The Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra is a symptom of Samsung's innovation problem

If you were hoping that Samsung's upcoming Android tablet would offer a serious performance upgrade, you may be disappointed. The Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra has just emerged on the benchmark platform Geekbench, and its first results suggest the upgrade may not be as dramatic as expected.

Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra may not be a massive leap forward

A slight 7-8% peformance boost? | Image by Geekbench

The Geekbench listing, posted on July 31, 2026, shows us some notable details about the upcoming flagship tablet. It gives us the model name for the device, Samsung SM-X946B, reveals it will run on Android 17 out of the box, and suggests it could ship with 12GB RAM.

More importantly, it confirms the processor upgrade we've been hearing about for some time: the Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra will reportedly pack MediaTek's Dimensity 9500 chip.

According to the listing, the Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra scores 2,424 points in single-core testing and 8,446 points in multi-core testing. While this is an initial listing, it reveals a slight performance boost over the Tab S11 Ultra. The current generation, which packs a MediaTek Dimensity 9400+ SoC, scores 2,233 points in single-core and 7,822 in multi-core testing.

I should point out that initial Geekbench results on devices that haven't been released yet aren't necessarily representative of what the final performance will be. Sometimes, these devices are still running unfinished hardware or software, meaning the final versions could deliver different results.

What would make you consider the Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra?

The rest of the package

Beyond the chipset, Samsung is reportedly sticking to a familiar formula with its Ultra tablet. The device is rumored to feature an identical design and display to its predecessor, and unlike the Galaxy Tab S12+, it might not introduce a larger battery.

In other words, we may get the same 14.6-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display, flat metal frame, and a profile of around 5mm, matching the S11 Ultra almost exactly. To top it off, the device is rumored to retain the 11,600mAh battery and 45W wired charging speeds of its predecessor.

While focusing on refinement rather than a complete overhaul can be frustrating for consumers, tablet shipment data explains the strategy. As the market matures, brands are increasingly concentrating on their high-end offerings instead of chasing short-term shipment spikes.

Will price be the deciding factor?

Let's assume the Tab S12 Ultra's Geekbench listing is an accurate representation of its performance capabilities. If so, that would only translate into a 7-8% improvement over the Tab S11 Ultra, something most of us likely won't even notice in everyday use.

If everything else remains mostly the same, price is likely to become the main factor for buyers. Should Samsung introduce a $100-$200 price hike while giving us only a slightly improved Tab S12 Ultra, it could be quite difficult to justify the upgrade.

At this point, why bother?

Maybe the Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra will be the value champ in 2026. | Image by PhoneArena

Let me clear something up: I'm not claiming that the Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra will be a subpar device. For all intents and purposes, it is shaping up to be a proper flagship Android tablet.

And yet, it just feels far too familiar. In a landscape where brands are increasingly relying on small year-over-year improvements, perhaps Samsung should rethink its approach.

Instead of giving us new tablets with mostly the same hardware each year, why not take a bit more time between releases? That way, users would have a more compelling reason to upgrade than simply the fear of missing out.

And in case you'd like to explore more news about Galaxy tablets:

Samsung's upcoming Ultra tablet is shaping up to be a rinse-and-repeat story
Check out this review of the Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra
You might want to read this article revealing the Tab S12+ might have a bigger battery

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