Digital · Seoul

Samsung unveils Galaxy Tab S12+ and S12 Ultra starting at $1,199 with MediaTek 9500 chips

Samsung announced the Galaxy Tab S12+ and S12 Ultra with MediaTek Dimensity 9500 processors and higher price points, while skipping a base model for 2026.

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In brief

Seoul · South Korea

How it came to this

30 SeptSamsung officially announces the Galaxy Tab S12+ and Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra
7 OctGalaxy Tab S12 series becomes available in retail stores
2027Expected release window for the next base-sized Galaxy Tab model

Flagship tablet lineup and pricing

Samsung debuted the Galaxy Tab S12+ and Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra on September 30, 2026, dropping the base standard model from its annual release cycle. The Galaxy Tab S12+ begins at $1,199.99 for the Wi-Fi version and $1,349.99 for the 5G variant, reflecting a $200 increase compared to earlier generations. The larger Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra starts at $1,399.99, also up $200 from the Tab S11 Ultra. Both devices arrive in silver and gray color finishes and are scheduled to reach retail stores on October 7, 2026. Samsung previously alternated its regular and Plus models, meaning buyers seeking a standard 11-inch form factor will have to wait until 2027.

Galaxy Tab starting prices by model and generation$

Data from the article text

Display hardware and chassis dimensions

The Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra features a 14.6-inch AMOLED panel with a 120Hz variable refresh rate and a peak brightness of 1,600 nits. Built inside an aluminum chassis measuring 5.1mm in thickness and weighing 692 grams, the Ultra retains the dimensions of its predecessor while housing an under-display fingerprint sensor and a small camera cutout for the front-facing sensor. The smaller Galaxy Tab S12+ carries a 12.6-inch display with identical 1,600-nit peak brightness, measuring 5.3mm thick with slightly wider bezels. Both slates carry an IP68 ingress protection rating for dust and water resistance, allowing submersion in up to one meter of water for 30 minutes. Each tablet includes an S Pen stylus in the box that attaches magnetically to the chassis.

Silicon specifications and battery capacity

Under the hood, both tablets run on a 3nm MediaTek Dimensity 9500 processor. The silicon delivers a 19% gain in CPU performance, a 17% increase in GPU rendering, and between a 51% and 61% improvement in neural processing unit speeds relative to the Tab S11 Ultra. Thermal management relies on an updated internal heat chamber, while audio output shifts to a four-channel spatial speaker array. The Tab S12+ includes a 10,600mAh battery, expanding on the 8,400mAh cell found in the previous 11-inch model. The Tab S12 Ultra retains an 11,600mAh battery with 45W wired charging support, providing up to 23 hours of continuous video playback.

Storage configurations and software integration

Memory options for the Galaxy Tab S12+ include 12GB of RAM with 256GB or 512GB of internal storage, paired with Wi-Fi 6E connectivity. The Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra expands memory options to a 16GB RAM and 1TB tier while adding support for Wi-Fi 7. Both tablets provide a microSD card slot accommodating cards up to 2TB, alongside a single USB-C port. Optical configurations on the Tab S12+ include a 13-megapixel rear camera and a 12-megapixel ultrawide front lens, while the Tab S12 Ultra adds an 8-megapixel ultrawide secondary sensor on the back. On the software side, Samsung provides seven years of Android operating system updates, Samsung DeX desktop mode, Quick Share integration with AirDrop, and a six-month Galaxy Store exclusive for the newly launched Android edition of Adobe Photoshop for Tablets.

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