The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra was recently unveiled at a glitzy event in Seoul, South Korea. This latest iteration of Samsung’s flagship phone promises a slew of new features, a refined design, and a heavy dose of AI integration. But does it truly deliver a compelling reason to upgrade, or is it just another incremental update? I spent some time with the S25 Ultra to find out.
First impressions? “Underwhelmed” might be too strong a word, but “indifferent” certainly comes to mind. While the S25 Ultra boasts a slightly larger 6.9-inch display, a thinner and lighter design, and a more powerful 50MP ultrawide camera, it feels like Samsung is playing it safe. Where’s the “wow” factor? Where’s the groundbreaking innovation that justifies the hefty price tag?
The Subtleties of Change:
- Design: The S25 Ultra has undergone a subtle design refresh. The edges are now flat instead of rounded, and the corners are more curved. While this might seem like a minor tweak, it actually makes the phone feel less secure in hand. The rounded frame of the S24 Ultra provided a more comfortable grip.
- Display: The display is marginally larger than its predecessor, measuring 6.9 inches. It’s still a vibrant Dynamic AMOLED 2X panel with a 120Hz refresh rate, but it’s not a significant upgrade.
- Camera: The camera system sees a notable improvement in the ultrawide lens, which now boasts a 50MP sensor. This should translate to sharper ultrawide shots and more detailed macro photos. However, the other camera specs remain largely unchanged.
Galaxy AI: A Step Forward, But Is It Enough?
Samsung is heavily pushing its Galaxy AI capabilities with the S25 Ultra. One UI 7, the latest version of Samsung’s Android skin, incorporates AI into various aspects of the user experience. Some of the key AI features include:
- Cross-app integration: AI can now pull data from multiple apps to perform tasks. For instance, you can add an event to your calendar and have it automatically draft a text message to a friend.
- Personalized routines: The S25 Ultra learns your habits and suggests routines based on your activities. For example, it might ask if you want to turn on Bluetooth when you get in your car.
- Now Brief: This feature provides quick access to weather, calendar reminders, and personalized suggestions based on your habits.
While these AI features are certainly useful, they don’t feel revolutionary. Similar functionality is already available on other phones, and it’s not clear whether Samsung’s implementation is significantly better.
Performance and Battery Life: Incremental Improvements
The S25 Ultra is powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy, Qualcomm’s latest flagship processor. This should deliver a noticeable performance boost over the previous generation. However, it’s worth noting that the S25 Ultra is limited to 12GB of RAM, even though Samsung is pushing AI features that could benefit from more memory.
Battery life remains a concern. The S25 Ultra retains the same 5,000mAh battery as its predecessor. While Samsung claims that the new processor will improve battery efficiency, it’s disappointing that they didn’t increase the battery capacity, especially given the phone’s larger display and power-hungry AI features.
The S Pen: A Downgrade?
Surprisingly, the S Pen has been downgraded in the S25 Ultra. It no longer supports Bluetooth connectivity or an accelerometer, which means you can’t use it as a remote shutter for the camera or for Air Gestures. While these features might not be essential for everyone, it’s a strange decision to remove them, especially for a phone that’s marketed as a productivity powerhouse.
The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra is a good phone, but it’s not a great phone. It feels like Samsung is resting on its laurels, relying on incremental upgrades rather than pushing the boundaries of innovation. The AI features are promising, but they don’t feel groundbreaking. The design is refined, but it’s not as comfortable to hold as its predecessor. And the S Pen downgrade is perplexing.
Unless you’re a die-hard Samsung fan or desperately need the latest and greatest, there’s not a compelling reason to upgrade to the S25 Ultra. It’s a solid phone, but it lacks the “wow” factor that we’ve come to expect from Samsung’s flagship devices.
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