Samsung Galaxy Tab S12 Delivers 19% CPU Boost, 20+ Hour Battery in Ultra-Thin Design

A 61 percent leap in artificial intelligence processing power
The new Galaxy Tab S12 delivers dramatic improvements in the neural processing unit that powers AI features.
Mark

So these are just incremental updates to the Tab S11, right? Better processor, bigger battery—the usual tablet refresh?

Mimi

Not quite. The NPU jump alone is significant. That's a 61 percent improvement, which is enormous. It's not just marketing—it directly affects how fast Galaxy AI features work, and Samsung has built those features into the core experience.

Luke

But we should be clear: Samsung hasn't released these yet. We're looking at announced specs, not real-world testing. The battery claims are Samsung's estimates, not independent verification.

Mark

Fair point. So what's actually new here beyond the processor?

Mimi

The display is brighter—1,600 nits is genuinely bright—and the Vision Booster technology that adjusts brightness automatically is a practical feature for people who work in different lighting. The thinness at 5.1 millimeters is also notable; they've packed a lot into a very slim chassis.

Luke

True, but we don't know the price yet. That matters enormously for whether this is a compelling upgrade or just an expensive refresh. A 19 percent CPU boost might not justify the cost if the previous generation already handled most tasks smoothly.

Mark

What about the Galaxy AI features? Are those exclusive to these new models?

Mimi

No, Galaxy AI exists on other Samsung devices, but the improved NPU means it runs faster and more efficiently here. The transcription, translation, and photo editing features are more responsive.

Luke

And that six-month Gemini trial—that's Google's AI, not Samsung's. It's a nice addition, but it's time-limited. After six months, users would need to pay for continued access.

Mark

So who's the real audience here?

Mimi

Students, professionals, creative people who want a portable device that can handle serious work. The S Pen and keyboard accessories push it toward that creative and productivity space.

Luke

The $600 in preloaded software is also worth examining. That's Samsung's valuation of bundled apps, not necessarily what users would pay for them separately. It's a marketing figure.

Mark

When do they actually arrive?

Mimi

October 7, in select markets. Samsung will announce pricing closer to that date.

  • A 61% leap in neural processing power signals that AI is no longer a feature bolted onto these tablets — it is the architecture they are built around.
  • Displays reaching 1,600 nits and bodies just 5.1mm thin push the engineering to a point where the hardware itself becomes almost invisible to the user.
  • Battery life stretching to 23 hours on the Ultra and 21 hours on the S12+ removes one of the last persistent anxieties of mobile productivity.
  • The S Pen, optional laptop-style keyboards, and a three-panel Multi Window system collectively attempt to close the gap between tablet and full workstation.
  • Samsung has yet to announce pricing, leaving the most practical question unanswered just days before the October 7 launch.

As the boundary between tablet and laptop continues to blur, Samsung steps forward with two new devices that ask a quiet but consequential question: what does it mean for a tool to truly think alongside its user? Arriving October 7, the Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra and S12+ carry faster processors, AI woven into their core, and batteries that outlast the working day — a convergence of engineering and intention aimed at students, creators, and professionals who need more than a screen to carry.

Samsung has announced the Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra and Galaxy Tab S12+, both arriving in stores on October 7. Built on a 3-nanometer processor, the new tablets deliver meaningful speed gains — 19% faster CPU performance, 17% improved graphics, and a 61% boost in the neural processing unit that drives AI tasks. That last figure is the most telling: Galaxy AI is not an add-on here but a central feature, capable of summarizing presentations, transcribing video, translating languages, and assisting with photo editing, all running more fluidly than on previous generations.

Battery life is a genuine headline. The Ultra carries an 11,600mAh cell rated for 23 hours; the S12+ offers 21 hours from its 10,600mAh battery. Both are 5.1mm thin — a figure that feels almost implausible given their scale. The 14.6-inch AMOLED display reaches 1,600 nits and includes Vision Booster, which reads ambient light and adjusts brightness automatically to keep the screen legible without punishing the battery.

The S Pen stylus ships in the box, and optional keyboards — including a Pro Keyboard and a slimmer Book Cover variant — can reshape either tablet into something closer to a laptop, complete with a dedicated Galaxy AI shortcut key. Samsung has also bundled a six-month trial of Google Gemini, including Gemini Notebook, a tool designed to pull information from multiple sources into unified study documents and generate practice quizzes.

Multitasking is handled through Multi Window, which divides the screen into three simultaneous panels. The software library spans both the Galaxy Store and Google Play, and Samsung estimates roughly $600 worth of preloaded applications — including advanced photo editing and AI-optimized note-taking tools. Pricing has not yet been announced, though details are expected before launch. Both models will be available in gray and silver.

Samsung has announced two new tablets that arrive in stores on October 7: the Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra and the Galaxy Tab S12+. Both machines represent a significant step forward from their predecessors, packing faster processors, longer battery life, and a display so bright it adjusts itself to match whatever light surrounds you.

The performance gains are substantial. The new tablets use a 3-nanometer processor that delivers a 19 percent boost in CPU speed, 17 percent faster graphics processing, and a striking 61 percent improvement in the neural processing unit that powers artificial intelligence tasks. That last number matters because Samsung has built Galaxy AI directly into these devices—software that can summarize presentations, transcribe video, translate languages, and assist with photo editing. The faster NPU means these features respond more quickly and work more smoothly than they did before.

Battery life stretches into the next day. The S12 Ultra carries an 11,600-milliamp-hour battery that Samsung says will run for up to 23 hours on a single charge. The S12+ comes with a 10,600-milliamp-hour battery rated for 21 hours. Both tablets measure just 5.1 millimeters thick—thin enough that the engineering feels almost improbable for a device this large. The display is a 14.6-inch AMOLED panel that reaches 1,600 nits of brightness and includes Vision Booster technology, which automatically brightens or dims the screen depending on the ambient light in your environment, keeping the image readable without forcing you to squint or drain the battery faster.

The tablets ship with Samsung's S Pen stylus included in the box, opening the door to digital drawing, note-taking, and handwriting. A separate Pro Keyboard or Book Cover Keyboard Slim can transform either tablet into something that functions like a laptop. Both keyboards include a dedicated button for quick access to Galaxy AI features. Samsung has also bundled a six-month trial of Google's Gemini AI service, which includes Gemini Notebook—a tool designed to consolidate information from multiple sources into a single study document and generate practice quizzes.

Multitasking gets easier through a feature called Multi Window, which splits the display into three separate sections so you can run different apps or browsers simultaneously without constantly closing and opening programs. The software ecosystem is vast: both the Galaxy Store and Google Play Store offer thousands of applications, and Samsung estimates the tablets come preloaded with roughly $600 worth of exclusive software, including advanced photo editing tools and AI-powered note-taking applications optimized for the S Pen.

Samsung has not yet announced pricing for either model, though the company is expected to reveal those details closer to launch. Both tablets will be available in gray and silver. For anyone shopping for a tablet—whether you're a student, a professional who needs a portable workstation, or someone who wants a device that bridges the gap between a phone and a laptop—these machines are positioned as premium options that combine raw performance with practical features designed for productivity and creativity.

Samsung has not yet announced pricing for the Galaxy Tab S12 lineup, but details are expected closer to the October 7 launch date.
— Samsung
Quer a matéria completa? Leia o original em Tom's Guide ↗
Fale Conosco FAQ