Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra - Snapdragon 8 Elite, 6.9" display for $1x99
Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra Review: The Ultimate Flagship Experience in 2025
Samsung continues to dominate the premium smartphone market with its latest flagship release, the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra. Officially launched on January 22, 2025, this successor to the Galaxy S24 Ultra, released just a year earlier on January 27, 2024, brings a suite of impressive upgrades that make it a worthy contender for the top spot in 2025’s smartphone lineup.
In this detailed review, we’ll explore what makes the Samsung S25 Ultra stand out—from its powerhouse Snapdragon 8 Elite processor and cutting-edge One UI 7.0 software based on Android 15, to its stunning display, advanced camera system, and enhanced AI features. Plus, we’ll compare the Galaxy S25 Ultra to its predecessor, the Samsung 25 Ultra, to help you decide if the upgrade is worth it.
Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra Specifications at a Glance
- Release Date: January 22, 2025
- Dimensions: 162.8 x 77.6 x 8.2 mm; Weight: 218 grams
- Build: Titanium frame, Gorilla Glass Victus 2, IP68 water/dust resistance
- Display: 6.9-inch Dynamic LTPO AMOLED 2X, 120Hz refresh rate, HDR10+, 2600 nits peak brightness
- Processor: Snapdragon 8 Elite (3nm)
- RAM & Storage: LPDDR5X RAM, UFS 4.0 storage
- Battery: 5000mAh with 45W wired and 25W wireless charging
- Camera Setup: 200MP primary, 50MP ultrawide, 50MP periscope telephoto (5x zoom), 10MP telephoto (3x zoom), 12MP front
- Operating System: One UI 7.0 based on Android 15
- Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.4, WiFi 7
Galaxy S25 Ultra Design and Build: Sleek Yet Durable
The Samsung S25 Ultra retains the sophisticated design language of the Samsung ultra s25 series, featuring a robust titanium frame with Gorilla Glass Victus 2 on both front and back. Although the overall look remains similar to the Galaxy S24 Ultra, Samsung has refined the design by making it slightly thinner at 8.2 mm (0.4 mm thinner than the S24 Ultra) and lighter by 14 grams, tipping the scales at 218 grams.
The s 25 ultra Samsung sports a boxy shape with gently curved corners, complemented by a nearly bezel-less 6.9-inch display and a center punch-hole selfie camera. The 92.5% screen-to-body ratio adds to the premium feel, while the IP68 rating ensures water and dust resistance. Available in seven stunning titanium-inspired colors—including Titanium Silver Blue, Titanium Jet Black, and Titanium Pink Gold—this model offers plenty of style choices.
Physical controls are thoughtfully placed: volume and power buttons on the right, SIM and microSD slots at the bottom alongside the USB-C 3.2 port, and dual microphones for noise reduction.
Galaxy S25 Ultra Display: Larger and Brighter
The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra ups the ante with a slightly larger 6.9-inch Dynamic LTPO AMOLED 2X display compared to the S24 Ultra. It offers a crisp 2K resolution with a 120Hz refresh rate and a rapid 240Hz touch sampling rate, delivering smooth and responsive interaction.
Despite the marginally lower pixel density of 498ppi compared to the S24 Ultra’s 505ppi, the display quality remains exceptional. HDR10+ support and a peak brightness of 2600 nits ensure excellent visibility even under direct sunlight, making the s25 ultra Samsung perfect for media consumption and gaming.
Galaxy S25 Ultra Performance: Powered by Snapdragon 8 Elite
One of the biggest upgrades in the Samsung 25 ultra is its processor. Powered by the brand-new Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset built on TSMC’s advanced 3nm process, the Samsung ultra 25 delivers unmatched speed and efficiency. With a peak clock speed of 4.47 GHz, this octa-core processor features two high-performance cores and six efficient cores, paired with the latest Adreno 830 GPU for top-tier graphics performance.
- Single-core: 2627
- Multi-core: 9404
- AnTuTu: 2,641,700
Combined with LPDDR5X RAM and UFS 4.0 storage, the s25 ultra Samsung promises flawless multitasking and rapid app load times.
Galaxy S25 Ultra Software and Connectivity: One UI 7.0 & Latest Standards
The Galaxy S25 Ultra ships with Samsung’s new One UI 7.0, built on Android 15. This fresh software iteration brings enhanced customization, smarter AI integration, and a smoother user experience. Plus, Samsung commits to seven major Android upgrades, ensuring your device stays current for years.
Connectivity-wise, the Samsung s 25 ultra supports the latest Bluetooth 5.4 and WiFi 7 standards, future-proofing your wireless connections.
Galaxy S25 Ultra Battery Life and Charging
While the Samsung s25 ultra retains the same 5000mAh battery as its predecessor, software optimizations have extended battery efficiency. It supports 45W wired fast charging, which powers the device to 65% in just 30 minutes and achieves a full charge in about an hour and two minutes. Wireless charging at 25W is also supported for added convenience.
Galaxy S25 Ultra Camera: Pro-Grade Photography
The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra camera system is a blend of hardware and software excellence. The primary sensor boasts a staggering 200MP Samsung ISOCELL HP2 with optical image stabilization (OIS). The ultra-wide camera jumps from 12MP to a sharper 50MP sensor with a wide 120-degree field of view. The telephoto setup consists of a 50MP periscope lens with 5x optical zoom and a 10MP telephoto lens offering 3x zoom, both featuring OIS.
On the front, a 12MP selfie camera captures detailed self-portraits and supports 4K video recording at 60fps. The rear camera can record stunning 8K video at 30fps, making the Samsung s25 ultra a formidable tool for photography enthusiasts and content creators.
Galaxy S25 Ultra Pricing and Availability
The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra starts at $1299 for the base 12GB RAM and 256GB storage model in the US on Samsung’s official store. Higher storage variants are priced as follows:
- 512GB / 12GB: $1419
- 1TB / 12GB: $1659
Pricing in Europe and the UK varies slightly, with the base models available on Amazon and official retailers.
Final Verdict: Is the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra Worth It?
The Galaxy S25 Ultra solidifies Samsung’s position in the flagship market with powerful hardware, a gorgeous display, and a versatile camera setup enhanced by AI. While design changes are subtle compared to the Samsung s 25 ultra predecessor, the internal upgrades—especially the Snapdragon 8 Elite processor and One UI 7.0 software—make the s25 ultra Samsung an exceptional choice for users seeking the best Android experience in 2025.
If you want the ultimate blend of performance, camera innovation, and premium build quality, the Samsung ultra 25 is a smartphone that delivers on all fronts.