In many ways, the Galaxy S25 Ultra signifies the industry’s acceptance that big changes are sort of “done” and that incremental updates are the way forward. That should be a negative, but the truth is that this is still one of the most complete packages on Android and maybe the best outright phone you can buy.
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Samsung isn’t leading the charge on the mobile front anymore. The company is taking an Apple-like approach to letting others do the real innovation now. Most people don’t upgrade year-over-year. The time between upgrades is getting longer than ever before. Maybe this
Learning to love the (same) design
I’m of the opinion that you can make changes for the sake of change. Samsung is guilty of this as much as anyone in the mobile industry, but when the Korean company finds something that “just works,” there is no expense spared in doubling down. I have never really been enamoured with Galaxy designs over the years. There’s something utilitarian about a top-tier Samsung phone.
I felt the same way about the Galaxy S25 Ultra until my device arrived in the mail, and within a few days, I fell hook, line, and sinker for this astute, beautifully crafted, and ultimately gorgeous slab of glass and metal. We’re almost 6 months down the line, and nothing else scratches the itch quite like the S25 Ultra. Sure, a few more color options would have been welcome, but throw the phone into a case, and you can add the flair here if you need something brighter or bolder. Luckily, Samsung is one of the few brands that has a great selection to choose from.
I’ve committed a cardinal sin and slapped a screen protector on the anti-glare coating. Gorilla Armor 2 might offer better scratch protection, but when I’ve spent $1,000+, a micro scratch is something I can’t deal with. So, a screen protector is a must for me. So far, it has kept my screen safe.
Even diminishing the key display selling point, I cannot get enough of this panel. It’s simply put: the best I’ve ever seen on mobile. The bezels, the brightness, the colors. Everything combines, and nothing quite comes close. I haven’t tuned or adjusted the display profile and kept things at the default settings. Samsung nailed it out of the box. Sure, the Pixel 9 Pro gets brighter, but it’s the full package that Samsung offers that keeps me content.
Videos pop, the Galaxy S25 Ultra speakers boom, and when playing games, the blocky shape coincidentally heightens the experience. Sure, it’s not quite a “true” gaming display, but Balatro on mobile has never been so fun.
There is one elephant in the room here, though. The S Pen has been losing capabilities left, right, and center over the past couple of iterations. Losing Bluetooth connectivity is a real blow to the power user. As a former Galaxy Note evangelist, I’m sorry to admit that I have barely touched the stylus beyond the odd note or checklist. It’s evident that Samsung is slowly moving away from relying on the tool, and I do worry it might be ditched in the long term. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.
One UI to bind them
It’s tough to quantify why One UI 7 and the One UI 8 beta have been so impressive thus far, but let me at least try. Speaking from a predominantly Pixel person’s point of view; the visuals are a breath of fresh air, and while the early days of the switch away from Touchwiz to One UI were promising, I always felt that things were just not quite “right” for me. Material You hasn’t really changed since it was introduced. I like it, but I found I was getting a little bored with the visuals. So far, I will admit that Material 3 Expressive looks like it’ll usurp One UI 7 and 8, at least visually. That said, there is so much I love about One UI now.
The split notification panel has grown on me as it keeps things in unique columns and doesn’t congest my app pings. Even the Settings section has a very powerful AI-powered search that makes finding things a little easier. I basically just search for what I want if I need to make changes, rather than scroll around.
Good Lock has been the missing puzzle piece for my customization hopes and dreams, though. It’s not working properly in the One UI 8 beta, but the plugins I’ve been using with One UI 7 seem to be holding firm for now. I only have a basic homescreen layout, and instead like the ability to change icon shape, remove things from the status bar, and tweak the volume control panel. This barely scratches the surface of the possibilities, and I’m eager to try making more changes when it is working with Android 16.
Touches like improved animations, icons, and extra under-the-hood work complete an already extensive Android experience. One UI has evolved into a good-looking skin that still maintains it’s utility-driven appeal.
Save for Gemini, I haven’t used a single one of the AI features that Samsung has been pushing as part of the “Galaxy AI” suite. There isn’t a reason for me to utilize any of these, as I don’t need my phone to automate the things I want complete control over. I don’t trust my phone quite yet with sending text messages or adding things to my calendar without a little manual oversight. Because of that, there isn’t much point in using voice controls when I can do things manually faster. That’s how I feel about a lot of the Galaxy AI suite of functions, even after months of trying to shoehorn them into my day-to-day life.
Is there anything groundbreaking elsewhere? I’d have to say no. Android is so mature now that you just need to work out what functions you feel are important. Then, just pick the device that suits you. The Galaxy S25 Ultra is a powerhouse with an overflow of power-user functionality.
Classic camera, but consistent results
One of the only areas I want a little more from the Galaxy S25 Ultra, having used it almost exclusively since launch, is the camera system. Make no mistake, this is a very good setup. It’s just being left in the dust by Vivo, Xiaomi, and Oppo, who are intent on trying to do insane things with their flagship camera setups.
Samsung has aimed for consistency, and if that was the goal, the company has succeeded. I have been delighted with the still photo capabilities. Photos look a little more vibrant than the Pixel 9 series while retaining a more muted palette than in previous years. I have more or less exclusively stuck to using the 3x mode for my photos. Having such a huge zoom range is something I love to have on hand. Sure, pictures still aren’t great above 15x, but up to that level it’s pretty tack sharp.
To view full-res samples click here.
It’s tough to defend the slow shutter activation. Tapping the capture button isn’t instant or doesn’t instantly capture the image like on some phones. Even using the quick launch power button shortcut isn’t exactly fast for a device of this caliber. Samsung should spend some time resolving that, as it’s been a persistent issue with Galaxy phones over the past few years. This is one of the few weak points of a solid system.
I will defend the video quality. While I do personally believe that the Pixel with Video Boost produces the outright best video on Android, the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra is the best I have tested with on-device processing at up to 8K resolution. A few updates have fixed some of the exposure problems, the new smooth zoom works wonders, and in tandem with LOG recording, it’s about as comprehensive as it can get on a mobile.
Brilliant battery behemoth
I have never had a single issue with the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra when it comes to lifespan. I’m so impressed by the standby time of the device even after half a year of use. It’s the reliability that I can count on.
In recent weeks, I have been playing with the “Performance profile” mode to try and eke a little more lifespan, and I think I might have stumbled on a device hack. Using the “Light performance” setting, I can’t honestly say I’ve noticed any dips in usability or smoothness. The CPU being clocked down to around 70-75% means that, at least theoretically, you can get a greater lifespan without a major performance hit. The best thing is that this doesn’t affect the gaming mode. So it’s worth test driving if you have had some battery longevity concerns.
It is a shame that Samsung wasn’t willing to experiment or upgrade the battery tech to the silicon-carbon cells found in the OnePlus 13, though. Extra capacity with better thermals would no doubt have given this the edge as the handset starts to age. The charging speed isn’t slow by any major metric, but can we get 65W next year, Samsung? That would be swell.
Final thoughts
There is something strange about layering plaudits and praise on a smartphone that doesn’t take many risks. It’s a contradiction in an industry that is propped up by major changes almost every release cycle. In the past few years, I have almost exclusively used a Google Pixel as my main sidearm, so to speak.
With 2025 feeling very much like a year of contradictions, it’s the first since the release of the Galaxy Note 9 that I have my main SIM in a Galaxy phone. Almost every other device, save the OnePlus 13 – another strong shout for the best phone of the year – hasn’t held my interest quite so intently.
All of the little intangibles add up to craft one of the best phones you can buy. Sure, it’s overpriced, but I’m hooked on the Galaxy S25 Ultra and, in particular, One UI 7 like I never anticipated. The camera needs some upgrades, the hardware can be a little too angular, but I’m finding it hard to look elsewhere.
If the Pixel 10 is to dislodge this phone from my pocket, Google needs to pull out all the stops. The upside is that if that doesn’t happen, discounts on the Galaxy S25 Ultra make it a very enticing alternative option – just don’t pay the full retail price where possible.
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