Samsung just told the world the Samsung Galaxy Tab S12 is coming. The timing couldn’t be more ironic. During its Q2 2026 earnings call on July 29, executive Daniel Araujo confirmed the tablet lineup while answering a question about the mobile division bleeding money. That same division just posted a 700 billion won operating loss — roughly $480 million — the first quarterly deficit since Samsung started tracking the segment in 2011. Here’s what we know, what’s driving prices up, and why the timing tells a bigger story.
What Samsung Actually Said
Araujo didn’t drop a date or a spec sheet. What he said was strategic: Samsung plans to offset its financial pressure by pushing premium products in the second half of the year. He grouped the Tab S12 alongside the new foldable series and Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 — all positioned as revenue drivers to counterbalance rising costs.
No launch date was given, but September looks almost certain. Samsung launched the Tab S11 series on September 4, 2025, and the Tab S10 arrived in September 2024. IFA 2026 runs September 4 through 8 in Berlin, and industry insiders expect an announcement around that window.
Both models have already cleared BIS certification in India, which typically signals a launch is weeks away.
No Budget Option This Year
Here’s the part that matters for your wallet. Samsung is skipping the base 11-inch model again. The lineup will consist of only two tablets: the Tab S12+ with a 12.4-inch display and the Tab S12 Ultra with a 14.6-inch screen. This mirrors the Tab S10 approach from 2024 — Samsung alternates between offering a base model and dropping it, and 2026 is a drop year.
The practical effect? The cheapest way into Samsung’s flagship tablet ecosystem just jumped by about $300. Reports from ETNews suggest the Tab S12+ will start between $1,100 and $1,200. The Ultra is expected to match or exceed the Tab S11 Ultra’s $1,199.99 launch price. If you were eyeing the previous $799 entry point, that door is closed.
This isn’t just a Samsung decision. As we covered in our breakdown of how the smartphone market is shrinking 15% in 2026, every major hardware maker is pushing flagship lines upmarket because memory chips cost dramatically more than a year ago.
The RAM Crisis Behind the Price Tags
The reason Samsung’s mobile division lost money is the same reason your next tablet will cost more: AI ate the world’s RAM supply.
Data centers now consume roughly 70% of all memory chips produced globally, up from 20–30% four years ago. Samsung, SK Hynix, and Micron — who control over 95% of DRAM production — have shifted manufacturing toward high-margin AI server memory. According to Morgan Stanley, the cost of 1GB of mobile RAM jumped from $2.80 in 2025 to $12 in 2026.
The irony is thick. Samsung’s semiconductor division reported nearly $62 billion in profit in the same quarter that its mobile unit posted a loss. The company is making record money selling the very components squeezing its own tablet margins. We unpacked this when Samsung posted an 18x profit jump earlier this month.
Don’t expect relief soon. Samsung warned the RAM shortage could last well into 2028, with unmet 2026 demand compounding into 2027.
What’s Actually Inside the Tab S12
Despite the pricing headwinds, the hardware itself represents a genuine upgrade. Both tablets are expected to run MediaTek’s Dimensity 9500, a 3nm chip fabricated by TSMC. This marks the third consecutive generation of Samsung premium tablets running on MediaTek silicon instead of Qualcomm Snapdragon — a choice that continues to divide enthusiasts.
Other expected specs: 12GB RAM, at least 256GB storage with microSD expansion, OLED displays at 120Hz, a 12MP punch-hole front camera with 4K video, quad speakers with Dolby Atmos, Wi-Fi 7, and IP68 water resistance. The S Pen ships in the box, and Samsung’s seven-year update commitment should cover Android through 2033.
The Ultra’s battery reportedly stays at 11,600mAh with 45W charging — unchanged from last year. Samsung is betting on the Dimensity 9500’s efficiency gains rather than adding physical battery size. As we noted in our Galaxy Tab S12 specs breakdown, the switch from a notch to a punch-hole front camera is one of the few visible design changes.
Should You Wait or Buy a Tab S11?
If you already own a Tab S11 Ultra, the S12 isn’t a generational leap — it’s a chip upgrade in a near-identical body. Grabbing a discounted Tab S11 once S12 pricing pushes resale values down might be the smarter play.
But if you’re on a Tab S9 or older, waiting makes sense. The Dimensity 9500 delivers a real jump in AI and GPU performance, the software runway stretches to 2033, and the punch-hole camera is a welcome refresh. Just budget accordingly — the $800 flagship tablet is gone.
Samsung’s mobile division posted its first-ever loss, warned prices will keep climbing, and, in the same breath, confirmed a premium product that’ll cost more than ever. That’s the tech market in 2026: the companies making the chips are thriving, and you’re paying the tab.
FAQsWhen will the Samsung Galaxy Tab S12 be available?
Samsung confirmed H2 2026. Based on prior patterns and IFA 2026 timing, a September announcement is most likely, with availability following within two weeks.
Why doesn’t the Galaxy Tab S12 use a Snapdragon chip?
Samsung has chosen MediaTek’s Dimensity 9500 for a third straight generation. MediaTek offers competitive GPU and thermal performance at lower licensing costs — a factor that matters even more during the current component price squeeze.
How is the RAM shortage affecting tablet prices?
AI demand has driven mobile RAM costs up roughly sixfold in one year. Data centers consume about 70% of all memory produced. This has already forced price hikes across every major brand, including Samsung, Apple, and Google.
Will Samsung release a standard 11-inch Galaxy Tab S12?
No. The lineup is limited to the 12.4-inch Tab S12+ and the 14.6-inch Tab S12 Ultra. Samsung has been alternating between including and dropping the base model since 2024, and 2026 is a skip year.
How long will the memory chip shortage last?
Samsung executives warned during the Q2 2026 earnings call that the shortage could persist through 2028. SK Hynix’s CEO has given even grimmer forecasts, suggesting shortages may not ease before 2030.
Vincee Cole is a technology journalist with four years of experience covering the full spectrum of modern tech — from consumer devices, artificial intelligence, to quantum computing, blockchain, and digital assets. His reporting cuts through complexity to deliver stories that are sharp, grounded, and relevant to both general readers and industry insiders. Previously, he worked with fintech research teams across Southeast Asia, analysing how emerging technologies are reshaping financial systems at scale.
