Samsung will announce the Galaxy Tab S12+ and Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra in September this year, according to a tipster cited by SamMobile. The two tablets are expected to ship with MediaTek’s 3nm Dimensity 9500 processor, OLED displays with up to 120Hz refresh rates, and Android 17 with One UI 9.0 out of the box.
The September window aligns with Samsung’s recent pattern for flagship tablets. The Galaxy Tab S11 series launched on September 4, 2025, and the Tab S10 series debuted in September 2024. IFA 2026 runs from September 4 through 8 in Berlin, making the event a likely venue for the announcement.
What Samsung Is Changing With the Galaxy Tab S12
The most notable shift in the Galaxy Tab S12 lineup is the absence of a base model. Samsung is offering only the Tab S12+ with a 12.4-inch display and the Tab S12 Ultra with a 14.6-inch display, skipping the smaller 11-inch variant for the second year in a row.
This creates an alternating pattern that Samsung appears to be settling into. In 2024, the Tab S10 series included a Plus and Ultra. In 2025, the Tab S11 series brought back the base 11-inch model and dropped the Plus. Now Samsung is swinging back to Plus and Ultra for 2026.
Both tablets are expected to use OLED panels with QHD+ resolution and 120Hz variable refresh rates. Front cameras will switch from a notch design to a punch-hole cutout, housing a 12MP sensor capable of recording 4K video. Rear cameras are expected to stay unchanged from the Tab S11 generation, with a 13MP main sensor on both models and an additional 8MP ultrawide on the Ultra.
Other expected features include S Pen support, an IP68 dust and water resistance rating, quad speakers with Dolby Atmos, Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6.0, and a USB 3.2 Type-C port. Samsung’s seven-year software update commitment should carry over, covering Android OS upgrades through Android 24 and security patches through 2033.
The Dimensity 9500 and What It Means for Performance
Both Galaxy Tab S12 models are expected to run on the MediaTek Dimensity 9500, continuing Samsung’s three-generation streak of using MediaTek silicon in its premium tablets instead of Qualcomm Snapdragon processors.
An APK teardown of Samsung’s AI Core app, first reported by Android Authority, found references to the model number MT6993, which corresponds to the Dimensity 9500. The chip is fabricated on TSMC’s 3nm process and brings meaningful performance gains over the Tab S11’s Dimensity 9400+.
- CPU: Up to 32% higher single-core and 17% higher multi-core scores
- GPU: Arm Mali-G1 Ultra MC12 with 33% more peak performance and 42% better efficiency
- Ray tracing: 119% faster, supporting 120 FPS with ray-traced lighting in supported games
- AI compute: Dual-NPU architecture delivering roughly 2x more AI processing power
- Power efficiency: 55% lower power consumption at peak CPU performance
The Dimensity 9500 also enables four new on-device AI features found in the APK teardown, including AI Wallpaper Generation and enhanced photo processing. These capabilities tie into Samsung’s broader push to expand Galaxy AI across its entire device ecosystem.
Battery Upgrades Are Minimal
Battery capacity is where the Galaxy Tab S12 generation makes the least progress. According to supply chain leaks reported by Sammy Fans, the Tab S12 Ultra will retain the same 11,600 mAh battery (11,374 mAh rated) used in the Tab S11 Ultra. Charging speed is also expected to stay at 45W.
The Tab S12+ fares slightly better. Earlier leaks pointed to a battery capacity of 10,500 mAh or 10,600 mAh, which would represent a roughly 4% to 5% increase over the Galaxy Tab S10+ (the last Plus model Samsung released). Samsung did not offer a Plus variant in 2025, so there is no direct year-over-year comparison.
Samsung appears to be betting that the Dimensity 9500’s improved power efficiency will deliver real-world battery life gains without needing a larger cell. That may prove accurate on paper, but it also means Samsung is asking buyers to pay premium prices for a flagship tablet with the same battery its predecessor shipped with a year ago.
Why the Missing Base Model Changes the Pricing Equation
The pricing picture for the Galaxy Tab S12 series has not been officially confirmed, but the structural change in the lineup tells its own story.
When Samsung launched the Galaxy Tab S11 in September 2025, the base 11-inch model started at $799.99 and the Ultra at $1,199.99. By removing the base model from the Tab S12 lineup, Samsung is effectively raising the floor price of its flagship tablet line by at least $300.
Reports from ETNews suggest the Tab S12+ could start between $1,100 and $1,200, placing it in direct competition with the iPad Pro rather than the iPad Air. The Ultra will likely start at $1,199.99 or higher, especially given that Samsung recently raised prices on existing Tab S11 models by $100 to $280 depending on the storage variant.
This pricing shift is worth watching because it reflects a broader industry trend. Samsung, Apple, and other hardware makers have been moving their flagship tablet lineups upmarket throughout 2026, partly driven by rising memory chip costs and partly by a strategic decision to position tablets as laptop alternatives rather than media consumption devices. For buyers who previously entered Samsung’s flagship tablet ecosystem at $800, the Galaxy Tab S12 generation may represent a meaningful jump in cost without a proportional jump in capability.
What Happens Next
Samsung is expected to hold its Summer Unpacked event on July 22, where the focus will be on three new foldable phones and two new smartwatches. The Galaxy Tab S12 series will not be part of that event.
Instead, the tablets may arrive through a press release rather than a dedicated Unpacked presentation, according to Sammy Fans. Samsung has done this before with tablet launches that don’t coincide with major phone releases. The Tab S12 series could also launch alongside the Galaxy S26 FE, following the same pattern as the Tab S11’s September 2025 debut alongside the Galaxy S25 FE.
Between now and September, expect more spec leaks as Samsung continues firmware testing. Firmware files for both the Tab S12+ (model SM-X846B) and Tab S12 Ultra (model SM-X946B) have already been spotted on Samsung’s servers, confirming that software development is well underway.
The Galaxy Tab S12 series will enter a competitive landscape that looks different from a year ago. Apple’s iPad Pro lineup just received price increases across the board, the RedMagic Gaming Tablet 5 Pro is targeting the gaming segment at $499, and Motorola’s Moto Pad 70 Pro is undercutting everyone at $390. Samsung’s challenge will be justifying a $1,100+ starting price when the hardware upgrades over the Tab S11 generation are largely limited to a faster chip and a slightly bigger battery on one of the two models.
FAQs
When will the Galaxy Tab S12 be released?
The Galaxy Tab S12+ and Tab S12 Ultra are expected to be announced in September 2026, likely around IFA 2026 which runs September 4 through 8. Samsung typically makes the tablets available for purchase within two weeks of announcement.
Will there be a base Galaxy Tab S12 model?
Samsung is not expected to release a base 11-inch Galaxy Tab S12. The lineup will consist of only the Tab S12+ with a 12.4-inch display and the Tab S12 Ultra with a 14.6-inch display, following an alternating pattern Samsung has used since 2024.
What processor will the Galaxy Tab S12 use?
Both the Galaxy Tab S12+ and Tab S12 Ultra are expected to use the MediaTek Dimensity 9500, a 3nm chipset that delivers up to 32% faster CPU performance and 119% faster ray tracing compared to the Dimensity 9400+ in the Tab S11 series.
How much will the Galaxy Tab S12 cost?
Official pricing has not been confirmed, but reports suggest the Galaxy Tab S12+ could start between $1,100 and $1,200. The Tab S12 Ultra is expected to match or exceed the Tab S11 Ultra’s $1,199.99 starting price, with higher-storage variants costing significantly more.
