While all eyes are locked on the Galaxy S26 and its unpredictable February 2026 release window, something just as exciting is quietly brewing behind the scenes.
Samsung is silently registering devices in the global GSMA IMEI database — the ones that will headline the second half of the year. If you’ve been waiting for the next flagship tablet refresh, this is the perfect moment to look at the numbers.
We’re talking about the Samsung Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra and Galaxy Tab S12+. These models are no longer rumors — they’re real. Model numbers SM-X946B and SM-X846B have already been logged, which means production is in its final preparation phase.
There’s just one detail that already breaks last year’s playbook: the standard Galaxy Tab S12 is missing from the list (and honestly, we think that’s exactly right — it’s time to stop making small-screen flagships). This move doesn’t look random at all.
Two is the new “three”: why Samsung is killing the “base” again
The market is brutal. Samsung clearly looked at the sales data and saw the truth: buyers vote with their wallets for either compact budget tablets or giant Ultras.
The “just right” base flagship has turned into dead weight. Last year the company experimented by dropping the Plus model entirely from the Tab S11 series. Now the pendulum has swung the other way — Plus is back, and the plain vanilla version is gone.
Strange? Absolutely. But we actually welcome it. When you look at the prices insiders are quoting for Russia right now, everything clicks into place.
Tab S12+ is expected around 100–110 thousand rubles
Ultra will easily cross 135–150 thousand rubles
In that price ladder there’s simply no room for a “somewhat affordable” flagship. Samsung is going all-in on premium, leaving the mid-range to the A and FE series.
What the early leaks are hiding: from processor to titanium
The IMEI listings don’t reveal specs, of course.
But the information field is already filled, and the rumored characteristics read like every power user’s dream list.
The biggest excitement is around the display.
Rumors strongly point to Tandem OLED — the same tech Apple already proved on the iPad Pro.
Picture a 14.6-inch screen with no notch at all and peak brightness up to 2800 nits. This isn’t just a tablet anymore — it’s a portable cinema studio on the go. 120 Hz is a given, but Samsung really needs to add proper adaptive refresh rate this time.
The heart of the device will almost certainly be the Snapdragon 8 Elite (Galaxy-tuned version of what was previously called Gen 2). Right now this chip is Android’s best answer to Apple’s M5 and A19 Pro.
Here are the early benchmark numbers we already have (engineering samples, not final Galaxy units):
Geekbench:
Single-core: ~3393
Multi-core: ~11515
The chip was running at reduced clocks (around 4 GHz instead of the full 4.74 GHz), so real retail performance will be noticeably higher.
AnTuTu:
mentions around 3.8 million points — though that figure comes from a single unverified forum post on HTCMania.
MediaTek’s Dimensity 9500+ is also in the conversation, especially for gamers who love its stronger GPU (Immortalis has always crushed graphics tests). But Samsung usually picks Qualcomm for the modem, custom cores, and easier global software support. Predictability wins over raw power.
And the memory?
Up to 24 GB of RAM. That’s workstation territory squeezed into a 5 mm thin body.
Why so much? Because Samsung is preparing a serious DeX revolution.
But that’s not all.
These models, according to the latest leaks, continue the Tab S11 lineage but come with a serious set of upgrades in performance, displays, and features — all aimed squarely at taking on the iPad Pro and every other premium Android tablet out there.
One of the biggest leaps is in the screens: higher-quality panels with elevated refresh rates (potentially up to 144 Hz), razor-thin bezels, and a full evolution toward a notch-free design that finally feels modern and immersive. Leaks suggest a switch to panels with insane brightness and sharpness levels — the kind that make long work sessions, video marathons, and intense gaming sessions noticeably more comfortable.
On the performance side, we’re looking at real forward progress too: expanded memory options (up to 24 GB RAM in the top Ultra trim), larger batteries for better all-day endurance, and support for fast charging. Samsung is also expected to beef up the graphics and AI capabilities to deliver smoother multitasking and creative workflows, plus upgraded cameras, better connectivity options, and a whole new level of productivity and entertainment features.
In the end, the upcoming Galaxy Tab S12 series looks like a meaningful step forward for Samsung’s flagship tablet lineup — not just another yearly refresh, but a genuine push to solidify its place as the go-to premium Android tablet with top-tier screens, serious power under the hood, and a genuinely refined user experience.
Neural DeX and Galaxy AI 3.0: the tablet as a neural interface
The real magic won’t be in the hardware alone — it’s in the software.
Leaks talk about Neural DeX. While regular DeX simply turns Android into a desktop-like experience, the new version will use on-device neural networks. Imagine opening a document and the tablet instantly structures data, creates summaries, and draws charts based on your voice commands.
Pair that with Galaxy AI 3.0 and a Grade 5 titanium chassis, and Samsung is clearly going after the iPad Pro’s crown as the go-to tool for digital artists and business travelers. This time they actually have serious arguments.
Watches as part of the strategy: where does the Watch Ultra 2 fit in
The same IMEI database also showed Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 (SM-L716U) and Watch 9 (SM-L345U). Coincidence? Not at all.
Samsung no longer sees tablets and watches as mere phone accessories. They’re independent powerhouses now.
Why connect an Ultra tablet with Ultra watches? Real-world scenarios already exist: automatic DeX profile switching based on your heart rate or stress level, or seamless audio handoff between the huge screen and your wrist during workouts. These invisible little touches are what truly make a device feel premium.
When to expect it and whether to trust the leaks right now
The timeline is becoming pretty clear. February IMEI leaks usually turn into an August or September announcement. Most likely the Samsung Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra will debut together with the Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Z Flip 8 at the second Galaxy Unpacked event of 2026.
Real photos and final benchmarks are still missing. Everything we have right now is model numbers and indirect confirmations from Smartprix and SamMobile. But this is exactly how every major Samsung leak starts — first just a number in a database, then customs docs, then factory shots, and finally the official reveal.
Right now it’s February 2026. We’re at the very beginning of the rumor cycle. Perfect time to keep an eye on the news, but don’t build your plans around unconfirmed details yet. Samsung is building a beast. We’ll see exactly how fierce it is only by autumn.
I’m Irina Petrova-Levin, a graduate of the Moscow Technical University of Communications and Informatics (MTUCI), where I earned my degree in Information Technology. My professional journey has been deeply rooted in JavaScript, PHP, and Python, driven by a profound fascination with how modern technology shapes our everyday lives. I strive to explain complex processes in a clear and accessible way without ever sacrificing accuracy or missing the core of the matter.
Now based in Dallas since 2019, my work reflects a unique synthesis of Eastern European engineering depth and the dynamic American tech mindset. This blend allows me to bridge two distinct technological traditions.
My goal is to deconstruct the real mechanisms behind the devices and systems we use daily. In my articles, I aim to deliver information that is not only practical and structured but also reveals the hidden logic of how our world actually works.
