Compare the Samsung Galaxy Tab S12 Series
The Samsung Galaxy Tab S12 series is at the top of Samsung's tablet lineup and starts with a large size; there is no compact model in the series. If that’s what you’re looking for, you’re better off checking out the Tab S series as a whole. The overview lists the current price of each Tab S12 model by participating retailer, so you can immediately compare size, weight, and screen specifications against that price. We don’t earn more from one model than another. Choose the size that suits you below; you can customize storage, color, and network options on the product page.
Which Galaxy Tab S12 is right for you?
Under the hood, the two models are nearly identical. So the question isn’t which model offers more features, but how much screen you want to hold and carry around every day.
How do the Tab S12 models really differ?
- Size and weight: the Samsung Galaxy Tab S12 Plus has a 12.6-inch screen and weighs 553 grams, while the Samsung Galaxy Tab S12-Ultra has a 14.6-inch screen and weighs 692 grams—nearly 140 grams more
- Pixel density: approximately 262 pixels per inch on the Tab S12+ compared to approximately 239 on the Tab S12 Ultra
- Battery: 10,600 mAh in the Tab S12+ versus 11,600 mAh in the Tab S12 Ultra; both charge at up to 45W
- Camera and memory: the Tab S12 Ultra features a wide-angle lens on the back in addition to the main camera and is also available with 16GB of RAM and 1TB of storage; the Tab S12+ has a single rear camera and 12GB of RAM with 256 or 512GB of storage
What both models have in common: a Dynamic AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate and a peak brightness of 1600 nits, the same MediaTek Dimensity 9500 processor, the S Pen included in the box, IP68 dust and water resistance, a dedicated memory card slot, and One UI 9 running on Android 17. Both models are available in Wi-Fi and 5G versions. So the choice isn’t about speed: the Tab S12 Ultra is in a higher price bracket, and what you get for that is mainly screen real estate, with a wide-angle lens and more storage as extras. It doesn’t make the image any sharper, and the larger battery also has to power a larger screen, so don’t count on it lasting through a longer workday.
Choose the Tab S12+ if you often take the tablet with you, or if you don’t have a specific reason to pay for the largest screen
Choose the Tab S12 Ultra if you use two or three windows side by side, draw, or edit images, and the tablet is usually on a table or a stand
The Tab S12 models side by side
| Model | Screen | Battery | Weight | Thickness | Price range* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Galaxy Tab S12+ | 12.6-inch AMOLED, 2800 x 1752, 120Hz | 10,600 mAh | 553 grams | 5.3 mm | €€€ |
| Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra | 14.6-inch AMOLED, 2960 x 1848, 120Hz | 11,600 mAh | 692 grams | 5.1 mm | €€€€ |
*Relative price indication within the series: more € symbols mean it’s more expensive. See the overview above for current prices.
Where is the small Galaxy Tab S12?
Samsung has not introduced a model around 11 inches in this generation. The previous generation did include that model, so the entry point for the series is now one size larger. If you’re looking for a compact model, your best bet is the Samsung Galaxy Tab S11 or a Fan Edition from the Tab S series. Keep in mind that the update period for the Tab S11 began a year earlier, and that it may be shorter for a Fan Edition: check the number of years listed in the specifications. Samsung has not said whether a smaller model will follow.
Photoshop on the Tab S12: only during the trial period
Samsung ships the series with Adobe Photoshop pre-installed and Notability included, positioning this as a benefit for those who draw or take notes. That’s true until the trial period ends; after that, full access continues as a paid subscription. So don’t count those apps as a standard part of the tablet, and check with your provider to see what’s included with your device.
Is upgrading from a Tab S11 worth it?
That depends less on the specs than on the size you’re looking for. The biggest change in the lineup is that the smallest size has been discontinued and a Plus model has been reintroduced, so anyone upgrading from an 11-inch model will always be moving up a size with this series. Both generations receive seven years of Android and security updates, but for the Tab S12 series, that period begins a year later and therefore lasts a year longer, until 2033. If your current tablet still works and the size suits you, the difference in practice is mainly a newer chip.
