The tablet market is heating up, and two contenders are vying for your attention: the Huawei MatePad 11 (2023) and the Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra. Both offer premium features, but cater to different needs and budgets. Let's dive into a comprehensive comparison to help you decide which one is right for you.
🏆 Quick Verdict
The Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra takes the crown with its superior display, faster processor, and more versatile camera system. However, the Huawei MatePad 11 (2023) offers excellent value and a smooth experience, especially for those within the Huawei ecosystem. It's a strong contender, but the S8 Ultra is the overall winner.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | N/A | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | N/A | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | N/A | LTE |
| 5G bands | - | SA/NSA |
| EDGE | No | - |
| GPRS | No | - |
| Speed | - | HSPA, LTE, 5G - cellular model only |
| Technology | No cellular connectivity | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2023, March 23 | 2022, February 09 |
| Status | Available. Released 2023, March 31 | Available. Released 2022, April 30 |
| Body |
|---|
| Dimensions | 253.7 x 165.3 x 7.2 mm (9.99 x 6.51 x 0.28 in) | 326.4 x 208.6 x 5.5 mm (12.85 x 8.21 x 0.22 in) |
| SIM | No | Nano-SIM (cellular model only) |
| Weight | 480 g (1.06 lb) | 726 g (Wi-Fi), 728 g (5G) (1.60 lb) |
| | Stylus support (magnetic) | Stylus, 2.8ms latency (Bluetooth integration, accelerometer, gyro) |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | - | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 |
| Resolution | 2560 x 1600 pixels, 16:10 ratio (~275 ppi density) | 1848 x 2960 pixels, 16:10 ratio (~240 ppi density) |
| Size | 11.0 inches, 348.3 cm2 (~83.1% screen-to-body ratio) | 14.6 inches, 612.6 cm2 (~90.0% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD, 120Hz | Super AMOLED, 120Hz, HDR10+ |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (1x3.2 GHz Kryo 585 & 3x2.42 GHz Kryo 585 & 4x1.80 GHz Kryo 585)Octa-core (1x2.84 GHz Cortex-A77 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A77 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55) | Octa-core (1x3.00 GHz Cortex-X2 & 3x2.50 GHz Cortex-A710 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A510) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM8250-AC Snapdragon 870 5G (7 nm)Qualcomm SM8250 Snapdragon 865 5G (7 nm+) | Qualcomm SM8450 Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 (4 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 650 | Adreno 730 |
| OS | HarmonyOS 3.1 | Android 12, up to 4 major Android upgrades, One UI 6.1.1 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (dedicated slot) | microSDXC (dedicated slot) |
| Internal | 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM | 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 16GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 16GB RAM |
| | - | UFS |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Dual | - | 13 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (wide), 1/3.4", 1.0µm, AF
6 MP, f/2.2, (ultrawide) |
| Features | LED flash, HDR, panorama | LED flash, HDR, panorama |
| Single | 13 MP, f/1.8, PDAF | - |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30fps |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Dual | - | 12 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide)
12 MP, f/2.4, 120˚ (ultrawide) |
| Features | - | HDR |
| Single | 8 MP, f/2.0 | - |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30fps |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | No | No |
| 35mm jack | No | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers (4 speakers) | Yes, with stereo speakers (4 speakers) |
| | Tuned by Harman Kardon | Tuned by AKG |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.1, A2DP, LE | 5.2, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | No | No |
| Positioning | No | GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO - cellular model only |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 3.1, OTG | USB Type-C 3.2, magnetic connector |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Accelerometer | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| | - | Wireless Samsung DeX |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 22.5W wired
5W reverse wired | 45W wired, 100% in 82 min |
| Type | Li-Po 7250 mAh | Li-Po 11200 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Black, Blue, White, Purple | Graphite |
| Models | DBR-W10 | SM-X900, SM-X906, SM-X906B, SM-X906U, SM-X906N |
| Price | About 300 EUR | About 1150 EUR |
| SAR EU | - | 0.69 W/kg (body) |
Huawei MatePad 11 (2023)
- Excellent value
- Smooth 120Hz display
- Good performance for the price
- Huawei ecosystem integration
- Less powerful than S8 Ultra
- IPS LCD display not as vibrant
- Slower charging
- Limited app availability (due to Huawei restrictions)
Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra
- Stunning AMOLED display
- Blazing-fast performance
- Versatile camera system
- Long battery life
- S Pen support
- Expensive
- Large size may not be ideal for everyone
- Software bloat (Samsung One UI)
Display Comparison
The Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra boasts a massive 14.6-inch Super AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate, delivering stunning visuals and smooth scrolling. The MatePad 11 (2023) features an 11-inch IPS LCD display with a 120Hz refresh rate, which is still good, but lacks the vibrancy and contrast of the AMOLED panel. The S8 Ultra's larger size also makes it ideal for multitasking.
Camera Comparison
The Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra features a more advanced camera system with a 13MP main camera and a 6MP ultrawide, alongside a 12MP front camera. The MatePad 11 (2023) has a 13MP main camera and a 6MP front camera. The S8 Ultra's camera setup is more versatile and produces higher-quality images and videos.
Performance
The Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 in the Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra provides significantly faster performance than the Snapdragon 870/865 in the MatePad 11 (2023). This translates to smoother gaming, quicker app loading times, and better overall responsiveness. While the MatePad 11 is capable, the S8 Ultra is in a different league.
Battery Life
The Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra has a larger 10,000mAh battery and supports 45W fast charging, offering longer battery life and quicker charging speeds compared to the MatePad 11 (2023)'s 6660mAh battery and 22.5W charging.
Buying Guide
Who should buy the Huawei MatePad 11 (2023)? Users seeking a budget-friendly, well-rounded tablet for media consumption, note-taking, and light productivity, particularly those already invested in the Huawei ecosystem. Who should buy the Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra? Power users, creatives, and anyone demanding a top-tier display, blazing-fast performance, and a versatile camera system for demanding tasks.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Does the Huawei MatePad 11 (2023) support Google Play Store?
Due to US restrictions, the MatePad 11 (2023) does not natively support the Google Play Store. Users typically rely on Huawei's AppGallery or sideloading apps.
❓ Is the S Pen included with the Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra?
Yes, the S Pen is included with the Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra, offering a convenient stylus for note-taking, drawing, and navigation.
