The Galaxy Tab is quietly losing everything that made it special
Samsung keeps cutting Galaxy Tab features as prices increase
The Galaxy Tab S series has been quietly losing key features that once made it unique, according to a recent report. Samsung's latest models, including the Tab S12+ and S12 Ultra, have started removing elements that were present in previous generations. Starting in 2023, Samsung began dropping the Snapdragon chip, the Bluetooth S Pen, and the anti-reflective screen on most Tab S models.
The base Tab S9, once launched at $799.99, now starts at $1,199.99, a significant price increase. The S10 series further reduced the performance gap and lacked the anti-reflective coating, which Samsung claimed reduced reflections by 3%. The S11 series dropped the anti-reflective coating entirely, except for the S11 Ultra. Moreover, Bluetooth functionality in the S Pen was removed, affecting features like Air Actions and the camera remote.
The Tab S12 Ultra, priced at $1,399.99, also lacks the anti-reflective display, which must be purchased as a separate accessory. Battery life has improved, but the price increase and removal of features have left many users, including r/GalaxyTab members, considering alternatives like Lenovo tablets or even iPads. Samsung's market share in Q2 2026 was 6 million tablets, a 13% drop from the previous year, while the overall market declined 10%.
The trend of removing features, combined with component shortages, may signal a significant shift for Samsung in its tablet lineup.
Written by urgent.news from Android Police's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
