Samsung has introduced the Galaxy Tab S12+ and Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra, two premium Android tablets arriving in the United States on October 7. The Plus model gets the more substantial redesign, with a larger 12.6-inch OLED display, a bigger battery and a thinner body, while the Ultra remains the oversized 14.6-inch option.
US pricing starts at $1,199.99 for the Galaxy Tab S12+ and $1,399.99 for the Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra. Both include an S Pen, run Android 17 with One UI 9 and are promised seven generations of operating-system upgrades plus seven years of security updates.
The Galaxy Tab S12+ gets the bigger upgrade
The previous Plus model dated back to the Galaxy Tab S10 generation, so Samsung has changed more than the name. The Tab S12+ moves to a 12.6-inch 2800 x 1752 Dynamic AMOLED 2X display with a 120Hz refresh rate. Samsung rates peak brightness at up to 1,600 nits, with 1,000 nits in High Brightness Mode.
Despite the larger screen, the tablet is 5.3mm thick and weighs 553 grams for Wi-Fi or 555 grams for the 5G version. Its 10,600mAh battery is rated for up to 21 hours of video playback under Samsung’s test conditions. Charging tops out at 45W, but the required 45W adapter is sold separately.
The Tab S12+ has 12GB of RAM with either 256GB or 512GB of storage. A microSD card can add up to 2TB, an increasingly uncommon option on high-end mobile devices. Connectivity includes Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 6.0 and, on the cellular version, 5G with physical SIM and eSIM support.
The Ultra stays enormous—and gets faster
The Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra keeps a 14.6-inch 2960 x 1848 OLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate. At 5.1mm thick, Samsung calls it the company’s thinnest Galaxy Tab. The Wi-Fi model weighs 692 grams, so it remains closer to a laptop-sized slate than a casual handheld tablet.
Its 11,600mAh battery is rated for up to 23 hours of video playback. Storage choices run from 256GB to 1TB, paired with either 12GB or 16GB of RAM, and microSD expansion supports cards up to 2TB. The Ultra also adds Wi-Fi 7 and a second 8-megapixel ultra-wide rear camera.
Both tablets use MediaTek’s 3nm Dimensity 9500 processor and a redesigned 3D vapor chamber. Samsung claims the Ultra delivers up to 61 percent faster NPU performance, 19 percent faster CPU performance and 17 percent better GPU performance than the Tab S11 Ultra. Those are manufacturer comparisons, not independent benchmark results, and actual performance will depend on apps, settings and thermal conditions.
Photoshop makes its Android-tablet debut
The most interesting software addition may be Adobe Photoshop for Tablet. Samsung says the tablet-optimized Android version comes preloaded and supports the S Pen, along with Firefly features such as Generative Fill and Image to Video. It will be exclusive to the Galaxy Store for at least six months beginning October 7.
Galaxy Tab S12 buyers receive four months of the Photoshop mobile premium plan, including 100 monthly generative credits. After the promotional period, continued premium access requires a paid subscription. Adobe’s AI Assistant is also labeled as a beta, so buyers should expect features and availability to evolve.
Samsung is bundling several other app trials and discounts, including six months of Notability, one year of Goodnotes, and offers for LumaFusion, Notion, Clip Studio Paint, MyScript, Noteshelf and ArcSite. The advertised value depends on actually wanting those services, and many become paid products when their promotional periods end.
Android 17, multitasking and AI tools
One UI 9 can divide the large screen into as many as three Multi Window sections. Samsung’s example combines a lecture, Samsung Notes and an AI assistant, although not every Android app supports Multi Window equally well.
A six-month Google AI Pro trial is included. Samsung highlights Gemini Notebook for combining notes, images, recordings and files into summaries, quizzes and podcast-style audio. Samsung Browser can also summarize information across tabs or surface a page from browsing history. These features may require Samsung or Google accounts, an internet connection and supported languages, and AI output still needs to be checked for accuracy.
The included S Pen works for writing, annotation and drawing, but Samsung notes that Bluetooth Low Energy features are not supported. Optional Pro Keyboard and Book Cover Keyboard Slim accessories are sold separately; Samsung is offering 30 percent off either keyboard for a limited time with a Tab S12 purchase.
Durability, cameras and audio
Samsung gives both tablets and the included S Pen an IP68 rating for dust and water resistance. The company bases that rating on laboratory testing in up to 1.5 meters of fresh water for 30 minutes and specifically advises against beach or pool use. Water resistance can also diminish with wear.
Both models have a 12-megapixel ultra-wide front camera and four speakers with four-channel spatial audio. The Tab S12+ uses a single 13-megapixel rear camera, while the Ultra adds an 8-megapixel ultra-wide camera. These specifications make video calls, scanning and casual photography the obvious tablet use cases; Samsung has not positioned either model as a replacement for a flagship phone camera.
Price and US availability
- Galaxy Tab S12+: starts at $1,199.99
- Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra: starts at $1,399.99
- Release date: October 7, 2026, in the United States
- Colors: Gray and Silver
- In the box: tablet and S Pen; 45W charger and keyboard accessories are separate
Samsung lists availability as dependent on model, carrier and market. The company also promises seven generations of Android upgrades and seven years of security updates from the global launch date.
Who these tablets are for
The Tab S12+ is the more practical choice for people who want a large creative or productivity screen without carrying the 14.6-inch Ultra. Its bigger display, battery and microSD slot are useful upgrades, but the $1,199.99 entry price puts it firmly against premium laptops and Apple’s higher-end iPads.
The Ultra makes more sense for artists, frequent multi-window users and people who specifically want the largest possible Android canvas. For everyone else, its size, price and extra accessory costs may outweigh its thin design and performance gains.
Samsung’s announcement confirms the specifications, pricing and rollout; the complete US release is available in Samsung’s newsroom. The Verge’s launch coverage provides additional comparison with Samsung’s previous tablets.
Featured image supplied by Samsung.