Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra Review 2025
Table of Contents
The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra doesn’t revolutionize smartphone hardware, but it opens the door to an entirely new level of user experience. Its expansive and more engaging display is complemented by softened corners and a slimmer frame, improving grip and usability over its predecessors. Under the hood, it’s driven by the custom-tuned Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy chip, which powers an impressively fluid interface and introduces cutting-edge AI capabilities—most of which are processed right on the device.
Starting at a premium $1,299.99, the S25 Ultra clearly isn’t targeting the budget-conscious. However, its powerful performance, integrated S Pen, and sophisticated AI tools give it a clear advantage over the $799.99 standard Galaxy S25 and the $999.99 S25+. For those seeking the ultimate Android flagship in early 2025, the S25 Ultra stands tall—and earns our Editors’ Choice distinction.
Pros
- Better ergonomics than previous Ultras
- Excellent cameras
- Long software support window
- Sharp, anti-reflective screen
- Powerful AI features
- Class-leading performance
Cons
- Expensive
- Less S Pen functionality than previous generation
Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra Specs
| Name | Value |
|---|---|
| Operating System | Android 15 |
| CPU | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy |
| Dimensions | 6.40 by 3.11 by 0.34 Inches |
| Screen Size | 6.9 inches |
| Screen Resolution | 3,120 by 1,440 pixels |
| Camera Resolution (Rear; Front-Facing) | 200MP, 50MP, 50MP, 10MP; 12MP |
| Battery Life (As Tested) | 14 hours, 15 minutes |
Design: A Welcome Refresh
As the flagship and priciest member of the Galaxy S25 lineup, the Galaxy S25 Ultra stands out in more ways than one. This year, Samsung has softened the Ultra’s design by replacing its traditionally sharp, boxy edges with more rounded corners, bringing its aesthetic closer to the rest of the Galaxy S series. This marks a shift away from the Note-inspired styling that has defined previous Ultra models. Notably, the S25 Ultra remains the only device in the series to feature full S Pen integration, making it an ideal choice for creatives and productivity-focused users who rely on stylus input.
With dimensions of 6.41 x 3.06 x 0.32 inches and a weight of 7.69 ounces, the Galaxy S25 Ultra is slightly sleeker and lighter than the Galaxy S24 Ultra, which had a chunkier build at 6.40 x 3.11 x 0.34 inches and tipped the scales at 8.22 ounces. While the difference may seem minimal, it results in a more refined feel in hand. If you’re looking for something a bit more compact, the Galaxy S25+ might be the better fit—coming in at 6.24 x 2.98 x 0.29 inches and weighing just 6.70 ounces, it retains much of the Ultra’s capabilities in a smaller frame. Compared to rival flagships, the size savings are negligible: Apple’s iPhone 16 Pro Max measures 6.42 x 3.06 x 0.32 inches and weighs 7.99 ounces, while Google’s Pixel 9 Pro XL comes in at 6.40 x 3.00 x 0.30 inches with a 7.80-ounce body.
The Galaxy S25 Ultra separates itself from the rest of the S25 series with a high-end titanium frame and Samsung’s latest front protection: Corning Gorilla Armor 2. This advanced glass covering offers a 29% boost in drop resistance compared to the first-generation version used on the S24 Ultra, according to Samsung. It also features anti-glare technology, helping reduce reflections and improve screen visibility under harsh lighting. The back of the device remains protected by Gorilla Glass Victus 2, while the standard S25 and S25+ models opt for lighter aluminum frames and Victus 2 glass.
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It’s built to survive submersion in up to five feet of water for as long as 30 minutes—perfectly in line with what’s expected from today’s flagship smartphones. This level of durability matches competitors like
Samsung has kept the rear camera layout unchanged, featuring four circular lenses accompanied by a laser autofocus sensor. On the right side of the device, you’ll find the power button and volume controls, while the left side remains clean, marked only by antenna bands. The top edge includes two small microphone cutouts, and the bottom edge is home to the S Pen slot, a speaker grille, a USB-C 3.2 port, and the SIM card tray. As with recent Galaxy flagships, the S25 Ultra omits both a microSD card slot and a 3.5mm headphone jack.
When it comes to color options, the S25 Ultra offers a refined palette: Titanium Black, Gray, Silverblue, and Whitesilver. For those purchasing directly from Samsung’s website, three exclusive finishes—Titanium Jadegreen, Jetblack, and Pinkgold—add a touch of variety. All hues are confined to the rear glass, framed by a sleek chrome edge, except for the Jetblack version, which uniquely features a matching black frame. While the tones are tasteful, they lean heavily on the conservative side. Fans of last year’s bolder Titanium Orange or Titanium Violet might find this year’s selection a bit too subdued. On the bright side, the included S Pen is color-matched to the back of the phone for a coordinated look.
The Galaxy S25 Ultra features an ultrasonic fingerprint scanner embedded beneath the screen, providing its most reliable and secure form of biometric login. It responds swiftly and with consistent accuracy. While facial recognition is also supported, it lacks the robust security needed for tasks like mobile banking or password management. Unlike Apple and Google, which have long offered advanced and secure facial authentication, Samsung still hasn’t adopted a comparable solution. It’s about time the company caught up in this area.
Display: Bigger Than Ever
All models in the Galaxy S25 series come equipped with a smooth 120Hz adaptive refresh rate and a peak brightness of 2,600 nits, ensuring vibrant visuals in any lighting. The Ultra version steps up with a 6.9-inch LTPO Dynamic AMOLED 2X display, offering a sharp resolution of 3,120 x 1,440 pixels. That’s a slight bump in size compared to the S24 Ultra’s 6.8-inch panel. While pixel density takes a minor dip due to the size increase, overall display quality remains top-tier. Samsung has also slimmed down the bezels by 15%, pushing the screen closer to a true edge-to-edge experience and giving the front of the device an immersive, all-display look.
The Galaxy S25+ features a 6.7-inch display, slightly smaller than the Ultra model but maintains the same resolution and key specifications. On the other hand, the standard Galaxy S25 comes with a more compact 6.2-inch screen, offering a lower resolution of 2340 by 1080 pixels. For comparison, the iPhone 16 Pro Max sports a larger 6.9-inch panel with a resolution of 2868 by 1320 pixels, supports a 120Hz refresh rate, and reaches a peak brightness of 2,000 nits. Meanwhile, the Pixel 9 Pro XL offers a 6.8-inch display, higher resolution at 2992 by 1334 pixels, a 120Hz refresh rate, and an impressive peak brightness of 3,000 nits.
Personally, I find the display on the S25 Ultra stunning, delivering crisp visuals and fluid responsiveness. Its brightness and anti-reflective coating make it incredibly easy to view outdoors, effectively minimizing glare even in bright sunlight.
S Pen: Still a Selling Point, But Not Quite as Smart
The S Pen slots neatly into the bottom-left corner of the device. Pressing it inward causes the stylus to pop out slightly, making it easy to pull free. This year’s version of the S Pen no longer includes Bluetooth functionality, which means it can’t support Air Actions anymore. According to Samsung, fewer than 1% of users took advantage of Air Actions, with most using it primarily as a remote shutter for taking photos. However, you can still control the camera remotely by using hand gestures or through other Bluetooth-enabled devices such as smartwatches or rings.
Apart from the removal of Bluetooth, the S Pen retains the same design and performance as before, including pressure sensitivity that recognizes up to 4,096 distinct levels. If you need a replacement, a new S Pen is priced at $49.99. Samsung also confirms that the previous Bluetooth-enabled stylus is incompatible with the S25 Ultra, meaning you cannot add Air Actions functionality to the device retroactively.
Performance: Absolutely Elite
All three Galaxy S25 models are powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy processor. Unlike previous “for Galaxy” chips, which were simply overclocked versions of Qualcomm’s standard offerings, this year’s processor features a custom-designed application processor. This upgrade enables the S25 lineup to handle more AI tasks locally on the device.
Samsung highlights that this new chip boosts Neural Processing Unit (NPU) performance by 40%, improves CPU speed by 37%, and enhances GPU capabilities by 30% compared to the previous generation. Additionally, Samsung has expanded the vapor chamber inside the S25 Ultra by 40% over the S24 Ultra, which contributes to better heat management and sustained performance during extended use.
All three Galaxy S25 variants ship with 12GB of LPDDR5x RAM, the same memory configuration found in last year’s Galaxy S24 Ultra. While this is sufficient for most users, some competing devices go further—like the Asus ROG Phone 9, which starts at $999.99 and offers configurations up to 16GB, and the RedMagic 10 Pro, starting at $649, which can be maxed out with a staggering 24GB of RAM.
When it comes to internal storage, the Galaxy S25 Ultra comes in three tiers of ultra-fast UFS 4.0 storage: 256GB for $1,299.99, 512GB for $1,419.99, and a 1TB option priced at $1,659.99.
