The "1-Minute" Review
Verdict
A refined phone blending top-tier power and subtle design with familiar components, capped with a dose of AI advancements.What's good
- Powerful AI features
- Improved camera software
- Tough Gorilla Armor 2 glass
- Long software support
- Elegant design update
What's bad
- High price point
- Limited design changes
- Battery life not best-in-class
- S Pen features removed
- Charging speed not fastest
Design
The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra sports a fresh design with rounded corners and flat edges, moving away from the previous Note-like aesthetics. This redesign offers better grip and handling comfort, appreciated by those who use the phone for long periods.
Despite its larger display, the device doesn't feel bulkier due to its slimmer form and lighter weight. The use of titanium for the frame adds durability without adding heft, although the difference might not be noticeable without a direct comparison to aluminum models.
PCMag praised the build quality but noted the minor annoyance of the S Pen sticking out slightly: "Samsung phones usually stand out for their fit and finish, with build quality that rivals the very best." A common sentiment among reviewers is that despite feeling safe in design, the S25 Ultra remains a standout in Samsung’s flagship lineup.
Display(s)
The screen on this phone has become even more engaging by increasing its size to 6.9 inches while reducing bezels for a more immersive experience. The anti-reflective coating maintains screen clarity under bright sunlight, ensuring you don't miss a beat outdoors.
Viewing videos and images come alive with rich, true-to-life colors and sharp details. With a refresh rate that adjusts up to 120Hz, you enjoy smoother scrolling and gaming experiences.
Experts from PCMag find the display gorgeous, praising its visible performance in various lighting conditions, confirming its worth for those seeking premium visual experiences.
Performance
The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra impresses with its Snapdragon 8 Elite chip, boasting a 40% boost in AI capabilities and significant gains in both CPU and GPU performance, as noted by PCMag. This makes streaming, gaming, and multitasking exceptionally smooth.
This phone easily handles day-to-day mobile tasks thanks to its advanced internal cooling, ensuring consistent peak performance. Despite the power, the Qualcomm processor manages energy well, offering robust thermal management for extended use without overheating. Experts commend this model as Samsung's most powerful iteration yet, ready for any mobile challenge.
Software & Storage
The Galaxy S25 Ultra features Samsung's redesigned One UI 7 layered over Android 15, offering a sleek interface that makes interacting with the phone a breeze.
With AI-driven features like Cross App Actions, Samsung elevates usability, allowing you to link actions across different apps seamlessly. PCMag highlights these features as instrumental in providing "compound requests with minimal input."
Samsung ensures long-term software support with seven generations of UI updates and security patches, securing usability for years to come.
Cameras
You'll enjoy vivid photos across all lighting conditions with the S25 Ultra, featuring a 200MP main camera that excels in capturing detail. Its upgraded 50MP ultrawide camera significantly enhances landscapes and macro shots, offering higher resolution and a wider angle.
PCMag noted that the photos are brighter and more detailed than its predecessors, although some inconsistencies remain in low light with the telephoto options.
Despite these minor challenges, the Galaxy S25 Ultra continues to be one of the best choices for photography enthusiasts seeking versatility and quality.
Battery
Experts note the Galaxy S25 Ultra's 5,000mAh battery generally manages a full day with ease, granting peace of mind for regular users. Expect an impressive performance through a typical day, offering you the ability to stay productive without the constant need for a charge. Samsung promises 70% charge in half an hour using a 45W charger, ensuring you spend less time waiting around for power.
If your lifestyle demands a reliable battery, this feature is worth noting, despite the lack of the extreme fast charging speeds available from some competitors.
Audio
The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra delivers impressive audio quality for both calls and media consumption. "The call quality is quite good," according to PCMag, with clear voice transmission and noise reduction that make conversations easy to follow, even in noisy places.
For entertainment, the phone features robust speakers capable of high volumes. It reaches 96.3dB when playing music, offering a rich sound that fills the room, though deep bass notes might be less pronounced. Reviewers suggest using Bluetooth headphones for a fuller audio experience if desired.
Overall, the audio capabilities on this device make it a strong contender for those who prioritize sound quality in both phone calls and media playback.
The Bottom Line
This phone offers exceptional performance with its high-level processor, smoothing even the most demanding tasks.
Noteworthy is its updated ultrawide camera, providing sharper, vibrant images, and its AI features simplifying everyday tasks with intuitive prompts.
The design aligns closely with the rest of the series, making it feel slightly less unique but more cohesive with its slimmer, more manageable form.
Though its charging remains conservative at best, it maintains reliable, all-day battery life, making it a stellar choice for power users seeking consistency and capability.
Reviewers at Phone Arena remarked that “Performance is great, even if stressing benchmarks can get it to throttle,” showcasing that while powerful, there are limits to its endurance under extreme tasks, aligning with expectations for a high-performance device.
What the Critics Are Saying...
- Richard Goodwin, Know Your MobileThe Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra is the best phone you can buy right now, and the gap between it and the competition is wide. The only area where Apple’s iPhone 17 Pro Max pulls ahead is in video production. For creators focused on pro-level video, that still matters. But for everyone else, the S25 Ultr…
- Damien Wilde, 9to5GoogleAll of the little intangibles add up to craft one of the best phones you can buy. Sure, it’s overpriced, but I’m hooked on the Galaxy S25 Ultra and, in particular, One UI 7 like I never anticipated. The camera needs some upgrades, the hardware can be a little too angular, but I’m finding it hard to …
- Russell Matthew Loh, DanamicSamsung’s big bet on AI for this year’s iteration of the Galaxy phones is a miss from me. Galaxy AI has frustrated me more than it has been useful. This feels very much like first-year woes—tout how much of a game-changer Galaxy AI will be for how you use your phone, but the execution isn’t quite th…
- Beth Nicholls, Creative BloqThe Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra continues the premium standard of AI smartphones, with an excellent industry-leading camera phone, gorgeous 6.9-inch AMOLED display, and advanced AI tools for photo and video editing that make it a top choice for content creators. But with only a year between the launch …
- Chris Hall, AVForumsThe Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra comes with a tweaked design that feels a little fresher and more premium, in a device that’s very similar to the Galaxy S24 Ultra from 2024. There’s plenty of power, a great display and a comprehensive set of cameras, all backed by Samsung’s popular One UI software that’…
Prices (Where to Buy)
Common Questions
The Galaxy S25 Ultra price will vary depending on retailer, age, special offers and whether or not it's purchased with a service plan. If purchased with a 2 year service contract for example, you would likely pay much less for the phone itself up front.
You can compare Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra prices from around the web here on The Informr.
We've got you covered! Download a free PDF copy of the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra user manual here.
Samsung backs up the Galaxy S25 Ultra with a 1 Year parts & labour warranty.
If your Galaxy S25 Ultra has problems and is still within its warranty period, you could contact Samsung support or the retailer you purchased the phone from. You'll find Samsung's contact information here.
If your phone is off warranty and needs repair for a physical problem such as a broken screen or bad battery, you should visit an authorized service centre or a local phone repair shop.
You can also connect with others in The Informr Community Forum to find and share answers to questions.
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