i'm kinda in the same boat, although i'm not looking for something for my son. instead i'm looking for a light and kinda "cheap" tab for surfing, light android gaming stuff, so more in the lower price range (150-250 bucks).
That aside i fell your pain, it's overly complicated to find a reliable source to compare different brands it seems.
On a sidenote: i'm not a fan of samsung (mobiles), but that's just a very personal preference, not based on specs. I'd lean towards the P11 (Pro), but that's just me.