Samsung S25 FE and Tab S11 Focus on Slimmer Build and AI

Samsung’s practical IFA refresh: thinner hardware, wider AI

At IFA Samsung unveiled the Galaxy S25 FE and the Tab S11 family — clear, pragmatic updates rather than headline-grabbing experiments. Both phones and tablets shave weight and thickness, bring modest performance bumps, and importantly ship with One UI 8 and a slate of AI features like multimodal Gemini, the Now Bar, and Now Brief.

What’s new with the S25 FE

The S25 FE is a conservative but effective refresh: it’s thinner at 7.4mm and weighs 190g, matching the S25 Plus in feel. Cameras are largely carried over, selfie resolution increases to 12MP, battery edges up to 4,900mAh with 45W wired charging, and the Exynos 2400 variant sees only a small clock-speed bump.

Notable software and platform details: One UI 8 (Android 16) arrives out of the box, and Samsung promises seven years of Android and security updates. AI features previously reserved for flagship S25 models — including Gemini multimodal support and the Now Bar — are available on the FE, bringing on-device AI experiences to a broader audience.

Tablets that trim weight but keep the status quo

Samsung dropped the Plus size and now offers an 11-inch Tab S11 and a 14.6-inch S11 Ultra. Each model is about 30g lighter than its predecessor; the Ultra is notably thin at 5.1mm. The S Pen gets a redesign with a hexagonal grip and cone tip and now attaches and charges at the tablet’s side rather than the back.

Hardware changes are modest: MediaTek Dimensity 9400 Plus processors, small battery changes (Ultra ups to 11,600mAh), same storage and charging options. Tablets also ship with One UI 8 and the same AI toolset, plus DeX improvements like external display extension and four custom workspaces.

Why these updates matter beyond specs

These are not flashy upgrades, but they signal a shift: Samsung is pushing flagship AI features down into more affordable and widely sold devices. That matters to developers, enterprises, and accessory makers who now must plan for broader distribution of multimodal AI capabilities and longer OS support windows.

Practical implications include:

• Developers should test apps against Gemini multimodal inputs and the Now Bar UX across mid-range hardware.
• Enterprise planners can leverage the seven-year update promise to extend device lifecycles in managed fleets.
• Accessory and case makers need to account for Qi2-ready magnetic charging and new S Pen side mounting.

Pricing and availability are straightforward: the S25 FE starts at $649.99, Tab S11 at $799.99, and the S11 Ultra at $1,199.99. For many buyers these models will hit the sweet spot — flagship feel without flagship price — while seeding AI features more broadly across Samsung’s installed base.

How organizations should react

This update nudges AI into everyday devices rather than experimental flagships. Product teams should prioritize compatibility testing for multimodal AI, UX teams should rethink notification and assistant interactions like the Now Bar, and procurement teams can factor in extended OS support to lower total cost of ownership.

QuarkyByte’s approach is to quantify impact: we map which AI features affect your apps, simulate user journeys on mid-range devices, and produce prioritized roadmaps so engineering time and budgets are spent where they move the needle.