Samsung launches Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra and S12 Plus from $1,199

Samsung launched the Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra and Galaxy Tab S12 Plus on 30 September 2026, with prices starting at $1,399 and $1,199 respectively. Both tablets go on sale on 7 October. The Ultra keeps its 14.6-inch screen while the Plus brings a bigger overhaul to the two-year-old Tab S10 Plus.heise.de

The launch matters because Samsung is now the only major manufacturer making a proper rival to the iPad Pro, according to Engadget's review published 30 September 2026. The Plus model is a meaningful update for owners of the Tab S10 Plus or older, while the Ultra offers few changes from last year's Tab S11 Ultra beyond an annual chipset bump.

What the two tablets change

Samsung again uses MediaTek processors. Both tablets run on a Dimensity 9500 chip that can access 12 gigabytes of memory, with only the Ultra's 1-terabyte storage variant raising that to 16 gigabytes. The MediaTek Dimensity 9600 Pro, announced recently, is not in these tablets. Samsung added a 3D vapour chamber cooling system.

Where the numbers came from

Samsung says heat escapes faster and more efficiently than the flat cooling chamber of the previous models, but the company gave no figures for the degree of improvement. In Geekbench 7, a cross-platform test, the Ultra posted a multi-core score of 9,403, compared with 7,879 for a Dell XPS 13 laptop with an Intel Core 5 320 chip.

The Ultra's battery stays at 11,600 milliampere-hours, the same as its predecessor, yet Samsung says runtime rises from up to 21 hours to 23 hours. The Plus carries a 10,600 milliampere-hour battery. Both charge at up to 45 watts, and the charger is not included. In Engadget's local video rundown test, the Ultra lasted 19 hours 39 minutes.

Prices differ by market. In euros, the Plus costs between 1,299 and 1,649 euros for 256 or 512 gigabytes of storage, and the Ultra costs between 1,539 and 2,289 euros, including a 1-terabyte option. In dollars, the Plus starts at $1,199 and the Ultra at $1,399, each a $200 increase.

What happens on 7 October

Both tablets ship with an S Pen stylus that docks magnetically and needs no charging, since it uses electromagnetic resonance to communicate. Adobe Photoshop makes its Android debut as a Galaxy Store exclusive for six months. Samsung promised seven years of security patches and Android updates for both models. The Ultra carries a 13-megapixel main camera plus an 8-megapixel ultra-wide lens on the back, while the Plus has only a single rear camera. Both have a 12-megapixel front camera for selfies and video calls. Four speakers provide sound, and Samsung offers Wi-Fi-only and 5G versions of each tablet.engadget.com

Engadget's review, published 30 September 2026, rated the Ultra 9 out of 10, praising the display and battery life while faulting the price, the extra cost of a keyboard, and having only one port, a single USB-C jack. Samsung's DeX mode switches Android into a desktop-like interface with a taskbar and windowed apps.

Alongside the tablets, Samsung announced the Galaxy SmartTag 3 tracker, starting at $30 for one device or $100 for a pack of four, available in black or white starting sometime in early November. The tablets themselves go on sale on 7 October, with no regular Tab S12 expected until 2027.engadget.com