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Door staff@engadget.com (Sam Rutherford) - 30 Sep 2026
Both versions of the Galaxy Tab S12 come with an included stylus that looks like the exact same pen that came with the previous model. It features a hexagonal shaft so it feels like a good ol' #2 Ticonderoga, just made out of plastic and with a removable nib instead of graphite. There's a handy button for erasing and other functions, and you can clip it to the side of the tablet magnetically when it's not in use. And since it relies on EMR to communicate, it doesn't need to be charged, which is kind of nice because that's one less thing to worry about. It even has IP68 dust and water resistance like the rest of the tablet, so you don't have to fret when an errant splash or rain hits either device.
That said, if you want the full laptop replacement experience, you'll need to buy one of Samsung's keyboards. The more affordable option is the Book Cover Keyboard Slim, which wraps around the S12 to protect its screen while in transit. It then unfolds to reveal a somewhat cramped 60 percent-style layout for typing. However, if you're serious about using Samsung's latest tablet for both work and play, you'll probably want to get the Pro Keyboard, which adds a dedicated touchpad along with a more typical key layout and even a small kickstand for extra stability. When combined with DeX mode, the Tab S12 Ultra with the Pro Keyboard really does make it easy to forget that this is merely an Android slate. I just wish the Pro Keyboard has a wider range of angles, as it often feels like it needs to be titled further back than I'd really like.
Finally, to help sweeten the deal and make on-the-go productivity just a bit easier, the S12 comes with free trials for a bunch of big name apps: four months of Adobe Photoshop, six months of Google AI Pro, two months of Lightroom, a year of Goodnotes and more.
That said, if you want the full laptop replacement experience, you'll need to buy one of Samsung's keyboards. The more affordable option is the Book Cover Keyboard Slim, which wraps around the S12 to protect its screen while in transit. It then unfolds to reveal a somewhat cramped 60 percent-style layout for typing. However, if you're serious about using Samsung's latest tablet for both work and play, you'll probably want to get the Pro Keyboard, which adds a dedicated touchpad along with a more typical key layout and even a small kickstand for extra stability. When combined with DeX mode, the Tab S12 Ultra with the Pro Keyboard really does make it easy to forget that this is merely an Android slate. I just wish the Pro Keyboard has a wider range of angles, as it often feels like it needs to be titled further back than I'd really like.
Finally, to help sweeten the deal and make on-the-go productivity just a bit easier, the S12 comes with free trials for a bunch of big name apps: four months of Adobe Photoshop, six months of Google AI Pro, two months of Lightroom, a year of Goodnotes and more.