F-35B versus Super Hornet depends on the carrier mission

Is the F-35B a more capable carrier aircraft than the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet?

It depends on the mission and ship: Super Hornet may suit pure air defense, while F-35B fits a STOVL carrier concept.

The comparison starts with the job the carrier aircraft must perform. The F/A-18E/F Super Hornet receives a tentative preference for a pure air-defence mission. A carrier and operating concept built around short take-off and vertical landing instead make the F-35B the suitable choice. Aircraft procurement therefore depends on the capabilities a navy needs and the ship from which it must operate. This is a mission-based preference, not a claim that either aircraft is universally superior.