Quick answer: The Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra is the best Android tablet you can buy right now, and it costs like it. Samsung prices the base model (12GB RAM, 256GB storage) at $1,399.99 in the US, a $200 jump over the Tab S11 Ultra’s launch price. Buy it if you draw, edit photos, take handwritten notes or want a 14.6-inch OLED screen you can carry in a backpack. Skip it if you own a Tab S11 Ultra, need a full laptop for under $1,400, or live inside Apple’s ecosystem.
Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra at a glance
| Specification | Details |
| Model | Samsung Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra |
| Price | From $1,399.99 (US) / €1,569 / £1,399 |
| Release Date | Announced: September 30, 2026 On Sale: October 7, 2026 |
| Display | 14.6-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X (2960 x 1848, 120Hz, 1,600 nits peak brightness) |
| Processor | MediaTek Dimensity 9500 (3nm) |
| Memory & Storage | RAM: 12GB or 16GB Storage: 256GB, 512GB, or 1TB |
| Battery & Charging | 11,600mAh battery, 45W wired fast charging |
| Build & Protection | 5.1mm thin, ~692g, aluminum frame, IP68 dust/water resistance (tablet & S Pen) |
| Cameras | Rear: 13MP wide + 8MP ultrawide Front: 12MP ultrawide |
| Software | Android 17 with One UI 9 (7 major OS updates guaranteed) |
| In the Box | S Pen included (Keyboard cover sold separately) |
| Standout Feature | 14.6-inch OLED display combined with Samsung DeX desktop experience |
How we put this review together: Techzeeno has not had a retail Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra on our desk yet, since the tablet goes on sale October 7. This review pulls together Samsung’s official specifications, published benchmark and battery results from early reviewers (Engadget tested a unit for its September 30 review), and a spec-by-spec comparison against the Tab S11 Ultra and iPad Pro. We’ll update this page with our own observations once we’ve used one.
What’s new on the Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra
If you skim the spec sheet, the S12 Ultra looks close to last year’s model. The screen size, battery capacity, charging speed and thickness carry over. The changes sit inside and around the hardware:
- New chip: The MediaTek Dimensity 9500 replaces the Dimensity 9400+. Samsung claims up to 19% faster CPU, 17% faster GPU and 61% faster NPU performance than the Tab S11 Ultra.
- New cooling: A redesigned 3D vapor chamber, which matters for long gaming or export sessions where tablets tend to throttle.
- Four-channel spatial audio: Samsung doubled the audio channel count over the previous generation.
- Photoshop preloaded: Adobe’s tablet version of Photoshop ships on the device, and Samsung says the app stays exclusive to the Galaxy Store for at least six months.
- One UI 9 on Android 17: Three-app Multi Window, Note Assist summaries and a Samsung Browser that can summarize content across open tabs.
That list tells you who should care about the upgrade. A Tab S11 Ultra owner gains a faster chip and better speakers. Someone on a Tab S9 Ultra or older gets a far bigger jump.
What stands out
The 14.6-inch display
The screen is the reason most people will look at this tablet. You get a 14.6-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X panel at 2960 x 1848 pixels, a 120Hz adaptive refresh rate and a claimed 1,600-nit peak. Engadget’s reviewer singled the display out as the best part of the device, and the spec sheet backs that up: OLED gives you true blacks for movies and accurate contrast for photo work.
Size cuts both ways, though. A 14.6-inch tablet has roughly the screen footprint of a 14-inch laptop. Two apps side by side each get enough room to work, which you can’t say about an 11-inch tablet. Holding it one-handed on a train is another story. At about 692g it weighs less than most 13-inch laptops, but the long 326mm edge makes portrait reading awkward. Think of it as a desk-and-sofa device more than a commute device.
Samsung kept the bezels slim, which means the selfie camera sits in a small notch along the long edge. Engadget noted this bump too. You stop seeing it after a day or two on previous Ultra models, and nothing suggests this one differs.
Performance from the Dimensity 9500
The Dimensity 9500 is a 3nm octa-core chip with one 4.21GHz prime core, three performance cores and four efficiency cores. In Engadget’s Geekbench 7 testing, the S12 Ultra posted a multi-core score of 9,403. For context, a Dell XPS 13 with an Intel Core 5 320 scored 7,879 in the same test.
That number tells you the tablet has headroom for anything the Play Store throws at it: high-refresh games, 4K video exports in LumaFusion, layered Photoshop files. The limit sits in the software. Android apps tend to be lighter versions of their desktop counterparts, so the chip often waits on the app rather than the other way round. Engadget reported no lag or stutter when switching apps or gaming.
The base model ships with 12GB of RAM. If you plan to run three apps in Multi Window plus a browser with a dozen tabs, the 16GB configuration gives Android more room before it starts closing background apps. Engadget’s reviewer made the same wish for 16GB on the base unit.
Battery life that outlasts most laptops
The battery capacity stays at 11,600mAh, the same as the S11 Ultra, and Samsung quotes up to 23 hours of video playback. Engadget’s local video rundown test recorded 19 hours and 39 minutes. In a mixed day of streaming, gaming, benchmarks and photo editing, their unit still had over 40% left.
For you, that translates to charging every other day under normal use, even if the tablet is your main screen. Charging tops out at 45W, which is slower than some phones but fine for a device you’ll rarely drain in one sitting. Check whether your market’s box includes a charger before you order.
The S Pen comes in the box
Apple charges extra for its Pencil. Samsung includes the S Pen with the S12 Ultra, and that alone changes the value math for students and illustrators. The pen uses a hexagonal, pencil-like shape, attaches magnetically to the tablet’s edge and runs on EMR, so it never needs charging. Both the pen and the tablet carry an IP68 rating for dust and water.
One catch: this S Pen does not support Bluetooth. That rules out remote camera shutter and Air Actions gestures, features some long-time Galaxy users rely on. For drawing and handwriting, you won’t miss them.
DeX and three-app Multi Window
Samsung DeX switches the Android home screen to a desktop-style layout with a taskbar and resizable windows. On a 14.6-inch screen with a keyboard attached, DeX gets you closer to a laptop workflow than any other Android tablet. One UI 9 adds three-app Multi Window outside DeX, so you can keep a PDF, a notes app and a browser on screen at once.
A practical setup for students: lecture slides on the left, Samsung Notes in the middle, and a browser on the right for quick lookups. The screen has the width to make that usable.
Galaxy AI and the creative app bundle
Galaxy AI on the S12 Ultra leans toward note-takers and creators. Note Assist organizes and summarizes handwritten and typed notes. Creative Studio lets you generate and refine images with S Pen sketches plus text prompts. Samsung Browser can summarize across open tabs. You can call Galaxy AI with a long press of the side button, a wake word, or the Galaxy AI Key on Samsung’s keyboard covers.
Samsung also bundles partner trials it values at $445, including six months of Google AI Pro, four months of the Photoshop premium mobile plan, and offers from Notability, Goodnotes and LumaFusion. Treat these as trials. Most expire within a year, and you’ll pay for whatever you keep using.
Seven years of updates
Samsung promises seven major Android version updates plus security patches. If you buy the S12 Ultra in October 2026, you can expect software support into the early 2030s. That stretches the $1,399 cost over a longer life than most Android tablets get, and it protects resale value.
Where it falls short
The price went up, and the keyboard costs extra
The Tab S11 Ultra launched at $1,199.99. The S12 Ultra starts at $1,399.99 for the same 12GB/256GB configuration. You don’t get a bigger screen, a larger battery or faster charging for that extra $200. You get a newer chip, better speakers and Photoshop.
Add Samsung’s Book Cover Keyboard Slim or the Pro Keyboard (which adds a touchpad and kickstand), and your total moves well past $1,500. At that price, you’re competing with capable Windows laptops and Apple’s MacBook line, both of which run full desktop software.
One USB-C port
The S12 Ultra has a single USB-C port (USB 3.2 Gen 1). If you want to charge while connected to an external monitor or a card reader, you’ll need a USB-C hub. Engadget flagged this as a weakness for a device marketed as a laptop replacement, and we agree. A tablet this size has room for a second port.
Android’s app gap on big tablets
The hardware outpaces the software. Some popular Android apps still display as stretched phone layouts on a 14.6-inch screen. Pro tools like Photoshop for tablet and LumaFusion work well, but you won’t find full desktop versions of Premiere Pro, Final Cut Pro or Microsoft Office’s advanced features. If your job runs on desktop software, a tablet won’t replace your laptop, no matter how fast the chip is.
An incremental upgrade for S11 Ultra owners
Same screen, same battery, same charging, same thickness. If you bought a Tab S11 Ultra last year, the gains don’t justify a $1,399 purchase. Wait for the S13 Ultra or a deep discount.
Cameras are fine, not a reason to buy
The 13MP wide and 8MP ultrawide rear cameras handle document scans and quick shots. The 12MP ultrawide front camera works for video calls, and it sits on the long edge where it belongs for landscape meetings. Nobody should buy a $1,400 tablet for photography.
Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra vs Tab S11 Ultra
| Feature / Specification | Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra | Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra |
| US Launch Price (12GB/256GB) | $1,399.99 | $1,199.99 |
| Processor (Chipset) | MediaTek Dimensity 9500 (3nm) | MediaTek Dimensity 9400+ |
| Display | 14.6-inch AMOLED, 120Hz, 1,600 nits | 14.6-inch AMOLED, 120Hz, 1,600 nits |
| Battery & Fast Charging | 11,600mAh, 45W wired | 11,600mAh, 45W wired |
| Thickness | 5.1mm | 5.1mm |
| Speaker System | Four speakers, four-channel spatial audio | Four speakers, two-channel |
| Software (Out of the Box) | Android 17, One UI 9 | Android 16, One UI 8 |
| Preloaded Software | Photoshop preloaded | No |
The call: If you’re shopping new, the S12 Ultra is the better long-term buy because its update clock starts a year later. If you can find the S11 Ultra discounted by $300 or more, it gives you about 90% of the experience for far less. Tab S11 Ultra owners should keep what they have.
Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra vs iPad Pro (13-inch, M5)
| Specification / Feature | Samsung Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra | Apple iPad Pro 13-inch (M5) |
| Starting Price (Wi-Fi, 256GB) | $1,399.99 | $1,299 / $1,499 (depending on configuration) |
| Stylus / Pen | S Pen (Included in box) | Apple Pencil Pro (Sold separately) |
| Display | 14.6-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X (2960 x 1848) | 13-inch Tandem OLED (2752 x 2064) |
| Thickness | 5.1 mm | 5.1 mm |
| Base RAM | 12GB | 12GB |
| Storage Expansion | MicroSD card slot supported (Up to 2TB) | None |
| Desktop / Multitasking Mode | Samsung DeX | iPadOS Windowing (Stage Manager) |
| Dust & Water Resistance | IP68 rating (Tablet & S Pen) | No official IP rating |
| Software Updates | 7 major OS version upgrades | Not specified (Typically 5–7+ years of support) |
Better for drawing and note-taking on a budget: The Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra. Once you add the Apple Pencil Pro to the iPad, the price gap closes, and Samsung gives you a bigger canvas plus IP68 protection.
Better for pro creative apps: The iPad Pro. Procreate, Final Cut Pro, Logic Pro and the wider iPad app library still lead Android on big-screen optimization.
Better for watching video: The Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra. Its 16:10 screen suits widescreen content with smaller black bars than the iPad’s 4:3 shape, and the four-channel speakers help.
Better if you own an iPhone and a Mac: The iPad Pro. AirDrop, Handoff and Universal Control make it fit your existing setup. The same logic flips if you own a Galaxy phone, where Quick Share and the Samsung Notes sync favor the Tab.
Which configuration should you buy?
Storage starts at 256GB, with 512GB and 1TB options, plus 12GB or 16GB of RAM depending on configuration. Spec listings also show microSD support, which lets you offload video and media files to a card.
For most buyers, the 256GB base model plus a microSD card covers notes, streaming downloads and casual editing. If you edit 4K video or work with large layered Photoshop files, step up to a configuration with 16GB of RAM. The extra memory helps more than the extra storage, because you can expand storage but never RAM. Choose the 5G model only if you work away from Wi-Fi often; your phone’s hotspot covers occasional use.
Who should buy the Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra?
Buy it if you are:
- A digital artist or illustrator who wants the biggest Android canvas with a stylus included
- A student who takes handwritten notes and wants lecture slides and notes side by side
- A Galaxy phone owner who wants Quick Share and shared Samsung Notes
- Someone who watches a lot of video and wants an OLED screen that outlasts a long-haul flight
Skip it if you are:
- A Tab S11 Ultra owner (the upgrade is too small)
- Someone who needs desktop apps for work; a $1,000 laptop serves you better
- A buyer who wants a one-handed reading tablet; the Tab S12+ at 12.6 inches or a smaller tablet suits you
- Already invested in iPhone and Mac
Final verdict
The Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra refines a formula that already worked. Its 14.6-inch OLED display, included S Pen, all-day-plus battery and DeX mode make it the most capable Android tablet on sale in 2026. The $200 price increase stings, and the single USB-C port and extra-cost keyboard keep it short of a true laptop replacement. If you want the best Android tablet and the screen size fits your work, buy it. If you’re coming from last year’s Ultra, wait.
FAQ
Q. When is the Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra release date?
A. Samsung announced the Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra on September 30, 2026. It goes on sale October 7, 2026, in the US and other major markets, in Gray and Silver.
Q. How much does the Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra cost?
A. The Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra price starts at $1,399.99 in the US for 12GB RAM and 256GB storage. Europe pricing starts at €1,569 and UK pricing at £1,399. Higher storage, 16GB RAM and 5G models cost more.
Q. Is the Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra waterproof?
A. The tablet and S Pen carry an IP68 rating for dust and water resistance. That covers spills and rain, but Samsung’s warranty terms on water damage vary by region, so don’t take it swimming.
Q. Can the Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra replace a laptop?
A. For browsing, email, documents, note-taking and media, yes, once you add a keyboard and use DeX. For desktop-class software, full Microsoft Office features, or coding environments, a laptop still does the job better.
Q. How long will Samsung update the Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra?
A. Samsung promises seven major Android OS updates plus security patches, which should keep the tablet supported into the early 2030s.
Q. Should I buy the Tab S12 Ultra or the Tab S12+?
A. Both share the Dimensity 9500, IP68 rating, S Pen and spatial audio. The $200 extra for the Ultra buys a 14.6-inch screen (versus 12.6-inch), a larger 11,600mAh battery (versus 10,600mAh), Wi-Fi 7, a second rear camera and higher storage options. Choose the Plus if portability matters more than screen size.
