In the autumn of 2026, Samsung turned its attention fully toward those who create and produce, unveiling the Galaxy Tab S12 Plus and Ultra as instruments designed not merely for consumption but for sustained professional work. Built around MediaTek's Dimensity 9500 chip and wrapped in frames as thin as 5.1 millimeters, these tablets carry a seven-year software commitment — a quiet acknowledgment that the tools we invest in should endure alongside the ambitions we bring to them. Starting at $1,199.99, they arrive as Samsung's clearest statement yet that the premium tablet is no longer a luxury
Samsung Galaxy Tab S12 Series Launches With Flagship Processor, Ultra-Thin Design, 7-Year Support
Samsung's thinnest tablet ever, built to last seven years
Mark
So Samsung is saying these tablets will get seven years of updates. That's genuinely different from what we've seen before, right?
Mimi
It is. Most tablets get three, maybe four years if you're lucky. Seven years means someone buying this in October 2026 could still be getting security patches in 2033. That's a real commitment.
Luke
But let's be precise about what that means. Seven years of major OS updates and security patches—that's the claim. We should know whether that's guaranteed or aspirational, and whether it applies to both Wi-Fi and 5G models equally.
Mark
The processor—this Dimensity 9500—those percentage improvements sound impressive. 61 percent neural processing boost. But what does that actually mean for someone using the tablet?
Mimi
Neural processing is the AI stuff. So if you're using Photoshop with Firefly, or any of the Galaxy AI tools, those will run faster and smoother. The 19 percent CPU boost helps with everything else—opening apps, switching between them, editing video.
Luke
Those are MediaTek's numbers, though. We should note that. And the 17 percent graphics improvement—that's good for gaming and creative work, but we don't have independent benchmarks here.
Mark
The thickness—5.1 millimeters on the Ultra. That's genuinely thin. Does that matter practically?
Mimi
It matters for portability and feel. A thinner device is easier to hold for long periods, easier to carry. But it also means Samsung had to engineer that vapor chamber cooling system to keep the processor from throttling under load.
Luke
Right, and we don't know yet whether that cooling system actually works as intended under sustained use. That's something reviewers will test.
Mark
What about the battery life claims? Twenty-three hours for the Ultra?
Mimi
That's rated for continuous use, which is different from a typical day of mixed use. But even if real-world performance is 60 or 70 percent of that, you're looking at a device that can easily last two or three days of normal work.
Luke
The 45-watt charging gets you to full in 95 minutes, which is solid. But we should remember that's with the included charger—if someone uses a different charger, those times might vary.
Mark
The software bundle—six months of Google AI Pro, Adobe Photoshop, the S Pen optimization. That's a lot of value baked in.
Mimi
It is. For someone doing creative work, that's genuinely useful. The S Pen optimization specifically means the stylus will feel more responsive in Photoshop than it would on a generic Android tablet.
Luke
Though we should note: six months of Google AI Pro is a trial. After that, users pay. And Adobe Photoshop on tablet is powerful but not identical to the desktop version. The marketing makes it sound like a complete creative suite, but there are limits.
Der Puls
- Samsung has exited the entry-level tablet market entirely, betting everything on large-format, professional-grade devices that compete directly with laptops for creative workflows.
- The Dimensity 9500's 61% neural processing leap and redesigned vapor cooling system signal that thermal management — long a quiet weakness of tablets under load — has finally been taken seriously.
- A seven-year OS update pledge breaks sharply from industry norms, pressuring rivals to reckon with how long premium hardware should reasonably be supported.
- Bundled Adobe Photoshop with S Pen optimization and six months of Google AI Pro access attempt to collapse the distance between tablet and full creative workstation.
- Priced from $1,199.99 with availability October 7, the Tab S12 line lands in a market where buyers must now weigh tablet longevity against the perpetual upgrade cycle of traditional computing.
In the autumn of 2026, Samsung turned its attention fully toward those who create and produce, unveiling the Galaxy Tab S12 Plus and Ultra as instruments designed not merely for consumption but for sustained professional work. Built around MediaTek's Dimensity 9500 chip and wrapped in frames as thin as 5.1 millimeters, these tablets carry a seven-year software commitment — a quiet acknowledgment that the tools we invest in should endure alongside the ambitions we bring to them. Starting at $1,199.99, they arrive as Samsung's clearest statement yet that the premium tablet is no longer a luxury accessory but a long-term creative partner.
Samsung has introduced the Galaxy Tab S12 Plus and Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra, two tablets built explicitly for professionals and creative workers rather than casual users. Both run on MediaTek's Dimensity 9500, a 3-nanometer processor offering 61 percent faster neural processing, 19 percent CPU gains, and 17 percent improved graphics over its predecessor. To manage heat during heavy use, Samsung enlarged the internal 3D vapor chamber — a meaningful engineering concession to the realities of sustained productivity on a thin device.
The Ultra sets a new thinness record for Samsung at just 5.1 millimeters, while carrying a 14.6-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display. The Plus offers a 12.6-inch screen with narrowed bezels. Both panels run at 120Hz, peak at 1,600 nits, and include anti-reflective coatings alongside Samsung's Vision Booster for outdoor legibility. Storage scales from 256GB on the Plus up to 1TB on the Ultra, with microSD expansion available to 2TB. Battery life reaches 23 hours on the Ultra and 21 on the Plus, with both charging fully in roughly 95 minutes via 45W USB-C.
Shipping with Android 17 and One UI 9, the tablets carry Samsung's most ambitious software commitment to date: seven years of major OS updates and security patches. Galaxy AI tools come preloaded, accompanied by six months of Google AI Pro access. Adobe Photoshop arrives bundled with S Pen optimizations and Firefly generative features, while quad spatial audio speakers, IP68 water resistance, under-display fingerprint sensors, and dual-SIM 5G round out the hardware.
The Tab S12 Plus starts at $1,199.99 and the Ultra at $1,399.99, with both available in the United States from October 7 in Gray and Silver. Samsung is offering 30 percent off keyboard accessories at launch, and direct buyers using a Samsung Galaxy Card earn 5 percent cash back.
Samsung has introduced two new tablets aimed squarely at professionals and creative workers: the Galaxy Tab S12 Plus and the Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra. Both devices run on MediaTek's flagship Dimensity 9500 processor, a 3-nanometer chip that delivers substantial performance gains across multiple dimensions. The processor offers a 61 percent improvement in neural processing capability, 19 percent faster CPU speeds, and 17 percent better graphics rendering compared to its predecessor. To handle the heat generated by sustained heavy use, Samsung redesigned the internal cooling system, enlarging the 3D vapor chamber that pulls warmth away from the processor during demanding multitasking sessions.
The company has abandoned its traditional entry-level tablet tier, opting instead to focus exclusively on large-format screens. The Tab S12 Ultra represents Samsung's thinnest tablet to date, measuring just 5.1 millimeters thick despite housing a 14.6-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display. The Tab S12 Plus, meanwhile, features a 12.6-inch panel with narrower bezels. Both screens refresh at 120 hertz, reach 1,600 nits of peak brightness, include anti-reflective coatings, and employ Samsung's Vision Booster algorithm to improve visibility in bright outdoor conditions.
Memory and storage options scale with the device tier. The Tab S12 Plus comes with 12 gigabytes of RAM paired with either 256 or 512 gigabytes of internal storage. The Ultra model offers configurations ranging from 12 to 16 gigabytes of RAM, with storage options extending to 1 terabyte. Both tablets accept microSD cards for expansion up to 2 terabytes. Battery capacity differs between the two: the Ultra houses an 11,600-milliamp-hour cell rated for up to 23 hours of continuous use, while the Plus contains a 10,600-milliamp-hour battery good for 21 hours. Both support 45-watt wired charging via USB-C and can reach a full charge in approximately 95 minutes.
On the software side, both tablets ship with Android 17 running Samsung's One UI 9 interface. The standout commitment here is Samsung's pledge to deliver seven years of major operating system updates and security patches—a duration that extends well beyond typical tablet support cycles. The devices come preloaded with Galaxy AI tools and include six months of complimentary access to Google's AI Pro service. Adobe Photoshop is bundled with the tablets, featuring optimizations for the included S Pen stylus and access to Adobe's Firefly generative capabilities. Additional hardware features include quad speakers with spatial audio, IP68 water resistance, under-display fingerprint sensors, and dual-SIM 5G support. The Ultra model includes Wi-Fi 7, while the Plus features Wi-Fi 6E.
Pricing begins at $1,199.99 for the Tab S12 Plus and $1,399.99 for the Tab S12 Ultra, with availability starting October 7 in the United States. Both tablets will be offered in Gray and Silver finishes. Samsung is offering a limited-time promotion providing 30 percent off keyboard accessories with purchase. Customers buying directly from Samsung using a Samsung Galaxy Card will earn 5 percent cash rewards on their purchase.
Bemerkenswerte Zitate
Samsung engineered an enlarged, redesigned 3D vapor chamber cooling system to maintain sustained peak throughput under demanding multitasking workloads— Samsung product specification
Möchten Sie die ganze Geschichte?
Das Original lesen bei Ubergizmo ↗
Technology