Apple iPad Air 11" (M4) vs Samsung Galaxy Tab S11
Apple iPad Air 11" (M4) (#2, best value) vs Samsung Galaxy Tab S11 (#4): in our Performance Tablets scoring the Apple iPad Air 11" (M4) totals 9.2/10 and the Samsung Galaxy Tab S11 8.3/10, the Apple iPad Air 11" (M4) leading on CPU Performance and GPU Performance.
We may earn a commission when you buy through our links.
Black Friday 2026: tablet deals →
Side by side
| Apple iPad Air 11" (M4) | Samsung Galaxy Tab S11 | |
|---|---|---|
| Display | 11" Liquid Retina LCD, 2360×1640, 60Hz | 11" Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 2560×1600, 120Hz |
| Processor | M4 (8-core CPU, 9-core GPU) | MediaTek Dimensity 9400+ |
| RAM | 12GB | 12GB |
| Storage | 128GB | 128GB + microSD |
| Battery | 28.93Wh, up to 10 hours | 8,400mAh, 45W charging |
| Weight | 464g | 469g |
| Thickness | 6.1mm | 5.5mm |
| Brightness | 500 nits | — |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6 | — |
| Biometrics | Touch ID | — |
| Peak Brightness | — | 1,600 nits (HDR) |
| Water Resistance | — | IP68 |
| Stylus | — | S Pen included |
| Price | Check price → | Check price → |
How they differ in real use
Built from our best performance tablets scoring, each product's published specifications, and verified owner feedback — not hands-on testing.
Both the Apple iPad Air 11" (M4) and the Samsung Galaxy Tab S11 made our Top 5 Performance Tablets, at #2 (best value) and #4. Apple's current iPad Air, which replaced the discontinued M3 model in March 2026. Its M4 and 12GB of RAM post about 3,700 single-core and 13,300 multi-core in published Geekbench 6 results, well ahead of the Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra's Dimensity 9400+ (2,741 and 8,861 in GSMArena's testing), at a far lower price than the iPad Pro and sold by Amazon itself. The trade-offs are a 60Hz LCD and 128GB of base storage. The same Dimensity 9400+ and 12GB of RAM as the Tab S11 Ultra in an 11" 469g body, sold by Amazon.com itself; Notebookcheck recorded 2,478 single-core and 7,787 multi-core in Geekbench 6. It ranks below the Ultra because Notebookcheck reported 15-40% performance drops under sustained 3DMark load in the smaller chassis (nextpit also flagged obvious thermal throttling) and the base model has 128GB of UFS 3.1 storage, though microSD expansion up to 2TB softens that. It ranks above the Tab S10+ because its newer chip outpaces the S10+'s Dimensity 9300+, which makes it the better performance-per-dollar buy.
We score performance tablets on CPU Performance (30%), GPU Performance (30%), RAM & Storage (20%), Sustained Performance (10%) and Value (10%). On that basis the Apple iPad Air 11" (M4) totals 9.2 out of 10 and the Samsung Galaxy Tab S11 8.3. The widest gap is CPU Performance, where the Apple iPad Air 11" (M4) scores 9.5 against 8.5 for the Samsung Galaxy Tab S11: benchmarks. GPU Performance also separates them: 9.5 for the Apple iPad Air 11" (M4) versus 8.5 for the Samsung Galaxy Tab S11.
On paper, the specifications that actually differ: Display: 11" Liquid Retina LCD, 2360×1640, 60Hz on the Apple iPad Air 11" (M4) versus 11" Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 2560×1600, 120Hz on the Samsung Galaxy Tab S11; Processor: M4 (8-core CPU, 9-core GPU) on the Apple iPad Air 11" (M4) versus MediaTek Dimensity 9400+ on the Samsung Galaxy Tab S11; Storage: 128GB on the Apple iPad Air 11" (M4) versus 128GB + microSD on the Samsung Galaxy Tab S11; Battery: 28.93Wh, up to 10 hours on the Apple iPad Air 11" (M4) versus 8,400mAh, 45W charging on the Samsung Galaxy Tab S11; Weight: 464g on the Apple iPad Air 11" (M4) versus 469g on the Samsung Galaxy Tab S11; Thickness: 6.1mm on the Apple iPad Air 11" (M4) versus 5.5mm on the Samsung Galaxy Tab S11. They match on RAM.
Check current pricing at the merchant links below. Owners praise the Apple iPad Air 11" (M4) for M4 chip (8-core CPU, 9-core GPU) posts about 3,700 single-core and 13,300 multi-core in published Geekbench 6 results and 12GB of unified memory, 50% more than the M3 iPad Air's 8GB; the most common complaint is 60Hz Liquid Retina LCD, with no ProMotion or OLED. Owners praise the Samsung Galaxy Tab S11 for 11" Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 2560×1600, 120Hz, with a 1,600-nit peak rating (about 1,575 nits measured by Notebookcheck) and same Dimensity 9400+ chip and 12GB RAM as the Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra; the most common complaint is no anti-reflective coating, unlike the S11 Ultra (per Expert Reviews).
Apple iPad Air 11" (M4)
- M4 chip (8-core CPU, 9-core GPU) posts about 3,700 single-core and 13,300 multi-core in published Geekbench 6 results
- 12GB of unified memory, 50% more than the M3 iPad Air's 8GB
- Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6 via Apple's N1 chip
- Apple Pencil Pro and Magic Keyboard support
- 60Hz Liquid Retina LCD, with no ProMotion or OLED
- 128GB base storage and no storage expansion
- Trails the iPad Pro in multi-core performance
Samsung Galaxy Tab S11
- 11" Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 2560×1600, 120Hz, with a 1,600-nit peak rating (about 1,575 nits measured by Notebookcheck)
- Same Dimensity 9400+ chip and 12GB RAM as the Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra
- 469g and 5.5mm, with IP68 dust and water resistance
- S Pen included, plus microSD expansion up to 2TB
- No anti-reflective coating, unlike the S11 Ultra (per Expert Reviews)
- Noticeable thermal throttling under sustained load, per nextpit and Notebookcheck
- No haptic vibration motor, and the 128GB base storage fills quickly without a microSD card
Which should you buy?
The Apple iPad Air 11" (M4) is the better fit for most iPad buyers who want Pro-class speed and students and creatives using Apple Pencil Pro; it is the higher-scoring pick here, chiefly for CPU Performance and GPU Performance. The Samsung Galaxy Tab S11 is the better fit for compact AMOLED tablet buyers and s Pen note-taking. The Apple iPad Air 11" (M4) is a poor fit for 120Hz or OLED display needs; the Samsung Galaxy Tab S11 is a poor fit for use in direct glare.
Choose the Apple iPad Air 11" (M4) if
- Most iPad buyers who want Pro-class speed
- Students and creatives using Apple Pencil Pro
- Magic Keyboard productivity
Skip it if
- 120Hz or OLED display needs
- Large local storage without paying for upgrades
Choose the Samsung Galaxy Tab S11 if
- Compact AMOLED tablet buyers
- S Pen note-taking
- Media streaming
Skip it if
- Use in direct glare
- Long gaming sessions
Common questions
Is the Apple iPad Air 11" (M4) better than the Samsung Galaxy Tab S11?
In our Performance Tablets ranking the Apple iPad Air 11" (M4) scores higher overall, 9.2 to 8.3, with the biggest advantage in CPU Performance. The Samsung Galaxy Tab S11 does not out-score it on any criterion we weigh.
What is the main difference between the Apple iPad Air 11" (M4) and the Samsung Galaxy Tab S11?
The headline spec difference is Display: 11" Liquid Retina LCD, 2360×1640, 60Hz on the Apple iPad Air 11" (M4) versus 11" Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 2560×1600, 120Hz on the Samsung Galaxy Tab S11. In use, the gap that matters most is CPU Performance (9.5 vs 8.5 in our scoring): benchmarks.