Samsung's new premium tablets target laptop-style productivity. Large 120 Hz displays meet advanced software and powerful hardware. Spanish sales begin on October 7.
Samsung announced the Galaxy Tab S12 series on September 30, 2026. The company is selling the Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra and Galaxy Tab S12+ as work tools, not just large entertainment screens. Both support physical keyboard cases sold separately. Their software also copies several familiar laptop habits.
The prices and sizes make the target audience clear. These are premium devices for people who mix leisure with professional work. Samsung has built the pitch around productivity, creativity and Galaxy AI instead of casual media use.
The Ultra takes that approach furthest. Its 14.6-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display measures only 5.1 millimetres thick. It is also too large for comfortable, unsupported use over several hours. That size works well for films and games. The S12+ uses a more manageable 12.6-inch panel with a 120 Hz refresh rate.
At 5.1 millimetres, the Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra was presented as the thinnest Galaxy Tab when Samsung announced the series on September 30, 2026.
The main change sits in the software. Samsung has left the design largely unchanged from the previous generation.
Users can save up to three Multi Window desktop setups. They do not have to rebuild their preferred app layout each time. One setup can handle work. Another can cover entertainment. Apps can then move between the groups when needed.
The included S Pen has a practical job. It supports handwritten notes and photo editing. It is not just an extra accessory.
Google's Gemini works with Samsung's own apps and with third-party tools such as Notability, Goodnotes, Luma Fusion and Photoshop. Photoshop comes pre-installed on an Android device for the first time. Buyers also receive six months of free access to the Pro model.
That approach has a limit. Samsung keeps much of the experience inside its Galaxy ecosystem. Apps with wider appeal could reach more people through both Google Play and the Apple Store. The company's tightly controlled device strategy contrasts with the wider business focus described in an earlier franchise report. Samsung Poland's announcement also names Goodnotes, LumaFusion and Adobe Photoshop in the creative software package.
The Galaxy Tab S12 generation contains only two models: the Ultra and the Plus, with no standard version. Samsung said the tablets would begin reaching selected markets on October 7, 2026.
Both tablets use the MediaTek Dimensity 9500. Samsung did not choose Qualcomm's Snapdragon, even though the Galaxy S26 Ultra uses that processor. It also did not use its own chips.
The manufacturer says the new processor improves the neural processing unit by 60% over the previous model. A redesigned vapour chamber should move heat away more effectively. Android Central and AndroidPure also identify the Dimensity 9500 as the platform in both tablets.
The screens need a lot of power. Samsung claims up to 23 hours of battery life for the Ultra and 21 hours for the Plus. If those figures hold in daily use, they would cover a full day of university note-taking.
A 45 W fast charger is said to take either tablet from zero to full in 95 minutes. Both models support 5G, Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6.0. Each has four speakers for films and games.
The cameras are not identical. The Ultra has a 13-megapixel main sensor and an 8-megapixel ultra-wide camera. The Plus leaves out the ultra-wide unit.
Both models have IP68 protection against water and dust. Both accept microSD cards of up to 2TB.
Sales in Spain begin on October 7. The Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra starts at €1,539 with 12GB of RAM and 256GB or 512GB of internal storage. A version with 16GB of RAM and 1TB of storage is also available.
The Galaxy Tab S12+ starts at €1,299 with 12GB of RAM and 256GB or 512GB of storage. Both tablets come only in metallic grey.
Prices change by market and configuration. Samsung Germany lists the S12+ at approximately €1,499 for Wi-Fi and €1,649 for 5G in a 512GB configuration. US coverage puts the starting prices at about $1,199 for the S12+ and $1,399 to $1,400 for the Ultra.
The trade-off is clear. These prices put both tablets well above the casual-use market.
Samsung wants buyers to compare them with laptops while keeping Android at the centre. The package makes sense for users who want a very large display, an included pen, desktop-style multitasking and expandable storage.
The Ultra's size matters. So does the separate keyboard cost. The S12 range is not trying to replace every laptop. It gives users who can pay for the top version a more credible professional workstation on Android.
Flagship Android tablets are moving in the same direction. Prices are rising, and laptop-style workflows are taking priority over mass-market entertainment.
