Mobile gaming is more popular than ever, with 2026 recording 3.1 billion players globally, according to market research firm Newzoo. But while the best smartphones are great for gaming during commutes or while sitting in your GP’s waiting room, sometimes a larger screen provides a much more immersive experience.That’s where the Samsung Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra comes in, with its 14.6-inch display providing impressive screen real estate while still measuring just 5.1mm thick for portability. It’s also powered by one of the best chipsets for mobile gaming, MediaTek’s Dimensity 9500, along with improved heat management versus its predecessor, helping ensure more consistent frame rates and performance.You’re also not necessarily limited to mobile games, either, as PC game streaming services like Steam Link and cloud gaming platform Nvidia GeForce Now are available on the Google Play Store.Pairing the Samsung Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra with an Xbox or PlayStation controller and a gaming headset via Bluetooth means you can build a powerful mobile gaming (or PC streaming) device.Can the Samsung Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra handle demanding Android games?The Samsung Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra is powered by a MediaTek Dimensity 9500 processor, which delivers strong single-core and multicore CPU and GPU speeds. Those help improve CPU performance by up to 19% compared to last year’s (already excellent) Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra and its Dimensity 9400+ chipset.Another performance-oriented improvement is the addition of a 3D vapour chamber design that dissipates heat more efficiently and quickly away from the MediaTek Dimensity 9500 chip and other components, meaning the Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra has more robust thermal management than its forebear, and can dissipate more heat to reduce the risk of slowdowns (also known as ‘thermal throttling’).These specifications mean you can easily run demanding AAA games like Genshin Impact, Honkai: Star Rail and Call of Duty: Warzone Mobile at high settings smoothly, and they’ll also look gorgeous on that expansive 14.6-inch 120Hz display.(Image credit: Samsung)Does the Samsung Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra support ray tracing in mobile games?One other advantage of the MediaTek Dimensity 9500 processor that’s powering the Samsung Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra is that its integrated 12-core GPU supports hardware-accelerated ray tracing.Ray tracing is a computer graphics rendering technique that aims to create realistic visuals by better simulating the physical behavior of light. Introducing real-time light calculations makes mobile games look more similar to console and PC games compared to the pre-rendered static lighting onto textures that mobile games often to rely on.Some mobile games already using the tech are AAA ports like Control Ultimate Edition, Assassin’s Creed Mirage and the Resident Evil 4 remake, but there are even some mobile-first games like Diablo Immortal and War Thunder Mobile that also support ray tracing. These games will shine on the Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra thanks to that combination of powerful GPU and large 14.6-inch AMOLED display.Is the Samsung Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra suitable for gaming while travelling?Despite its large 14.6-inch screen, the Samsung Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra is still highly portable thanks to its ultra-thin 5.1mm thickness and low 692g weight (or 695g for the 5G model), making it easy to slide into a backpack or carry-on bag for trips. It has also been tested in accordance with IP68 lab standard for water and dust resistance, as well as an Armor Aluminium frame.With a generous 11,600 mAh battery, you’ll have plenty of juice for extended gaming sessions during long flights or road trips without scrambling to find a power bank or outlet to recharge. And when you need to top up the battery, 45W fast charging (charging brick sold separately) can get you back up and running in no time.The Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra also supports third-party Bluetooth gaming controllers (like those included with Xbox and PlayStation consoles), as well as a wide range of gaming headsets. When you get to your hotel room, the tablet’s own four-channel spatial audio also provides surround sound through the quad-speaker system, providing an immersive experience without having to plug in an external speaker or use headphones. Can I use Steam Link to stream PC games to the Samsung Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra?As an Android tablet, Steam Link is available to install to the Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra directly from the Google Play Store, which will theoretically allow you to stream any game straight from your PC when the two devices are on the same Wi-Fi network. Another advantage of streaming games via Steam Link is that your gaming PC does all the processing power, with the Samsung Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra acting as the display and controller interface. That means the Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra is using less processing power compared to running games directly on the tablet, so streaming should also provide longer battery life.(Image credit: Samsung)Does the Samsung Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra support GeForce NOW cloud gaming?If you do want to play PC games you own while you’re out and about, Nvidia’s subscription-based GeForce NOW cloud gaming service is also available through the Google Play Store to install on the Samsung Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra.What makes GeForce NOW different from Steam Link is that, while you’re still streaming games from your existing collection (from platforms like Steam, Epic Games Store or PC Game Pass), you don’t need a gaming PC as a host, but rather you’re streaming games that are running on powerful Nvidia remote servers (powered by Nvidia GeForce RTX GPUs). The Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra provides an expansive 14.6-inch AMOLED screen with a 120Hz refresh rate, so when it’s paired with GeForce NOW all you need is a stable internet connection and a Bluetooth controller to get the full PC gaming experience while you’re away from home.The Samsung Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra is now available online and in-storeIf you’re looking for a tablet with excellent specs for mobile gaming or for streaming your own PC games, as well as something that can thrive in work and entertainment settings, the Samsung Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra is available through Samsung Australia and selected retailers. For more information on the Samsung Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra, visit the Samsung Australia website.Please refer to Samsung.com.au for full product and feature details, terms and conditions.