There’s no shortage of premium Android tablets in the market, but Samsung has consistently managed to keep its Galaxy Tab Ultra lineup ahead of the competition by delivering a compelling combination of powerful hardware, stunning displays and productivity-focused features. The latest Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra continues this tradition, pushing the boundaries of what an Android tablet can offer with a more powerful processor, an expansive AMOLED display and a suite of intelligent Galaxy AI features. Priced at S$1,998 in Singapore, it certainly sits at the premium end of the tablet market, but there’s plenty here to make it an exciting proposition for those who want a capable device for both work and entertainment.
One of the first things that makes the Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra stand out is its impressive 14.6-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display. Offering a sharp 2960 x 1848 resolution and a smooth 120Hz refresh rate, the expansive screen is a real treat for anyone who spends a considerable amount of time watching videos, browsing the web or working across multiple applications. Colours look vibrant, contrast is wonderfully rich and the overall viewing experience feels every bit as premium as one would expect from Samsung’s flagship tablet. Its peak brightness of up to 1,600 nits, coupled with Samsung’s Vision Booster technology, also helps keep the screen comfortably visible in brighter surroundings. Despite the generous screen real estate, Samsung has managed to keep the tablet remarkably slim at just 5.1mm, giving it a sleek and sophisticated profile that is particularly impressive for a device of this size.
Under the hood, the Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra is powered by MediaTek’s latest 3nm Dimensity 9500 chipset, which brings a meaningful performance boost over its predecessor. Samsung claims improvements of 19% in CPU performance, 17% in GPU performance and 61% in NPU performance compared to the previous generation. In practical terms, this translates into a tablet that is well-equipped to handle demanding applications, intensive multitasking and graphics-heavy games without breaking a sweat. The newly designed 3D Vapor Chamber cooling system also help maintain consistent performance during longer sessions, which is particularly useful when switching between demanding workloads. Whether I’m editing documents, juggling multiple windows or simply unwinding with some mobile gaming, the Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra has the hardware to make these activities feel so effortless.
Of course, a premium tablet should offer more than just raw processing power, and this is where Samsung’s productivity ecosystem really comes into play. The included S Pen makes handwriting notes, annotating documents and sketching feel natural, while its ultra-low latency helps deliver a responsive writing experience. Samsung DeX further elevates the experience by providing a more desktop-like interface, making it easier to work with multiple windows and get things done without constantly switching between applications. Those who want to take things a step further can also pair the tablet with Samsung’s optional Pro Keyboard, which comes with a trackpad and a dedicated Galaxy AI key. While it won’t completely replace a conventional laptop for every professional workflow, particularly when specialised desktop software is involved, it comes remarkably close to being a capable portable workstation for everyday productivity.
Samsung has also placed considerable emphasis on Galaxy AI this time around, with several features designed to make the tablet a more useful everyday companion. Features such as Now Nudge and Automated App Action aim to simplify everyday tasks, while Creative Studio provides an interesting way to turn S Pen sketches into more polished artwork. The ability to work with different AI assistants, including Bixby, Gemini and Perplexity, also gives users greater flexibility in how they interact with their device. Beyond the AI experience, Samsung has included a selection of attractive creative and productivity app benefits, including trial subscriptions for Adobe Photoshop, Notability Plus, Clip Studio Paint EX and Goodnotes Essential. These additions make the large display and S Pen combination even more appealing, particularly for students, digital artists and professionals who want to get more out of their tablet.
Battery life is another area where the Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra makes a convincing case for itself. Packing a sizeable 11,600mAh battery, the tablet is designed to keep up with long working days and extended entertainment sessions without constantly having to reach for a charger. Personally, I find battery endurance particularly important on a tablet of this size, as I tend to use it for a mixture of browsing, watching videos and getting some work done throughout the day. Having that extra battery capacity means I can enjoy the expansive AMOLED display without feeling the need to keep an eye on the battery percentage every so often. Samsung rates it for up to 23 hours of video playback, although actual endurance will naturally vary depending on screen brightness, connectivity and usage patterns. When it eventually runs low, 45W fast charging helps get it back up and running relatively quickly, delivering a full charge from 0 to 100% in just slightly more than an hour.
What makes the Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra particularly compelling, however, is how well it brings all these elements together. Its enormous AMOLED display makes entertainment genuinely enjoyable, its flagship-grade chipset provides plenty of performance headroom, and its S Pen and DeX capabilities give it a level of versatility that many conventional tablets simply cannot match. The addition of Galaxy AI also adds another layer of functionality, while Samsung’s promise of up to seven generations of OS upgrades and long-term security updates makes it a more reassuring investment for the years ahead.
At S$1,998, it is undoubtedly a substantial investment, especially when optional accessories such as the keyboard require additional spending. Nevertheless, for anyone looking for a premium Android tablet that can comfortably move between entertainment, creativity and productivity, the Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra is one of the best, if not the best, Android tablets around right now. It is a seriously impressive piece of hardware that shows just how far the Android tablet experience has evolved.
