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The Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra’s clearest upgrade over the S11 Ultra is its processor: Samsung claims gains of up to 61% in NPU processing, 19% in CPU performance and 17% in GPU performance. The headline hardware otherwise looks familiar, with early coverage reporting the same 14.6-inch, 120Hz AMOLED display, 11,600mAh battery, 45W charging and 5.1mm thickness. Those performance figures are Samsung’s comparisons, not independent benchmark results.

What changed from the Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra to the S12 Ultra?

The S12 Ultra appears to be a measured annual refresh rather than a redesign. Its most substantial stated change is processing performance. Samsung announced the new tablet on September 30, 2026; as of October 2, the October 7 availability date reported by TechRadar was still in the future, and availability may differ by market.

Feature Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra How it compares with S11 Ultra
NPU processing Up to 61% faster, according to Samsung’s 2026 comparison Manufacturer-reported gain; no independent benchmark result is established in the cited launch coverage
CPU performance 19% faster, according to Samsung’s 2026 comparison Manufacturer-reported gain; not an independently tested result in the cited sources
GPU performance 17% improved, according to Samsung’s 2026 comparison Manufacturer-reported gain; not an independently tested result in the cited sources
Display 14.6-inch AMOLED, 120Hz, as reported by TechRadar in 2026 Early coverage describes the core display specifications as similar to S11 Ultra
Battery and charging 11,600mAh battery and 45W charging, as reported by TechRadar in 2026 Reported as carried over from S11 Ultra
Thickness 5.1mm, according to Samsung and TechRadar’s 2026 coverage Early coverage describes the thickness as unchanged
Price and stock Regional pricing and stock are not established in the cited launch coverage Compare current local listings for both models before deciding

Is the S12 Ultra faster in everyday use?

Samsung says the S12 Ultra improves NPU, CPU and GPU performance versus the S11 Ultra, with claimed increases of up to 61%, 19% and 17%, respectively. The figures are useful as an indication of Samsung’s intended performance step, but they do not show how much faster a particular app, game or workflow will run. The cited sources do not provide independent benchmark testing, so real-world gains remain unverified.

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Samsung also describes the S12 Ultra as delivering “the most powerful performance of any Galaxy Tab to date.” That is the company’s promotional claim, not an independent comparative finding. ( Samsung’s S12 Ultra announcement.)

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Samsung Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra Ai Wifi Model, 14.6" 11600 mAh 13MP SM-X930 Dual Camera with S Pen (Gray SM-X930NZSAGTO, 256GB + 12GB)
  • NO Warranty in the USA. Tablets are only WIFI, no Calls or Data. Country selection may not be available during setup. select any country, as Country will updated later after Connecting to WIFI in Settings. English Language is available
  • Connectivity Wi-Fi Wi-Fi 7 802.11a/b/g/n/ac/ax/be 2.4GHz+5GHz+6GHz, EHT320, MIMO, 4096-QAM USB USB 3.2 Gen 1 Bluetooth v5.3 Bluetooth Profiles A2DP,AVRCP,DI,HID,HOGP,OPP,PAN,PBP,TMAP Location Technology GPS,Glonass,Beidou,Galileo,QZSS Earjack USB Type-C MHL No Wi-Fi Direct Yes
  • 14.6” Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 120Hz Anti-Reflective, 2960 × 1848 (WQXGA+) Accelerometer, Fingerprint Sensor, Gyro Sensor, Geomagnetic Sensor, Hall Sensor, Light Sensor Size (Main_Display) 369.9mm (14.6" full rectangle) / 367.2mm (14.5" rounded corners)
  • Front: 12 MP UW Rear: 13 MP + 8 MP UW UHD 4K (3840 x 2160)@30fps dimmesion : 12.85 x 8.21 x 0.20 in.

What stays familiar: display, battery and portability

TechRadar’s launch and early hands-on coverage reports a 14.6-inch 120Hz AMOLED display, an 11,600mAh battery, 45W charging and a 5.1mm body for the S12 Ultra. The hands-on report describes these headline specifications as largely familiar from the S11 Ultra, so the available evidence does not point to a major screen, battery or thinness upgrade.

Samsung calls the S12 Ultra its thinnest Galaxy Tab at 5.1mm. That describes Samsung’s tablet lineup, while the comparison coverage reports the same thickness for the S11 Ultra; thinness alone therefore does not distinguish the two generations.

Rank #2
Samsung Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra with S-Pen 2025 (256GB, 12GB RAM, Wi-Fi Only) 14.6" AMOLED, WiFi 6E Android 16 Tablet, 4K Camera | International Model X930 | 25W Fast Charger Bundle (Moonstone Gray)
  • Brilliant 14.6" Dynamic AMOLED 2X Display – Features ultra-smooth 120Hz refresh rate, HDR10+ support, and crisp 1848x2960 resolution. Powered by an 11,600 mAh battery. Includes S Pen and 25W Samsung Super Fast Charger.
  • Premium Performance & Storage – Backed by 256GB storage, 12GB RAM, and expandable microSD slot (dedicated). Runs on the advanced Mediatek Dimensity 9400+ (3nm) chipset, Octa-core CPU, and Immortalis-G925 MC12 GPU with Android 16 and One UI 8.
  • Advanced Camera & Connectivity – Rear: 13MP (f/2.0 wide) + 8MP (f/2.2 ultrawide); Front: Dual 12MP (wide & ultrawide). Also supports Bluetooth 5.4, USB Type-C 3.2, and magnetic connector for seamless accessory pairing.
  • Wi-Fi Only Model – Designed for high-speed wireless use. This model does not support SIM cards or cellular network connections.
  • International Version – Global model without U.S. domestic warranty. Covered under return policy for hassle-free protection.

Software and multitasking: what is known about DeX?

Samsung’s S11-series announcement highlighted DeX Extended Mode, which lets users work with an external monitor, and up to four customizable workspaces. The available S12 launch evidence does not establish whether those exact DeX details carry over unchanged to the new model. If external-monitor work or workspace behavior matters to your setup, verify the S12’s software specifications for your region before purchasing. ( Samsung’s S11-series announcement.)

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Should you upgrade from the Tab S11 Ultra?

Consider the S12 Ultra if processing power is your priority

The S12 Ultra is the more relevant choice if you want the newest generation and Samsung’s claimed processor improvements matter to your work or use. Treat the quoted percentages as manufacturer comparisons, rather than a promise that every task will feel that much faster.

Rank #3
Samsung Galaxy Tab S10+ Plus 12.4” 256GB Android Tablet, Moonstone Gray
  • INNOVATIVE ART POWER: Turn your simple sketches into works of art instantly using Sketch to Image¹ with Galaxy AI.²
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  • MAKE A LONG STORY SHORT: Capture your lecture, meeting, or daily notes and let Note Assist⁴ with Galaxy AI² do the hard work of organizing and even summarizing them for you.
  • NEXT-LEVEL NOTE TAKING: Get transcripts and summaries of recorded lectures and meetings, just like that.⁵
  • PACKED WITH POWER: No matter what you take on or where you take your Galaxy Tab S10+, enjoy every experience with a powerful tablet processor.

Keep the S11 Ultra if its familiar hardware already suits you

The reported display size and refresh rate, battery capacity, charging rate and body thickness are similar to the previous generation. If those are the features that matter most, the launch information alone does not establish a compelling hardware reason to replace an S11 Ultra that meets your needs.

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Is the S12 Ultra worth waiting for or buying?

That depends on local pricing, configuration and stock, none of which the cited early coverage settles for your market. TechRadar reported October 7, 2026 availability; on October 2, that date had not yet arrived. Check a current Samsung or authorized-retailer listing in your country, then compare the price of the S12 Ultra with an equivalent S11 Ultra configuration. A value recommendation would be premature without those local figures.

Sources: Samsung Galaxy Tab S12 series announcement; TechRadar S12 Ultra launch coverage; TechRadar S12 Ultra hands-on; Samsung Galaxy Tab S11 series announcement.

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