Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra Review: A Refined Flagship with Powerful AI Features

Samsung‘s latest flagship, the Galaxy S25 Ultra, offers a refined experience, continuing the company’s legacy of premium smartphones. While the S25 Ultra doesn’t bring radical changes, its incremental upgrades and new AI features could still make it a top contender for the best Android smartphone of the year. Here’s a deep dive into the key aspects of the phone that you should know before deciding whether it’s the right fit for you.

Pricing and Variants

Starting at ₹1,29,999 for the 256GB model, the Galaxy S25 Ultra offers three storage options:

• 256GB – ₹1,29,999
• 512GB – ₹1,41,999
• 1TB – ₹1,65,999

All variants come with 12GB of RAM and are available in a variety of colors, including Titanium Silverblue, Titanium Gray, and Titanium Black. You can even grab some exclusive online-only shades like Titanium Jadegreen and Titanium Pinkgold.

Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra Design: Sleeker and More Comfortable

Samsung’s focus on design this year is evident. The S25 Ultra sports a flat frame with rounded corners, making it slimmer and lighter than the previous generation. At 218g and with IP68 water and dust resistance, it’s designed for durability while still being comfortable to hold.

The back now features floating camera rings, giving the rear a fresh look, although the cameras themselves haven’t changed significantly. The S Pen slot is also back, but with a downside: it no longer supports Bluetooth features like remote camera shutter or air gestures.

Stunning Display: Bigger and Brighter

Samsung’s 6.9-inch Dynamic LTPO AMOLED 2X display continues to be one of the best in the business. With a QHD+ resolution and a 120Hz refresh rate, it’s ideal for both gaming and media consumption. It supports HDR10+ for vibrant colors and has Corning Gorilla Armor 2 for protection.

The display is fantastic for everyday use, and the anti-reflective coating reduces glare, making it easier to view in sunlight, though it sacrifices some brightness compared to competitors like the Google Pixel 9.

Software: A Step into AI with One UI 7

The Galaxy S25 Ultra runs Android 15 with One UI 7. Samsung’s major focus here is its Galaxy AI features, which enhance everything from battery life to camera performance. For instance, you can expect 7 years of software support, making the S25 Ultra a long-term investment.

The user interface is familiar, but now offers split notification and Quick Toggles menus, giving it a more iOS-like experience. Some users might not like the split design, but you can easily revert back to the classic layout.

Performance: Top-Tier Power Under the Hood

Powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy chipset and 12GB of LPDDR5X RAM, the Galaxy S25 Ultra delivers smooth performance in every situation. Whether you’re gaming or multitasking, this device handles it all without any hiccups.

Benchmark scores place it ahead of the iPhone 16 Pro Max and Google Pixel 9 Pro XL in some cases. Gaming is particularly impressive, with smooth frame rates even in demanding titles like Genshin Impact and BGMI.

With Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4, and NFC support, connectivity is top-notch, ensuring smooth performance in everyday tasks and beyond.

Cameras: Reliable but Not Revolutionary

The 200MP main camera is excellent in daylight, delivering sharp, detailed photos with great dynamic range. The addition of a 50MP ultrawide camera is a nice upgrade, although the rest of the camera setup remains largely unchanged from its predecessor.

Telephoto performance is solid, but zooming into 100x is only usable up to 30x, with noticeable quality degradation beyond that. Selfies taken with the 12MP front camera also impress, with good dynamic range and natural skin tones.

At night, the main camera continues to perform well, although some softness and noise creep in at higher zoom levels. The Night mode enhances low-light shots, especially for the main camera.

Video performance is solid, with 4K 60fps and 8K 30fps support across multiple sensors. LOG recording and 10-bit HDR video options are available, giving you more control over your footage. The Audio Eraser feature is useful for removing background noise in your recordings.

Battery Life: Solid Performance, But No Major Changes

The 5000mAh battery delivers impressive results, lasting well over a day of moderate use. In tests, it ran for 27 hours on a looped HD video at 50% brightness.

The phone supports 45W fast charging, and a 30W charger will charge the device to 52% in 30 minutes. Full charging takes just over an hour, which is fairly typical for high-end devices. Additionally, 25W wireless charging is supported.

Final Verdict: A Flagship to Consider

The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra is a premium Android phone that offers solid performance, a fantastic display, and versatile cameras. It’s a great option for anyone looking to upgrade from an older device, particularly if you’re using a Galaxy S22 Ultra or an older iPhone.

However, if you’re already using a Galaxy S23 Ultra or S24 Ultra, the incremental upgrades might not be compelling enough to justify a switch just yet. On the other hand, if you’re coming from a competitor or an older Galaxy, the S25 Ultra should be a strong contender for your next device.

With AI enhancements and long-term software support, Samsung has crafted a device that’s built for the future, making it a solid choice for those seeking a reliable, powerful flagship.