What you need to know
- Rumors about Samsung’s next big tablet, the Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra, claim that things could take a while to get done with major updates.
- The tablet could make do with the same cell inside the Tab S11 Ultra, which debuted at 11,600 mAh with 45W charging support.
- Android Central rated the Tab S11 Ultra quite high, but some areas, such as total RAM and keyboard, could be better.
If you’re wondering, we expect Samsung to release another wave of Galaxy tablets this year, but rumors about the battery of its next Ultra are incredibly tame.
Earlier this week, a report from Galaxy Club (Dutch) claimed that Samsung is working on a Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra that could play it safe (via GSMArena). For starters, the post casts doubt on any battery upgrade later this year. Based on its research, the publication alleges that the Tab S12 Ultra features a battery cell similar to the one consumers received with the S11 Ultra Tab.
With this in mind, it is “unlikely” that the Tab S12 will receive any increase in its battery capacity. If true, that means that the tablet would still have an 11,600 mAh battery. Additionally, Samsung could combine this once again with 45W wired charging support.
Additional rumors suggest that the Tab S12 Ultra will come equipped with a 14.6-inch display, identical to its predecessor. What’s more, rumors suggest that Samsung will provide its A user interface 9 (Android 17) when it launches later this year. Expectations put the tablet’s launch in the second half of 2026, probably around the end of August/September, like Samsung’s 2025 versions.
Taking it beyond Ultra
Tablets have come a long way, but in our review of Samsung’s Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra, it’s tough to see another product surpassing it. Android Central’s Andrew Myrick praised the Ultra for its nearly 15-inch screen, premium design, S Pen, and expandable storage. What’s more, the device is quite thin, although it drops one of its selfie cameras. The big question was: how could Samsung do it better?
Andrew’s main complaint was Samsung’s unwillingness to give more RAM to its other variants. Another area of improvement is more focused on accessories, as Andrew mentions the keyboard accessory. The keyboard is quite flimsy and can often cause typos or wrong entries. We’ll have to wait and see if Samsung is looking at these areas for significant improvements. However, right now we are also thinking about the price.
Samsung had more than A handful of price increases in the US. earlier this year, and it has us worried. The 1TB Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra saw the biggest price increase, rising from $280 to $1,899. If this is where the Tab S11 Ultra is right now, is this the new starting point for the Tab S12 Ultra?
Android Central’s opinion
I’ll have to agree with Andrew. I enjoyed what Samsung brought for its Tab S11 Ultra. Even the Plus wasn’t that bad. The devices were clean, crisp and wonderfully One UI. Thinking about the performance level, it would be nice to have more RAM. However, as Andrew mentions, there is always that difference between RAM/storage options. Higher storage devices always come with higher (more attractive) RAM numbers. Also worth mentioning is the state the world is in with RAM and AI. Maybe it’s worth not getting our hopes up.
