Samsung unveiled the Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra and Galaxy Tab S12+. Sales start in select markets on 7th October 2026. The US launch prices are
- Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra (14.6 inches) – USD 1,399.99 or about KES 182,000, and
- Galaxy Tab S12+ (12.6 inches) – USD 1,199.99 or about KES 156,000.
The choice is between a 14.6-inch tablet and a 12.6-inch one. There is no smaller model in this launch, a change from last year’s Galaxy Tab S11 pair, which included an 11-inch tablet. When we covered the S11 series’ possible Kenyan arrival last October, the Ultra already had a 14.6-inch screen and measured 5.1 mm thick. Samsung now calls the S12 Ultra its thinnest Galaxy Tab, although its published measurements put it level with the S11 Ultra.
What changed from the previous models
The Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra takes over from the S11 Ultra. For the S12+, the relevant comparison is the S10+, since Samsung released an 11-inch S11 last year without a Plus model. The new tablets use MediaTek’s Dimensity 9500 chip and run Android 17 with Samsung’s One UI 9 interface. Their screens are AMOLED panels, which light each pixel individually, with a 120 Hz refresh rate for smoother scrolling and pen movement.
| Specification | Tab S12 Ultra | Tab S11 Ultra | Tab S12+ | Tab S10+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Screen | 14.6 inches | 14.6 inches | 12.6 inches | 12.4 inches |
| Processor | Dimensity 9500 | Dimensity 9400+ | Dimensity 9500 | Dimensity 9300+ |
| Battery | 11,600 mAh | 11,600 mAh | 10,600 mAh | 10,090 mAh |
| Thickness | 5.1 mm | 5.1 mm | 5.3 mm | 5.6 mm |
| Software at launch | Android 17, One UI 9 | Android 16, One UI 8 | Android 17, One UI 9 | Android 14 |
The Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra has a newer chip, while its screen size, battery capacity and thickness are unchanged. The Galaxy Tab S12+ has 0.2 inches more diagonal screen space and a 510 mAh larger battery than the S10+, in a thinner body. Samsung claims the S12 Ultra’s processor is up to 19% faster for CPU work, 17% faster for graphics and 61% faster for AI processing than the S11 Ultra.
The software pitch, and what costs extra
The S Pen is in the box. Samsung’s Pro Keyboard and Book Cover Keyboard Slim cost extra, so a buyer who wants a laptop-style setup will need a separate accessory price. Samsung says the tablets can show three apps at once, letting someone watch a lesson, take notes and consult an AI assistant on the same screen. Its Note Assist can summarise text in Samsung Notes, subject to account and length requirements.
The bigger software addition is Adobe Photoshop for Tablet. Samsung says it will arrive in the Galaxy Store on 7th October 2026 and stay exclusive there for at least six months. Galaxy Tab S12 buyers get four months of its premium mobile plan; the tablets also carry six-month trials of Google AI Pro and Notability. These are trials and promotions, with availability and later charges depending on the service and market. For Samsung, Photoshop gives the new tablets a stronger reason to be considered for creative work alongside rival tablets, provided the Android version meets a buyer’s needs.
Samsung’s US announcement promises up to seven generations of operating system upgrades and seven years of security updates. The global announcement says sales start on 7th October 2026 in select markets, without naming Kenya or giving a local price. We’ll add confirmed Kenyan launch details to this story when Samsung gives them. A Kenyan buyer can compare the new hardware now, but the total cost of the tablet, keyboard and any paid apps will only be clear when Samsung announces local availability and terms.
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