Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra Personal Review and Experience

Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra – The Ultimate phone you can buy

The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra has arrived, and at first glance, it might not seem like a radical upgrade from last year’s S24 Ultra. The $1,299 price tag remains the same, and visually, the changes are subtle. But as with any smartphone, the real improvements lie under the hood. In this review, I’ll share my personal experience with the S25 Ultra, its pros and cons, and whether it’s worth your money.

Design and Display

One of the first things you’ll notice about the S25 Ultra is how familiar it looks. Samsung has refined the design slightly, making the edges boxier while actually making the phone thinner. The bezels have also been reduced, increasing the display size to 6.9 inches from 6.8 inches.

Key Design Changes:

• Boxier edges: Feels more premium but a bit sharper in some areas.
• Thinner bezels: Provides a more immersive experience.
• Improved Gorilla Glass: More durable, but still glass – so handle with care.
• Pronounced camera rings: Adds a stylish touch but doesn’t change usability.

Overall, while these refinements are nice, they don’t fundamentally change how the phone feels or functions.

Performance: The Snapdragon 8 Elite Chip

Under the hood, the S25 Ultra features the new Snapdragon 8 Elite chip, which is one of its biggest upgrades. It’s a powerhouse, delivering benchmark scores that rival Apple’s A18 Pro chip.

Performance Highlights:

• Blazing fast speeds: The phone runs incredibly smoothly with high multi-core performance.
• 40% larger vapor chamber: Keeps the phone cool even under heavy use.
• Universal Snapdragon variant: No Exynos chips this time, meaning all regions get the best performance.

While this new chip is great, it’s also something we’ll see in most other Android flagships this year. So, if you’re choosing this phone, it’s likely because of Samsung’s software and ecosystem rather than just raw power.

Software & AI Features: One UI 7 on Android 15

Samsung’s One UI 7 has brought a mix of useful features and some questionable ones. The software feels more refined than ever, with clear inspirations from iOS but executed in a distinctly Samsung way.

Software Improvements:

• New ‘Now Bar’: A more accessible way to see ongoing activities like timers and navigation.
• Revamped notification shade: Swipe down from the right for quick settings, from the left for notifications.
• Lock screen customization: More options than ever to personalize your screen.
• Improved AI-powered features:
  • Object Eraser: Works well for removing background elements.
  • Natural Language Search: Helps find settings and old photos quickly.
  • AI Select: Allows quick text summaries and GIF creation.

While many of these features are useful, Samsung has not clarified the long-term costs of AI features. They are free until the end of 2025, but what happens after? Will users have to subscribe to continue using them? This uncertainty leaves a lingering question mark over Samsung’s AI direction.

Battery Life & Charging

Samsung has opted not to use the new silicon carbide batteries seen in other 2025 flagships, which is a bit disappointing. Instead, the battery life remains about the same as the S24 Ultra.

Battery & Charging Breakdown:

• No major battery improvements: Similar endurance to last year’s model.
• No Qi2 wireless charging support: Sticks to older wireless charging tech.
• Same 45W wired charging: Fast, but nothing groundbreaking.

While battery life isn’t bad, it would have been nice to see Samsung push the envelope here.

Camera System: No More 10x Zoom

Samsung’s decision to remove the 10x zoom lens is controversial. Instead, they’ve opted for a 5x periscope lens, claiming AI-enhanced digital zoom will compensate for the loss.

Camera Specs:

• 200MP main sensor: Produces excellent detail.
• 5x periscope zoom: Replaces last year’s 10x zoom.
• AI-powered processing: Helps improve image quality.

While the cameras are still excellent, those who relied on the true optical 10x zoom may feel let down.

S Pen: A Downgrade?

One of the most surprising changes is Samsung removing Bluetooth functionality from the S Pen. This means you lose features like air gestures and remote camera control.

S Pen Changes:

• No more Bluetooth: No remote functions.
• Still precise and smooth: Best stylus integration on a phone.

If you primarily use the S Pen for writing and drawing, it’s still great. But losing Bluetooth functions feels like a step backward.

Is the S25 Ultra Worth It?

The S25 Ultra is a refinement rather than a revolution. Samsung has played it safe, keeping what worked while making minimal changes. Here’s a quick summary:

Pros:

✅ Blazing fast Snapdragon 8 Elite chip ✅ Stunning 6.9-inch AMOLED display ✅ Refined One UI 7 with useful AI features ✅ Improved cooling system prevents overheating ✅ No more Exynos chips – everyone gets Snapdragon

Cons:

❌ Same battery tech – no silicon carbide upgrade ❌ No 10x zoom lens – replaced by 5x ❌ No Qi2 wireless charging ❌ S Pen loses Bluetooth functionality ❌ AI features might not stay free after 2025

If you’re coming from an S23 Ultra or S24 Ultra, the upgrade feels minor unless you need the new chip. But if you’re on an older Samsung device (S22 or earlier), this is still one of the best Android flagships available.

Final Verdict

The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra is a solid flagship, but it doesn’t take risks. Samsung knows they dominate the US market, so they did just enough to stay competitive without pushing boundaries. If you’re deeply invested in the Samsung ecosystem, this is a great phone. But if you’re looking for cutting-edge innovations, brands like OnePlus and Vivo might have more exciting alternatives.

Rating: 8.5/10 – A great phone, but not a game-changer.

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