Samsung’s new tablets land in South Africa today, and they are built for people who want one device to carry a full day of work, study and play. The Galaxy Tab S12 series arrives in two models, the Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra and the Galaxy Tab S12+, and Samsung is calling it its most capable and versatile tablet line-up yet.
Both come with the S Pen in the box, the latest Galaxy AI features and a battery that Samsung says can last most of a long day. The Ultra is also the thinnest Galaxy Tab Samsung has ever made, while packing the most powerful performance of any Galaxy Tab to date.
Thin, Light and Seriously Quick
The Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra measures just 5.1mm thick. Inside is a 3nm processor with improved GPU power over last year’s Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra, which means smoother gaming, faster rendering on creative projects and fewer slowdowns when you have a lecture playing, notes open and an AI assistant on the go at the same time.
To keep things cool under pressure, Samsung has added a newly designed 3D Vapour Chamber that dissipates heat more efficiently than the flat chamber in the previous models. That matters if you plan to edit video or game for hours at a stretch.
Battery life is rated at up to 23 hours on the Ultra and up to 21 hours on the S12+. When it does run low, a 45W adapter (sold separately) takes it from 0% to 100% in about 95 minutes.
Bigger Screens and Better Sound
The Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra has a 14.6-inch display, while the Galaxy Tab S12+ moves up to a 12.6-inch screen with slimmer bezels than before. Both use Dynamic AMOLED 2X panels that reach up to 1,600 nits of peak brightness, and the upgraded Vision Booster adjusts brightness in real time depending on the lighting around you.
Audio gets a real step up too. The new 4-channel spatial audio doubles the channels of the previous generation, which should make games, streaming and tutorials feel a lot more immersive.
A Proper Workspace with Galaxy AI
The series runs Android 17 with One UI 9. You can split the screen into up to three sections, so you could have a lecture playing on one side, Samsung Notes on the other and an AI assistant open alongside. Jot down thoughts with the S Pen as you go, and Note Assist will summarise your notes without you having to pause anything.
For anyone who wants a more laptop-style setup, there is the Pro Keyboard with a premium aluminium finish and a dedicated Galaxy AI Key, and the Book Cover Keyboard Slim for a lighter option. Both are sold separately.
Every Tab S12 also comes with a six-month trial of Google AI Pro, giving access to Google’s most capable Gemini models from day one. Gemini Notebook pulls your notes, images, recordings and files into one place and can turn them into summaries, podcasts and quizzes. Samsung Browser has also become smarter, summarising information across your open tabs and finding a source you looked at days ago.
Photoshop Comes Pre-Loaded
This is a big one for creatives. Adobe Photoshop comes pre-loaded on the Galaxy Tab S12 series, a first for Android tablets. The interface is built for tablets, works with the S Pen and includes AI tools powered by Adobe Firefly, such as Generative Fill and Image to Video. Tab S12 owners get four months of the Photoshop mobile plan free.
The app bundle does not stop there:
- Notability, newly pre-loaded, with a six-month free trial and 20% off your first subscription
- Goodnotes with one year of free access
- LumaFusion for pro-level video editing at a 66% discount
- Notion with one month of its Plus plan free
- Clip Studio Paint with a six-month trial and 20% off your first subscription
There are also handy extras like MyScript Math, which solves handwritten equations and shows the working, MyScript Notes, Noteshelf 3 and ArcSite, which turns rough sketches into precise CAD drawings.
Availability and Launch Offer in South Africa
The Galaxy Tab S12 series is available locally from 06 November 2026, in Gray and Silver. Samsung is also promising up to seven years of OS upgrades and security updates, so this is a tablet built to last.
There is a solid local launch offer running until 31 January 2027, which includes:
- An R1,500 voucher
- Six months of Google AI Pro free, valued at over R2,500
- Pre-loaded apps including Photoshop and Notability
- The S Pen included in the box
- Up to 23% off Samsung Care+
On the Samsung Care+ side, there are two promotional options. Samsung Care+ Premium on a monthly subscription gives you 36 months of accidental damage protection with unlimited repairs for R99 per month, down from R129. Alternatively, the once-off Samsung Care+ Premium option covers 24 months with two repairs for R1,699, down from R1,999.
If you already use a Galaxy phone running One UI 9, you can check your tablet’s Samsung Care+ status and enrol straight from the Warranty and Care menu in your phone’s Settings.
For more information, visit Samsung.com or SamsungMobilePress.com.
