Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra Review: Is Galaxy AI Enough to Justify the Upgrade?
Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra is here, and while the hardware isn’t drastically different, Galaxy AI is the big new feature. But is AI integration compelling enough to make this phone worth upgrading to—especially if you already own the S24 Ultra?
Let’s dive into the design, camera, performance, and software to see if the S25 Ultra is truly worth its premium price tag.
Design: Lighter, Sleeker, But Not Perfect
At first glance, the Galaxy S25 Ultra looks very similar to its predecessor. However, there are some key changes:
✅ Rounded corners → More comfortable to hold than the S24 Ultra.
✅ 15g lighter → Noticeably better in-hand feel and fits in pockets more easily.
✅ Slightly thinner bezels → A minor but welcome improvement.
✅ Titanium frame → Looks premium and feels warm to the touch.
However, Samsung flattened the sides, and there’s no tapering between the titanium and glass—making the grip sharper and less comfortable in certain areas.
💡 Verdict on Design:
- Better weight and comfort, but still has some ergonomic issues.
- S25 Ultra is slippery—a case is recommended to prevent accidental drops.
- Improved durability with stronger glass and titanium finish.
- IP68 water and dust resistance is standard, but not better than competitors.
S Pen: Still Here, But Now Less Useful
Samsung kept the S Pen, but removed Bluetooth functionality.
🚫 No more using the S Pen as a remote shutter.
🚫 No more controlling PowerPoint presentations.
✅ Still good for doodling, note-taking, and screen interactions.
📌 The Problem?
Fewer features mean fewer people will use the S Pen, making it feel less essential than before.
Camera: Small Changes, Big Impact?
The hardware hasn’t changed much, but Samsung has improved the wide-angle camera.
Camera Features:
📸 50MP wide-angle sensor → Better color and dynamic range.
📸 Main sensor → Good tone and balance, but sometimes struggles with detail.
📸 Zoom options:
- 10x hybrid zoom (no more 10x optical zoom)
- 3x and 5x optical zoom
Video Enhancements:
🎥 Shoot in log format → Professional users can color-correct in post.
🎥 AI-powered Audio Eraser → Removes background noise effectively.
🎥 New editing filters → More customizable than Apple’s Photographic Styles.
💡 Verdict on Camera:
- Wide-angle shots look great—a big step forward.
- Telephoto zoom is still best-in-class.
- Main camera has some odd inconsistencies, but Samsung might fix this via updates.
Galaxy AI: Is It Really That Useful?
Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra biggest selling point for the S25 Ultra is Galaxy AI, but does it live up to the hype?
Now Brief: Samsung’s AI Assistant
🧠 Acts like a personal organizer, helping with:
✅ Appointment reminders
✅ Travel alerts
✅ Flight check-in notifications
✅ Health data (if you own a Galaxy Watch or Ring)
📌 The Catch?
- If you don’t wear a Galaxy Watch or Ring, Now Brief won’t show health data.
- If you don’t rely on a calendar, there’s not much for it to do.
- Feels more like a glorified weather app than a must-have AI feature.
Other AI Features:
✔ Circle to Search: Now works with phone numbers and music in videos.
✔ Image editing AI: Allows filters and custom adjustments.
✔ AI-powered Audio Eraser: Removes unwanted background noise in videos.
💡 Verdict on Galaxy AI:
- Some features are useful, but they’re not game-changing.
- Not a strong enough reason to buy the S25 Ultra over other phones.
Performance: As Fast as It Gets
🚀 Powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite, the S25 Ultra delivers flawless performance.
✅ Smooth multitasking
✅ Effortless Google Gemini AI usage
✅ Excellent gaming performance
✅ One UI 7 is super fast and well-optimized
💡 Battery Life:
🔋 5,000mAh battery lasts 2 days with light usage.
🔋 5 hours of screen time still leaves you with a full day’s charge.
📌 Charging Speed:
- 45W wired charging: 50% in 20 minutes, full charge in just over an hour.
- Slower than OnePlus 13, but still reasonable for most users.
Comparison: How Does It Stack Up Against Competitors?
📌 OnePlus 13 ($400 cheaper):
✔ Faster charging
✔ Comparable performance and battery life
✔ Similar screen quality
✔ Costs significantly less
📌 Pixel 9 Pro:
✔ Better computational photography
✔ More AI-focused features from Google
✔ Stock Android experience
📌 S24 Ultra:
✔ Not a huge upgrade from last year’s model
💡 Verdict:
The S25 Ultra is a fantastic phone, but it doesn’t stand out enough from the competition to justify its price.
Final Verdict: Should You Buy the Galaxy S25 Ultra?
✅ Buy It If:
✔ You need a high-end phone that will last for years.
✔ You love Samsung’s One UI and ecosystem.
✔ You want best-in-class zoom and solid overall cameras.
✔ You don’t mind paying extra for premium hardware and AI features.
🚫 Skip It If:
❌ You already own the S24 Ultra (not a big enough upgrade).
❌ You want the best value for money—other phones offer similar features for less.
❌ You’re not interested in AI gimmicks (Galaxy AI isn’t a must-have).
💡 Final Thought:
The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra is an excellent phone, but it doesn’t justify its premium price tag over rivals like the OnePlus 13 or Pixel 9 Pro. If Samsung wants Galaxy AI to be its main selling point, it needs to be more consistently useful across a wider range of users.
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