Samsung Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra in Digit Test Labs: Slim, sharp and gorgeous to look at

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra is a big tablet. Really big. At 14.6 inches, it is more like a laptop screen than what most people would traditionally imagine when they hear the word ‘tablet.’ But the first thing that catches me off guard isn’t actually the size. It is how Samsung has managed to make something this large just 5.1mm thick and 692 grams. I have been using the Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra for about two days, and it looks almost absurdly thin for its footprint. Samsung’s Ultra tablets have always had that visual presence, but this one takes it a step further. It is a huge, beautifully built slab of metal and glass, and that enormous AMOLED screen immediately grabs your attention. Here are my first impressions from the Digit Test Labs.

Also read: Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 review: The best book-style foldable money can buy

Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra: A seriously big tablet

There is no getting around the size. The Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra is enormous, and you notice it the moment you pick it up. At 14.6 inches, this isn’t something I would casually hold in one hand while scrolling through Instagram or reading an article in bed. It wants a table, a desk, or at least your lap. I have seen the marketing material for this tablet online, and with Samsung’s Pro Keyboard Book Cover, the whole thing starts looking even more like a very slim laptop than a conventional tablet.

And yet, the dimensions are what make the hardware so impressive to look at. The Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra is only 5.1mm thick, and despite the sheer amount of screen real estate here, the Wi-Fi model weighs 692 grams, while the SIM model weighs 697 grams. It doesn’t feel bulky in the way I expected something this large to feel.

The Enhanced Armor Aluminum body also gives it that familiar premium Samsung feel. There is an IP68 rating as well, and because Samsung has retained the same physical dimensions as the previous generation, older accessories remain compatible. That’s a small but useful detail if you are already invested in Samsung’s Ultra tablet ecosystem.

Then there is the colour. I have the Moonstone Gray version, and it looks absolutely fantastic. There is something about Samsung’s Ultra tablets that makes them look more like premium design objects than oversized tablets.

Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra: That AMOLED display is hard to ignore

The other thing that immediately pulls me towards the Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra is, obviously, the display. It’s a 14.6-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X panel with a 120Hz refresh rate, and the combination of that size, resolution, and Samsung’s typically punchy AMOLED presentation makes everything look incredibly vivid. Colours pop, blacks look properly black, and the sheer size of the panel makes everything from browsing to watching videos feel quite immersive. Samsung has also equipped it with Vision Booster, with peak brightness rated at 1,600 nits, so outdoor visibility should be interesting to test properly over the coming days.

For now, what stands out to me is simply how much screen Samsung has managed to squeeze into a device this thin. You almost have to remind yourself that the Tab S12 Ultra is still a tablet.

The S Pen also comes in the box, which makes sense given the kind of device this is. With a screen this large, drawing, annotating documents, and taking handwritten notes feel like activities that actually have room to breathe.

MediaTek, more power and a lot of battery

The biggest change inside the Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra is the move to MediaTek’s Dimensity 9500. This is a 3nm chip, and my early time with the tablet has been largely about how quick everything feels. Samsung claims a 19 per cent CPU improvement, a 17 per cent GPU boost and a rather substantial 61 per cent improvement in NPU performance over the previous generation. There is also a new 3D vapour chamber, which should help when the tablet is being pushed for longer periods. That is particularly relevant here because Samsung is clearly positioning the Tab S12 Ultra as something that can sit in a laptop-replacement role.

One UI 9 adds to that idea with features such as three-way split-screen multitasking and Galaxy AI tools, including Nudge Note Assist. And Samsung is promising seven years of Android OS upgrades and security updates, which gives the tablet a rather long runway.

The battery is massive too. There is an 11,600mAh cell inside the Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra, with support for 45W charging and a claimed video playback time of up to 23 hours. The speakers have also received an upgrade, with Samsung moving to a four-channel spatial audio system.

There is a lot going on here, but I am particularly interested in seeing how all of this comes together when the Tab S12 Ultra is used as an actual work machine rather than simply as a very large media consumption device.

Rs 1.5 lakh for a tablet? There’s more to it

The Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra starts at Rs 1,49,999 in India for the 12GB RAM and 256GB Wi-Fi model. The 5G version starts at Rs 1,64,999, while the 512GB variants go up to Rs 1,69,999 for Wi-Fi and Rs 1,84,999 for 5G. And yes, that is a lot of money for a tablet.

But I don’t think Samsung is operating in isolation here. Smartphones, tablets, laptops, and pretty much anything else that relies heavily on modern chips are getting more expensive. A large part of the pressure is coming from the enormous demand for computing hardware driven by AI, with memory and semiconductor resources being pulled towards data centres and AI infrastructure. That cost eventually finds its way into consumer electronics, and sadly, I suspect these kinds of prices are going to feel increasingly normal through 2027.

I did, however, go to Samsung’s website to see what deals were actually available if someone wants to purchase. There are bank cashback offers of up to Rs 5,000, an additional Rs 5,000 upgrade bonus, and no-cost EMI options running for up to 24 months. There are also bundle discounts if you are buying a Galaxy phone, keyboard, or wearable alongside it.

The Pro Keyboard itself costs Rs 27,999, so that is another sizeable addition if you want to use the Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra as a laptop-like machine. The launch bundles can make a difference here, particularly if you were already planning to buy other Galaxy products.

Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra: First impressions

My first few days with the Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra have mostly been about getting used to its sheer scale. It is a ridiculous amount of tablet, but then again, that is clearly the point. What surprises me most is that Samsung has managed to make such a large device so thin. At 5.1mm, it almost doesn’t look real when you see it from the side. That huge AMOLED display, the slim aluminium body, and the clean design really do make it stand out when you have it in front of you.

Also read: Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra review: King of the hill

With that said, what you can actually do with all this hardware and screen space once you start using it as your everyday computer. That’s what I will be spending more time figuring out in the days ahead. Stay tuned for the full review of the Samsung Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra dropping soon on Digit.