Samsung Galaxy S25 Review: Beautiful, powerful, and safe

The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra spearheads the brand’s 2025 mobile lineup, a naming convention I’ve appreciated since its inception. My time with this flagship over the last few months has been a journey of re-engaging with AI-powered features and consciously integrating the S Pen into my daily workflow. In our in-depth Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra review, we see if this is the ultimate Android and if it may coax some iPhone users to move over.

Read: Vivo X200 Pro Review: Tantalising telephoto

As Samsung’s ultimate smartphone, the S25 Ultra packs the expected high-end specifications and future-forward technology for its premium price tag. While yearly upgrades might feel evolutionary, those holding onto their devices for longer will find more substantial advancements. So, does the S25 Ultra offer a compelling reason to make the leap? Let’s delve into the details.

Design & Build

Samsung has streamlined the design language of the Galaxy S25 Ultra, moving away from the more angular, Galaxy Note-inspired aesthetic of previous Ultra models and embracing a look that aligns with the rest of the S25 family. Although it doesn’t perfectly mirror the S25 and S25 Plus, the shared flat titanium frame is a clear indication of this design unification. However, the S25 Ultra maintains slightly squarer corners, setting it apart subtly.

Compared directly to its predecessor, the Galaxy S24 Ultra, the S25 Ultra presents a more refined physical form. It’s taller, yet also narrower and slimmer. More impressively, it’s significantly lighter, tipping the scales at just 218 grams compared to the S24 Ultra’s 232 grams. This weight difference is immediately noticeable in hand, and it even gives Samsung an edge over Apple’s iPhone 16 Pro Max, which weighs in at a heavier 227 grams. This reduction without sacrificing the 5,000mAh battery or the integrated S Pen is a commendable feat.\

When it comes to buttons, things are pretty much where you’d expect them. Volume and the power/sleep/Gemini button are in their usual spots. One little change I spotted is the antenna cutout – they’ve moved it to the top of the opposite side.

Down at the bottom, it’s the familiar lineup: USB-C port, the speaker grille (which teams up with the earpiece for stereo sound), the S Pen’s little home, and the SIM card slot.

That titanium frame feels solid, and it’s got that IP68 water and dust rating, which is always expected at this price point. The front and back are covered in Gorilla Glass Armor 2. While that’s great for bumps, it’s not a magic scratch shield. Even though I’ve been super careful with my review unit, I’m already seeing some light scratches on the screen when it’s off.

The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra’s updated design is a success. It offers improved ergonomics and a lighter feel, making this large-screen phone a pleasure to handle, even if it means a less distinct visual identity compared to previous Ultra models.

Display

While the Galaxy S25 Ultra boasts a slimmer and lighter design, its display has not been compromised. In fact, Samsung has increased the screen size to 6.9 inches diagonally, a 0.1-inch increment over the S24 Ultra. This expansion is attributed to a notable 15% reduction in the bezels surrounding the display, maximizing the viewing area.

The core display technology remains a strong point, featuring a Quad HD+ resolution of 3120 x 1440 pixels. This surpasses the resolution of the iPhone 16 Pro Max’s Super Retina XDR display. However, the device is set to FHD+ (2340 x 1080) by default. While the full Quad HD+ resolution offers maximum sharpness, the default setting provides an excellent visual experience for most users and contributes to improved battery efficiency. Users seeking the highest pixel density can opt to change this in the settings.

The display retains its adaptive refresh rate capability, seamlessly adjusting between 1Hz and 120Hz based on the content being displayed. While a static 60Hz mode is available for potential battery savings, the fluid motion provided by the adaptive refresh rate enhances the overall user experience and is, in my opinion, a worthwhile trade-off.

A notable addition is the integration of ProScaler, an image upscaling technology derived from Samsung’s television division. This silicon-powered feature enhances the visual quality of lower-resolution content, potentially improving the viewing experience for older games or videos on the high-resolution display.

The screen itself is a flat panel, a design choice that I find appealing. Unlike some competitors, the front-facing 12MP camera is housed in a small, circular punch-hole cutout, which remains largely unobtrusive during media consumption or when using applications.

An ultrasonic fingerprint reader is located beneath the display for biometric authentication. Initial use with a single thumbprint registration was occasionally inconsistent, possibly exacerbated by dry skin conditions. However, registering multiple fingers, particularly an index finger, significantly improved the scanner’s reliability. PIN and facial recognition remain available as alternative unlocking methods.

Camera(s)

Around the back of the Galaxy S25 Ultra, you’ll find a versatile quartet of lenses: a 50MP Ultra-Wide (with a nice wide 120˚ field of view), a high-resolution 200MP Wide lens (featuring optical image stabilization), a 50MP Telephoto offering a solid 5x optical zoom (also stabilized), and a 10MP Telephoto providing 3x optical zoom (again, with OIS). The most notable hardware change here is the upgraded ultra-wide sensor, jumping from 12MP to a much more detailed 50MP. Beyond that, most of the improvements appear to be happening behind the scenes in the software.

Samsung is making a big deal about “Nightography” across the S25 series, and it’s powered by the new chipset’s Spatio-Temporal Filter. In essence, this tech is designed to better differentiate between moving and still elements in your low-light shots, aiming to reduce noise. That’s something we’re always happy to see. However, a recurring issue persists: the automatic shutter speeds in standard photo mode tend to be quite slow, which isn’t ideal for capturing moving subjects or dealing with very bright scenes. This often results in blurry action shots or overexposed images.

It feels like this could be addressed with a software update, especially since it’s been a characteristic of Samsung’s cameras for a while now. Sure, you can dive into Pro mode and manually tweak the shutter speed to your liking, but let’s be real, most people just want to open the camera app and tap the shutter button.

On the creative front, Samsung is introducing a couple of interesting new features. “Samsung Log” is aimed at content creators and professionals, offering tools like False Color and Zebra Pattern for precise exposure control, along with advanced colour grading options typically found in pro editing software. It’s a welcome addition for those who want more control over their video. We also get “Virtual Aperture,” which lets you play with depth of field even after you’ve taken the shot. This opens up possibilities for beautiful portraits with that lovely bokeh effect and sharp, detailed landscapes.

There’s no denying the sheer capability and impressiveness of the camera system on this phone. It’s capable of producing fantastic results, and the upgraded ultra-wide lens delivers noticeably richer detail and improved low-light performance compared to its predecessor. The telephoto lenses continue to offer impressive reach and clarity, making distant subjects easily accessible. However, the persistent issue with automatic shutter speeds remains a notable drawback for capturing dynamic scenes. While new features like Samsung Log and Virtual Aperture add valuable creative tools, addressing the fundamental responsiveness of the standard shooting mode would significantly elevate the overall camera experience and make this already impressive system even more consistently reliable for a wider range of shooting scenarios. to note that it’s not perfect.

Software & AI

The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra presents a deeply integrated and multifaceted AI experience, a clear payoff from Samsung’s established collaborations with tech giants like Google and Qualcomm. What truly distinguishes this system is the seamless interplay between various AI functionalities, often operating behind the scenes to enhance user interaction.

Whether it’s leveraging Galaxy AI for on-device tasks, prompting the vast knowledge of Google Gemini for complex queries, or utilizing Bixby for intuitive system-level controls, the lines between these AI engines blur, creating a cohesive and intelligent ecosystem that extends across Samsung’s own applications, Google’s suite, and even select third-party services. Initiating these AI capabilities is remarkably user-friendly, often requiring just a simple long press of the dedicated Gemini button followed by a natural language voice command.

The versatility of this AI integration shines through in its ability to handle a diverse range of tasks. From answering straightforward questions about the weather to orchestrating more intricate multi-step actions, such as finding specific video content on YouTube and then automatically compiling key information within a Samsung Note, the system demonstrates a commendable level of inter-app communication.

This cross-app functionality, while currently supporting a curated list of third-party applications like Spotify and WhatsApp, hints at a future of more interconnected and intelligent workflows. While the initial setup might involve linking accounts, the potential for streamlined productivity is evident.

In essence, Samsung’s strategic integration of Google’s powerful AI alongside their own advancements and the accessibility across a wide range of applications creates an AI experience on the S25 Ultra that feels notably comprehensive and user-centric. While competitors may offer similar individual features, Samsung’s cohesive approach and willingness to push the boundaries in areas like AI-powered image manipulation within the Gallery app contribute to a distinct and compelling intelligent mobile experience.

Even fundamental system apps are enhanced, with voice-based image search offering a surprisingly accurate and efficient way to navigate your photo library. Ultimately, the software on the S25 Ultra feels both cleaner in its design and smarter in its functionality, with AI seamlessly woven into the fabric of the user experience.

Performance

The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra delivers a compelling combination of potent performance and impressive efficiency, effortlessly handling any task and executing AI features swiftly. This is largely thanks to the custom Qualcomm Snapdragon Gen 8 Elite for Galaxy, paired with 12GB of RAM.

Benchmarking reveals the Gen 8 Elite for Galaxy has significantly closed the performance gap with iPhones, even surpassing the iPhone 16 Pro Max in multi-core tests according to our Future Labs. Graphics performance is comparable to Apple’s, and real-world usage in gaming, productivity, and general tasks reflects this smooth, lag-free experience.

Remarkably, intensive use yields excellent battery life, a benefit of the efficient 3-nanometer process of the Gen 8 Elite and a significantly larger vapor chamber with new Thermal Interface Material for effective heat management.

Beyond raw power, the S25 Ultra offers future-proof connectivity with dual SIM support (including physical SIM), ultra-wideband (UWB) for devices like Samsung SmartTags, and the latest Wi-Fi 7 standard. This blend of top-tier performance and efficient design makes the S25 Ultra a powerhouse ready for current and future demands.

Battery

While the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra doesn’t pack a larger battery than its predecessor, the S24 Ultra, my initial expectations for similar battery life have largely held true. The first week with any new phone can be a bit of an adjustment period as it optimizes for usage patterns, but as I’ve continued using the S25 Ultra, the battery performance has settled into a perfectly acceptable rhythm. Of course, the perennial wish for multi-day battery life on these large-screen devices persists.

On my typical weekdays, which stretch from around 6-7 am to 10-11 pm, I’ve generally found myself reaching the end of the day with 20% battery or less remaining on the S25 Ultra, consistently achieving over four hours of screen-on time. While the Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset was anticipated to be more power-efficient, I haven’t observed a tangible difference in my daily battery consumption compared to previous flagship experiences.

Looking ahead, there are promising reports suggesting that Samsung might explore carbon silicon batteries in the Galaxy S26 series, potentially unlocking greater capacities and faster charging speeds – developments that would be undoubtedly welcome, provided they are implemented safely. Currently, the S25 Ultra is capped at 45W wired charging, which is certainly quick, but some competitors are already offering significantly faster charging solutions, reaching 100W on certain devices. Considering the premium price point of these flagship phones, the inclusion of such cutting-edge charging technology would be a valuable addition for consumers.

Conclusion

While the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra might be characterized as an evolutionary step, the refinements Samsung has implemented, particularly in the realm of AI, are significant. The introduction of intelligent features designed to streamline tasks and enhance daily life feels genuinely impactful. The potential of voice-activated cross-app actions, though still in its early stages, hints at a fundamental shift in how we might interact with our smartphones in the future.

However, the full realization of this AI-driven ecosystem hinges on broader collaboration. Expanding the partner network for both the cross-app agent functionality and features like the Now Bar feels crucial for unlocking their true potential. While the Now Brief holds promise, its immediate impact hasn’t fully resonated with me yet, though more extended use might reveal deeper value. Additionally, the omission of integrated Qi2 magnets feels like a missed opportunity, potentially requiring users to invest in aftermarket cases for seamless compatibility with magnetic accessories.

Despite these minor reservations, the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra has left a strong positive impression. Its intelligent AI capabilities, coupled with a vibrant and immersive display, a largely exceptional camera system, consistently smooth performance, and impressive battery endurance, culminate in a truly compelling flagship device. So compelling, in fact, that it’s giving many iPhone users in our tech circles serious pause and a genuine inclination to explore the Android ecosystem.