Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra Review: powerful, polished, but not revolutionary

The Galaxy S25 Ultra is Samsung’s most advanced phone to date, leading the S25 lineup with premium hardware and refined features. It runs on the new Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 Elite for Galaxy - a 3 nm chip that's overclocked specifically for Samsung devices. Performance, efficiency, and AI capabilities are all improved, but don’t expect a game-changing leap forward.

Design & Display

Samsung refines the industrial look of the Ultra series by introducing completely flat sides while maintaining slightly curved corners. The phone is 0.4 mm thinner and 14 grams lighter than its predecessor, though the difference is barely noticeable in hand.

The IP68 rating remains, along with the integrated S Pen, now without Bluetooth. Button and port placements are unchanged, but the camera modules now protrude more, intentionally creating a "floating" visual - a minor design flourish that mostly collects dust.

The color options include Black, Gray, Silver Blue, and White Silver, with Samsung.com exclusives: Jetblack, Jadegreen, and Pinkgold. Jetblack is fully matte, both frame and back - understated and professional, but not exciting.

Display-wise, it's business as usual. The 6.9-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X panel features adaptive refresh (1-120 Hz) and an improved peak brightness of 2,600 nits. Thanks to slightly thinner bezels, the screen grew by 0.1 inches compared to the S24 Ultra. The new Gorilla Armor 2 glass offers the same low reflectivity, with slightly bluer light reflections.

Samsung also added three levels of "Vivid" mode intensity, catering to fans of the older, punchier AMOLED look. Under the screen is a fast and accurate ultrasonic fingerprint sensor, and basic face unlock is also available.

Camera

The hardware lineup remains familiar:

• 200 MP main sensor
• 50 MP 5x telephoto
• 10 MP 3x telephoto
• New 50 MP ultra-wide (replacing the previous 12 MP)

Day-to-day performance is excellent, with enhanced low-light shots and smarter AI processing. Samsung introduces adjustable photo filters, similar to Apple’s Photographic Styles - and they’re editable after shooting in the Gallery app.

The front camera (12 MP) hasn’t changed, but still delivers great selfies. Video recording is crisp, though the color tone has shifted - footage now appears slightly more vivid and greenish compared to the S24 Ultra. Stabilization remains solid across all lenses.

Performance

The Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 Elite for Galaxy brings tangible gains:

• +30% CPU
• +37% GPU
• +40% NPU (AI processing)

Samsung also increased the vapor chamber size by 40% for better thermal control. The phone stays cool and performs consistently even under load.

Software & AI

Running Android 15 with One UI 7, the S25 Ultra introduces:

• Live Notifications (similar to iPhone's Dynamic Island)
• AI Select, an advanced version of Circle to Search
• Multi-modal AI, allowing interaction across apps in real time

These features rely heavily on Google’s Gemini AI, meaning most will also arrive on recent Galaxy and Pixel phones. Samsung bundles 6 months of Gemini Advanced and 2 TB of cloud storage with the S25 Ultra.

The S Pen loses Bluetooth, dropping remote controls and air gestures. Considering how rarely these were used, it’s a logical step - no more charging the stylus, and the core writing/drawing experience remains intact.

Samsung commits to 7 years of updates, ensuring longevity well into 2032.

Battery & Chargin

Battery size stays at 5,000 mAh, with improvements relying on the 3 nm chip's efficiency. Real-world endurance is solid.

Charging is unchanged:

• 45 W wired
• 15 W wireless (Qi2 supported)

Qi2 opens the door for magnetic accessories, but Samsung avoids native magnet support due to interference with the S Pen's digitizer. That said, compatible third-party cases with magnetic rings are available.

Audio & Haptics

The S25 Ultra sees a minor audio upgrade. It’s a touch louder and richer, though still compresses at high volume. Bass is slightly deeper but not on par with dedicated speakers. Haptics remain excellent - sharp, responsive, and premium-feeling.

Conclusion

The Galaxy S25 Ultra is refined, powerful, and future-proof. But it's not a revolutionary upgrade over the S24 Ultra. If you already own last year’s model, there’s little incentive to switch. However, if you're coming from an older device or want the best Android flagship in 2025, the S25 Ultra is an easy recommendation.

Pro tip: If you want most of the same features at a lower price, consider picking up the Galaxy S24 Ultra on discount - it's still an excellent phone.