Samsung is reportedly leaning on MediaTek’s Dimensity 9500 chip for its next Galaxy Tab S12 tablets—a notable shift away from Qualcomm that could reshape its tablet strategy. According to a leak from Samsung’s own AI Core app code, the flagship Dimensity 9500 platform, built on TSMC’s cutting-edge 3nm node, is poised to power the upcoming tablets.
The catch is simple: the code only references model MT6993, MediaTek’s Dimensity 9500, without explicitly naming the Galaxy Tab S12. Still, Samsung’s recent tablet moves lend strong credence to this being the next-gen flagship chip. The Galaxy Tab S10 and S11 series already dropped Qualcomm’s Snapdragon for high-end Dimensity chips, so this isn’t a curveball.
Flagship Power, Mid-range Compromises
The Dimensity 9500’s all-big-core CPU layout promises raw muscle, while its Mali GPU aims to boost gaming and multitasking on large screens. Built on TSMC’s 3nm process, it’s designed to be power-efficient and AI-forward. But here’s the rub: MediaTek chips still lag Qualcomm in some areas—network compatibility, software optimization, and brand perception among power users.
Samsung betting on this chip signals a clear prioritization of AI and battery life over pure brute force. Early reports suggest the AI Core app references features like AI-generated wallpapers, generative image editing, image expansion, and something called Image Harmonization that adjusts lighting and colors to make edits look more natural. This hints Samsung wants the Tab S12 to flex AI muscle on-device—reducing cloud dependence for faster, more private processing.
Samsung’s AI Push Means More Than Raw Specs
This leak isn’t just about a new chip. It shows Samsung’s strategic gamble on on-device AI for tablets. Putting AI tasks locally means improved speed, lower latency, and fewer privacy headaches. It’s a solid move, but don’t hold your breath for flawless execution—MediaTek’s AI capabilities have historically been strong on paper, weaker in practice.
The Galaxy Tab S12 line, expected around September, will likely include the Tab S12+, and Tab S12 Ultra. But specs beyond the chipset and AI features remain murky. If Samsung nails the AI integration, it could redefine what flagship tablets do. If not, this could be another case of interesting tech hamstrung by software and ecosystem limitations.
GizmoIndo’s Take
Samsung’s pivot to MediaTek for its flagship tablet chip is a calculated risk. It’s betting on AI as the next battleground to differentiate hardware—but the devil is in the details. MediaTek’s Dimensity 9500 could offer efficiency and AI chops, but it doesn’t yet match Snapdragon’s ecosystem polish. Samsung’s AI Core app leak points to an aggressive on-device AI play, which is smart given rising privacy concerns and cloud latency issues.
That said, the tablet market is brutally competitive, and Samsung needs to execute flawlessly across hardware, software, and AI features to justify this shift. For consumers, this means the Galaxy Tab S12 could either be a quietly powerful AI tool or a middling device with a fancy chipset. Watch this space—because Samsung’s AI gamble might just shape the next era of tablets, for better or worse.
(Via)
