Samsung Galaxy Tab S12 release date expectations, price estimates and upgrades
The Galaxy Tab S11 for illustrative purposes. | Image by PhoneArena
What's expected to change vs the Galaxy Tab S11:
- Two confirmed models: a Tab S12 Plus and a Tab S12 Ultra – a base model is also possible
- Battery upgrade of roughly 5% on the Tab S12 Plus
- Tab S12 Ultra battery expected to stay at 11,600mAh typical
- Same flat, slim, premium design as the previous generation
- No camera hardware upgrades anticipated
- S Pen continuing to ship in the box
- New Galaxy AI features possible
- Late summer 2026 – most likely September or October.
Expected price:
- No pricing has leaked yet, but a hike is possible given recent upward adjustments to the Tab S11 lineup.
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Galaxy Tab S12 release date
Late summer or early fall 2026 – most likely September or October – is the current consensus for the Galaxy Tab S12 series. The lineup will likely consist of a Tab S12 Plus and a Tab S12 Ultra, with a base model also remaining a possibility.
| Device | Announcement | Market release |
|---|---|---|
| Galaxy Tab S12 series | September–October 2026* | September–October 2026* |
| Galaxy Tab S11 series | September 4, 2025 | September 4, 2025 |
| Galaxy Tab S10 series | September 26, 2024 | October 3, 2024 |
* - probable dates
The Tab S12 Plus has already cleared BIS certification, filed on July 6, 2026, under model numbers SM-X840 and SM-X846B – a reliable indicator that the launch is approaching. Samsung typically releases its flagship tablets around the same time as the Galaxy Tab S FE, so the Tab S12 may land alongside the Galaxy S26 FE.
Galaxy Tab S12 price and deals
No pricing has surfaced for the Galaxy Tab S12 yet. The most useful baseline is Samsung's recent quiet price adjustment on the Tab S11 and Tab S11 Ultra – a $100–$280 increase depending on storage tier – which now sets the floor for what the Tab S12 is likely to open at.
| Device | 128GB | 256GB | 512GB | 1TB |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra | - | $1,299* | $1,499* | $1,899* |
| Galaxy Tab S12 | $899* | $999* | $1,199* | - |
| Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra | - | $1,299 | $1,499 | $1,899 |
| Galaxy Tab S11 | $899 | $999 | $1,199 | - |
*- anticipated prices
Galaxy Tab S12 deals to expect:
- Samsung.com: Samsung regularly runs discounts on its tablets through its own store, though promotions tend to be less frequent and less aggressive than on its phones. Registering early or pre-ordering typically unlocks the best available pricing at launch.
- Carriers: Carrier deals on Samsung tablets do happen, though less consistently than on phones. Expect some activity around Black Friday and Cyber Monday 2026.
- Retailers: Amazon and Best Buy typically carry and discount Galaxy Tab devices during the holiday season – the Tab S12's fall launch puts it in a strong position for year-end sales events.
Galaxy Tab S12 camera
Galaxy Tab S12/S12 Ultra expected camera setup:
- 13 MP main camera
- 8MP ultrawide (only Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra)
- 12 MP ultrawide camera
No camera hardware upgrades are expected for the Tab S12 series. Samsung has kept tablet camera sensors consistent across multiple generations – these are productivity and video-call cameras rather than photography tools, and that positioning isn't changing with this generation.
Any image quality improvements will most likely come from the new chipset's image signal processor and software-level tuning rather than upgraded sensors.
Galaxy Tab S12 storage
Galaxy Tab S12 expected storage capacity:
- 256 GB
- 512 GB
- 1TB (only Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra)
- 2TB ?
Samsung is broadly expected to drop the 128GB base tier, with all models starting at 256GB – though no leak has confirmed this specifically. The same shift has already taken place across Samsung's phone lineup and Apple's recent devices, making it a reasonable assumption for the Tab S12 as well.
Galaxy Tab S12 design
No design overhaul is expected for the Galaxy Tab S12, though the Tab S family is already in a strong position with its flat, slim, premium aesthetic.
Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra for reference. | Image by PhoneArena
Live images of the Tab S12 Plus have already surfaced, offering an early real-world look at the device. They confirm what leaks had suggested: rounded corners, unchanged bezel proportions, and a large familiar display. The Tab S12 Plus is nearly indistinguishable from the Tab S11 Plus at a glance.
The leaked Galaxy Tab S12 Plus. | Image by SammyGuru
One detail worth noting from those images: the Tab S12 Plus appears to feature a single front-facing camera positioned on the landscape bezel edge rather than the punch-hole design that earlier reports had suggested. That punch-hole front camera may still appear on the Tab S12 Ultra.
Armor Aluminum construction and tempered glass are expected to carry over, along with flat edges and a 16:10 aspect ratio on both models.
The Ultra is expected to retain the same overall dimensions as its predecessor. Both tablets are expected to be extremely slim – approximately 5.6mm for the Plus and 5.5mm for the Ultra. Color options will likely remain understated, consistent with last year's Gray and Silver finishes.
The S Pen is expected to continue shipping in the box. No stylus hardware upgrades are currently rumored, and Bluetooth-enabled Air Actions are not expected to return.
Galaxy Tab S12 display
Display sizes are expected to hold steady 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 | 12.4-inch* | 1,600 nits* |
| Galaxy Tab S12 | 11-inch* | 1,600 nits* |
* - anticipated sizes and values
Dynamic AMOLED panels with 120Hz refresh rates and strong color reproduction are expected across the lineup. Peak brightness is anticipated to hold at 1,600 nits, matching the Tab S11 series.
Galaxy Tab S12 battery
The Tab S12 Plus battery has been pinned in recent leaks: 10,600mAh – a roughly 5% increase over the Tab S10 Plus's 10,090mAh cell.
The Tab S12 Ultra, on the other hand, is not expected to see a battery bump. Its cell reportedly carries a rated capacity of 11,374 mAh – "rated" meaning the minimum guaranteed baseline – marketed as 11,600mAh typical, the real-world average you'd see in everyday use. This matches the Tab S11 Ultra.
Wired charging is expected to stay at 45W for the Ultra.
For reference, the Tab S11 Ultra delivered strong endurance in PhoneArena's review: 10 hours and 16 minutes of continuous web browsing, 8 hours and 37 minutes of video streaming – roughly 15 minutes ahead of the 13-inch M4 iPad Pro – and 11 hours of gaming, well clear of the iPad Pro's 8 hours and 34 minutes on the same test.
Galaxy Tab S12 features and software
The Tab S12 Plus and Ultra are expected to launch with One UI 9 based on Android 17. If One UI 9 isn't ready in time for the launch window, the tablets may debut on One UI 8.5 based on Android 16 instead.
Android 17 brings deeper Gemini Intelligence integration – the assistant can now handle multi-step tasks across different apps on your behalf, rather than responding only to individual queries. Seven years of software support is expected, consistent with Samsung's current policy across its flagship tablet lineup.
Galaxy Tab S12 hardware and specs
Galaxy Tab S12 expected specs:
- CPU: Dimensity 9500 or Dimensity 9500 Plus
- RAM: 12GB
- Battery: ~7,900mAh (base) / ~10,500–10,600mAh (Plus) / 11,600mAh typical (Ultra)
- Charging: 45 W wired
- Storage: 256 GB / 512 GB / 1 TB
Both tablets are expected to run on the Dimensity 9500, which debuted in September 2025. A more capable Dimensity 9500 Plus variant is also possible, though which configuration Samsung will ultimately select hasn't been confirmed.
The Dimensity 9500 is built on TSMC's 3nm process with a 1+3+4 core configuration: one C1-Ultra core at 4.21GHz for peak single-thread workloads, three C1-Premium cores at 3.5GHz for demanding tasks, and four C1-Pro efficiency cores at 2.7GHz for everyday use. A Mali-G1 Ultra MC12 GPU handles graphics, with support for HDR and high-refresh-rate gaming.
Should I wait for the Galaxy Tab S12?
- You should wait for the Galaxy Tab S12 if you're on a Galaxy Tab S7 or older. The BIS certification and live images both indicate the launch is close — most likely September or October 2026 – so the wait is short. A modern chipset, seven years of software support, and a genuine battery upgrade on the Plus model make this a worthwhile generational step for anyone on aging hardware.
- You should not wait for the Galaxy Tab S12 if you already own a Galaxy Tab S9, S10, or S11. The live images confirm what leaks had already pointed to: the design isn't changing, and day-to-day use will feel very familiar. If you're on a recent Tab, holding out for a more substantial redesign cycle – or picking up a discounted Tab S11 now – is likely the smarter call.
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