News found in the One UI 9 (Android 17) beta firmware indicates that Samsung plans a significant change in the design of its next premium line of tablets. It is likely that the upcoming Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra will abandon the traditional notch, adopting instead a hole cutout for the front camera, harmonizing it with the already consolidated appearance of the brand’s smartphones.
This change represents an important advance in the aesthetics of Samsung tablets, which for many years maintained a physical notch or more prominent edges to accommodate selfie cameras, moving away from the modern look used on Galaxy phones.
The main evidence for this speculation came from new device rotation animations located in the One UI 9 firmware files. Unlike more generic illustrations used in tutorials for previous versions, such as One UI 8.5, these unreleased files clearly display a tablet with a hole centered on the screen.
What strengthens the credibility of this clue is the adaptability shown in the animations: the device appears with a cutout on both the larger and smaller edges, mimicking the dynamic rotation behavior present on Galaxy smartphones. The absence of these same files on previous systems suggests that Samsung developed these illustrations with specific hardware in mind that is in the development phase.
Currently, models like the Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra still incorporate a notch positioned on the longer side. The adoption of a hole in the screen would allow Samsung to reduce the side edges of the device, increasing the proportion between screen and body and providing a more fluid and immersive visual experience for the user. This transition would align the company’s tablets with the prevailing trend in the industry, which seeks to reduce interruptions in the display area as much as possible.
While the presence of these animations in the code is a strong indicator, Samsung has yet to make any official confirmation about the design of its next flagship tablet. It is important to highlight that the company usually launches its premium tablet models at events separate from the foldable cell phone announcements, which leaves room for more details to be revealed throughout 2026.
In addition to aesthetic refinement, One UI 9 promises to integrate structural improvements focused on artificial intelligence, optimize the fluidity of system animations and provide deeper integration between all devices in the Galaxy ecosystem. The next step will be to wait for new leaks of information about the hardware that can confirm whether the hole design will, in fact, be the new visual identity of Samsung’s Ultra tablets.
Preliminary technical details of the Samsung Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra
- Screen:14.6 inches, QHD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X
- Platform:MediaTek Dimensity 9500
- RAM memory:12GB or 16GB
- Storage:256GB or 1TB
- Battery:11,600 mAh (typical capacity)
- Loading:45W
- Front camera:12MP
- Rear cameras:
* 13 MP main sensor
* 8 MP ultrawide sensor
- Operating system:One UI 9 based on Android 17
- Audio:Four-speaker system
- Extras:S Pen included in the package