Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra Review: Evolution, Not Revolution

The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra officially ascends to the throne as Samsung’s ultimate flagship for 2025. It leads the Galaxy S25 series with the largest display, most powerful specifications, and most versatile camera system. But is it truly worthy of being called an upgrade — or simply an incremental update?

Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra Specifications

Design and Display: Sleek, Flat, Functional

The Galaxy S25 Ultra design introduces fully flat sides, a refined titanium frame, and reduced thickness (by 0.4mm) and weight (14g lighter than the S24 Ultra). It still carries Samsung’s “floating camera” look on the back — stylish, but prone to gathering lint.

Available Colors:

• Black
  
• Gray
  
• Silver Blue
  
• White Silver
  
• Samsung.com Exclusives: Pinkgold, Jetblack, Jadegreen
  

The 6.9-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display supports HDR, 120Hz refresh rate, and reaches up to 2,600 nits brightness. Vivid mode now offers three levels of intensity, and the ultrasonic fingerprint sensor under the screen remains blazing fast.

Camera: Familiar Formula, Sharpened Output

The Galaxy S25 Ultra camera setup sticks with a proven configuration but adds a major upgrade to the ultra-wide lens.

Rear Cameras:

• 200MP main (wide)
  
• 50MP periscope (5x)
  
• 10MP telephoto (3x)
  
• 50MP ultra-wide (upgraded from 12MP)
  

Front Camera:

• 12MP selfie shooter
  

Samsung introduces editable photographic filters, similar to Apple’s Photographic Styles. Night photography is improved with better exposure and less over-sharpening. Video supports up to 8K recording, with enhanced stabilization and richer color output.

Selfies are sharp and consistent, and the new AI-powered photo editing tools are welcome additions.

Performance: Elite Power with a Hint of Throttle

The Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 Elite for Galaxy powers the S25 Ultra with:

• 30% faster CPU
  
• 37% faster GPU
  
• 40% faster NPU
  

Benchmarks:

Performance is top-tier in daily use, but it does throttle under long gaming or stress test sessions — dipping down to around 3,000 points in sustained 3DMark runs. Despite that, the real-world performance is smooth and responsive.

Software: One UI 7 + Android 15 + Gemini AI

The Galaxy S25 Ultra software comes with One UI 7 based on Android 15 and introduces a wave of Gemini AI-powered features:

• Live Notifications (Dynamic Island-like UI)
  
• AI Select (upgraded Circle to Search)
  
• Multimodal assistant across apps
  
• Audio Eraser for video
  
• 6 months of Gemini Advanced with 2TB cloud
  

Samsung promises 7 years of updates, ensuring longevity through 2032. The S Pen remains — though Bluetooth features like air gestures are removed, simplifying the stylus and improving reliability.

Battery Life and Charging: Still Solid, Still 5,000 mAh

The Galaxy S25 Ultra battery remains at 5,000mAh. With chip and software efficiency, it delivers slightly improved endurance.

Battery Test Results:

• Web Browsing: 20h 49m
  
• Video Streaming: 8h 54m
  
• Gaming: 14h 21m
  
• Overall Estimate: 8 hours
  

Charging:

• 45W wired (68% in 30 minutes, full in ~1h 9m)
  
• 15W wireless via Qi2
  
• No MagSafe-style magnets (due to S Pen interference)
  

It’s a strong performer, though not the leader in battery longevity.

Audio and Haptics: Louder and Tighter

The speakers have improved slightly — louder, fuller sound, but still a bit compressed at high volumes. Bass leans into the lower mids and may lack depth for audiophiles.

Haptic feedback, powered by Samsung’s refined Taptic Engine, continues to be sharp, precise, and satisfying.

Cost and Availability of Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra

Samsung launched the Galaxy S25 Ultra on January 17, 2025, with global commercial availability following soon after.

U.S. Pricing:

• 256GB: $1,299
  
• 512GB: $1,399
  
• 1TB: $1,599
  

With trade-in deals, the price can drop as low as $399 depending on your existing device.

Pros and Cons

Pros:

• Stunning 6.9-inch AMOLED display
  
• Excellent camera versatility and performance
  
• Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 Elite performance
  
• Integrated S Pen
  
• 7 years of software support
  
• AI features via Gemini
  

Cons:

• Selfie camera still capped at 60Hz
  
• S Pen lost Bluetooth features
  
• Processor throttles under extreme loads
  
• No magnetic wireless charging compatibility
  

FAQs

Q1: When is the release date for the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra?

A: It launched on January 17, 2025.

Q2: What are the specifications of the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra?

A: It features a 6.9″ AMOLED display, Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 Elite, 12GB RAM, 5,000mAh battery, and quad rear cameras.

Q3: What is the price of the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra?

A: Pricing starts at $1,299 USD, with trade-in and preorder deals available.

Q4: Does Galaxy S25 Ultra have S Pen support?

A: Yes, it includes an S Pen, but Bluetooth functionality has been removed.

Q5: What kind of battery life can be expected from the Galaxy S25 Ultra?

A: Around 20 hours for browsing, 9 hours for video, and 14 hours for gaming.

Q6: What new features can be found in the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra?

A: AI editing tools, Audio Eraser, new filters, 50MP ultra-wide camera, and Gemini-powered software intelligence.

Also Read – Xiaomi 15 Ultra Review: Flagship Camera, Elite Specs & More

Final Verdict

The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra is a strong refinement of an already polished formula. While not a radical leap, it improves where it matters: AI features, display size, and photo processing. For users upgrading from older models like the S21 Ultra or below, it’s a massive leap. For S24 Ultra owners, the upgrades may not feel compelling.Still, in 2025, the Samsung Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra stands tall as one of the most complete Android smartphones money can buy — a device built for power users, creators, and productivity-minded individuals alike.