Samsung's 2025 flagship, the Galaxy S25 Ultra, has been eagerly awaited in the tech world. With its new design, powerful hardware, enhanced artificial intelligence features, and of course, the iconic S Pen, the S25 Ultra aims to secure a prominent position in the premium smartphone market. So, does this device truly live up to expectations? After testing the device for about a week, here's a detailed review of the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra.
Design: More Ergonomic, More Elegant (9/10)
Samsung has made subtle yet effective changes to the design of the Galaxy S25 Ultra. The sharp corners of previous models have given way to more rounded edges, making the device more comfortable to hold. Despite its massive 6.9-inch screen, the phone is 14 grams lighter (218 grams) and 0.4 mm thinner (8.2 mm), enhancing its usability. The titanium frame and Corning Gorilla Armor 2 glass make the device feel both durable and premium.
Color options include Titanium Black, Titanium Gray, Titanium White Silver, and Titanium Silver Blue. Samsung's "nature-inspired" color palette offers a professional and stylish look, but it might be a bit conservative for those expecting bolder colors. For example, the absence of vibrant colors like Coral Red in the Ultra model might disappoint some users.
The S Pen continues to be the hallmark of the Galaxy Ultra series, but this year, Bluetooth connectivity has been removed, eliminating features like air gestures and remote shutter. While this may be a minor loss for some users, the S Pen's note-taking and drawing capabilities remain unparalleled.
Cons: The absence of a charger in the box and the requirement of a special case for Qi2 wireless charging are disappointing for a premium device.
Display: The Visual Feast Continues (9/10)
The Galaxy S25 Ultra's 6.9-inch QHD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X display once again proves Samsung's leadership in screen technology. With a resolution of 3120x1440, 2600 nits peak brightness, and HDR10+ support, the screen delivers excellent visuals both indoors and outdoors. The anti-reflective coating enhances visibility under direct sunlight, setting it apart from competitors.
The 120Hz adaptive refresh rate provides smooth animations and scrolling. However, some users noted that the screen initially appeared a bit matte; this issue resolves after optimizing brightness and color settings.
Cons: The lack of a 10-bit panel is an unexpected omission in this price segment.
Performance: Flying High with Snapdragon 8 Elite (9/10)
The S25 Ultra is powered by Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy processor. This chip offers a significant performance boost over the previous generation with a 37% faster CPU, 30% more powerful GPU, and 40% more efficient NPU. With 12GB of RAM and 256GB, 512GB, or 1TB storage options, the device provides a flawless experience in both daily use and intensive gaming.
In our tests, app switching and multitasking performance were extremely fluid. Samsung's 40% larger vapor chamber improves thermal efficiency, minimizing heating issues during prolonged use. However, slight stutters were reported in the Chrome browser; Samsung's own browser, on the other hand, runs smoothly.
Cons: For those upgrading from the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, the performance difference may not be dramatic.
Camera: Versatile, But Not Revolutionary (9/10)
The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra's camera system features a quad-lens setup: a 200MP main camera, a 50MP ultra-wide, a 10MP 3x telephoto, and a 50MP 5x telephoto. The ultra-wide lens has been upgraded from 12MP to 50MP, delivering sharper and more detailed images, especially in low light.
The main camera captures incredible detail in daylight shots. The 3x and 5x zoom lenses perform quite well for portraits and distant subjects. In low-light performance, it offers less noise and clearer details compared to the iPhone 16 Pro Max, but slight color accuracy deviations are observed in some scenarios.
On the video front, while there are stabilization issues at 8K 30fps, it delivers excellent results at 4K 60fps. The new Log mode provides flexibility in color grading for professional users. The zoom microphone enables clearer audio capture in videos.
Cons: The removal of the 10x optical zoom and noise in some low-light scenarios slightly mar the camera experience.
Battery: Long-Lasting, But Slow Charging (8/10)
The 5000mAh battery is one of the S25 Ultra's strongest points. In our tests, it provided 1.5 days of use with 3.8 hours of screen time using dual SIM, Wi-Fi, 5G, and QHD+ settings. Samsung's battery optimization software provides two more hours of usage compared to previous models.
However, the 45W wired charging speed lags behind competitors' 100W+ charging speeds. A 70% charge in 30 minutes feels slow compared to older generation devices. Qi2 wireless charging support is only possible with a special case, which complicates the user experience.
Cons: The absence of a charger in the box and slow charging speed are unacceptable for a premium device.
Software: Shining with Galaxy AI and One UI 7 (9/10)
The Galaxy S25 Ultra comes with Android 15-based One UI 7 and promises seven years of software and security updates. One UI 7 offers a clean, fast, and customizable interface; while some users praise its resemblance to iOS, it can be said that Samsung maintains its own style.
Galaxy AI is one of this device's biggest selling points. Features integrated with Google Gemini include real-time translation, Circle to Search, note creation, and photo editing. However, some errors in Gemini (e.g., incorrect location identification) may disappoint users.
Cons: Some AI features are not yet mature and don't offer a significant advantage over competitors' similar features.
Pricing: Premium or Pricey? (7/10)
The Galaxy S25 Ultra comes with a price tag of $1,299.99 / £1,249 / €1,449 for the 256GB model. This places it in the same price segment as competitors like the iPhone 16 Pro Max and Google Pixel 9 Pro XL. However, the lack of a charger in the box, the removal of features like 10x zoom, and competitors offering faster charging call the price-performance balance into question.
Nevertheless, Samsung's brand value, seven years of software support, and unique features like the S Pen still make the device attractive in the premium segment. The difference will be particularly noticeable for those upgrading from an S21 Ultra or older model.
Overall Assessment: Is It Worth Buying?
The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra is a technically impressive device. With its improved ultra-wide camera, powerful Snapdragon 8 Elite processor, gorgeous display, and long battery life, it's one of the best in the Android world. However, the lack of radical innovations compared to previous models and the removal of some features (10x zoom, S Pen Bluetooth) might make S24 Ultra owners hesitant to upgrade.
Who is it for?
- Those who love large screens and the S Pen.
- Those who want long software support and powerful performance.
- Those looking for a versatile camera system.
Who is it not for?
- S24 Ultra or S23 Ultra owners (they might not feel a big difference).
- Those looking for faster charging and innovative design.
- Those wanting a budget-friendly device (Chinese competitors may offer better price-performance).
In conclusion, the Galaxy S25 Ultra offers a premium Android experience, but it might have needed to take slightly bolder steps to retain the "best" title. If you're looking for a flagship with the latest technology, reliability, and versatility, the S25 Ultra should still be at the top of your list.
Score: 8.5/10
📌 Where to Buy? Available on Samsung's official website and at authorized retailers (Amazon, Best Buy, Verizon). You can get better prices with launch promotions and trade-in programs.