Key takeaways

• The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra is a premium flagship meant for users who want the most out of their phone, with a starting price of$1,299.
• Key improvements include new Galaxy AI features, a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset, and a 50MP ultrawide lens.
• No major shifts to camera hardware, battery size, and charging speeds leave a lot to be desired.

View now at Amazon View now at Samsung View now at Best Buy

more buying choices

Samsung's Big Bad Galaxy phone is here, and it may be the least surprising device I've tested so far. TheGalaxy S25 Ultra , which starts at the same bold price as last year,$1,299, remains the company's do-everything handset. This premium Android phone is now Samsung's best phone overall, with a more durable display, an upgraded camera lens with some handy editing tricks, and the latest Qualcomm processor keeping things running. Oh, and yes, AI is everything, everywhere, all at once.

Also:I tried to replace my laptop with the Galaxy S25 Ultra - and I'd do it all over again

While last year's Galaxy S24 series ushered in Samsung's Galaxy AI era, this year feels more like the company cementing itself as the leader in the smartphone space, besting Apple and even Google (for now) on features and capabilities. Of course, how decorative that honor is ultimately depends on how invested you are in using AI.

I've spent the past two weeks testing the S25 Ultra and wasn't too surprised to find myself both fascinated and bored. After all, this is now Samsung's fifth iteration of the S-series Ultra model, and the changes year-over-year have been modest, to be generous. But if you're currently using a three- to four-year-old handset and considering an upgrade, take this first-hand testimonial to heart. (And if you're an enthusiast, it'll matter just as much to you.)

RECOMMENDS

Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra

The latest flagship from Samsung features a more durable design, improved Galaxy AI features, and a new 50MP ultrawide camera.

details

View at Samsung

The Galaxy S Ultra has always been a big-phone, two-handed affair, and that holds this year. When I first unboxed the S25 Ultra, it felt like the fanciest calculator ever (and I mean that in a nice way), with its round edges and tall stature. Coming from the OnePlus 13 I recently reviewed -- which, on paper, is relatively similar in size -- the S25 Ultra had a bolder and more striking presence.

Fortunately, the device is not as top-heavy as I remember previous models being, even though Samsung encased the four rear cameras with thicker rings this time around. In fact, the S25 Ultra is lighter than its predecessor by 16 grams, earning it the title of the thinnest Galaxy SUltraever. You should still opt for the slimmerS25 and S25 Plus if that's the form factor you're after, and you'll likely hear more about the "thinnification" of phones later this year. Furthermore, if small phones are your style, refer to our roundup on the best small phones of 2025.

Also: I've tested every Samsung Galaxy S25 model - and my favorite isn't the Ultra

The other notable design upgrade with the S25 Ultra is the Corning Gorilla Armor 2 layered over the front display. It doesn't take away from the anti-reflection surface treatment that made headlines on last year's S24 Ultra, yet promises improved drop protection and scratch resistance. I believe it. My S24 Ultra last year had numerous micro scratches after just days of testing, while my S25 Ultra review unit has remained pristine so far -- even after I removed the privacy screen protector I initially installed on it.

Now if only Samsung could bring back the glory days of psychedelic Aura Glow finishes, because these S25 Ultra colors are uninspiring. Perhaps it's the nature of titanium finishes or the harsh reality that consumers are more likely to opt forsafercolors with black, white, and silver hues than poppy and bright. Regardless, you'll want to slap on a case to give your S25 Ultra even a touch of personality.

Under the hood is a new Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite chip for Galaxy, which is an overclocked variant of the processor powering competing Android phones in 2025 like the OnePlus 13 and Honor Magic 7 Pro. The most notable benefit of the chipset comes in the form of AI experiences -- specifically, a 40% increase in NPU performance compared to last year's Snapdragon 8 Gen 3.

Also: A privacy screen protector seemed perfect - then I put it on my Galaxy S25 Ultra

In layman's terms, on-device AI features should take up less bandwidth and power to operate while also functioning quickly. I saw the results in person, placebo effect or not, as my S25 Ultra can swiftly remove subjects (along with their shadows) from the background of photos via Generative Edit and pull up Gemini search results in a matter of seconds. I ran a couple of response tests with the iPhone 16 Pro (running Siri and ChatGPT) and Google Pixel 9 Pro (running Gemini), and the Galaxy S25 Ultra was the clear front-runner.

You can also credit the performance to the enhanced Gemini app, which can now be fired up with a long press of the power button. Previously, Samsung phones were limited to Bixby -- or Google Assistant, if you made some sketchy backend modifications -- so this change is a breath of fresh air. It makes transitioning from any other Android phone that uses Gemini as the default assistant much more burdenless.

Speaking of which, the new Gemini-Bixby hybrid AI agent, as Samsung confusingly presents it, can handle natural-sounding, conversational chains of actions, such as looking up the upcoming schedule of your favorite sports team and adding the date(s) to your calendar. While the agent-like capability mainly works across Google and Samsung apps, some third-party services like Spotify are supported, too.

Also: I may finally ditch my Google Pixel for a Samsung Galaxy phone in 2025. Here's why

The important thing is knowing how to phrase your commands. For example, when I asked the AI agent tocreate a Spotify playlist for road trips and send it to my wife, it responded that it was unable to do so. When, instead, I asked it tofind songs that were good for road trips, it curated the list and drafted a modifiable text message. My AI advice: if a prompt doesn't work, try and try again.

Considering last year's S24 series introduced Google's Circle to Search feature, and this year's S25 series is doing the same for the enhanced Gemini-Bixby experience, it wouldn't be farfetched to say that Samsung, not Google, makes the best AI phone on the market right now. 

Some other new Galaxy AI tools, like AI Select and Now Brief, only reinforce that statement. The former is an adaptive, context-aware screen selection tool, and the latter gives daily summaries of the weather, calendar events, and news. 

Also: These useful One UI 7 features are coming to the Galaxy S25 series - and older models too

I just wish Now Brief showed me more than just political news; even after two weeks since setting my topic preferences within my Samsung News app to technology and sports, the app still treats my mornings with the generic "Uplifting Morning Prep" Spotify playlist and latest scoop on the US president signing executive orders.

One of the key reasons to buy a Galaxy Ultra phone continues to be the camera, though Samsung hasn't improved the specifications much this year -- at least on paper. The only hardware change is the 50-megapixel ultrawide lens (up from 12MP), which, from my two weeks' worth of shots, yields greater detail and vividness, especially when capturing macro photos. 

The rest of the lenses, such as the 200MP wide, 50MP 5x telephoto, and 10MP 3x telephoto, are identical to last year's S24 Ultra, but several internal contributors like the improved ISP of the Qualcomm chip have made the S25 Ultra's output more true to real life, especially when it comes to face tones and details in low light.

Also: The best camera phones of 2025: Over 1,000 photos and videos taken by experts

There's a bigger focus on the software side of things, with Samsung introducing helpful photo and video features like 10-bit HDR video recording by default to capture a wider dynamic range, a new Audio Eraser feature that lets you adjust the volumes of various frequencies (classified as audio subjects like voices, wind, and noises), and the ability to record in Galaxy Log mode. 

The latter feature allows you to better spot overexposed areas and adjust the dynamic range as you're recording videos, while also applying LUTs in post for better color and light control.

's buying advice

My two weeks of testing the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra  confirms several things for me. While most aspects of the phone, such as the vibrant, glare-free display and versatility across the cameras and AI features, are easy to appreciate, the upgrades this year feel iterative and safe. 

In ways, Samsung has even taken a few steps back, with the S Pen stylus no longer supporting Bluetooth controls and gestures, and the company opting forQi2-ready cases instead of embedding the actual technology within its phones. Samsung may reason the absence of magnets with added weight and bulk, but it's inexcusable when Apple continues to make the iPhone slimmer while offering similar functionality.

Also: The best Google Pixels of 2025

It's understandable that early adopters and tech enthusiasts might feel underwhelmed by the S25 Ultra; when you brand your phone as "Ultra," it should, theoretically, lead the market in multiple aspects. In today's landscape, however, Samsung needs to give us a bit more than just a new chip and some software features. Otherwise, it's becoming harder and harder for me to justify spending$1,300 on a phone.

But for consumers who are coming from an S21 series, Pixel 6 or 7, or even an older iPhone, Samsung's new flagship handset checks almost every box you can think of. Just make sure to survey your local carrier or retailer for a generous trade-in deal before you make the investment.

Featured reviews

A weekend later with Galaxy S25 Ultra: These AI features made my iPhone 16 Pro look bad

I tested Asus' 27-inch TV-monitor hybrid for two weeks - and can't stop thinking about it

I found the 'Goldilocks' of travel chargers, and I don't travel without it (plus it's on sale)

Can you make an AirTag last 10 years? It took me a seconds to do it

• A weekend later with Galaxy S25 Ultra: These AI features made my iPhone 16 Pro look bad
• I tested Asus' 27-inch TV-monitor hybrid for two weeks - and can't stop thinking about it
• I found the 'Goldilocks' of travel chargers, and I don't travel without it (plus it's on sale)
• Can you make an AirTag last 10 years? It took me a seconds to do it