Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra Battery Leak Reveals No Upgrade From S11 Ultra
A Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra battery leak suggests Samsung may be reusing the identical 11,600mAh pack from its predecessor not just matching the capacity figure, but reportedly carrying over the same physical component. Reports from Android Authority and SamMobile, both citing GalaxyClub, landed today. Samsung has not confirmed any of these figures.
The Tab S12 Ultra is expected to carry a typical capacity of 11,600mAh, rated at 11,374mAh, matching the Tab S11 Ultra exactly, per Android Authority. What SamMobile reported goes further: Samsung is reportedly not using a newer battery model number, which the outlet characterizes as the company "changing absolutely nothing" about the battery. If that holds, the carry-over extends to the physical pack itself.
The contrast with the Tab S12 Plus sharpens things. The Plus is expected to arrive at around 10,500mAh or 10,600mAh, up from 10,090mAh in the previous model, according to Android Authority. The more expensive Ultra, on current leak reports, is not receiving a comparable upgrade. That's not what Samsung's usual lineup suggests.
Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra battery capacity: what the leak actually shows
The capacity figures alone would not be the most significant part of this report. Capacity can stay flat across generations while the underlying component is quietly refreshed. What makes this leak harder to dismiss is the model number claim: SamMobile reported that Samsung is not using a newer battery model number on the Tab S12 Ultra, which points toward the identical physical pack rather than a new cell that happens to hit the same spec.
That distinction matters. A redesigned battery pack, even at the same rated capacity, can bring improvements to charge cycle longevity, thermal behavior, or internal space allocation. None of those potential gains apply if the component hasn't changed. They are not guaranteed from a new pack either, but they are foreclosed entirely when the component is the same unit. The model number is a clue, not proof Samsung hasn't confirmed anything, and certification filings can sometimes lag or misrepresent production changes.
The hardware context makes the stagnation more pointed. Based on prior reports, the Tab S12 Ultra features a 14.6-inch QHD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X display, a dual rear camera, a 12MP front camera, a quad-speaker system, and a bundled S Pen, per SamMobile. That is a power-hungry combination, and a larger display rewards endurance improvements more than most hardware categories. The charging picture looks equally static: 45W fast wired charging will likely carry over unchanged, SamMobile reported.
The Plus gets the upgrade the Ultra reportedly skips
A few months ago, the Tab S12 Plus battery capacity leaked, signaling a real improvement over its predecessor. SamMobile noted that the Plus leak raised expectations Samsung would follow with a similar upgrade on the Ultra. Today's reporting suggests those expectations were misplaced.
The Plus is expected to arrive at around 10,500mAh or 10,600mAh, up from 10,090mAh, per Android Authority. That 10,090mAh figure also applied to the Tab S10+, meaning the S12 Plus would represent capacity progress spanning two product generations. The Ultra line has not mirrored that trajectory on paper.
The gap between the two models is narrowing from below, not widening from above. The Ultra commands a higher price, runs a larger display, and now appears to be arriving with a static battery while the Plus closes in. For buyers comparing the two models at purchase, that is a concrete spec-sheet difference that runs against the usual assumption that the flagship automatically wins the endurance comparison. The S Pen bundling remains a genuine Ultra differentiator for stylus users, but on battery alone, the Plus currently holds the stronger story.
What the Dimensity 9500 could and couldn't change
Samsung is reportedly planning to equip the Tab S12 series with the MediaTek MT6993, which corresponds to the Dimensity 9500, according to Android Authority. A newer chip generation can shift real-world endurance even when battery capacity stays flat. The chip may offset some of the battery stagnation, but independent testing will be needed to tell.
The problem is scope. No tablet-specific power efficiency data for the Dimensity 9500 appears in the current leak record. Battery capacity and battery life are distinct figures, and the gap between them depends on display tuning, software behavior, and actual usage patterns. Certification filings and component leaks don't capture any of that.
What to watch before launch
Both the Tab S12 Plus and Tab S12 Ultra appeared in the GSMA IMEI database in February, with all listed models expected later this year, per GSMArena. The typical six-to-seven month gap between GSMA database registration and release, noted by Android Authority at the time, points toward a second-half 2026 launch.
Further certification filings could surface additional battery or charging details before then. Independent reviews will show whether the Dimensity 9500 changes anything in practice. Endurance figures should be the first numbers scrutinized when those reviews land.
A flat battery on a premium tablet isn't automatically disqualifying if the rest of the package earns its price. But Samsung hasn't yet shown what that argument looks like for the S12 Ultra, and the current leak record gives buyers no reason to assume it.
Comments
Be the first, drop a comment!