Samsung Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra review: Still the ultimate Android tablet

Samsung's dedication to its flagship Galaxy line of products is unwavering – and the release of the Tab S12 Ultra shouts that loud and clear, marking it out it as one of the best tablets money can buy.

The Ultra is so called due to its huge 14.6-inch panel, which has been this model's calling card since the 2022 release of the S8 Ultra. That makes it massive, but also versatile as a laptop replacement with the right accessories added on.

However, the latest S12 Ultra not only cuts a familiar shape, but also a familiar experience – as I've found from my hours of using it as a travel companion. Aside from a new processor and more recent software on board, it doesn't differ from last year's predecessor.

In 2026 that casts something of a conundrum: in a Googlebook era there are now alternative (and more affordable) alt-laptop options for Android users; plus the Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra's inevitably higher price point will likely see savvy buyers seeking out alternative deals.

Price & Availability

Although it's yet to show on Samsung's own site, the Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra is available right now, with a launch price of £1,399 / $1,399 (for the 256GB / 12GB RAM version).

That's a considerable sum, especially as the previous Tab S11 Ultra was £/$200 less on its launch date – a figure that's stuck fast, though, without notable discounts.

If you want to add on the Pro Keyboard addition, however, add a further £399 / $399 to your cost estimations. But then you've got one very fine laptop alternative all in all.

Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra vs S11 Ultra: What's new?

• Newer MediaTek Dimensity 9500 processor
• Same design: 5.1mm slim and 692g light
• Teardrop front camera remains

As I said up top, the Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra is visually a carbon copy of its Tab S11 Ultra predecessor.

That means the same 5.1mm super-slim build, the same low weight – it's 692g in tablet-only form – and same S Pen included in the box.

Some of that means it's looking a little dated, truth be told, especially regarding the teardrop front-facing camera. Still, the slender build and epic screen ensure this tablet still stands out.

The only notable point of difference is within: where Samsung has elected for the MediaTek Dimensity 9500 processor this time around – note: not the newer 9600 Pro – for a boost in power.

Design & Display

• 14.6-inch AMOLED panel
• 2960 x 1848 resolution
• 120Hz refresh rate

I've really enjoyed using my Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra in various scenarios. When taking the Eurostar back from Paris to London it was ideal for the pull-out table space in front of me – keyboard attached, Chrome loaded, and working just as I would on my Mac.

I've also taken a short-haul flight with the tablet in tow, with its very design nature – i.e. no keyboard as part of the build – meaning fewer restrictions and more screen time. And Netflix looks super on this 14.6-inch panel, let me assure you.

That said, there's no way the Ultra is going to be for everyone. There's no denying that it's a giant slab of a tablet – far bigger than many competitors, even dwarfing the largest Apple iPad Pro product.

It's a well-appointed product, though, finished in aluminium, feeling thin yet sturdy. The S Pen stylus is included, but this can easily be misplaced as the magnetic strip on the back of the tablet is haphazardly placed towards the camera area – there's no dip or dock at all.

Just as was said in T3's Tab S11 Ultra review, the S12 Ultra echoes the same sentiment: the more I've used this tablet, the more apparent it is that it's best designed in tandem with its optional keyboard accessory. It's a great way to prop up the display, even when not using the keys.

And that massive display is the core reason to want this tablet. The AMOLED panel is just as glorious as before – Samsung makes this tech, so that's no surprise – and even without a higher brightness peak for this generation, it's a stunner to look at, all colourful and resolute.

Performance & Battery

• MediaTek Dimensity 9500
• 12/16GB RAM, 256-1TB + microSD
• 11,600mAh battery, 45W charging

The S12 Ultra's step up in power is fairly marginal, really, with the MediaTek Dimensity 9500 upgrading the previous-gen version, but missing out on the chip-maker's most up-to-date offering.

It's a flagship processor, no doubt, so I was able to do an abundance of multi-tasking with all manner of Android apps. But that did also get me thinking: in a Googlebook world, I could do much the same with a full-on laptop alternative.

Googlebook OS is a little different to Android, of course, but I do think this has to be a major consideration in what you might buy this year. A versatile tablet with an accessory isn't the only avenue to take, after all.

Nonetheless, I've found the Tab S12 Ultra to be, well, ultra in its ways of operation. It's smooth and fast in everything it does, the latest One UI software delivering easy-to-use features – multiple apps, floating windows and split screen ensuring it's not just like a bloated basic Android phone.

For gaming this tablet is almost funny to use, given the sheer size – unless you use it as a display with a separate controller attached anyway. I played some of my go-to, South Park: Phone Destroyer, and this giant canvas makes the process of moving characters into play more complex simply due to its physical size.

Per its predecessor, the Tab S12 Ultra also features a microSD card slot, so you can top up the storage by up to an additional 2TB at low cost. That means you can avoid buying the 512GB or 1TB variants of this tablet, which are pricier still – the industry is very stretched when it comes to storage right now, so you have to pay big for it at present.

In terms of longevity, the 11,600mAh cell on board here lasts plenty long enough. I ran a YouTube stream – my typical, a fireplace crackling away, as it's an infinite video – and it lasted for 12 hours. You'll get longer when offline, streaming downloaded Netflix, Amazon and such shows.

As I've not been using the Tab S12 Ultra every day, given the nature of a tablet, I've also been pleased to see that it holds onto its charge well between sessions. You can leave it for days and won't come back to a dead tablet – assuming it's not running big background tasks anyway.

Samsung Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra review: Verdict

Samsung continues to offer an unrivalled Android tablet experience in the Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra.

However, it's an experience so similar to last year's Tab S11 Ultra that you'd be mad not to track that down for its cost savings.

Furthermore, in a Googlebook world, there are entry models there which will undercut Samsung's mega-tablet on price. Granted, they're through-and-through laptops – but the Tab S12 Ultra arguably functions best with a keyboard accessory attached anyway.

If you don't wish to use the Tab S12 Ultra that way, however, then its massive screen – while sometimes cumbersome – is a joy to behold, bringing content to an XL scale when on the go.

In short: the Samsung Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra remains king of the Android tablet world. Its conundrum remains the same, though, with its size being both the main reason to buy and the main reason not to.

Also Consider

If you're sold on a mega-display Android tablet then, well, the previous Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra is more or less the same product – but cheaper, so an obvious option.

Powerful Android tablets otherwise aren't particularly abundant these days. So while a 13-inch iPad Pro would be the most obvious alternative from across the divide, it's a very different prospect given the ecosystem shift – and far pricier, too.

If anything, I'd now consider a Googlebook, such as the nicely appointed 14-inch option from HP, as being the laptop alternative that's a similar, long-lasting Android-based experience.