A Tom's Guide reviewer says Samsung's 12.6-inch Galaxy Tab S12 Plus is easier to live with than the bigger Ultra, though the keyboard adds a lot to the cost.
A reviewer at Tom's Guide says Samsung's Galaxy Tab S12 Plus is the tablet to pick over the larger Tab S12 Ultra for most people. After a couple of weeks of use, the reviewer calls it the better buy for many shoppers, mainly because it is easier to carry and still feels premium.
The Tab S12 Plus has a 12.6-inch screen. The review frames it as Android's answer to Apple's 13-inch iPad Pro M5. The argument is simple: most buyers do not want the biggest tablet Samsung can make. They want something portable with a strong screen, good performance, long battery life and pen support.
The reviewer says the size is large enough to make movies feel immersive, yet slim enough to slip into a messenger bag or backpack. It has even replaced a Nintendo Switch 2 and, at times, a phone.
The display is AMOLED, a screen type known for deep blacks and rich color. It runs at 120Hz, which makes menus and scrolling feel smooth. The reviewer used it for TV on train rides and for reading comics, and praised the colors and contrast.
Tom's Guide has not yet run its lab tests on the Plus. Samsung quotes the same peak brightness as the Ultra, which tested very well and beat the iPad Pro M5 in the outlet's earlier review.
The one screen complaint is glare. There is no anti-reflective coating, and reflections were noticeable in strong morning sun. The reviewer says the screen is bright enough to push through most conditions.
Samsung's Pro Keyboard is sold separately at $350, £289 or AU$499. That is more than many entry-level Chromebooks, and the review notes that the combined price could buy a decent laptop.
The reviewer handles writing, research, photo editing, email and Slack on it without trouble. For long feature writing, a mechanical keyboard is still preferred.
The material does not give the price of the tablet itself, so the total cost with the keyboard is unclear. Lab results for the Plus are also still to come, and the verdict rests on a couple of weeks of use by one reviewer.
If you want one tablet for work and play, the 12.6-inch Tab S12 Plus may fit better than the Ultra, but add the $350 keyboard to your budget.
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