The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra is finally here, and it's a complicated beast to review. If I focused solely on its features – the screen, speakers, camera, battery life – you'd walk away thinking it's a top-tier phone. But that's not the whole story. There's crucial context, and ignoring it would paint an incomplete picture. So, let's unpack that context first, then dive into the review.

For years, the Galaxy S Ultra series represented the peak of mobile technology. Each iteration brought jaw-dropping innovations, from the groundbreaking 108MP camera in the S20 Ultra to the incredible zoom capabilities and the integration of the S Pen in the S22 Ultra. These phones were Samsung flexing its technological muscles, showcasing what was possible.

However, the evolution has plateaued. While the S23 Ultra introduced a 200MP camera, other aspects remained largely unchanged. The S24 Ultra tweaked the telephoto setup but didn't deliver a significant leap forward. And now, the S25 Ultra arrives with flat side rails and curved corners, a new ultrawide lens, but little else that feels truly innovative. It seems Samsung, in its pursuit of iPhone-level refinement, has lost some of the spark that defined these devices.

This isn't to say the S25 Ultra is a bad phone. Far from it. As you'll see, it's actually a very good phone. But should you upgrade from an S23 or S24 Ultra? Probably not. It's a great phone with some complicated context.

Now, let's get to the hardware. It's a Samsung phone, so you know the drill: rock-solid build quality, premium feel, and a slightly lighter design than its predecessor. The 6.9-inch, 120Hz, 1440p display is gorgeous, and the anti-reflective coating is a game-changer, especially outdoors. The stereo speakers are impressive – loud, clear, and with decent bass.

The S Pen is still here, but with a catch. Bluetooth functionality, including air actions and camera shutter control, has been removed. While most core S Pen features remain, this change will disappoint some users. Samsung claims less than 1% of users utilized those features, but that's little comfort if you were among them.

The camera system is a complex topic. The rear setup boasts a 200MP primary camera, a 50MP ultrawide, a 10MP 3x telephoto, and a 50MP 5x telephoto. The goal is to provide a dedicated sensor for virtually any focal length. And Samsung has made progress, particularly with motion blur, which was a significant issue in previous models. I've conducted tests comparing the S25 Ultra to the S23 Ultra and the Pixel 9 Pro XL, and the S25 Ultra shows marked improvement.

While some argue the new ultrawide isn't a huge upgrade, I've found it to be significantly better in low-light conditions. The noise and grain are drastically reduced compared to the S23 Ultra. Overall, the camera system is versatile and capable, though perhaps not as revolutionary as it once was. Video performance remains a strong suit for Samsung, with smooth zoom and excellent quality.

For a full breakdown of the camera with tons of samples, check out this standalone article.

Moving on to the software, it's a mixed bag. The animations are smooth, the stackable widgets are a welcome addition, and Samsung DeX continues to be a useful feature. There are also new AI-powered tools, like AI Select and Drawing Assist. However, many of the hyped features feel gimmicky and unnecessary. The Now Brief feature, for example, provides information that's either irrelevant or already available elsewhere. The Now Bar on the lock screen seems like a less effective attempt at a "Dynamic Island." Both of these were touted as big new features and both have been nothing short of useless for me.

Many of the "new" features are essentially Google features with a Samsung skin. For example, the generative editing tools are similar to Google's Magic Editor, just with a different interface and some added sketching capabilities. It feels like Samsung is focusing more on reskinning existing features than developing truly innovative ones.

The battery life, however, is a definite highlight. I’ve consistently achieved over 7 hours of screen-on time, even with heavy usage and the display set to 1440p with the always-on display active. Charging also seems faster than the S23 Ultra, despite similar advertised speeds.

So, is the S25 Ultra a good phone? Yes, it is. But it's not a huge leap forward from the S24 Ultra, which was also a great phone. It's fast, has great battery life, excellent cameras, a premium build, and polished software. But it lacks the innovative spark that once defined the Ultra series. It feels like Samsung is playing it safe, focusing on incremental improvements rather than groundbreaking innovations.

Ultimately, the decision of whether or not to buy the S25 Ultra is yours. I hope this review has provided you with the information you need to make an informed choice. Let me know your thoughts in the comments below!