Last week’s poll on the Galaxy Tab S12+ and Tab S12 Ultra sparked a conversation that went well beyond the usual spec sheet comparisons. One commenter cut straight to the heart of the matter: the Tab S12 Ultra starts at $1,400 for a 12/256GB configuration, and that price doesn’t even include the keyboard cover, which adds another $380. At that point, why not just buy a MacBook?
It’s a fair question, and it’s one that clearly resonated with our readers. The poll results paint a picture of a community that is increasingly skeptical of tablet pricing that creeps into premium laptop territory. Let’s break down the numbers, the alternatives, and what this all means for Samsung’s latest flagship slates.
The Price Comparison That Stings
When you line up the Tab S12 Ultra against a comparable laptop, the math becomes uncomfortable fast. A 13-inch MacBook Air with an M5 chipset, 16GB of RAM, and 512GB of storage retails for $1,300. The 15-inch version comes in at $1,500. So for roughly the same money as the Tab S12 Ultra—or actually less, once you factor in the keyboard—you get a faster chipset, double the RAM, double the storage, and a keyboard built right in.
That’s not a minor discrepancy. It’s a fundamental value proposition problem. The Tab S12 Ultra is a gorgeous piece of hardware, no doubt, but when a fully equipped MacBook Air undercuts it on every meaningful productivity metric, buyers are right to pause and reconsider.
What About Windows?
Of course, not everyone wants to live inside Apple’s ecosystem. For those who prefer Windows, the 16-inch Galaxy Book6 at $1,450 offers another compelling alternative. It’s a full laptop with a proper keyboard, a larger display, and the flexibility of Windows—all for just $50 more than the Tab S12 Ultra’s base price. When you add the $380 keyboard to the Samsung tablet, the Galaxy Book6 actually becomes the cheaper option by a wide margin.
This is the trap Samsung has set for itself. By positioning its premium tablets so close to its own laptops—and to Apple’s laptops—it invites direct comparisons that the tablet simply cannot win on pure hardware value.
Why Are Premium Tablets So Expensive?
It’s worth stepping back and asking why these devices cost what they do. The Tab S12 Ultra and Tab S12+ are packed with cutting-edge technology: stunning AMOLED displays, powerful processors, premium build materials, and sophisticated stylus support. Research and development costs for these kinds of devices are enormous, and Samsung needs to recoup those investments.
But there’s also a strategic element at play. Samsung, like Apple, wants to position its high-end tablets as genuine laptop replacements. The marketing leans heavily on productivity, multitasking, and creative workflows. The problem is that the pricing strategy makes the “replacement” part feel less like a bargain and more like a premium tax.
The Keyboard Tax
Perhaps the most contentious issue is the keyboard. A tablet that costs $1,400 should arguably include a keyboard, especially when it’s being marketed as a productivity device. Charging an additional $380 for a keyboard cover feels punitive, and our readers clearly agree. Many commenters pointed out that this accessory pricing pushes the total cost well beyond what most people would consider reasonable for a tablet.
When you’re spending nearly $1,800 for a tablet and keyboard combo, the comparison to a fully specced laptop becomes almost laughable. You could buy a MacBook Air and an iPad for roughly the same money and have two devices instead of one.
What the Poll Results Tell Us
The poll results were decisive. A significant majority of respondents indicated that they would not purchase either the Tab S12+ or the Tab S12 Ultra at their current prices. Many cited the availability of better-value laptop alternatives as the primary reason. Others expressed frustration with Samsung’s accessory pricing strategy.
Interestingly, a smaller but vocal group remained enthusiastic about the tablets. These readers emphasized the unique advantages of the tablet form factor: portability, touchscreen interaction, stylus support, and the sheer quality of Samsung’s displays. For them, the Tab S12 Ultra isn’t competing with laptops—it’s a different category of device entirely.
The Enthusiast Perspective
It’s true that tablets offer experiences that laptops simply cannot match. Drawing directly on the screen with an S Pen, reading comics or magazines in full color, watching videos in bed without a hinge digging into your chest—these are real advantages. For digital artists, note-takers, and media consumers, a premium tablet can be genuinely transformative.
But even enthusiasts struggled to justify the price. Several commenters noted that previous generations of Galaxy Tabs offered similar experiences for significantly less money. The incremental improvements in the Tab S12 series, they argued, don’t justify the substantial price increases.
The Broader Tablet Market Context
Samsung isn’t alone in pushing tablet prices upward. Apple’s iPad Pro lineup has also crept into laptop territory, with high-end configurations exceeding $2,000. But Apple has a few advantages: a more mature ecosystem of professional apps, a stronger brand association with creative work, and the M-series chips that genuinely rival laptop performance.
Samsung’s tablets run Android, which—despite significant improvements in recent years—still lacks the depth of professional software available on macOS and Windows. This software gap makes the high pricing even harder to swallow. When you’re paying laptop prices, you expect laptop capabilities, and Android tablets still fall short in key productivity areas.
Deals and Discounts Matter
One important caveat: Samsung is notorious for aggressive discounting. The launch prices for the Tab S12+ and Tab S12 Ultra are unlikely to hold for long. Within a few months, we can expect to see significant price cuts, trade-in offers, and bundle deals that make these tablets far more attractive.
Our readers know this. Several commenters advised waiting for the inevitable discounts before considering a purchase. Samsung’s history suggests they’re right—the Galaxy Tab S11 series saw substantial price reductions within six months of launch.
What Would Make These Tablets Worth It?
The poll responses suggest several changes that would improve the value proposition. First and foremost, including the keyboard in the box would go a long way toward justifying the price. Alternatively, Samsung could reduce the base price of the tablets themselves, positioning them more clearly as premium accessories rather than laptop replacements.
Better software support would also help. If Samsung could attract more professional-grade apps to Android—particularly in video editing, music production, and design—the case for a premium tablet would strengthen considerably. The hardware is already there; it’s the software ecosystem that lags behind.
The Case for Patience
For those who genuinely want a Tab S12 Ultra or Tab S12+, patience may be the best strategy. Waiting for price drops, trade-in promotions, or bundle deals could make these devices far more palatable. Samsung’s tablets are excellent products—they’re just priced as if they’re something they’re not.
In the meantime, if you need a device for productivity today, the laptop alternatives are simply better value. A MacBook Air or Galaxy Book6 will serve most users better for less money. That’s the uncomfortable truth the poll results reveal.
Final Thoughts
The Galaxy Tab S12+ and Tab S12 Ultra are impressive pieces of technology. Their displays are stunning, their performance is strong, and their build quality is impeccable. But impressive technology doesn’t exist in a vacuum. When consumers can buy a faster, more capable laptop for less money, the value proposition of a premium tablet becomes difficult to defend.
Samsung needs to reckon with this reality. The company can’t market its tablets as laptop replacements while pricing them above laptops and charging extra for essential accessories. Either the tablets need to get cheaper, or the laptops need to get more expensive—and we all know which outcome consumers would prefer.
For now, the poll results send a clear message: the Tab S12 series is too expensive for what it offers. Until Samsung addresses this, many buyers will continue to choose laptops over tablets, and who can blame them?
