and feedback both through my YouTube channel and future reviews of the Samsung Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra.

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