Samsung is pushing its premium tablets further into laptop and creative-workstation territory with the launch of the Galaxy Tab S12 Series, comprising the Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra and Galaxy Tab S12+.
Available in Singapore now, the new generation combines large Dynamic AMOLED 2X displays with Samsung’s latest 3nm processor, Galaxy AI and an included S Pen. Both tablets run Android 17 with One UI 9, while Samsung is also expanding its professional software ecosystem with applications including Adobe Photoshop, Notability, Goodnotes and LumaFusion.
The flagship Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra is particularly ambitious. Despite its huge 14.6-inch display, its body measures just 5.1mm thick, making it Samsung’s thinnest and most powerful Galaxy Tab to date.
Screens Built for Multitasking
The Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra features an expansive 14.6-inch display, giving users plenty of room for multitasking, drawing and video work.
The Galaxy Tab S12+ opts for a more portable 12.6-inch display, with Samsung reducing the bezels compared with its predecessor to maximise usable screen space without making the device unnecessarily large.
Both use Dynamic AMOLED 2X panels capable of reaching up to 1,600 nits of peak brightness. An upgraded Vision Booster continually adjusts brightness according to surrounding lighting conditions to maintain visibility indoors and outside.
Samsung is pairing that screen space with Multi Window, allowing the display to be divided into as many as three sections.
A student, for example, could watch a lecture, take handwritten notes in Samsung Notes and keep an AI assistant open simultaneously.
The included S Pen can be used to capture ideas without interrupting the workflow, while Note Assist can quickly summarise the resulting notes.
A Much Faster NPU for Galaxy AI
Underneath is a new 3nm processor, which Samsung says makes the Tab S12 Series its most powerful tablet generation so far.
Compared with the Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra, Samsung claims NPU performance improves by up to 61 per cent, alongside a 19 per cent increase in CPU performance and a 17 per cent improvement in GPU performance.
That sizeable NPU increase is particularly significant given the expanding role of Galaxy AI.
Samsung Browser, for example, can use AI to understand information and context across multiple open tabs, condensing important material and helping users rediscover previously viewed sources without manually digging through their browsing history.
For sustained workloads such as video editing and graphics creation, Samsung has also redesigned the cooling system around a 3D Vapour Chamber to dissipate heat more effectively. Both tablets carry an IP68 rating for water and dust resistance.
Audio has been upgraded too, with a new four-channel spatial audio system, doubling the number of channels from the previous generation.
Photoshop Comes Pre-Loaded on an Android Tablet
One of the more noteworthy changes is Samsung’s greater emphasis on professional applications rather than relying solely on its own software.
Adobe Photoshop comes pre-loaded on the Galaxy Tab S12 Series, which Samsung describes as a first for Android tablets. Its interface has been optimised for tablet use, while S Pen support allows more precise selections, drawing and editing.
Photoshop also incorporates AI-powered capabilities, including AI Assistant and Adobe Firefly features such as Generative Fill and Image to Video. Galaxy Tab S12 buyers receive four months of complimentary access to the Photoshop premium mobile plan.
Notability is another newcomer to the pre-loaded Galaxy Tab software collection, with S Pen optimisation and AI study features. Buyers receive a six-month trial and a discount on their first subscription.
Other productivity and creative tools include Goodnotes, LumaFusion, Notion and Clip Studio Paint, with various trials and promotional offers included.
Samsung is also highlighting more specialised applications. MyScript Math can solve handwritten equations while showing the steps involved, and MyScript Notes can turn handwritten material into study content, explain concepts and generate quizzes. ArcSite, meanwhile, can convert rough field sketches into more precise CAD drawings.
Google AI Pro Joins Galaxy AI
The tablets also come with a six-month Google AI Pro trial, expanding their AI capabilities beyond Samsung’s own tools.
Gemini Notebook can combine notes, images, recordings and files within a single workspace and use that material to generate summaries, podcasts and quizzes.
It gives the Tab S12 an interesting combination of AI tools: Galaxy AI handles features integrated directly into Samsung’s tablet experience, while Google’s AI can take on broader research, learning and content-creation tasks.
The optional Pro Keyboard reinforces that approach with a dedicated Galaxy AI Key for quickly calling up AI assistants. It has an aluminium finish, while the lighter Book Cover Keyboard Slim provides another option for users who primarily want a physical keyboard and adjustable viewing position.
Up to 23 Hours of Battery Life
Samsung is claiming up to 23 hours of use for the Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra and up to 21 hours for the Tab S12+ on a single charge.
Both support 45W Super Fast Charging, with Samsung saying a full recharge takes approximately 95 minutes using the appropriate adapter.
Long-term software support is another major part of the proposition. Samsung says the Tab S12 Series will receive up to seven operating system upgrades and security updates, potentially making the tablets viable for considerably longer ownership cycles.
Singapore Pricing Starts at S$1,698
The Galaxy Tab S12 Series is available in Grey and Silver in Singapore, initially through Samsung Experience Stores, Samsung’s official stores on major online marketplaces and selected consumer electronics and IT retailers. Samsung Online Store, the Samsung Shop App and local telcos.
The Galaxy Tab S12+ Wi-Fi starts at S$1,698, while the 5G version costs S$1,868. The larger Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra Wi-Fi is priced at S$1,998, rising to S$2,148 for the 5G model. All recommended retail prices include GST.
Samsung is also offering several launch promotions. From October 7, buyers can add either a Culture Chaser Bundle with a Book Cover, power adapter and one year of Samsung Care+ Lite, or a Power Mover Bundle containing the Book Cover Keyboard Slim and one year of Samsung Care+ Lite, for an additional S$12.
