Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra review

Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra review

Samsung have a long history of producing smartphones to suit different tastes. The high-end Ultra model is one such option, but how does the Galaxy S25 Ultra stack up against its predecessors?

Our Galaxy S25 Ultra review will break down the phone’s different components, from performance to artificial intelligence updates, so you have a full view of what this handset offers.

If you’re interested in buying the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra , you can pick it up from a variety of colours including Titanium Silver Blue, Titanium Gray, Titanium White Silver, and Titanium Black.

Specifications

Dimensions – 77.6 x 162.8 x 8.2mm
Weight – 218g
OS – Android 15
Display – 6.9” Dynamic AMOLED 2X
Resolution – 3120 x 1440
Processor – Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy
RAM – 12GB
Storage – 256GB/512GB/1TB
Rear cameras – 50MP ultra-wide; 200MP wide; 50MP telephoto 1; 10MP telephoto 2
Battery – 5,000mAh
Water and dust resistance – IP68
Connectivity – Wi-Fi 7; Bluetooth 5.3; 5G

Release date

The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra released on the 7th February 2025.

Reasons to buy

• Outstanding display
S Pen support
• Largest battery of the S25 range

Things to consider

• Most expensive of the S25 range, so might be overkill if you don’t need a big display
Largest of the S25 devices

Design

The Galaxy S24 Ultra was a looker, and from a design perspective, the S25 Ultra is worthy of being in that same conversation. The sharp, boxy aesthetic helps differentiate it from the slightly more rounded look of its sibling devices, and whilst it won’t please everybody, there’s no denying that it separates the premium option from the pack.

Despite some similarities, the S25 Ultra actually represents quite a shift from the Ultra models of yesteryear. Its corners, both at the edges of the screen and around the frame, are round rather than sharp; the frame itself lacks the curved edge that made the S24 Ultra look more rectangular. The S25 Ultra’s design is a blurring of past Ultra handsets and the overall S25 aesthetic, which might appeal to those who found the S24’s sharp look not to their taste.

s25ultracolours(2).jpg

Wrapped around the Galaxy S25 Ultra is a titanium shell, which provides exceptional protection and is extremely light to boot. Given this phone’s large size, particularly when compared against the smaller S25 and S25+, Samsung opting to stick with titanium on the S25 Ultra means it still feels comfortable to carry around without weighing you down.

s25ultra2(1).jpg

The last of the S25 Ultra’s most impactful design updates can be found on the screen, where impact should be the least of your worries. Thankfully, the addition of Gorilla Glass Armour – an advanced version of the widely-used Gorilla Glass Victus – takes away most of this worry. Not only that, but Gorilla Glass Armour also significantly reduces light reflection, so you can see the screen more easily.

glass(1).jpg

Display

In terms of the fundamentals, the S25 Ultra’s display is largely the same as the S24 Ultra before it: Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 1440p (2K) resolution and a top refresh rate of 120Hz. This is still an exceptional combination of display technology, yet this trio is also paired with a slightly larger 6.9” screen. The increase won’t be particularly noticeable if you had an S24 Ultra or a different phone around the 6.8” mark, but it’s still extra real estate for enjoying games, films and marvelling at your photos.

Unique to the S25 Ultra’s display is support for the S Pen, which can be used to edit photos and take notes with greater precision. If you own an S Pen and want to continue using it, the S25 Ultra is the phone to choose.

s25 ultra 2(1).jpg

Performance

Supporting the S25 Ultra’s superb display experience is the Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy CPU. This advanced piece of silicon is capable of producing smoother frame rates in games, reduced lag when multitasking, and more realistic lighting at higher graphic settings. It really is the undisputed king in the Samsung Galaxy ring.

12GB RAM is the icing on the cake, helping to ease the workload of the Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset and maintain smooth performance.

snapferagon(1).jpg

Software & features

We can’t talk about the S25 Ultra without assessing its AI capabilities, as this is where Samsung have applied a lot of their focus with Galaxy AI. The S25 series is home to some of the biggest AI improvements seen on a Galaxy device, from being able to request travel tips based on a screenshot, to getting a recipe for a dish you’ve seen. This can all be done without needing to put in any extra search steps; simply let the on-board AI do it for you. Furthermore, the Galaxy S25 Ultra can also learn your routines from throughout the day, such as when you most frequently turn on Bluetooth.

nowbreif(1).jpg

As you can probably tell, the S25 Ultra is by far one of the most intelligent smartphones available. Android 15 is also supported, bringing with it an even deeper suite of AI tools you can use.

multitaks(1)(1).jpg

Camera

Before we touch on the S25 Ultra’s camera hardware, we first need to highlight the Next Gen ProVisual engine. This powerful addition to the phone’s arsenal can massively improve skin tones, colours and textures, without needing any input from the user. This means any picture taken with the 50MP ultra-wide, 200MP wide, 50MP telephoto 1 or 10MP telephoto 2 cameras looks far more lifelike and detail-rich.

The most noteworthy of these excellent cameras is the 50MP ultra-wide, as it represents a considerable increase over the S24 Ultra’s 12MP offering. As a result, those little details like foliage in the background or pores on someone’s skin are more visible.

s25ultracamera(1).jpg

Video-making on the S25 Ultra is also much improved, thanks to features like the AI Audio Eraser for removing background noise, and LOG video support. We mentioned the S Pen before, but this is where you can really make full use of it when editing videos down to the finest detail.

Battery

If you were a fan of the S24 Ultra’s battery life, you’re getting much the same this time around (which suits us just fine given how impressive that battery was). The S25 Ultra’s 5,000mAh unit can easily last the day, whether you’re watching videos on the commute or enjoying a long gaming session.

The S25 Ultra also supports Super-Fast Charging for minimal downtime between charges, as well as Fast Wireless Charging 2.0 for those with a charging pad.

Summary

Ultra-model phones have a lot to live up to given their name, and the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra absolutely raises the bar for what an Ultra handset can offer. Vast improvements to AI lead the charge, closely followed by stunning visuals and the kind of performance you would expect from Samsung’s best.

Want to pick up the S25 Ultra but are worried about moving your data across? Our expert guide will help you make that switch in no time.