Samsung is pitching the Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra and Galaxy Tab S12+ as tablets for people who want to get real work done, and on paper the hardware backs up more of that claim than usual. Both go on sale in select markets from October 7 in Gray and Silver, and UAE pricing is now confirmed, with every configuration costing the same in either color.
The Ultra starts at AED 5,399 including VAT for the 256GB Wi-Fi model. The 5G versions cost AED 5,979 for 256GB, AED 6,749 for 512GB and AED 8,289 for 1TB. The Plus is simpler, with 256GB only: AED 4,629 for Wi-Fi and AED 5,209 for 5G. In the US, the Ultra starts at $1,399 and the Plus at $1,199.
The UAE price list has two catches. Cellular adds a flat AED 580 to either model. And because the only Wi-Fi Ultra sold here is the 256GB version, anyone who needs more storage has to pay for 5G too. The step from 512GB to 1TB costs another AED 1,540, which is a lot for storage alone.
The headline number is thickness. At 5.1mm and 692g, the 14.6-inch Ultra is the thinnest Galaxy Tab Samsung has made, while the 12.6-inch Plus comes in at 5.3mm and 553g. Both use Dynamic AMOLED 2X panels at 120Hz with a claimed 1,600-nit peak. The Plus also gets slimmer bezels than the Tab S10+, its actual predecessor, since Samsung skipped a Plus model last year.
Inside is MediaTek’s 3nm Dimensity 9500. Samsung claims the Ultra is 19% faster in CPU tasks, 17% faster in graphics and 61% faster in AI processing than the Tab S11 Ultra, helped by a redesigned 3D vapor chamber. Those are company figures, so independent testing will show whether a chassis this thin can hold up during long editing sessions.
The Ultra carries an 11,600mAh battery and the Plus a 10,600mAh one. Samsung quotes up to 23 and 21 hours of video playback respectively, and a full charge in about 95 minutes at 45W, though that charger is sold separately. Both tablets are now rated IP68 and include quad speakers and an S Pen in the box. The stylus drops Bluetooth, so remote gestures are gone.
Software is the more interesting story. Adobe Photoshop comes preloaded, which Samsung says is a first for Android tablets, and it stays exclusive to the Galaxy Store for at least six months. Bundled trials, including four months of Photoshop’s mobile plan and six months of Google AI Pro, are temporary. Their real value depends on which of those subscriptions you would pay for anyway.
Android 17 with One UI 9 adds three-pane multitasking, and Samsung promises seven OS upgrades, which matters on a tablet that can pass AED 8,000. The open question is whether Photoshop pulls serious creative apps toward Android, or whether this is a one-off deal Samsung paid for.
