Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra review
Design, build quality, handling
Samsung did not take any risks with the Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra - it's a familiar large slab with an aluminum unibody and a slim profile of just 5.1mm. The tablet is IP68-rated for dust and water resistance, something few slates offer nowadays.
The body of the Tab S12 Ultra is made of enhanced Armor Aluminum, the same material Samsung uses for its S-series smartphones. It is a durable material with increased deformation resistance, enhanced anodization, and hardness. We do not think that dropping this massive tablet on a concrete floor would make for a happy story, though.
There is no mention of the display glass maker.
You can get the Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra in dark gray (ours) or silver.
Now, let's take a closer look at the S12 Ultra.
Up front, the tablet boasts a laptop-sized 14.6-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X screen with exceptionally thin, symmetrical bezels and S Pen support.
A small, wide display notch accommodates the front camera setup - an unfortunate eyesore that Samsung continues to retain on its flagship model.
The Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra includes a rare perk for a tablet: an in-display optical fingerprint reader, which proves to be fast and highly reliable.
Around back, the design remains clean and minimalist, featuring subtle antenna lines and two protruding camera rings (which aren't factored into the quoted 5.1mm depth) alongside an LED flash.
You can also spot the magnetic pins on the back - they are used to connect the Slim Keyboard or the Pro Keyboard to the tablet.
Along the short edges, the Tab S12 Ultra houses quad speakers supporting 4-channel sound, a microphone, and the USB-C port.
The top long edge accommodates the power and volume buttons, two microphones, a nano-SIM (on 5G variants + microSD card slot, and a hidden magnetic attachment point for the S Pen.
Alternatively, the S Pen can attach to the bottom edge, which features the magnets meant for pairing with the official keyboard accessories.
The Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra measures 326.3 x 208.5 x 5.1 mm and weighs about 695 grams. While it is a large device, it is notably thinner and lighter than any laptop.
Handling the S12 Ultra feels somewhat awkward at first because of its size, but after a while, it starts to feel natural - comfortable, even. The expansive screen is a joy to use, the tablet offers numerous laptop-like features, and its premium design is both sleek and smudge-resistant.
Samsung Pro Keyboard
We received the official Pro Keyboard for the Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra, and it's the most amazing thing we've seen lately!
First, this thing acts as a cover, so your screen is always protected. It attaches exceptionally securely, so there is no danger of it coming off.
Second, it's a versatile stand that is incredibly easy to use.
And finally, the backlit keyboard and the large trackpad are premium laptop-grade quality. The keyboard has a standard 6-row arrangement with DeX and AI keys, offering plenty of key travel and great feedback.
The trackpad is large and comfortable to use, with a very good click action.
This is not a Bluetooth keyboard; it works only when attached via the pogo pins on the tablet. It is a powerful tool, though, and together with DeX mode, it can make you forget about your laptop.
