Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra Review: Playing it safe...a little too safe

Pros
- Has the best display in a smartphone
- Anti-reflective coating on the display makes a massive difference
- Easy to hold
- Solid, top-notch performance
- Agentic AI and natural language input
- Solid and bankable camera setup
- Design refresh that clicks
- Titanium frame with flat & grippier sides, rounded corners
- Long software update commitment
- Tons of AI features to explore

Cons
- Continues with the 45W wired charging at this price point
- Does not come with 6000 mAh battery like other 2025 flagships
- Has the same Galaxy AI features as the S25 and S25+
- Loses some crucial features of the S-Pen

Price: Starts at Rs 1,29,999 for the 12GB+256GB variant
Rating: 4.5/5

2025 was hyped to be the year when premium smartphones would leap ahead with jaw-dropping upgrades. Think beefy 6000 mAh silicon carbide batteries, cutting-edge chips like the Snapdragon 8 Elite or MediaTek Dimensity 9400, insane camera advancements, dazzling displays, and, of course, a full-on AI takeover.  

Samsung, for one, has decided to play it safe. Their Galaxy S24 Ultra pretty much ruled the Android scene in 2024, being the near-perfect all-rounder that it was. Expectations were sky-high for the Galaxy S25 Ultra, to bring something unhinged, something massively revolutionary. However, Samsung seems to have taken a cautious route—at least on the hardware front. Software-wise, though, they’re shifting gears towards something truly futuristic.

As tech enthusiasts, we understand that coming up with major hardware upgrades year after year is no easy task, especially when you have something like the Galaxy S24 Ultra already setting the bar so high. So, smartphone makers, including Samsung, have started exploring a new frontier. Last year, Samsung wowed everyone by being the first smartphone maker to pack their premium flagship with a bunch of AI features. This year, they’ve taken things up a notch by making AI interactions feel smoother, more conversational, and—dare we say—human-like, all thanks to the Agentic AI approach of the updated Galaxy AI

For Samsung, the Galaxy S25 Ultra is an “AI-first smartphone”, the “first AI-first phone” if you will. It’s a bold venture, but also one that comes with its share of issues. Still, it’s not like the hardware has been left behind entirely. You’re getting solid components, though some of the decisions Samsung made may raise a few eyebrows.

With the Galaxy S25 Ultra, Samsung seems intent on reshaping how we use our smartphones. The real question is: can it pull it off?  

Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra 5G review: The design

With the Galaxy S25 Ultra, we finally see Samsung marking some major design changes as opposed to the S series Ultras of the last few generations. We finally say goodbye to the sharp corners and boxy feel of the S23 Ultra and S24 Ultra. This time, Samsung has gone for a flat chassis with rounded corners. The new design ditches the iconic Note-inspired look of its predecessors. This makes the S25 Ultra look a lot more similar to the rest of the S25 series, as opposed to the S23 or S24 series where the Ultra devices had a distinctly unique design.  

Having said that though, while the S24 Ultra might have been criticised for being “too big,” at least it had a quintessentially “Ultra” appearance.

Despite the completely flat side frames and rounded corners, the phone feels sharper in the hand. However, Samsung has worked on the ergonomics in other ways. The S25 Ultra is slimmer, narrower, and at 218 grams is, about 15 grams lighter than the S24 Ultra. This makes it a lot easier to handle, especially without a case. The rounded corners also prevent the phone from digging into your palm, which makes it easier to use for long period of time.  

Samsung has also worked on the durability of the S25 Ultra. We get the all-new Gorilla Armor 2 for the front and rear panels, which Samsung claims is the “industry’s first anti-reflective glass ceramic.” This new material is designed to withstand drops of up to 2.2 metres onto concrete, although it’s best not to put that to the test. What’s more noticeable is the improved anti-reflective treatment, thanks to a second-gen DX coating, which makes outdoor visibility much better than before. Samsung has also reduced the bezels on the display, which gives it a more immersive and modern look.

Speaking of durability, the frame is made of grade 5 titanium as opposed to the grade 2 used in the S24 Ultra. This not only provides greater strength but also makes the device lighter — all of this while keeping the same elegant shimmer that we expect in a Titanium frame.  

The flatter frame adds both to the aesthetics and hand feel, which makes the phone feel much more solid in hand. Samsung continues to offer IP68 dust and water resistance. However, we are looking at competitors like OnePlus and even some budget offerings from the likes of Oppo and Realme who are pulling ahead in this area with their IP69 certification.

The placement of the power buttons and volume rockers hasn’t changed from last year’s S24 Ultra, but there’s a noticeable improvement in how they feel. The buttons now feel more solid and responsive, giving a sense of better build quality.  

The rear panel of the S25 Ultra features that familiar, Ultra-like camera setup. Samsung has stuck with the floating camera lenses, with no separate camera island—a design we’ve seen for a few generations now. This time around, the camera rings are also much larger and more pronounced than before, which some users might find excessive. The phone doesn’t sit flat on a surface and tends to wobble when tapped, which can be annoying.

We find the S Pen remains in its usual spot—tucked into the bottom left corner. Unfortunately, Samsung has removed a few key features. The new S Pen no longer supports Bluetooth connectivity, which means users can’t use it to control the camera or use it for Samsung’s Air Gestures. This in my book is a major disappointment, as I always enjoyed the features of the S Pen that needed Bluetooth connectivity.  

Samsung argues that these features weren’t popular, but I believe that this is their way to push consumers more on their wearable devices, like the Galaxy Ring, and the Galaxy Watches. As for its design, the S Pen still retains its thin, lightweight design, with a single button and clicker at the top.

Alongside the S Pen holder, the bottom of the phone houses the SIM tray and a USB Type-C 3.2 port which also supports DisplayPort 1.2.

Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra 5G review: The display

This is where Samsung continues to dominate—the Galaxy S25 Ultra’s 6.9-inch Quad HD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X display is easily one of the standout features of its flagship experience. Protected by scratch-resistant Gorilla Armor 2 glass, the screen has both, durability as well as eye-popping visuals.

That said, if you’re expecting a huge upgrade over the S24 Ultra, you might not find it here. The display is largely the same and comes with a 1-120Hz adaptive refresh rate and a peak brightness of 2600 nits—still more than enough for outdoor viewing. The resolution continues to be the same at 1440 x 3120 pixels, and we still get HDR10+ support which ensures a vivid, high-contrast viewing experience. Users still get to choose at what resolution and what sort of colour balance they want for their displays.  

For people who enjoy watching content on their devices, the S25 Ultra doesn’t disappoint. Streaming HDR or Dolby Vision content on this screen is a joy, with vibrant visuals and deep blacks that bring every scene to life.  

Samsung’s Vision Booster technology helps cover 100% of the DCI-P3 colour gamut, ensuring accurate and rich colours.  

Even under direct sunlight, visibility is excellent—thanks to an improved anti-reflective coating provided by the second-gen DX treatment on Gorilla Armor 2. This upgrade also makes the screen even more resistant to everyday scratches and scuffs, improving on the already impressive durability of the S24 Ultra’s display.

But here’s the thing—spec sheets only tell part of the story. In real-world use, the S25 Ultra’s display truly shines. Colours leap off the screen with rich saturation and incredible depth, while Samsung’s AMOLED tech delivers those signature inky blacks. Whether you’re watching a movie, gaming, or just scrolling through your social feed, the images and text are razor-sharp and crystal clear.

If you’re someone who spends hours consuming content on your phone, the Galaxy S25 Ultra has one of the best screens you can get. Samsung knows how to build a killer display, and they’ve once again proven it here.

Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra 5G review: The cameras

The Galaxy S25 Ultra doesn’t bring a lot of dramatic changes to the camera hardware, but then, it is already building on an already impressive system. The only major hardware upgrade that you see is a new 50MP Ultrawide sensor, which replaces last year’s 12MP sensor.

You get four cameras on the back: a 200MP main sensor (Samsung ISOCELL HP2) with OIS, a 50MP ultrawide (ISOCELL JN3), a 12MP 3x telephoto (Sony IMX754), and a 50MP 5x periscope telephoto (Sony IMX854). The front camera is a 12MP Samsung ISOCELL 3LU, capable of recording at 4K60FPS. All the rear cameras can shoot up to 8K30FPS video, offering flexibility for both high-quality stills and video capture.

The S25 Ultra’s main camera performs exceptionally well in bright conditions. Photos are filled with fine detail, featuring a subtle gritty texture—not noise, but more of a signature look. Dynamic range is excellent, allowing for well-balanced exposures even in tricky lighting. Colours are vibrant and true-to-life but you do get to see that quintessential Samsung-esque oversaturation. White balance is consistently reliable. Portrait shots deliver great subject separation, although for my taste, the default blur felt a bit heavy-handed.  

The 50MP mode of the 200MP main sensor produces highly detailed shots with excellent dynamic range and vibrant colours. Occasionally, we found that some textures — grass, for example — may appear slightly soft, but overall, the results are excellent.  

The 3x and 5x telephoto cameras are as impressive as we remember them to be from the S24 series, delivering sharp zoom shots with great colour and contrast. However, you might notice some grain at higher zoom levels, though it doesn’t detract too much from the overall quality.

We also found the new 50MP ultrawide camera very impressive as it captures sharp, well-exposed photos with a wide dynamic range. Colour accuracy is solid, the colours rich rich but natural-looking results. It also doubles as a capable macro camera.  

As for the S25 Ultra’s Zooming capabilities, Samsung claims that the device’s algorithms have been improved, but in real-world use, the differences are hard to spot. The phone still offers 5x optical zoom and 100x Space Zoom for extreme close-ups. Digital zoom quality has improved slightly, but keeping the phone stable is crucial if you want clear shots at higher zoom levels. Samsung markets 10x optical quality, but don’t expect dramatic improvements over last year’s S24 Ultra.

In low-light scenarios, the S25 Ultra holds up well. There’s some noise, particularly in shadows, and a slight greenish tint can appear in darker areas. However, exposures remain nicely balanced, preventing scenes from looking too dark or washed out. You’ll get brighter, more visually appealing low-light shots than on most phones, even if the noise isn’t completely eliminated.

Samsung has also redesigned the camera app with OneUI 7 to make it more user-friendly. The mode carousel now sits beneath the shutter button, which feels more intuitive than before. Additional modes no longer obstruct the viewfinder, giving you a cleaner shooting experience. Pro mode has also been reworked to keep controls out of the way, making it easier to focus on capturing the perfect shot.

Here are some camera samples from the Galaxy S25 Ultra:

Where Samsung has really stepped up in the camera department is video. The phone can shoot 4K60FPS on all cameras, while 8K30FPS is available on the main, ultrawide, and 5x telephoto cameras. We also have a pro video mode for options like 24fps for a more cinematic look, 4K120 for ultra-smooth slow-motion, and Log format recording — shooting in Log especially, offers great flexibility to filmmakers by retaining more detail in highlights and shadows. This allows for a far more granular control for colour grading in post-production.

Another feature that professionals would like is that although the default video codec is H.265 (HEVC), they can switch to H.264, if their workflow demands it. Samsung has also revamped the zoom experience with a new zoom slider for video recording, making long, smooth zooms easier than before.

Another tool that is geared for professionals is Audio Eraser. Basically, it helps reduce background noise like wind or ambience noise during video recording. During our tests, we found that It doesn’t completely eliminate noise, but it does a pretty solid job of making your subject’s voice clearer.  

Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra 5G review: The performance, software experience and UI

The Galaxy S25 Ultra brings some hardware updates, but if you’re coming from the S24 Ultra or another device running the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, you might not notice a dramatic performance boost.  

Under the hood, the S25 Ultra runs a customised Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy chip. While other flagship Android devices use the standard Snapdragon 8 Elite, Samsung’s version comes with a few tweaks—certain CPU cores and the GPU have been clocked slightly higher, the NPU has been worked and the SoC in its enitrety has been slightly optimised specifically for this phone. It’s a subtle difference, but one designed to give the Ultra a slight edge in demanding tasks.

Our test unit featured 12GB of LPDDR5X RAM and 256GB of UFS 4.0 storage, though there’s a 16GB RAM option available with the higher-end variant.

We pushed the S25 Ultra to its limits by running a series of intensive tasks—taking a tonne of 200MP photos, recording 8K videos, streaming HDR content at maximum brightness, and gaming with demanding titles like BGMI & CoD at max settings. The phone maintained rock-solid performance throughout.

Even under such stress, it stayed surprisingly cool, thanks to Samsung’s redesigned, larger vapour chamber cooling system. While the phone did warm up ever so slightly during heavy use, it never reached uncomfortable or alarming levels. The Snapdragon 8 Elite is a beast of a chip, known to require serious cooling, but Samsung has managed heat dissipation impressively well.

When it comes to benchmarks, most tests place the S25 Ultra at the top of most performance charts, if not at the very top. It easily ranks among the fastest smartphones on the market.

Coming to the software, the Galaxy S25 Ultra runs on Android 15 with Samsung’s One UI 7. Samsung promises seven years of software support, covering both major Android updates and security patches meaning you get to hold on to your S25 Ultra for longer.  

I personally love Samsung’s OneUI 7. It doesn’t reinvent the wheel in any way, but truly refines the experience. The interface still features Samsung’s signature icons, widgets, and wallpapers. Navigation remains familiar, with home screens, an app drawer, and a customisable drop-down notification panel that looks and feels much more organised by default.  

The S24 Ultra was one of the fastest phones we tested last year, and the S25 Ultra keeps that legacy alive. It’s just as fast, if not slightly better in some areas, making it a pleasure to use. Whether you’re launching apps, switching between tasks, or performing resource-heavy actions, the phone remains lightning-quick. Benchmarks aside, what really matters is how responsive and smooth the phone feels in everyday use—and here, the S25 Ultra excels.

For power users like me who demand the absolute best from their devices and who want a smartphone that can handle everything from gaming to productivity without breaking a sweat, the S25 Ultra is hands down an all-around champion.

Samsung is betting big on AI with the S25 Ultra and the rest of the S25 series. The phone is loaded with new AI-driven features, though testing and fully exploring them all could take some time. AI integration ranges from performance optimisation to camera improvements and even the S Pen’s new tricks. Samsung is counting on these AI enhancements to be a major selling point for the S25 series, and we’ll take a deeper dive into these features in a separate section.

Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra 5G review: AI features

The AI features on the Galaxy S25 Ultra is powered by Google Gemini, and it truly is fantastic. It can do everything from generating creative ideas to providing personalised assistance. This time around, the AI-tool suite has been overhauled to make using the S25 Ultra more personal and intuitive.  

We start with a rather standout feature which is the system-wide natural language input, which powers a suite of AI-driven functions like AI Agents and Cross-app Actions. This basically allows you to speak to your phone as you would with your very own assistant, using conversational commands.

You can essentially control system settings by simply speaking to your phone. For example, if the text on your screen is too small, you can just tell the phone to increase the font size. You can even adjust display settings by mentioning that your eyes hurt or you’re having trouble reading.

Then there is Samsung’s take on Agentic AI, or Cross-app Actions. You can simply request Gemini to find a restaurant nearby, pull up its location on Google Maps, and share it with a friend—all in a single command. It can also manage notes, calls, calendar events, and alarms, allowing you to streamline complex tasks across multiple apps with ease. For the time being, it is limited to Google and Samsung’s native apps, but we’re pretty sure that with OTA updates, we are bound to see something magical.

Then, there is the AI Select feature which is an enhanced version of Smart Select. Now, it analyses the screen content in more depth and offers relevant actions. For instance, you can use it to create GIFs from Instagram reels or turn any photo into a wallpaper. Circle to Search also gets a useful update as it can now listen to audio playing on your phone and provide information about the music track.

Samsung also added a few tools that make the new suite of Galaxy AI features more personal — we have a tool called Now Brief, which provides daily summaries, based on the time of the day. For example, in the morning, it can update you on how you slept, highlight your appointments, and notify you of new content from your favourite podcasters or artists. It checks in again around noon and evening to keep you on track.

Then there is the usual AI object eraser from photos and other generative AI stuff that you would come to expect from an AI-first smartphone. You can read all about the AI features here.    

While all these AI-driven capabilities improve productivity and convenience, they also raise questions about data privacy. With so much personal data being processed, Samsung ensures that your information is protected by Samsung Knox Matrix and Vault. Most of the data crunching happens on the device itself, and personal information is encrypted to meet advanced quantum computing security standards.

While the new AI features in the Galaxy S25 Ultra are genuinely impressive and should help boost Samsung’s sales for the S25 series, there are a few concerns.

Firstly, the AI capabilities—like Agentic AI and Natural Language Input—aren’t exclusive to the Ultra model. The S25 and S25 Plus offer the same features, making it harder to justify the higher price tag unless you’re specifically after the Ultra’s camera or design upgrades. On top of that, it’s only a matter of time before these features start trickling down to older Samsung flagships. With Samsung’s strong software support for its devices, I wouldn’t be surprised if many S23 and S24 series users get a taste of these AI-driven tools through a future update.

Additionally, much of the AI infrastructure is built on Google Gemini, which raises another point—how long can Samsung hold on to this as a unique selling point? Since Google provides its AI tech to other manufacturers, we’ll likely see similar features pop up on devices from brands like Pixel, OnePlus, or Xiaomi—possibly at much lower price points. The S25 Ultra’s USP might not remain exclusive for long.

Then there’s the question of cost. For now, Galaxy AI features are free until 2025, but after that? Samsung hasn’t clarified what payment plans will look like. Will users be charged a fixed subscription fee, or will there be a monthly quota of tokens for AI usage? How expensive will these plans be? Currently, Samsung seems to be taking a wait-and-see approach, possibly gauging how competitors handle their own AI pricing models before making any announcements.

These uncertainties make it difficult to predict the long-term value of Samsung’s AI-first strategy, but for now, it’s certainly an exciting step forward in smartphone innovation. Let’s hope Samsung keeps things reasonable on the pricing front once the trial period ends.

Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra 5G review: The battery life

On the battery front, we again, don’t see any major updates. The S25 Ultra is powered by the same 5,000mAh battery that se saw last year. At a time when most major premium smartphones are moving to 6000mAh batteries silicon carbon anode, it is a bit odd to see Samsung deciding to fall behind on such an obvious trend.  

While this may not be as much of a concern in North America, where Apple is Samsung’s main competitor, it’s surprising that Samsung hasn’t jumped on this trend, particularly in markets like India and other Asian countries, where even budget phones are starting to offer these larger next-gen batteries.  

Battery performance has seen a slight improvement, but that’s largely thanks to the efficiency of the Snapdragon 8 Elite chip rather than any hardware changes. The battery life is pretty solid and should meet the needs of most users, but it won’t match the impressive longevity offered by some of the newer phones from brands like OnePlus and Oppo.  

In day-to-day usage, the S25 Ultra comfortably lasts a full day. On average, we got around 7 hours of screen time, with over 25% battery remaining by the end of the day. While that’s very respectable as per 2024 standards, it doesn’t quite push boundaries, especially with Samsung’s rivals now coming with significant advances in battery tech.

Samsung is still using 45W wired charging. The phone also supports 15W wireless charging under the Qi 2.1 standard, along with 4.5W reverse wireless charging. These specs may be adequate for casual users, but for those accustomed to lightning-fast charging, it might feel a bit dated.

That said, there’s a slight improvement in wired charging speed. With a compatible charging brick, you can go from 0 to 70% in about 30 minutes and hit 100% in just under an hour. In comparison, the S24 Ultra took around 70 minutes to reach a full charge, so this is a modest but welcome upgrade.

Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra 5G review: The verdict

The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra is undoubtedly a solid phone, but it’s also a bit of a mixed bag. The problem isn’t that it’s a bad device—it’s that Samsung has set its own bar too high over the years. The Galaxy Ultra line has always pushed boundaries and offered standout features, and top-notch hardware. This year, however, it feels like Samsung has played it too safe.

Last year, the Galaxy S24 Ultra was the go-to premium flagship—the all-rounder that left no doubt in anyone’s mind. The S25 Ultra, on the other hand, doesn’t quite hold that same status. It’s still an excellent phone. It simply doesn’t feel like an “Ultra”.  

The biggest issue is Samsung’s heavy focus on AI—at the cost of meaningful hardware upgrades. While Agentic AI and Natural Language Input are impressive, they aren’t exclusive to the S25 Ultra. They’re already available on the S25 and S25 Plus, and soon enough, they’ll likely trickle down to older Samsung flagships. Plus, given that these features rely on Google Gemini, it’s only a matter of time before other manufacturers integrate similar AI capabilities into their own smartphones—some of which might come at a fraction of the price.

This is the risk of prioritising software over hardware—software features are never exclusive for long. And when a phone doesn’t bring major hardware improvements to set itself apart, it loses its “Ultra” edge.

The S25 Ultra doesn’t push any new boundaries. It sticks too closely to last year’s formula, refining rather than innovating. Samsung could have gone bolder. Instead, it’s staying well within the box, banking on AI to be its defining feature. The issue is not what the S25 Ultra has, but what it lacks. It’s a great flagship—just not the bold, feature-packed Ultra that Samsung fans have come to expect.

All of this doesn’t mean the Galaxy S25 Ultra is a bad phone. Far from it. It still has one of the best displays on any smartphone, a powerful camera system, and a Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy that effortlessly handles anything thrown at it. It’s fast, smooth, and reliable, and anyone who gets the device will not have any issues to complain about. It’s just that, it falls slightly short of being a proper “Ultra”.