Are Samsung Galaxy Tab S12 and Xiaomi Pad 9 Pro worth the price jump?
Why the Samsung Galaxy Tab S12 series feels overpriced
European leaks show the Samsung Galaxy Tab S12+ starting at €1,299 and the Samsung Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra at €1,539. Adding 5G pushes the price up by another €200. Compared with last year’s Samsung Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra, which launched at €1,339, the new Ultra is €200 more expensive despite only a modest processor upgrade to a Dimensity 9500.
What the price jump means for buyers
The price increase comes at a time when memory costs are rising and the generational improvements are minimal. For most consumers the extra cost does not translate into a noticeably better experience. The Samsung Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra still offers a large display and premium build, but the value proposition is weak when the same device from a year ago can be found for a fraction of the price.
Xiaomi Pad 9 Pro raises its own price
Across the border, Xiaomi has introduced the Pad 9 Pro at ¥3,799, roughly £430. That is a ¥1,000 increase – about 36 percent – over the launch price of the Xiaomi Pad 8 Pro. The Pad 9 Pro does bring a larger 12.5‑inch 3.2K LCD with a 144Hz refresh rate, a Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 processor, up to 12GB RAM and 256GB UFS 4.1 storage, plus a 11000mAh battery and 67W wired charging.
How the Xiaomi Pad 9 compares
The regular Xiaomi Pad 9 starts at ¥2,999 and features an 11.2‑inch display, Snapdragon 8 Gen 4, 13MP rear and 8MP front cameras, a 9720mAh battery and 45W charging. Like the Pad 9 Pro, it also marks a 36 percent price rise over the previous generation.
Which tablet offers better value?
On paper the Xiaomi Pad 9 Pro appears to deliver a bigger performance jump than the Samsung Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra, but its price is still considerably higher than the Xiaomi Pad 8 Pro, which sold in the UK for just £529 last year – less than half the cost of the Samsung Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra at launch.
Should you buy now?
Given the steep price hikes and modest upgrades, most experts recommend holding off on a brand‑new Android tablet. If a tablet is essential, looking for a discounted model from the previous year can provide almost the same hardware for a much lower price.
Bottom line
The combination of rising component costs and conservative feature updates means the Samsung Galaxy Tab S12 series and Xiaomi Pad 9 Pro are unlikely to be good purchases right now. Shoppers would be wiser to wait for price drops or to consider older, still capable models.
