The Galaxy S25 Ultra is the most enticing phone Samsung has ever created. It’s wonderfully engaging. This is the closest any Android phone has been to an “iPhone killer.” But should you rush out and buy one? In most cases, I’d say no. Let me explain this confusing contradiction.
The Allure of the Ultra
It’s hard to describe how much I love using this phone. The materials are top-notch: tough glass on the front and back, a stronger titanium body. I’ve been using it caseless (a risky move, I know!), tossing it in camera bags, backpacks, and pockets. It even managed to handle a tricky mistake in a video intro and a tough wedding-ring scratch test. A nasty meter-and-a-half drop onto concrete left a mark, but honestly, I was expecting far worse. This phone is tough.
The battery life? Phenomenal. I usually get about 9 hours of screen time using the default 10P resolution. I finish my day with 30-40% of battery remaining.
And let’s talk aesthetics. This phone is gorgeous. The exact design and the nearly borderless, vibrant display make it a visual treat. It’s bright and sharp, almost free from reflections. Samsung’s One UI 7 Android skin is their most beautiful yet.
Here’s the kicker: Drisha, my wife and a lifelong iPhone user, praised the S25 Ultra’s software. She’s never done that before! This says a lot. The software feels familiar to iPhone users:
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Icons and widgets resemble Apple’s design.
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The multitasking page is practically identical.
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Control Center and notification tray access mirrors the iPhone’s swipe gestures.
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The lock screen customization is eerily similar.
Some may call it a “copycat,” but I think Samsung does these features better than Apple. For instance, the settings menu search understands human language. You don’t have to memorise specific setting labels anymore! The photo gallery is also more intuitive than Apple’s. iOS 18, what were you thinking?! It intelligently searches past pictures with great accuracy. The experience is improved by even the smallest details, such as the low minimum brightness for night browsing.
Forget the iPhone’s reputation for smoothness. This Samsung feels blazing fast. Animations are smoother and faster than Apple’s. This gives a sense of instant response, making the iPhone feel slow in comparison.
So, What’s the Catch?
With all this praise, why am I hesitant to recommend the S25 Ultra? Several reasons:
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Price: At $1300, it’s significantly more expensive than the now $800 S24 Ultra. I normally encourage getting the newest tech, but the price difference is quite large.
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S24 Ultra Still Holds Up: The S24 Ultra has nearly all of the One UI 7 features. It will probably get many software updates from the S25.
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Overkill Power: The S25 Ultra boasts a significantly faster chip. The stress tests showed its great performance, but I find it hard to use this power every day. Most mobile games are designed for low-end phones, so this extra power feels wasted. Plus, lazy Android app developers often create laggy experiences regardless of hardware. My current Pokémon TCG app lags on the S25 Ultra but runs smoothly on older iPhones! Even Zoom calls seem laggier and lower quality on the S25 Ultra. Power is great, but software optimization is crucial.
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The AI Conundrum: The S25 Ultra heavily emphasizes AI features, touted as free until the end of 2025. However, Samsung remains silent on future pricing. This uncertainty is a major concern. Some AI features are really useful. This includes a better Gemini assistant. It also includes Gemini Live, which is context-aware. There’s AI Select for copying text, screen capture in chats, and great AI wallpaper creation. However, other features fall short. For example, lock screen briefs give redundant information, and cross-app actions are underdeveloped. Game-changing features like Circle to Search are also coming to other phones. The biggest issue is the unknown cost. Samsung’s silence feels like prioritizing business over user transparency.
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Camera Improvements, but…: The S25 Ultra’s camera is a significant step up from the S24 Ultra. Zoom, ultrawide, skin tones, sharpness, and video quality are all improved. Shutter lag is finally gone. However, it’s not the best phone camera (iPhone and Vivo X200 Pro still outperform it). The kicker? These improvements look mainly software-driven. So, will these updates reach older Samsung phones? They might not, either to boost new phone sales or because the upgrades rely on the S25’s newer chipset.
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S Pen Downgrade: The S Pen no longer has Bluetooth. So, you can’t use air gestures for music control or to activate the camera shutter. A small detail, but a step backward nonetheless.
The AI Waiting Game
Samsung is in a tricky situation. They championed AI integration but are hesitant to discuss the inevitable cost. This silence takes me back to the Xbox One launch failure. Announcing strict game sharing rules hurt them in the console war. Samsung might be concerned about a backlash if they lead with AI subscription fees. They’re waiting for a competitor to make the first move.
AI Features: The Good, the Bad, and the Quirky
Let’s dive deeper into the AI features:
The Good:
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AI Select: Effortlessly copy specific sentences from paragraphs. A game-changer for messaging and research.
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Screen Grab: Quickly save and resurface important information from chats.
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Gemini: Much better than Google Assistant, it can manage complex commands and questions.
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Gemini Live: Context-aware assistance based on your screen content. Imagine getting instant summaries or asking clarifying questions about YouTube videos!
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AI Wallpaper Generation: Fast, high-quality, and automatically adjusts the UI color palette.
The Bad (or Needs Improvement):
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Lock Screen Briefs: Redundant and often unhelpful information.
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Cross-App Action: Underdeveloped and lacking the contextual understanding needed for true usefulness. Scheduling events is simple. However, the AI still doesn’t grasp your preferred dates and times.
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Now Bar: Similar to Apple’s Dynamic Island, but lacks functionality and app support.
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Interpreter Mode: Occasionally brilliant, often hilariously inaccurate. Use with caution!
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Call Recording & Transcription: Excellent presentation, terrible execution. Inaccurate transcriptions render the search and summarization features useless.
The Verdict
The S25 Ultra is a fantastic phone, but its value proposition is questionable. Many of its best features are already available or coming to the older S24 Ultra. The big price increase is tough to explain. This is especially true with the uncertainty about AI subscription costs.
If you absolutely must have the latest and greatest Android, the S25 Ultra is a strong contender. However, if you’re value-conscious, I recommend waiting. Check if Samsung offers software updates for older phones. Also, wait for clear information on AI pricing. Don’t get caught up in the hype; a slightly older phone might offer a much better value.
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