Last week, it was reported that Samsung is shaking up its tablet lineup again this year. The 2024 Galaxy Tab S10 lineup consisted of two devices: a large, 12.4″ Tab S10+ and an even larger Tab S10 Ultra at 14.6″. A 10.9″ Tab S10 FE and a 13.1″ Tab S10 FE+. This year, though, it looks like Samsung may again offer a small, premium option in a more compact Tab S11 model. I think that’s the right move. Here’s why.
Small tablets are more comfortable
Use cases vary, of course, but for me, tablets are supplemental devices. If I’m on a tablet, I’m most likely reading or browsing the internet. I might use a tablet to watch the odd YouTube video at the kitchen table, but they’re rarely video-first devices in my house. I also never try to get work done on my tablets — I’ve got a laptop for that.
If you’re trying to make a Samsung tablet an all-in-one entertainment and productivity machine, you may very well appreciate the 13- or 15-inch displays you can get on its bigger models, and you’ll probably want to pair your tab with a keyboard. But the way I use tablets, that extra real estate is just added bulk.
The compact 10.9″ size of the Tab S9 and Tab S10 FE is great for casual use: it’s meaningfully bigger than a phone screen without feeling like half a laptop in your hands. Assuming the Tab S11 keeps that form factor, it should be an appealing option for anyone who wants a premium second-screen device that’s small enough to easily tuck away when it’s not needed.
A smaller footprint would make the Galaxy Tab S11 great for travel, too. You can stick a 12.4″ or even 14.6″ tablet in a backpack, sure, but they’re not exactly convenient to use on the go. The Tab S10 Ultra will barely fit on an in-flight seat-back table.
On the other hand, a 10.9″ tablet is compact enough to fit in a larger purse or camera bag and use without a surface to rest your arms on — try that with the Ultra.
Samsung could stand to benefit, too
Offering a premium small tablet in 2025 also makes sense for Samsung. Over the past year, between the Tab S10 and S10 FE lineups, Samsung has introduced three large-format tablets in the S10 Ultra, S10+, and S10 FE+. The company’s only introduced a single small tablet in the Tab S10 FE. Anyone after a smaller, premium tablet has to go with the two-year-old Tab S9 — or look at options from competitors like Apple or OnePlus.
Offering a smaller Tab S11 option may also help Samsung move more units. Samsung’s Plus smartphones tend to sell the least; early this year, it was reported that Samsung’s Galaxy S24+ had sold fewer units than either the smaller Galaxy S24 or the bigger, more capable Galaxy S24 Ultra.
It’d make sense if its tablets followed a similar pattern: if you’re prepared to spend good money on a big, premium device — a Tab S10+ or a Galaxy S24+ — you may as well drop a little more to get the fancier version. By offering two Tab S11 models that have less in common, Samsung could capture the interest of a wider audience.
Why stop at 10.9″?
Personally, I wouldn’t mind if Samsung went even smaller with its smallest tablets; I tend to prefer tablets in the sub-9″ space, like the Lenovo Legion Tab Gen 3 or the iPad Mini. Still, the potential return to a premium 10.9″ model has me more excited than I’ve been about Samsung tablets in a long time. Here’s hoping last week’s rumor turns out to be true — Android needs more high-end compact tablet options.
