If there’s one phone that defines “over-the-top flagship”, it’s Samsung’s Ultra series. This year, the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra arrives with major camera upgrades, smarter AI-powered software, and hardware that aims to outclass every Android rival.
After two weeks of real-world use, here’s my honest Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra review — the good, the bad, and everything in between.
Design & Display — Refinement Over Reinvention
The Galaxy S25 Ultra sticks to what works but polishes the details.
It still has the iconic boxy shape, but the frame is titanium now — making it lighter (228g) and more durable.
The display? As stunning as ever:
- 6.9-inch QHD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X
- 120Hz adaptive refresh rate
- Peak brightness of 2,600 nits (yes, it’s insanely bright)
Samsung also improved S Pen integration — it’s smoother and slightly more responsive, ideal for note-takers and digital artists.
Performance — Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 + AI Boost
At its core is the Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 chipset, paired with:
- 12GB or 16GB RAM
- UFS 4.1 storage (256GB to 1TB)
Gaming, editing 4K videos, and multitasking are effortless. Where it gets interesting is Galaxy AI:
- Live call translation (real-time voice + text)
- Generative photo editing (remove objects, fill backgrounds)
- AI-driven battery optimization
AI is no longer just a buzzword here — it noticeably improves day-to-day convenience.
Cameras — 200MP Brilliance With AI Precision
Samsung doubled down on photography this year. Here’s the quad-camera setup:
| Camera | Specs | Key Features |
|---|---|---|
| Main | 200MP f/1.7 | Adaptive Pixel tech, sharper low-light |
| Ultra-wide | 12MP f/2.2 | Crisp, less distortion |
| Periscope | 50MP 5x Optical Zoom | Clearer mid-zoom |
| Telephoto | 50MP 10x Optical Zoom | Stunning detail at long-range |
AI-enhanced Nightography and Astro Hyperlapse make low-light and sky shots stand out. The AI Zoom Assist now works even at 10x, stabilizing long-zoom shots like magic.
For a deeper camera comparison, check out GSMArena’s S25 Ultra camera samples (external link).
Battery Life & Charging — Bigger and Smarter
The 5,500mAh battery is the largest ever in a Galaxy S Ultra.
With AI-powered power management, I comfortably got 2 days of regular use.
Charging specs:
- 65W wired (0–50% in 18 min)
- 45W wireless charging
- Reverse wireless charging
Still no charger in the box, though.
Software & Long-Term Support
The S25 Ultra ships with One UI 7.1 on top of Android 15, with Samsung promising 7 years of software updates — matching Google Pixel 9.
The new AI Wallpaper Creator and AI Search Suggestions in One UI are small but delightful.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Best-in-class display
- Blazing fast performance
- Versatile quad-camera setup
- Excellent battery life
- Long software support
Cons:
– Expensive (starts ~\$1,399)
– No charger in the box
– Slight learning curve for AI features
Final Verdict — Who Should Buy the Galaxy S25 Ultra?
If you want the absolute best that Android offers — powerful cameras, bleeding-edge AI features, and top-tier hardware — the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra delivers in spades.
Yes, it’s pricey. But for tech enthusiasts, power users, content creators, and anyone wanting future-proof performance, this is Samsung’s best Ultra yet.