Samsung launches Galaxy Tab S12 series, and the base model is nowhere to be found

Samsung is one of the biggest players in the tablet market, and it clearly doesn’t want to lose its seat at the big table. To ensure that, the tech giant seems to be making a small adjustment to its flagship tablet strategy with the latest Tab S12 series.

For reference, with last year’s Tab S11 series, Samsung decided to skip the mid-sized Plus model in favor of the Tab S11 and Tab S11 Ultra. This year, Samsung is walking back on that decision and bringing the Plus model back, but, of course, there’s a trade-off: There’s no base model.

Samsung Galaxy Tab S12 series: Specs and features

Samsung’s Tab S12 series comprises the Tab S12 Plus and the Tab S12 Ultra, with the former rocking a 12.6-inch display and the latter sporting a 14.6-inch panel. For reference, the last time we saw a Plus tablet from Samsung was with the Tab S10 series. It featured a 12.4-inch display, making the new Tab S12 Plus’ screen size a modest spec bump.

Both models use Dynamic AMOLED 2X displays with adaptive 120Hz refresh rates, 1,600nits of peak brightness, and an IP68 rating for durability and protection.

Both tablets are now thinner than their predecessors. For reference, the Tab S11 Ultra was 5.55 mm thick. The Tab S12 Ultra measures in at 5.1mm. Similarly, the Tab S10 Plus measured in at 5.6mm. The new Tab S12 Plus is just 5.3mm thick.

Under the hood, Samsung is deploying 2025’s 3nm MediaTek Dimensity 9500 chipset across both models. For reference, that’s the same chip used on the Xiaomi 17T Pro and the Oppo Find X9.

We already know the chip is a powerhouse, and Samsung claims it offers CPU, GPU, and NPU performance improvements of 19%, 17%, and 61%, respectively, over the Tab S11 Ultra. That extra performance can also generate more heat under prolonged workload, which the new tabs are tackling head-on with upgraded cooling systems. Both the Tab S12 models sport a new 3D vapor chamber that Samsung says dissipates heat more efficiently than the flat vapor chambers found in previous models.

These upgrades should be especially useful, given Samsung’s AI push and the need to power seamless multitasking on the new series. This includes features like Multi Window, which can now split your tablet’s display into three with three different apps, and Now Nudge, which is designed to anticipate your needs. There’s also Note Assist to help with summaries, translations, and text formatting, and AirDrop support to quickly transmit files to Apple devices. For reference, the Google Pixel Tablet is the only other tablet with AirDrop support.

Elsewhere, the tablet’s keyboard accessory retains its Galaxy AI key, which can now also invoke Perplexity. The keyboard isn’t included in the package, but an S Pen is. As always, the S Pen would draw power from the tablet itself. Samsung says the Tab S12 Ultra offers up to 23 hours of video playback, while the Tab S12 Plus is rated for up to 21 hours. Both tablets support Super Fast Charging 2.0 at 45W, which, according to Samsung, can fully charge your tablet from 0 in around 95 minutes.

With all that battery, Samsung is also making sure that buyers have enough to do on the tablet. The Tab S12 series will come with several bundled software perks, including a free 4-month Photoshop subscription, a free six-month Google AI Pro membership, and a free 6-month Notability membership.

Pricing and availability

The Galaxy Tab S12 Plus starts at $1,199.99, while the larger Tab S12 Ultra starts at $1,399.99. Both models will be available in Gray and Silver colorways starting October 7. Galaxy Card users who purchase the Tab S12 series directly from Samsung can earn 5% in cash rewards.