Samsung Galaxy Tab S12 release date, price, specs, and must-know features
Galaxy Tab S12. | Image by Samsung
What's changed vs the Galaxy Tab S11:
- MediaTek Dimensity 9500 on a 3nm process – delivering up to 61% faster NPU, 19% faster CPU, and 17% better GPU than the Tab S11 Ultra
- Tab S12 Plus grows to a 12.6-inch display with slimmer bezels than its predecessor
- Tab S12 Ultra hits 5.1mm – Samsung's thinnest Galaxy Tab ever
- Up to 23 hours of battery life on the Ultra, 21 hours on the Plus
- A newly designed 3D Vapor Chamber for more reliable sustained performance
- Adobe Photoshop pre-installed – a first for any Android tablet
- One UI 9 on Android 17 with the latest Galaxy AI
- Announced September 30, 2026. Available from October 7, 2026 in select markets.
Price:
- Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra starts at $1,399. Galaxy Tab S12 Plus starts at $1,199.
Galaxy Tab S12 release date
Samsung announced the Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra and Galaxy Tab S12 Plus on September 30, 2026. Both models became available starting October 7, 2026 in select markets.
| Device | Announcement | Market release |
|---|---|---|
| Galaxy Tab S12 series | September 30, 2026 | October 7, 2026 |
| Galaxy Tab S11 series | September 4, 2025 | September 4, 2025 |
| Galaxy Tab S10 series | September 26, 2024 | October 3, 2024 |
Both models ship with Android 17 and One UI 9, and are backed by seven years of OS upgrades and security updates. They are available in Gray and Silver.
Galaxy Tab S12 price and deals
The Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra starts at $1,399 in the US, £1,399 in the UK, and €1,569 in Europe for the 12GB RAM / 256GB base configuration. The Tab S12 Plus opens at $1,199 for 12GB / 256GB.
| Device | 128GB | 256GB | 512GB | 1TB |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra | - | $1,399.99 | $1,599.99 | $1,999.99 |
| Galaxy Tab S12 Plus | - | $1,199.99 | $1,399.99 | - |
| Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra | - | $1,299 | $1,499 | $1,899 |
| Galaxy Tab S11 | $899 | $999 | $1,199 | - |
That's a $100 increase over the Tab S11 Ultra's pricing – on top of hikes Samsung had already applied earlier in the year. At these prices, the competition is worth noting.
The 13-inch iPad Pro (M5) starts at $1,499 and regularly sells for less with a considerably faster chip. Microsoft's 13-inch Surface Pro with 16GB RAM and 256GB SSD is frequently available at $1,199.99. Lenovo's Yoga Tab Plus Gen 2 bundles a 13-inch display, Snapdragon 8 Elite, keyboard, and stylus for $999.99.
Galaxy Tab S12 deals:
- Samsung.com: Samsung's storefront typically offers the best launch pricing through pre-order promotions and early registration perks, though tablet deals tend to be less aggressive than on phones
- Carriers: Carrier promotions on Samsung tablets surface less reliably than on phones, but the holiday season is worth watching for activity
- Retailers: Amazon and Best Buy both regularly discount Galaxy Tab devices during the holiday season, and the October launch puts the Tab S12 in prime position for Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals
Galaxy Tab S12 camera
Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra camera setup:
- 13MP rear camera
- 8MP ultra-wide rear camera
- 12MP ultra-wide front camera
Galaxy Tab S12 Plus camera setup:
- 13MP rear camera
- 12MP ultra-wide front camera
These are productivity and video-call tools rather than photography devices, and Samsung's camera positioning for the Tab S12 series reflects that. No sensor upgrades have been announced over the Tab S11 generation.
Galaxy Tab S12 storage
Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra storage options:
- 12GB RAM / 256GB
- 12GB RAM / 512GB
- 16GB RAM / 1TB
- microSD up to 2TB
Galaxy Tab S12 Plus storage options:
- 12GB RAM / 256GB
- 12GB RAM / 512GB
- microSD up to 2TB
Galaxy Tab S12 design
Tab S12 Ultra. | Image by Samsung
The Tab S12 series continues the flat, slim, premium aesthetic that has defined the Galaxy Tab S lineup. The Tab S12 Ultra measures 208.5 x 326.3 x 5.1mm – making it Samsung's thinnest Galaxy Tab to date. The Tab S12 Plus comes in at 187.8 x 289.5 x 5.3mm, with slimmer bezels than its predecessor.
Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra for reference. | Image by PhoneArena
Weight comes in at 692g for the Wi-Fi Ultra and 553g for the Wi-Fi Plus. Both models carry IP68 water and dust resistance, rated for submersion in up to 1.5 meters of fresh water for up to 30 minutes.
Both tablets ship with the S Pen in the box. Bluetooth-enabled Air Actions are not supported on this generation's S Pen. Optional accessories include the Pro Keyboard – which features a dedicated Galaxy AI Key for instant access to AI assistants – and the Book Cover Keyboard Slim. A Book Cover Frame Cover is available exclusively for the Ultra.
Both models are available in Gray and Silver.
Galaxy Tab S12 display
Screen sizes are expected to hold across the lineup: 14.6 inches for the Ultra, 12.4 inches for the Plus, and 11 inches for the base model if it materializes.
| Device | Screen size | Brightness* |
|---|---|---|
| Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra | 14.6-inch | 1,600 nits |
| Galaxy Tab S12 Plus | 12.6-inch | 1,600 nits |
Both tablets feature Dynamic AMOLED 2X displays with 120Hz refresh rates and peak brightness of 1,600 nits, with an outdoor HBM brightness of 1,000 nits. An upgraded Vision Booster adjusts brightness in real time based on ambient lighting conditions.
The Tab S12 Plus gains slimmer bezels compared to its predecessor, offering more usable screen space in the same overall footprint.
Galaxy Tab S12 battery
The Tab S12 Ultra carries an 11,600mAh typical battery – matching the Tab S11 Ultra's capacity – while the Tab S12 Plus steps up to 10,600mAh. Both support 45W wired charging, with a full charge from 0% to 100% taking approximately 95 minutes using a compatible 45W adapter, sold separately.
Tab S12 Ultra. | Image by Samsung
Samsung rates the Ultra at up to 23 hours of use on a single charge and the Plus at up to 21 hours.
The Tab S12 Ultra carries the same battery capacity but runs on a more efficient chip, so real-world endurance should hold steady or improve slightly over those figures.
Galaxy Tab S12 features and software
Both models ship with One UI 9 on Android 17 and are backed by seven years of OS and security updates.
Galaxy AI is central to the Tab S12 experience. Multi Window layout supports up to three simultaneous apps – the large displays make this genuinely practical in ways a phone-sized screen can't match.
Both models come with an ergonomic S Pen. | Image by Samsung
Note Assist in Samsung Notes summarizes handwritten content, and the S Pen integrates directly into the workflow without requiring the lecture or video to be paused.
Samsung Browser has been updated to understand webpage content, context across multiple open tabs, and browsing history – summarizing information across open pages or surfacing a source viewed days earlier.
Adobe Photoshop comes pre-installed on the Galaxy Tab S12 series – a first for any Android tablet. The interface is optimized for the Tab's display and supports S Pen input. AI features include Generative Fill and Image to Video, powered by Adobe Firefly. Each Tab S12 comes with four months of free access to the Photoshop mobile plan.
Additional bundled software includes Notability with a six-month free trial, Goodnotes with one year free, LumaFusion at 66% off, Notion with one month of the Plus plan free, and Clip Studio Paint with a six-month trial and 20% off the first subscription. Samsung puts the total value of included software benefits at approximately $600.
Galaxy Tab S12 hardware and specs
Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra specs:
- CPU: MediaTek Dimensity 9500 (3nm)
- RAM: 12GB or 16GB
- Battery: 11,600mAh typical
- Charging: 45W wired
- Storage: 256GB, 512GB, 1TB + microSD up to 2TB
- Display: 14.6-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 2960x1848, 120Hz
- Cameras: 13MP + 8MP ultra-wide rear, 12MP ultra-wide front
- Connectivity: 5G, Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6.0
- Dimensions: 208.5 x 326.3 x 5.1mm, 692g (Wi-Fi)
Galaxy Tab S12 Plus specs:
- CPU: MediaTek Dimensity 9500 (3nm)
- RAM: 12GB
- Battery: 10,600mAh typical
- Charging: 45W wired
- Storage: 256GB, 512GB + microSD up to 2TB
- Display: 12.6-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 2800x1752, 120Hz
- Cameras: 13MP rear, 12MP ultra-wide front
- Connectivity: 5G, Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6.0
- Dimensions: 187.8 x 289.5 x 5.3mm, 553g (Wi-Fi)
Both tablets run the MediaTek Dimensity 9500 on a 3nm process. Compared to the Dimensity 9400 Plus in the Tab S11 Ultra, Samsung reports up to 61% faster NPU processing, 19% faster CPU performance, and 17% improved GPU output.
A newly designed 3D Vapor Chamber – replacing the flat vapor chamber in the previous generation – manages heat more efficiently during sustained demanding tasks like 4K video editing or extended design work.
Both models include an in-display fingerprint sensor and support Dual SIM via pSIM and eSIM.
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