Samsung refreshes Galaxy Tab S12 lineup with two new tablets

Samsung has introduced two new tablets, the Galaxy Tab S12 Plus and Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra, continuing its pattern of updating the flagship Ultra model every year while alternating the regular and Plus variants. This year there is no standard Tab S12, meaning fans of that smaller size will have to wait until 2027 for a successor.

Plus model gets the bigger upgrade

The Galaxy Tab S12 Plus represents a meaningful step forward from the two-year-old Tab S10 Plus. It features a slightly larger and brighter 12.6-inch display while being thinner and lighter overall. It runs on the MediaTek Dimensity 9500 chipset, two generations newer than the previous 9300 Plus, and packs a larger 10,600mAh battery. These upgrades help justify a $200 price increase, bringing the starting price to $1,199.

Ultra sees only modest changes

The Tab S12 Ultra looks far more familiar, since it already received major design changes last year. Compared to the Tab S11 Ultra, the main differences are a newer chipset and upgraded four-channel spatial audio, a feature also found on the Plus. The Ultra's 14.6-inch display, 11,600mAh battery, and 5.1mm-thick build remain unchanged from last year. Its price has also risen by $200, to $1,399.

One visible difference between the two models is the front camera placement — the Ultra still has a small notch for its selfie camera, while the Plus hides its camera within the bezel. Both tablets feature bright OLED screens with up to 1,600 nits of peak brightness, IP68 water and dust resistance, and a promise of seven years of Android software updates. Both also ship with an S Pen stylus and a notable software addition: the Android debut of Adobe Photoshop for Tablets, which will be exclusive to the Galaxy Store for six months and includes Adobe's AI features.

The Galaxy Tab S12 Plus and Tab S12 Ultra will go on sale on October 7th.