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Samsung’s new Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra and Tab S12+ are premium Android tablets built around large 120Hz OLED screens, quad speakers and an S Pen included in the box. Their specifications put them in the iPad Pro’s class, but they do not yet prove that they match Apple’s tablets for picture quality, audio, speed or value. As of October 3, 2026, Samsung had announced availability starting October 7 in select markets, so this is a comparison of announced features—not a verdict based on independent testing.
What Samsung announced, and when you can buy it
Samsung announced the Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra and Galaxy Tab S12+ on September 30, 2026. The company said availability would begin October 7 in select markets; its U.S. announcement also names October 7 as the U.S. start date. Availability and configurations can differ by market, so check the local Samsung listing before ordering.
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The two new tablets are the Ultra, with a 14.6-inch screen, and the Plus, with a 12.6-inch screen. Samsung is positioning both as high-end devices for media and productivity, rather than as direct replacements for a laptop.
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How the announced specifications compare
| Specification | Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra | Galaxy Tab S12+ | iPad Pro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Display sizes | 14.6 inches | 12.6 inches | 11 inches or 13 inches |
| Display technology and refresh rate | Dynamic AMOLED 2X; 120Hz | Dynamic AMOLED 2X; 120Hz | Tandem OLED; adaptive 10Hz–120Hz |
| Resolution | 2,960 × 1,848 | 2,800 × 1,752 | Not stated here; see Apple’s specifications |
| Peak brightness claim | Up to 1,600 nits (Samsung) | Up to 1,600 nits (Samsung) | HDR peak up to 1,600 nits (Apple) |
| Audio hardware | Quad speakers; four-channel spatial audio | Quad speakers; four-channel spatial audio | Four-speaker audio |
| Processor and operating system | MediaTek Dimensity 9500; Android 17 with One UI 9 | MediaTek Dimensity 9500; Android 17 with One UI 9 | Apple M5; iPadOS |
| Wi-Fi model weight | 692g | 553g | 11-inch: 444g; 13-inch: 579g |
| Starting price | U.S.: $1,399.99; U.K.: £1,399 | U.S.: $1,199.99; U.K.: £1,199 | U.K. comparison reported by What Hi-Fi?: 11-inch £1,199; 13-inch £1,499 |
Samsung’s U.S. announcement supplies the Tab S12 display, audio, processor, memory, storage, connectivity and U.S. price details; Apple’s technical page gives the iPad Pro’s display, chip, audio and weight specifications. What Hi-Fi? reports the U.K. launch-price comparison. Prices are region-specific launch figures, not a promise of current retail pricing. Samsung’s global announcement, Samsung’s U.S. announcement, Apple’s iPad Pro specifications and What Hi-Fi?’s report.
#1 Best Overall
- NO Warranty in the USA. Tablets are only WIFI, no Calls or Data. Country selection may not be available during setup. select any country, as Country will updated later after Connecting to WIFI in Settings. English Language is available
- Connectivity Wi-Fi Wi-Fi 7 802.11a/b/g/n/ac/ax/be 2.4GHz+5GHz+6GHz, EHT320, MIMO, 4096-QAM USB USB 3.2 Gen 1 Bluetooth v5.3 Bluetooth Profiles A2DP,AVRCP,DI,HID,HOGP,OPP,PAN,PBP,TMAP Location Technology GPS,Glonass,Beidou,Galileo,QZSS Earjack USB Type-C MHL No Wi-Fi Direct Yes
- 14.6” Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 120Hz Anti-Reflective, 2960 × 1848 (WQXGA+) Accelerometer, Fingerprint Sensor, Gyro Sensor, Geomagnetic Sensor, Hall Sensor, Light Sensor Size (Main_Display) 369.9mm (14.6" full rectangle) / 367.2mm (14.5" rounded corners)
- Front: 12 MP UW Rear: 13 MP + 8 MP UW UHD 4K (3840 x 2160)@30fps dimmesion : 12.85 x 8.21 x 0.20 in.
For movies, the screen sizes are a meaningful difference
The S12 Ultra’s 14.6-inch panel is larger than the 13-inch iPad Pro; the S12+ sits between Apple’s 11- and 13-inch options at 12.6 inches. That gives Samsung the larger canvas on paper, especially for split-screen work or watching video, while Apple offers a more compact 11-inch choice.
Both Samsung tablets are listed with 120Hz Dynamic AMOLED 2X panels. Apple specifies Tandem OLED and adaptive refresh from 10Hz to 120Hz. Samsung and Apple each list peak-brightness figures reaching 1,600 nits, but brand figures may use different measurement conditions. They do not establish which display looks brighter or better in a movie; that requires comparable measurements and viewing tests.
Samsung has not specifically mentioned its ProScaler upscaling feature in the announcement. That omission does not confirm that the tablets lack it. Likewise, the announcement’s lack of a specific Dolby Atmos reference does not establish that Atmos is unsupported.
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1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsSpatial audio is a feature claim, not a listening verdict
Samsung lists quad speakers with four-channel spatial audio on both S12 models. Apple lists four-speaker audio on iPad Pro. These specifications show that neither lineup is relying on a single speaker, but they do not tell you which tablet sounds fuller, clearer or more convincing at a given volume. Speaker placement, room conditions and content all matter, and no independent head-to-head listening results were available before Samsung’s announced October 7 availability.
Performance: the chip comparison is not yet a speed comparison
Samsung names the MediaTek Dimensity 9500 for both tablets, with Android 17 and One UI 9. Apple lists its M5 chip for iPad Pro. Those are different platforms, and a chip name alone cannot settle performance in creative apps, games, multitasking or sustained workloads.
Rank #2
- Brilliant 14.6" Dynamic AMOLED 2X Display – Features ultra-smooth 120Hz refresh rate, HDR10+ support, and crisp 1848x2960 resolution. Powered by an 11,600 mAh battery. Includes S Pen and 25W Samsung Super Fast Charger.
- Premium Performance & Storage – Backed by 256GB storage, 12GB RAM, and expandable microSD slot (dedicated). Runs on the advanced Mediatek Dimensity 9400+ (3nm) chipset, Octa-core CPU, and Immortalis-G925 MC12 GPU with Android 16 and One UI 8.
- Advanced Camera & Connectivity – Rear: 13MP (f/2.0 wide) + 8MP (f/2.2 ultrawide); Front: Dual 12MP (wide & ultrawide). Also supports Bluetooth 5.4, USB Type-C 3.2, and magnetic connector for seamless accessory pairing.
- Wi-Fi Only Model – Designed for high-speed wireless use. This model does not support SIM cards or cellular network connections.
- International Version – Global model without U.S. domestic warranty. Covered under return policy for hassle-free protection.
Samsung says the S12 series’ NPU is up to 61% faster, CPU up to 19% faster and GPU up to 17% improved versus the Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra. Those are Samsung’s comparisons with its own previous-generation Ultra—not with iPad Pro—and are manufacturer claims rather than independent benchmark results.
Storage, expansion and accessories
Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra
Samsung’s U.S. announcement lists the Ultra with 12GB of memory and 256GB or 512GB storage, or 16GB of memory and 1TB storage. It supports microSD expansion up to 2TB.
Galaxy Tab S12+
The Plus is listed with 12GB of memory and 256GB or 512GB storage, plus microSD expansion up to 2TB. Samsung includes an S Pen with both tablets. Its Pro Keyboard and Book Cover Keyboard Slim are sold separately, so account for accessory costs if you want a laptop-like setup.
iPad Pro
The comparison sources establish Apple’s screen sizes and core specifications, but do not provide a like-for-like storage-expansion or in-box pen comparison here. Buyers should check the exact iPad Pro configuration and Apple Pencil and keyboard prices for their region rather than assume the Samsung bundle translates into a lower total cost.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Portability, batteries and connectivity
The Ultra’s 692g Wi-Fi weight is 113g above the 13-inch Wi-Fi iPad Pro’s listed 579g, despite the Samsung having a larger screen. The S12+ is 553g Wi-Fi, while the 11-inch iPad Pro is 444g Wi-Fi. Samsung also lists thicknesses of 5.1mm for the Ultra and 5.3mm for the Plus; weight and screen area may matter more than thinness when carrying either as a handheld tablet.
Rank #3
- INNOVATIVE ART POWER: Turn your simple sketches into works of art instantly using Sketch to Image¹ with Galaxy AI.²
- SEARCHING MADE EASY: Quickly search for just about anything you see on your Tab — all without switching apps — using Circle to Search with Google.³
- MAKE A LONG STORY SHORT: Capture your lecture, meeting, or daily notes and let Note Assist⁴ with Galaxy AI² do the hard work of organizing and even summarizing them for you.
- NEXT-LEVEL NOTE TAKING: Get transcripts and summaries of recorded lectures and meetings, just like that.⁵
- PACKED WITH POWER: No matter what you take on or where you take your Galaxy Tab S10+, enjoy every experience with a powerful tablet processor.
Samsung lists batteries of 11,600mAh for the Ultra and 10,600mAh for the Plus, both with 45W charging. It claims up to 23 hours of battery life for the Ultra and up to 21 hours for the Plus, as well as 95-minute charging with a 45W adapter. These are Samsung’s figures, not results from a consistent independent test, so they cannot establish which tablet lasts longer in comparable use.
In Samsung’s U.S. announcement, Wi-Fi 7 is listed for the Ultra; the Plus table lists Wi-Fi 6E and 5G, with cellular availability tied to the 5G variant. Confirm the precise connectivity options for the configuration and market you intend to buy.
Software support and durability
Samsung says both tablets have IP68 dust and water resistance and claims up to seven generations of OS upgrades and seven years of security updates. These are manufacturer statements; buyers should check Samsung’s regional product information for applicable terms and configuration details.
So, can the Tab S12 range challenge iPad Pro?
On announced specifications, yes: Samsung is offering premium-sized OLED screens, high refresh rates, quad speakers, an included pen and expandable storage. The Ultra is the option for a screen bigger than Apple’s 13-inch model; the Plus gives buyers a large display in a lighter body than the Ultra.
But a specification sheet cannot show whether Samsung wins on movie image quality, spatial-audio performance, sustained speed, app availability or total value. As of October 3, 2026, the tablets had not reached their announced availability date, and there were no established independent head-to-head results. Treat the S12 models as credible new rivals, not proven iPad Pro beaters.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
