Samsung launches Galaxy Tab S12 Plus and Ultra, plus cross-platform SmartTag 3

The Plus returns after Samsung skipped the mid-sized model in the Tab S11 generation. Android Authority reported that last year's Tab S11 series offered the Tab S11 and Tab S11 Ultra, while this year Samsung has brought back the Plus and dropped the base model. The Verge reported that the lack of a regular Tab S12 suggests fans of the smaller size will have to wait until 2027. The Plus is a larger update: compared with the two-year-old Tab S10 Plus, it has a slightly larger and brighter 12.6-inch display and a 10,600mAh battery, while running thinner and lighter. The Ultra is a more modest refresh over the Tab S11 Ultra, with the same 14.6-inch display, 11,600mAh battery and 5.1mm thickness; the main changes are the annual chipset bump and upgraded four-channel spatial audio.

Both tablets use Dynamic AMOLED 2X displays with adaptive 120Hz refresh rates, 1,600 nits of peak brightness and IP68 ratings. They run MediaTek's 3nm Dimensity 9500 chipset, with Samsung claiming CPU, GPU and NPU improvements of 19 percent, 17 percent and 61 percent over the Tab S11 Ultra, and a new 3D vapor chamber for cooling. Samsung rates battery life at up to 23 hours of video playback for the Ultra and 21 hours for the Plus; both support 45W Super Fast Charging 2.0, which Samsung says can charge from zero in about 95 minutes. Software features include Multi Window with three apps, Now Nudge, Note Assist and AirDrop support. A keyboard accessory keeps the Galaxy AI key, now able to invoke Perplexity, but the keyboard is not included; an S Pen is. Bundled perks include a free four-month Photoshop subscription, six months of Google AI Pro and six months of Notability. The Verge reported that the launch also includes the Android debut of Adobe Photoshop for Tablets, a Galaxy Store exclusive for six months, with Adobe AI features and S Pen support.

In its review of the Tab S12 Ultra, Engadget called it the apex Android tablet and noted its 5.1mm, 692-gram chassis, under-display fingerprint reader and 12GB RAM and 256GB storage configuration. The review measured 19 hours and 39 minutes in a local video rundown test and said the tablet still had more than 40 percent battery after a day of streaming, gaming, benchmarks and photo editing. It praised DeX mode for a desktop-like interface but criticized the single USB-C port and said 16GB of RAM would have been preferable. The Ultra has 13MP and 8MP rear cameras and a 12MP selfie camera, while the Plus has a single rear camera, according to Engadget. In Geekbench 7, the review reported a multi-core score of 9,403, compared with 7,879 for a Dell XPS 13 with an Intel Core 5 320 chip.

Samsung also announced the Galaxy SmartTag 3, its third-generation Bluetooth tracker. It is 35 percent smaller and 33 percent lighter than the SmartTag 2, with an IP67 rating. It uses a replaceable CR2032 battery rated for 550 days of normal use or 790 days in power-saving mode, up from 500 and 700 days. Samsung says directional finding works up to about 200 feet, roughly three times farther than before, using ultra-wideband and Bluetooth 6.0 Channel Sounding on supported Galaxy phones. A new Place Notifications feature sets a geofence and alerts users when the tag enters or leaves an area. The SmartTag 3 also works with iPhones through the SmartThings app, though Compass View, Ring Phone and Left Behind Alerts remain exclusive to Galaxy devices, according to Android Authority. Samsung's Galaxy Find Network, with more than 900 million devices, handles tracking beyond direct connection range. Engadget reported that the tag can also act as a lightweight pet activity monitor, recording movement, active time and sleep in a dedicated SmartThings tab.

The SmartTag 3 is priced at $29.99 for one or $99.99 for a four-pack, according to Android Authority and Engadget, with black and white color options. Availability reports differ: The Verge said the tracker launches in South Korea on Oct. 7 with additional markets to follow in 2027 and no confirmed US release or price, while Android Authority and Engadget said US availability is expected in early November. The Tab S12 Plus and Tab S12 Ultra will be available Oct. 7 in Gray and Silver, and Galaxy Card users who buy directly from Samsung can earn 5 percent in cash rewards, according to Android Authority.