As is the norm with each passing year, Samsung has designed its flagship smartphone line-up for 2025 -The S lineup- as a very massive improvement from the previous years. The S25 series has three variants in total- the regular S25, S25+, and the top model of its variant, which is the S25 Ultra. I got my hands on the S25 Ultra this week and wanted to share my thoughts on its performance, features, and overall value. Indeed, the launch of the Samsung S series is one of the big events of the Android world and this year it’s getting more exciting!
The first impressions of any Ultra model are always impressive. The huge 6.9-inch with a titanium frame and titanium color options feel premium and worthy of the price tag. Along with the S-pen, the phone is perfect for both everyday use and occasional artistic use. The phone feels sturdy yet elegant in hand, weighing in at 218 grams. The rounded corners make it easy to grip, which is a significant improvement over some bulkier predecessors. Also, with rounded edges, I do not have to worry about the grip. I chose the Titanium JetBlack color, which looks even more elegant than the regular black. The rest of the design and camera setup is minimal, and there aren’t significant changes.
The displays are superb! Undoubtedly the best among the new launches. The QHD+ AMOLED display comes with a 120 Hz refresh rate which is adaptive. The brightness levels are excellent even in direct sunlight. I enjoy watching content or playing high-res games like Genshing Impact with enhanced Vision Booster technology that adjusts brightness based on ambient lighting conditions. The battery life is also a major upgrade and I have got more than one day of usage on a full charge without breaking a sweat. Being a large phone, it can house a massive 5000 mAh battery with superfast 45W charging which completely charges the device in less than 45 minutes.
Samsung is known for its processors and cameras, and the Snapdragon 8 Gen Elite processor with Android 15 is a joy to work with. No doubt the processor is fast, but it is the consistency that sets it apart. I can multitask and run practically any application without the slightest of lags. The cameras are perfect and offer crisper shots and better contrast & colors thanks to AI integration. The colors are more accurate and the videos shot in 8k look like straight out of a professional camera. The 200-MP primary camera clicks photos with a high shutter speed without any interruptions. However, the phone comes with its set of drawbacks.
While it is targeted at a premium customer base, the price for the 12GB/1TB variant is almost 35, 000 more than 12/512 variant. Moreover, I cannot expand storage via microSD cards. The phone feels heavier, even if you are used to larger phones. The charging speeds are still not comparable with the OnePlus flagships. Also, I would have loved to see a minor upgrade in the design. Apart from the slightly raised camera bump, there is nothing new. Despite these minor drawbacks, the Samsung S25 Ultra is the finest Android flagship you can buy today and I’m planning to make this long-term phone. With Samsung’s promised system and security updates, this smartphone is definitely a future-proof investment!