[DigitalToday reporter Jinju Hong (홍진주)] As Samsung Electronics prepares to unveil its next flagship smartphone, the Galaxy S26 series, this month, information on new products including its tablet and smartwatch lineups has taken shape through the GSMA IMEI database. The process has raised the possibility that the next Galaxy Tab S12 series could drop the base model, drawing attention to a potential shift in Samsung's product strategy.

On Feb. 2 local time, IT outlet PhoneArena reported that Smartprix, after analysing newly registered information in the GSMA IMEI database, said it had confirmed the names and model numbers of Samsung's next Galaxy Tab S12 series and two Galaxy Watch models. The database update did not include a base Galaxy Tab S12 model, raising the possibility that the lineup could be reshuffled around the Plus and Ultra models.

The tablets identified were the Galaxy Tab S12 Plus 5G (SM-X846B) and the Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra 5G (SM-X946B). A standard Galaxy Tab S12 model was not registered in the database.

Part of the smartwatch lineup was also revealed. The GSMA IMEI database listed the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 (SM-L716U) and the Galaxy Watch 9 (SM-L345U). In particular, the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 is interpreted as potentially going beyond an update comparable to the existing Ultra model or a model-year change, with the possibility of more significant performance improvements. This is seen as Samsung's response to intensifying premium smartwatch competition after Apple unveiled the Apple Watch Ultra 3 alongside the iPhone 17 series.

For the Galaxy Watch 9, however, no specific specifications or changes beyond the model number (SM-L345U) have been known so far.

Typically, it takes about 6 to 7 months from when device information is registered in the GSMA IMEI database to when an actual product is unveiled. Taking that into account, observers have raised the view that the products are likely to be unveiled in the second half of 2026.

PhoneArena forecast that the new Galaxy Watch products are likely to be unveiled alongside next-generation foldable smartphones such as the Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Galaxy Z Flip 8, and that the Galaxy Tab S12 series could be released as early as September.

Samsung has not yet issued an official position on the related products, but the absence of a standard Galaxy Tab S12 and the possible emergence of the Watch Ultra 2 are fuelling rising expectations and speculation over its next mobile device strategy.