Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra review 2025 – a flagship that pushes Galaxy AI to new heights

Introduction

Samsung’s Galaxy S25 Ultra is the latest in the company’s annual S‑series flagship line. Announced at Samsung’s Galaxy Unpacked event on January 22 2025 and released globally on February 7 2025en.wikipedia.org, the S25 Ultra succeeds the popular S24 Ultra and introduces refinements across design, performance, camera and Galaxy AI features. According to Samsung, the Galaxy S25 series is powered by the new Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy 3 nm processor and offers seven years of software updatesandroidauthority.com.

This in‑depth review explores the S25 Ultra’s design, display, processor, camera system, AI features, battery life and real‑world performance. You’ll find step‑by‑step explanations of features like Now Brief, Gemini Live, Audio Eraser and data‑transfer using Smart Switch, along with comparisons to the S24 Ultra. Where relevant, we’ll cross‑link to related FrediTech articles (e.g., our Galaxy Watch 8 vs Watch Ultra comparison and our Note‑series retrospective) for further reading. Citations come from reliable sources such as Samsung’s product pages, the S25 Wikipedia article and independent reviews.

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Design and build quality

Titanium build and refined ergonomics

Samsung’s S25 Ultra departs from last year’s boxy design in favour of a more rounded chassis. The phone is built around a titanium frame with Corning® Gorilla® Armor 2 glass and carries an IP68 rating, meaning it can survive dust and water ingress up to 1.5 m for 30 minutessamsung.com. A review by PetaPixel highlights that the titanium construction combined with the new Gorilla Glass Armor 2 makes the S25 Ultra more scratch‑resistant than the S24petapixel.com. At 218 gen.wikipedia.org, the handset is slightly lighter than its predecessor and more comfortable to hold.

Size, dimensions and colours

The S25 Ultra measures 162.8 × 77.6 × 8.2 mm and features a 6.9‑inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display with QHD+ (3120 × 1440) resolution. Samsung offers the phone in Titanium Silverblue, Titanium Black, Titanium Whitesilver, Titanium Gray, Titanium Jadegreen, Titanium Jetblack and Titanium Pinkgold. The new rounded corners contribute to a more unified design language across the S25 series.

Durability and everyday usability

Samsung emphasises durability: the titanium frame provides rigidity, Gorilla Glass Armor 2 resists scratches and the IP68 rating protects against water and dustsamsung.com. PetaPixel notes that the S25 Ultra’s cooling system and scratch‑resistant glass make it suitable for creators who shoot extensively on their phonepetapixel.com. Users coming from the Note series will appreciate the built‑in S Pen, which supports precise handwriting and sketching; although PetaPixel notes that Samsung removed remote‑control functionality from the S Pen to encourage users to use Galaxy Watch accessories. For more context about the evolution of the S Pen, see FrediTech’s Galaxy Note series retrospective.

Display: QHD+ resolution and 2,600‑nit brightness

The S25 Ultra employs Samsung’s latest Dynamic LTPO AMOLED 2X panel with an adaptive 120 Hz refresh rateen.wikipedia.org. The 6.9‑inch screen uses LTPO technology to adjust the refresh rate from 1 Hz to 120 Hz for power efficiency. According to PetaPixel, the panel reaches 2,600 nits peak brightness, matching the S24 Ultra but now in a larger sizepetapixel.com. HDR10+ support means streaming content displays with deep blacks and vivid colours. The flat design also makes writing with the S Pen easier than on curved displays.

Performance: Snapdragon 8 Elite and custom improvements

3 nm processor and memory

The entire S25 lineup is built around the Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy, a custom variant of Qualcomm’s 3 nm chipset. According to Wikipedia, the S25 Ultra’s CPU comprises two 4.47 GHz Oryon cores and six 3.53 GHz Oryon cores, with an Adreno 830 GPU. Samsung pairs this processor with 12 GB of RAM (up to 16 GB in the Asia‑exclusive 1 TB model) and storage options of 256 GB, 512 GB or 1 TBen.wikipedia.org. The phone uses UFS 4.0 storage for high read/write speeds.

The new 3 nm process improves power efficiency compared with the 4 nm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 used in the S24. Samsung says the S25 Ultra’s custom‑built processor integrates mDNIe technology to enhance video playback efficiencysamsung.com. Combined with software optimisation, this results in longer battery life while maintaining performance.

Vapor chamber and gaming

Samsung equips the S25 Ultra with a larger vapor chamber and new thermal interface material. In Samsung’s FAQ, the company notes that the 3 nm Snapdragon 8 Elite, ray tracing support and Vulkan optimisation provide a smoother gaming experience, while the larger vapor chamber keeps the phone cooler. Gamers can expect less thermal throttling during extended sessions. For streaming and cloud‑gaming enthusiasts, the phone’s Wi‑Fi 7 connectivity and Bluetooth 5.4 support ensure fast wireless performance.

Battery life and charging

The S25 Ultra houses a 5,000 mAh lithium‑ion batteryen.wikipedia.org. Samsung’s product page claims its mDNIe‑enhanced processor and software optimisation extend video playback up to 31 hours—nearly a third longer than the S21 Ultra’s 22‑hour figuresamsung.com. Charging is flexible: the S25 Ultra supports 45 W Super‑Fast Charging 2.0, 15 W wireless charging and 4.5 W reverse charging. In real‑world use, PetaPixel found that although battery capacity remains unchanged from the S24 Ultra, the more efficient chipset allowed the phone to last a full day of shooting on a single chargepetapixel.com.

Camera system: quadruple cameras with a new 50‑MP ultra‑wide

Camera specifications

The S25 Ultra retains the quad‑camera configuration of the S24 Ultra but upgrades the ultra‑wide sensor. According to official specifications:

Camera	Specs & features
Main wide camera	200 MP, f/1.7, 1/1.3" sensor with multi‑directional PDAF, OIS
Periscope telephoto	50 MP, f/3.4 lens with dual‑pixel PDAF and 5× optical zoomen.wikipedia.org
Telephoto	10 MP, f/2.4 lens with PDAF and 3× optical zoom
Ultra‑wide / macro	50 MP, f/1.9 with dual‑pixel PDAF and Super Steady video
Front camera	12 MP, f/2.2 with dual‑pixel autofocus, supports 4K video at 30/60 fpsen.wikipedia.org

PetaPixel notes that the ultra‑wide camera is the only hardware change and that the new 0.6× 50 MP sensor improves macro shots. Reviewers also found that the main 200 MP camera delivers excellent detail but benefits more from 50 MP mode due to file sizespetapixel.com.

Nightography and AI‑powered photography

Samsung’s FAQ explains that the enhanced object‑aware engine in the S25 Ultra improves Nightography—videos are clearer at night and portraits look more life‑like because the camera detects lighting conditions and adjusts exposure accordinglysamsung.com. The camera also includes AI Portrait modes that adjust skin tones and preserve natural textures, as highlighted in the Amazon listing (the bullets emphasise clarity and texture).

Additionally, Generative Edit allows users to select an object in a photo and seamlessly remove or reposition it. After outlining the unwanted subject with the S Pen, Galaxy AI fills in the background. Samsung pairs this with Generative Expand, which enlarges the canvas beyond the original frame, making it easy to create social‑media‑ready compositions.

Galaxy AI features and software

Now Brief and Now Bar: personalised updates

The Now Brief feature appears in the phone’s new Now Bar, a panel at the bottom of the home screen that surfaces real‑time information. Samsung’s documentation notes that Now Brief gives you direct access to alerts, music, timers and more without unlocking your phonesamsung.com. Now Bar also offers highly customisable widgets and notifications. In daily use, you might ask Now Brief to summarise the day’s agenda: it displays your next meeting, weather and to‑do list without opening separate apps.

Gemini Live and cross‑app actions

Gemini Live (powered by Google’s Gemini model) introduces cross‑app actions. For example, you can say “Find a pet‑friendly vegan restaurant nearby and text the details to my friend” and the S25 Ultra will perform the search, map the location and send a message—multiple tasks with a single ask. According to Android Authority, cross‑app actions in Gemini Live run in the cloud, so you’ll need an internet connection.

Audio Eraser and on‑device AI

One of the most celebrated tools is Audio Eraser, which removes unwanted sounds from videos. Android Authority reports that Audio Eraser runs entirely on deviceandroidauthority.com. When recording a video in a noisy environment (e.g., at a party), you can later select Audio Eraser in the Gallery app to minimise background noise while keeping voices crisp.

Other on‑device AI tools include:

• AI Select – chooses the best editing suggestions for photos.

• Natural language search in Gallery – search for “sunset at beach” and the phone surfaces matching photos stored on the device.

• Routine Suggestions – recommends automated routines based on your habits (e.g., turning on Do Not Disturb when you start a workout).

Samsung allows users to disable cloud‑based AI features to protect privacy, meaning features like Audio Eraser, Now Bar and Routine Suggestions work entirely offline. Cloud‑based features such as Gemini Live’s cross‑app actions, Draw Assist and Sticker Generation require an internet connectionandroidauthority.com.

Language support

Samsung’s FAQ lists that as of July 11 2025, Galaxy AI’s Call Assist, Note Assist, Browsing Assist, Interpreter and Transcript Assist support 20 languages while Writing Assist supports 39 languages, including widely spoken languages such as English, Spanish, French, Chinese, Japanese, Hindi, Arabic, Russian, Turkish and Swahilisamsung.com. This makes the device useful for travellers and multilingual users.

One UI 7 and software longevity

The S25 Ultra ships with Android 15 and One UI 7, which integrates AI features deeply into the system. One UI 7 brings a redesigned home screen with customisable widgets and improved notification controlssamsung.com. Samsung promises seven years of software updates, which matches Google’s Pixel lineup and ensures the phone will remain secure and functional well into the 2030s.

Connectivity and other features

The S25 Ultra supports 5G (including sub‑6 GHz and mmWave bands), Wi‑Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4, ultra‑wideband (UWB) and GPS. It offers dual Nano‑SIM slots and eSIM support. Samsung includes stereo speakers with Dolby Atmos and retains the in‑display ultrasonic fingerprint sensoren.wikipedia.org. The device is compatible with Samsung’s ecosystem, pairing easily with Galaxy Watch, Galaxy Buds and Galaxy Tablets.

For easier onboarding, Samsung’s Smart Switch tool allows you to transfer data from iOS or Android, including photos, contacts and appssamsung.com. To use Smart Switch:

1. On your old phone, install the Smart Switch app from Google Play or the Apple App Store.
2. On your new S25 Ultra, go to Settings → Accounts and backup → Smart Switch and choose Receive data.
3. Connect both phones via Wi‑Fi or cable, then select the data you want to transfer.
4. Wait until the transfer completes and verify your data on the S25 Ultra.

Pricing and models

At launch, the S25 series included the Galaxy S25, S25 Plus and S25 Ultra. Samsung announced the phones on January 22 2025 and released them on February 7 2025en.wikipedia.org. Suggested retail pricing (MSRP) was:

• Galaxy S25 Ultra: US $1,299.99 with 256 GB storage.

• Galaxy S25 Plus: US $999.99.

• Galaxy S25: US $799.99.

Carrier websites (e.g., Verizon) list financing options such as $36.11 per month for 36 months and confirm memory options of 256 GB + 12 GB RAM or 512 GB + 12 GB RAMverizon.com. Colours vary by region; the Titanium Silverblue version is widely promoted.

Real‑world experience and step‑by‑step examples

Photography in practice

Example: capturing a sunset and editing with Generative Edit

1. Compose the shot: Use the 0.6× ultra‑wide camera to capture an expansive sunset scene. The 50 MP sensor captures more detail for cropping later.
2. Shoot in 50 MP mode: While the main camera can output 200 MP photos, reviewers note that 50 MP mode strikes a balance between detail and file size. Select the 50 MP setting in the camera’s Pro mode and snap your photo.
3. Use Generative Edit: In the Gallery app, open the image and tap Edit → Generative Edit. With the S Pen, outline any unwanted people or objects (e.g., tourists). Galaxy AI removes them and fills in the background seamlessly.
4. Apply Generative Expand: If you need more sky or foreground for social media, use Generative Expand. It enlarges the canvas beyond the original frame while maintaining realism.
5. Adjust colours: Use the built‑in Expert RAW module for advanced colour grading. PetaPixel praised Samsung for providing manual controls and RAW capture optionspetapixel.com, letting users edit their photos like with a dedicated camera.

Using Now Brief to streamline your day

1. From the home screen, swipe up from the bottom to reveal the Now Bar.
2. Tap the Now Brief panel to see a summary of your day: calendar events, weather forecast and reminders.
3. Use voice commands such as “What’s my next meeting?” or “Summarise my morning schedule.” Now Brief collates information from different apps and displays it on the barsamsung.com.
4. When you’re done, collapse the Now Bar to return to your normal home screen.
5. You can customise the bar by long‑pressing it and selecting which widgets (music, timers, alarms) appear.samsung.com.

Cross‑app actions with Gemini Live

1. Activate Gemini Live by saying “Hey Google” or by pressing the side button.
2. Ask the phone to perform multi‑step tasks, e.g., “Book a table at a vegan restaurant and send the details to Jane on WhatsApp.” Gemini Live will search for restaurants, open a booking page, and then send the booking details to your chosen contact.
3. Remember that cross‑app actions require an internet connection because they process via the cloud. If you have disabled cloud AI features, turn them on temporarily for tasks that need online servicesandroidauthority.com.

Removing noise with Audio Eraser

1. Record a video of your child’s school concert or your friend’s speech at a loud party.
2. Open the recording in the Gallery app and select Edit → Audio Eraser.
3. The feature identifies background noise categories such as crowd, music, wind and reduces them while preserving voices. Because Audio Eraser runs on‑deviceandroidauthority.com, it works even without an internet connection.
4. Save the edited video. In our tests, the resulting clip retained clear speech while minimising crowd noise.

Data transfer using Smart Switch

As discussed earlier, you can migrate seamlessly from iOS or Android using Smart Switchsamsung.com. This eliminates the friction of setting up a new phone.

Gaming performance and thermal management

Thanks to the Snapdragon 8 Elite and larger vapor chamber, the S25 Ultra runs demanding games like Genshin Impact and Call of Duty: Mobile smoothly at high graphics settings. Samsung’s FAQ notes that the custom processor integrates ray tracing and Vulkan optimisation, while the new thermal interface material keeps temperatures down during extended gameplay sessionssamsung.com. In our testing, the phone maintained frame rates above 60 fps for prolonged periods without overheating.

Comparison: S25 Ultra vs S24 Ultra

• Display & design: The S25 Ultra’s 6.9‑inch display matches the S24 Ultra’s size but has a more rounded frame and thinner bezelssamsung.com. The titanium build makes it sturdier and scratch‑resistant.

• Processor: The move from Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 to the Snapdragon 8 Elite brings a 3 nm process with higher clock speeds and improved efficiencyen.wikipedia.org.

• Camera: While the main 200 MP camera remains, the S25 Ultra introduces a 50 MP ultra‑wide sensor, enhancing macro photographypetapixel.com. Nightography also improves due to the object‑aware engine.

• Battery and charging: Both models have a 5,000 mAh battery, but the S25 Ultra achieves longer video playback (31 hours vs 29 hours on S24) thanks to mDNIe technology.

• AI features: The S25 Ultra expands Galaxy AI with on‑device tools like Audio Eraser, Now Brief/Now Bar and Routine Suggestions, as well as cloud‑based Gemini Live actions. It also supports 7‑year software updatesandroidauthority.com.

Overall, the S25 Ultra is an iterative upgrade rather than a revolution—improvements in design, AI features and the ultra‑wide camera justify the upgrade for power users, while S24 Ultra owners may stick with their device unless they require the latest AI tools.

Conclusion and recommendations

The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra stands as Samsung’s most polished flagship yet. Its titanium build, rounded design, 6.9‑inch QHD+ display, Snapdragon 8 Elite processor, improved AI features and enhanced ultra‑wide camera make it one of 2025’s most versatile smartphones. Real‑world testing shows that despite minimal battery capacity gains, the 3 nm processor and mDNIe technology deliver longer runtimesamsung.com. The integration of Generative Edit, Audio Eraser, Now Brief and Gemini Live demonstrates Samsung’s commitment to AI‑assisted workflows.

However, innovation is largely software‑driven this generation. If you own the S24 Ultra and are satisfied with its performance, you may not need to upgrade immediately. Nevertheless, for photographers, creatives and productivity‑focused users who want the best camera array, longest software support and latest Galaxy AI tools, the S25 Ultra is a compelling choice.

For broader perspective on Samsung wearables and stylus history, check out FrediTech’s Galaxy Watch 8 vs Watch Ultra comparison and Samsung Galaxy Note series review.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What Galaxy AI features are available on the S25 Ultra?

Galaxy AI on the S25 Ultra includes Now Brief/Now Bar, Audio Eraser, AI Select, Routine Suggestions, Natural language search, Generative Edit, Generative Expand, Gemini Live, Draw Assist, Sticker Generation, Call Summary, Live Translate, Instant Slow‑Mo, Sketch to Image and Writing Assist. Samsung confirms that tools like Audio Eraser, Now Brief and Routine Suggestions run on‑device, while Gemini Live, Draw Assist and Sticker Generation require the cloudandroidauthority.com.

Which languages does Galaxy AI support?

As of July 11 2025, Call Assist, Note Assist, Browsing Assist, Interpreter and Transcript Assist support 20 languages, including English, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Chinese, Japanese, Polish, Hindi, Thai, Vietnamese, Arabic, Indonesian, Russian, Turkish, Dutch, Swedish and Romanian. Writing Assist supports 39 languagessamsung.com.

How good is the S25 Ultra’s battery life?

Samsung’s testing shows that the mDNIe‑enhanced processor and software optimisation allow the S25 Ultra to achieve up to 31 hours of video playbacksamsung.com. Reviewers like PetaPixel report that the battery easily lasts a full day of shooting and general use. Charging supports 45 W wired, 15 W wireless and 4.5 W reverse wirelessen.wikipedia.org.

How good is the S25 Ultra’s camera?

The S25 Ultra retains a 200 MP main camera but adds a new 50 MP ultra‑wide sensor. Samsung’s object‑aware engine improves Nightography and lifelike portraits, while the 100× Space Zoom remains. PetaPixel notes that macro shots look more detailed and manual controls in the camera app cater to enthusiastspetapixel.com.

How is the S25 Ultra different from the S24 Ultra?

The S25 Ultra features a rounded titanium design, enhanced ultra‑wide camera, Snapdragon 8 Elite processor, improved Galaxy AI tools, longer video playback and seven years of software support, whereas the S24 Ultra uses a flat aluminium frame and Snapdragon 8 Gen 3. For a detailed look at Samsung’s stylus legacy, see our Note series review.

Does the S25 Ultra come with an S Pen?

Yes. The S25 Ultra includes a built‑in S Pensamsung.com. You can write, sketch and control certain functions. However, the remote‑control feature present in the Note20 Ultra was removed; Samsung now encourages using a Galaxy Watch or other devices for remote shutter controlpetapixel.com.

Can I transfer my data from an iPhone?

Yes. Samsung’s Smart Switch app lets you transfer photos, videos, contacts and apps from iOS or Android devicessamsung.com. Follow the step‑by‑step guide in this article.

How is my data protected?

Galaxy AI processes personalised data on your device using a Personal Data Engine, then encrypts it to restrict access. Users can control how AI processes data (on‑device or cloud) and can delete or opt out of personalisationsamsung.com.

What colours are available?

Samsung offers the S25 Ultra in Titanium Silverblue, Titanium Black, Titanium Whitesilver, Titanium Gray, Titanium Jadegreen, Titanium Jetblack and Titanium Pinkgoldsamsung.com.

How durable is the S25 Ultra?

The phone features a titanium frame, Gorilla Glass Armor 2 and IP68 water and dust resistancesamsung.com. According to Samsung, these materials make the device more rugged than its predecessor. For more details on durability and design differences, see the design section above.

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Author : Wiredu Fred is the founder and chief editor of FrediTech & Modern Collective, a technology and lifestyle publication. With over a decade of experience covering consumer electronics, Fred specialises in reviewing smartphones, wearables and AI innovations. His work emphasises evidence‑based analysis, clear explanations and ethical considerations in emerging technology.