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Samsung Galaxy Tab S12+ and Ultra: What’s New, and Is the $200 Price Increase Worth It?
The Galaxy Tab S12+ starts at $1,199.99 and the S12 Ultra at $1,399.99 in the US—about $200 more than their predecessors. Both tablets include an S Pen, offer up to seven generations of OS and security updates, and come with trials for Photoshop and Google AI Pro.
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Key takeaways
- The Galaxy Tab S12+ starts at $1,199.99 and the S12 Ultra at $1,399.99 in the US—about $200 more than their predecessors.
- Both tablets include an S Pen, offer up to seven generations of OS and security updates, and come with trials for Photoshop and Google AI Pro.
- The S12+ gets a slightly larger screen than its predecessor; the Ultra’s screen specifications are largely unchanged.
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openai.comCreate a landscape editorial hero image for this Studio Global article: What are the prices, release date, availability, specifications, software features, bundled offers, and update commitments for Samsung’s Gal. Article summary: Samsung announced the Galaxy Tab S12+ at about $1,199 and the Tab S12 Ultra at about $1,399 in the US. Both are reported to cost $200 more than their predecessors, but the available evidence does not establish enough of . Topic tags: general, general web. Style: premium digital editorial illustration, source-backed research mood, clean composition, high detail, modern web publication hero. Use reference image context only for broad subject, composition, and topical grounding; do not copy the exact image. Avoid: logos, brand marks, copyrighted characters, real person likenesses, fake screenshots, UI text, readable text, watermarks, charts with fake numbers, clic
Samsung’s Galaxy Tab S12+ and Tab S12 Ultra start at $1,199.99 and $1,399.99 in the US, respectively. Reports put both starting prices about $200 above the previous generation. The S12+ gets a larger display, while the Ultra retains the same core display specifications; both move to a new MediaTek processor and add creator-focused software. 11
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Price and release date
The US starting prices are $1,199.99 for the Galaxy Tab S12+ and $1,399.99 for the Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra. Reports say that is a $200 increase for each model compared with its predecessor. 15
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Most of the supplied coverage lists October 7, 2026 as the start of sales, but Droid Life reports October 8. Treat the date as market-dependent and check the local Samsung or retailer listing before ordering. Availability and colors can differ by country: for example, Japan’s announcement lists Wi-Fi models in gray. 2
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What’s in the S12+ and Ultra
| Galaxy Tab S12+ | Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra | |
|---|---|---|
| Display | 12.6-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 2,800 × 1,752, 120Hz | 14.6-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 2,960 × 1,848, 120Hz |
| Battery | 10,600mAh | 11,600mAh |
| Processor | MediaTek Dimensity 9500, 3nm | MediaTek Dimensity 9500, 3nm |
| Video playback estimate | Up to 21 hours | Up to 23 hours |
Samsung’s stated battery figures are video-playback estimates, not a guarantee of the same runtime for every kind of use. The company also says a full charge takes about 95 minutes with a 45W adapter. 10
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Both tablets ship with an S Pen and run Android 17 with One UI 9, according to product reports. Samsung says the series supports up to seven generations of operating-system and security updates. 5
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Software and included offers
Samsung is positioning the series for creative work as well as general productivity. Adobe Photoshop is included with the tablets, and reports describe a four-month Photoshop mobile-plan offer. Samsung’s US announcement also lists a six-month Google AI Pro trial. Trial terms and other software promotions may vary by market, so check the local offer details. 2
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How the S12 models compare with their predecessors
The clearest physical change is on the S12+: its screen grows from 12.4 inches to 12.6 inches, with slimmer bezels, while the reported body thickness drops from 5.6mm to 5.3mm. The S12 Ultra keeps its predecessor’s 14.6-inch, 2,960 × 1,848, 120Hz display specifications. 11
Both tablets switch to the Dimensity 9500. Samsung says the chip improves CPU performance by up to 19%, GPU performance by up to 17%, and NPU processing by up to 61% compared with the Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra. Those are Samsung’s stated comparisons, not independent test results. 7
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Why the upgrade is drawing questions
The value question is whether the new chip, software offers and longer support make the $200 increase worthwhile. Coverage has described the hardware changes as nominal, and the retained Ultra display makes the generational difference less obvious on that model. 4
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There are meaningful changes on paper—especially the S12+’s slightly larger screen and Samsung’s claimed processor gains—but the available evidence does not provide independent testing that shows how much faster the tablets feel in everyday use. Buyers weighing the upgrade should compare the added features they will actually use, particularly the creator software, against the higher starting price.
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People also ask
What is the short answer to "Samsung Galaxy Tab S12+ and Ultra: What’s New, and Is the $200 Price Increase Worth It?"?
The Galaxy Tab S12+ starts at $1,199.99 and the S12 Ultra at $1,399.99 in the US—about $200 more than their predecessors.
What are the key points to validate first?
The Galaxy Tab S12+ starts at $1,199.99 and the S12 Ultra at $1,399.99 in the US—about $200 more than their predecessors. Both tablets include an S Pen, offer up to seven generations of OS and security updates, and come with trials for Photoshop and Google AI Pro.
What should I do next in practice?
The S12+ gets a slightly larger screen than its predecessor; the Ultra’s screen specifications are largely unchanged.