Carly Page is a technology journalist with more than a decade of experience covering consumer technology. Her work has appeared in The Independent, WIRED, TechRadar, Forbes and TechCrunch.
A tablet might be one of the most versatile devices you own, but getting the most from one means finding the right balance between portability, performance, and software that actually makes everyday tasks easier.
That’s the thinking behind Samsung’s new Galaxy Tab S12 series. The Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra and Galaxy Tab S12+ combine powerful hardware with productivity and creative tools, Galaxy AI experiences, and entertainment features, whether you’re working through a packed to-do list, developing a new skill, or settling in for a film.
Here are seven ways these devices can help you get more from your day.
1. Put Galaxy AI to work on everyday jobs
Galaxy AI* brings together AI experiences designed to help with everyday tasks, from summarising and translating content to working with notes and recordings.
There’s plenty of choice when you need an AI assistant, too. Both tablets offer Gemini**, Bixby† and Perplexity‡, which can be called using their respective wake phrases, while one can be assigned to the tablet’s side button. That gives you quick access to your preferred assistant without having to open an app first, whether you want to ask a question, find information or get something done on the tablet.
Gemini Intelligence§ can tackle multi-step requests, such as researching flights, finding a hotel and helping plan dinner for a trip, cutting down the number of individual searches and tasks involved.
2. Get powerful performance without sacrificing portability
The Samsung Galaxy Tab S12 series combines powerful performance with a slim design for use on the go
Samsung
Both S12 models are powered by MediaTek’s Dimensity 9500 processor, with 12GB of memory and up to 512GB of storage on the S12+, and up to 16GB of memory and 1TB of storage on the Ultra. Both support microSD expansion, so you can insert a compatible memory card to add more storage. That gives you the headroom to jump between apps, work with large creative projects and store plenty of photos, videos and other files without constantly clearing space.
A new 3D vapour chamber❡ helps manage heat during demanding workloads, supporting sustained performance when you’re gaming, editing high-resolution video or pushing the tablet hard for longer periods. Despite all that hardware, the 14.6-inch Ultra is just 5.1mm thick, while the S12+ measures 5.3mm, making it perfect for working, creating or entertainment on the go.
3. Bring your ideas to life with S Pen and creative apps
The included S Pen makes the Tab S12 series a place to create as well as consume. It’s optimised for apps including Adobe Photoshop†† and Notability, whether you’re retouching a photograph, taking handwritten notes or annotating a document. Notability can also capture recordings alongside your notes, making the combination useful for lectures, meetings and presentations.
Photoshop is available on Galaxy Tab for the first time, while Samsung’s Creative Studio can use Gemini's image-generation technology to transform S Pen sketches into artwork in different styles.
4. Turn your tablet into a workspace with Samsung 3 Way Window
Multitask with ease with Samsung 3 Way Window, giving you space to work across three apps at once
Samsung
You don’t always need to reach for a laptop to get work done. Samsung DeX gives the Galaxy Tab S12 series a PC-like workspace, making it easier to work across multiple apps and move content between them.
Multi Window tools let you split the display or use pop-up windows, while 3 Way Window gives you space to work across three areas at once. That could mean keeping notes open alongside a presentation and your research instead of constantly jumping between apps.
5. Take your skills further with creative and productivity apps
The tablet’s hardware is only half the story. The Galaxy Tab S12 series brings together professional-grade apps alongside benefits worth over £400, spanning photo editing, digital design, note-taking and productivity, giving you more ways to put new skills into practice. That includes free trial periods and discounts for apps including Adobe Photoshop, Notability, Goodnotes, LumaFusion, Notion, Clip Studio Paint and Noteshelf 3, plus a six-month Google AI Pro trial‡‡. This gives you access to Google’s premium AI features, including more powerful Gemini models and tools for research, writing and creative work.
6. Immerse yourself in films and games with an AMOLED display
The Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra has a 14.6-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display, while the more compact S12+ has a 12.6-inch screen. Both support HDR10+ for more lifelike colors and greater detail in bright and dark areas, while the 120Hz refresh rate keeps scrolling, gaming and on-screen motion looking smooth.
With up to 1,600 nits of peak brightness, TV and films, games and other content have plenty of room to shine. Quad speakers with Dolby Atmos add spatial sound, helping the audio experience keep pace with what’s happening on screen.
7. Stay connected wherever you are with optional 5G and long-lasting battery
With Wi-Fi 7 on the Ultra, Wi-Fi 6E on the S12+and optional 5G connectivity, the Galaxy Tab S12 series can keep working beyond your home or office. Battery capacity reaches 11,600mAh on the Ultra and 10,600mAh on the S12+, offering up to 23 and 21 hours of video playback respectively on a single charge. Both models can recharge from 0 to 100 per cent in about 95 minutes§§, while IP68 dust and water resistance adds some extra reassurance on the move.
Smart Switch also makes setting up a new Tab S12 easier. If you’re replacing an existing iOS or Android device, it can wirelessly bring compatible photos, files, apps and settings across to your new tablet, rather than you needing to start again from scratch.
*Samsung account and internet connection required
**Gemini is a trademark of Google LLC. Requires internet connection and Google Account login.
†Bixby service availability requires Samsung Account login and internet connection.
‡Requires Perplexity account and internet connection.
§Available to users 18 and above. Gemini is a trademark of Google LLC. Requires internet connection and Google Account login.
❡The 3D vapor chamber on both Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra and Galaxy Tab S12+ helps heat dissipate faster and more efficiently than the flat vapor chamber on their respective predecessors, the Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra and Galaxy Tab S10+.
††Adobe subscription required, sold separately.
‡‡Actual value and availability vary by market.
§§Video playback figures are based on Samsung internal lab tests; actual battery life varies by usage, settings and other factors. Charging times vary by conditions. Charger sold separately.