Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra review: Small steps forward!

The Galaxy S25 Ultra is Samsung’s most powerful smartphone yet, intending to outmatch everything else in the Android world. Focusing on performance and artificial intelligence (AI), the S25 Ultra refines last year’s model by bringing improvements in aspects such as the processing power, camera system, and software. However, some compromises also have been made, like the loss of Bluetooth connectivity for the S Pen. And that’s not all. If you want to know everything about the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra, read this review. I share my thoughts about this phone, while I cover its design, features, photo and video quality, as well as its software and overall performance:

Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra: Who is it good for?

This smartphone is an excellent choice if you:

• Are an enthusiast and want the latest flagship Samsung has to offer
• Like a refined, premium design with high-end materials and excellent build quality
• Are looking for a smartphone capable of shooting great photos and videos
• Want the latest and the best AI features available on a mobile phone

Pros and cons

These are the things I like most about the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra:

• Top-tier performance thanks to the Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset
• Bright and beautiful 6.9-inch AMOLED display
• Premium build quality with titanium frame and Gorilla Glass Armor 2
• Superb photo and video quality
• AI features that can be useful
• S Pen that offers precise writing and drawing
• Good battery life
• 7 years of software updates and major Android OS upgrades

On the other hand:

• The S Pen no longer has Bluetooth, which lowers its usefulness
• 45W wired charging has become slow for today’s flagship standards
• No microSD card support, so you must make do with the built-in storage

Verdict

Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra is an absolute powerhouse for everyday use, gaming, and AI-based tools. It’s one the best Android phones you can buy right now. The Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset is extremely fast, the 6.9-inch AMOLED display looks gorgeous, and the camera system takes good-quality photos and videos. Yes, some compromises have been made too. If you loved the S Pen before for its remote controls, you’ll miss that as the new one comes without Bluetooth connectivity. Furthermore, the battery charging could be faster, and the phone’s design could be bolder. This model is so similar to last year’s that you can’t tell them apart unless you’re looking at them up close. Even so, the Galaxy S25 Ultra is one of most powerful smartphones you can get in 2025, and despite the fact that it resembles last year’s model in many aspects, it’s a good smartphone that you won’t regret purchasing. Of course, only if it falls within your (very generous) budget.

Unboxing the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra

The packaging for the Galaxy S25 Ultra is minimalist, in line with Samsung’s eco-friendly approach. Crafted from recycled materials, it seems a bit smaller compared to older Galaxy phones. On the top cover, you see the phone’s name, a simple outline of the phone’s back, and the included S Pen. On one side, there’s a brief list of specs, along with the phone’s serial and IMEI numbers. The rest of the box’s exterior is kept clean. On the bottom, Samsung mentions the use of soy ink and recycled materials, minimizing its environmental footprint.

The packaging for Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra is simple and beautiful

Inside the box, you find the phone itself, a USB-C to USB-C cable, a SIM ejection tool, plus some documentation (quick start guide and warranty info). A charging adapter and a protective case are missing from the box. While I’m used to Samsung not including these extras anymore, it’s still slightly disappointing for a premium device. If you want to take advantage of the phone’s 45W charging, you must purchase a separate charger or use one you already own.

There aren’t many things inside the box of the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra

The box of the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra looks good and the unboxing experience is satisfactory. However, keep in mind that you’ll need to purchase a charger separately, as there’s none included in the package.

Design and build quality

The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra is larger than the standard S25 and S25+ models. It measures about 162.8 x 77.6 x 8.2 mm (6.41 x 3.06 x 0.32 inches) and weighs 218 grams (7.69 oz). That’s still about 6% lighter than last year’s Galaxy S24 Ultra. Despite its relatively large size, the phone feels more comfortable to hold than previous generations, thanks to rounded corners and slightly flatter sides.

The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra has a large and beautiful screen

The aluminum frame found in older models have been replaced by a titanium frame, which Samsung first introduced last year and refined for even better durability. Keep in mind, though, that titanium isn’t used for the side buttons. Those are made from aluminum.

The frame is made with titanium

The front and back are protected by Corning Gorilla Glass Armor 2, which is designed to withstand scratches and impacts. The device also features IP68 dust and water resistance, so it should handle daily wear and tear without issues.

Another notable design change is that the S Pen no longer has Bluetooth functionality. It remains neatly tucked inside its silo on the bottom of the phone but can’t be used for remote camera control or media playback. You may miss those features, but the S Pen still offers excellent precision for note-taking or drawing on the phone’s screen.

The S Pen is stored inside the phone’s body

Samsung offers the Galaxy S25 Ultra in a range of colors, all with a matte finish that resists fingerprints surprisingly well: Titanium Black, Titanium Gray, Titanium Whitesilver, and Titanium Silverblue.

Color options for the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra

There are also three other colors available only when purchasing the smartphone online from Samsung’s website: Titanium Jadegreen, Titanium Jetblack, and Titanium Pinkgold.

On the front, the 6.9-inch display features ultra-thin bezels and a centrally placed punch-hole for the selfie camera.

The screen has a hole for the selfie camera

The top edge of the phone has two tiny microphone slots plus a very thin area next to the display where the earpiece speaker resides.

The top edge holds two microphone holes

On the bottom edge, the phone hosts the SIM card tray, USB-C port, primary speaker, mic, and the S Pen slot.

The bottom edge is quite crowded

The power and volume buttons are located on the right side, easy to reach with a single hand, though this is still a large phone overall.

The power and volume buttons are on the right edge

The Galaxy S25 Ultra is a thoughtfully designed flagship with a premium look and feel. The rounder edges and slightly reduced weight make it a bit more comfortable to use than its predecessor.

Hardware specifications

The Galaxy S25 Ultra and the other S25 models feature the same chipset: a Qualcomm SM8750-AB Snapdragon 8 Elite customized for the Galaxy series. Moreover, it’s also used globally, meaning that you’ll get the same chipset regardless of where you buy this smartphone, including the United States and European Union. Built on a 3 nanometer process, the chipset includes an octa-core processor with two faster cores running at 4.47 GHz and six others running at 3.53 GHz. The graphics unit is an Adreno 830 offering advanced ray tracing in mobile gaming, HDR support, and hardware-accelerated AI features.

Details about the CPU and other hardware

In terms of memory and storage, the Galaxy S25 Ultra is available in multiple configurations: 12 GB RAM + 256 GB storage, 12 GB RAM + 512 GB storage, 16 GB RAM + 1 TB storage. All models use UFS 4.0 flash storage, ensuring extremely fast read and write speeds. Just be aware that there’s no microSD card slot for expansion, so choose your storage capacity carefully.

Memory and storage are generous

The display on the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra measures 6.9 inches and its Dynamic LTPO AMOLED 2X panel supports an adaptive refresh rate of up to 120 Hz. Its peak brightness is 2600 nits, making it easy to see even in direct sunlight. It also supports HDR10+ and has a QHD+ resolution (1440 x 3120 pixels), resulting in a pixel density of around 498 ppi (pixels per inch).

The display has a QHD+ resolution and fast refresh rate

This year, the Galaxy S25 Ultra’s camera system hasn’t changed significantly. It features the following:

• 200 MP main sensor (f/1.7, OIS) for high-resolution shots and improved low-light capabilities
• 10 MP telephoto (f/2.4, OIS) with 3x optical zoom
• 50 MP periscope telephoto (f/3.4, OIS) offering 5x optical zoom
• 50 MP ultra-wide (f/1.9) with a 120° field of view
• 12 MP selfie camera (f/2.2)

The only change compared to last year’s Galaxy S24 Ultra is the ultrawide camera, which got an upgrade from a 12 to a 50 megapixel sensor. Otherwise, everything looks the same.

The camera system got a new ultrawide sensor

Other sensors and connectivity options worth mentioning include Wi-Fi 7 for super-fast wireless speeds, Bluetooth 5.4 (but the S Pen no longer uses it), NFC, 5G connectivity, and an ultrasonic fingerprint sensor under the screen.

The fingerprint sensor is ultrasonic

For battery life, the phone houses a 5000 mAh cell, the same as the one for the older Galaxy S24 Ultra model. Samsung still caps wired fast charging at 45W, which can officially fill the battery from 0 to 65% in half an hour. Wireless charging remains at 15W, and 4.5W reverse wireless charging is available for earbuds and other accessories with low electricity requirements. These aren’t bad specs per se, but they’re not worthy of a 2025 flagship device. Take for instance, Xiaomi’s last year flagship, the Xiaomi 14 Ultra: it offers significantly faster charging speeds, with 90W wired charging (100% battery in about 33 minutes), 80W wireless charging (full battery in 46 minutes), and 10W reverse wireless for quickly powering up other devices. And consider that the next Xiaomi 15 Ultra is probably just around the corner, likely with even better specs in this area.

Battery details and status

The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra is certified with IP68 water and dust protection, letting it survive up to 1.5 meters underwater for about 30 minutes.

If you’d like to see more details about the smartphone’s key features and hardware specifications, check out its official webpage: Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra.

The hardware specs highlight a smartphone with top-notch components, yet its design remains strikingly similar to last year’s Galaxy S24 Ultra. The upgrades are incremental and Samsung seems to be focusing on better software and AI features rather than major hardware or design changes.