Short version: the Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra we wrote about launched in 2023. Samsung’s newest Ultra tablet is the Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra, announced on September 30, 2026 and on sale in the US since October 7. It keeps the big 14.6-inch screen and the S Pen in the box, and adds a faster 3nm chip, a bigger battery and a thinner, lighter body.
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Shop the Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra on Amazon
The Tab S9 Ultra was already a laptop-sized tablet with a laptop-sized screen. Here’s what Samsung changed in three generations, based on Samsung’s own launch announcements (we didn’t test these tablets hands-on).
Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra vs Tab S9 Ultra: the specs
| Spec | Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra (2023) | Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra (2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Display | 14.6-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X | 14.6-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 2960 x 1848, 120Hz, up to 1,600 nits peak |
| Processor | Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 Mobile Platform for Galaxy | MediaTek Dimensity 9500 (3nm) |
| Battery | 11,200 mAh (typical) | 11,600 mAh (typical), 45W charging |
| Thickness | 5.5 mm | 5.1 mm |
| Weight (Wi-Fi) | 732 g | 692 g |
| Memory and storage | 12GB + 256GB or 512GB, 16GB + 1TB | 12GB + 256GB or 512GB, 16GB + 1TB |
| Water and dust | IP68 | IP68 |
| S Pen | In the box | In the box |
Specs from Samsung’s Tab S12 series announcement, Samsung’s Tab S9 series announcement. Checked November 2026.
3 reasons the Tab S12 Ultra is the one to get
1. It’s Samsung’s fastest Galaxy Tab yet
Samsung says the 3nm Dimensity 9500 brings up to 61% faster NPU (AI) processing, 19% faster CPU and 17% faster GPU performance than last year’s Tab S11 Ultra, and a new 3D vapor chamber helps it stay cool during long editing sessions. Against a 2023 Tab S9 Ultra, that’s a three-generation jump.
2. Thinner, lighter, and the battery got bigger anyway
At 5.1 mm, Samsung calls the S12 Ultra its thinnest Galaxy Tab. It’s 40 grams lighter than the S9 Ultra yet carries a larger 11,600 mAh battery, rated for up to 23 hours of video playback. A 45W adapter takes it from empty to full in about 95 minutes (the adapter is sold separately).
3. It comes ready for real work
The S12 Ultra runs Android 17 with One UI 9 and gets up to seven OS upgrades. Adobe Photoshop comes preloaded, a first for an Android tablet according to Samsung, and the quad speakers now support 4-channel spatial audio.
Who should upgrade
- Still on a Tab S9 Ultra and happy? The screen size and S Pen are the same, so upgrade for speed, battery and weight, not for the display.
- Coming from an older or smaller tablet? The S12 Ultra is the big-screen Android tablet to get right now.
- Want the S9 Ultra for less? Older models still turn up: search Amazon for the Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra, and check the seller and the condition before you buy.
- Plan for accessories. Samsung sells a Pro Keyboard and a Book Cover Keyboard Slim for the S12 series separately.
Gift it to: the student who takes notes on everything, the digital artist, or the commuter who wants a laptop-size screen without the laptop.
Shop the Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra on Amazon