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Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra emerged from the shadows: Samsung launches firmware testing ahead of announcement

Test firmware for the X946B model has appeared on Samsung servers — a likely Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra. This indicates not rumors, but a concrete development stage: the release is months, not quarters away.

Tetiana Suchkova-Ladik

By Tetiana Suchkova-Ladik

April 27, 2026 · 2 min read

Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra emerged from the shadows: Samsung launches firmware testing ahead of announcement
Планшет Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra (Фото: Samsung)

When Samsung servers receive a firmware with the index X946BXXU0AZDN — this is neither a leak nor a concept. This is internal testing that the company conducts after the hardware and design have been finalized. According to SamMobile, exactly such a file was spotted on the brand's servers for the X946B model, which previous leaks associate with the Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra.

What this stage actually means

The firmware index is deciphered as follows: "0" in the position between the indices is a sign of a pre-release build, meaning the software is not yet ready for public release, but is already stable enough for internal QA testing. In Samsung's development cycle, between the appearance of such a file and the final announcement, typically two to five months pass — depending on how many critical bugs the testing team finds.

In parallel, information about the junior model in the lineup is circulating in the network — Galaxy Tab S12+ with a battery of 10,392 mAh, which is approximately 7% larger than the Tab S11+ battery. This is a practical detail: a larger battery with the same or better energy efficiency of the new chip means a more realistic working day without charging.

Why Tab S12 Ultra is not just a bigger tablet

The Ultra version is traditionally the only Android tablet in the top segment with a 14.6-inch AMOLED display and dual front cameras in a "notch". The competitive field here is narrow: iPad Pro on M4 and a few niche devices. However, Samsung plays in a different field — DeX mode and S Pen support is built-in, not an accessory for an extra charge.

Given that the Galaxy S25 series was released in January 2025 with the Snapdragon 8 Elite chip, it is logical to expect the same processor in the Tab S12 Ultra — this is standard practice for Samsung's flagship tablet of the same year.

The X946B model with firmware X946BXXU0AZDN is already undergoing internal testing on Samsung servers.

SamMobile
  • Model: X946B → Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra (according to leaks)
  • Stage: pre-release firmware QA testing
  • Tab S12+: 10,392 mAh battery — confirmed by separate leak
  • Expected chip: Snapdragon 8 Elite (by analogy with S25)

If Samsung adheres to last year's schedule — the Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra was announced in July 2024 — then the Tab S12 Ultra may appear in summer 2025. But this will only happen if current testing does not reveal systemic software issues: it was precisely QA stage delays that postponed Samsung announcements in the past.

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May 26, 2026