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Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra Unboxing and First Impressions

shane craig

You may not realize it, but I’ve been using the Galaxy S23 Ultra for a couple of years now. In many of my videos, that phone has provided the B-Roll and/or the thumbnail admirably. Now, it’s finally time to move on as my brand new S25 Ultra has finally arrived! I snagged the online exclusive Jade color, and in this video, I'm unboxing it and sharing my initial thoughts. (Spoiler alert: It might not look very Jade on camera!)

Unboxing and Design: A Familiar, Yet Refined Feel

The packaging itself is pretty minimalist, as is the trend these days. Inside, the S25 Ultra immediately felt a touch lighter in hand than my S23 Ultra – a welcome change. The design language has evolved, featuring noticeably larger camera modules. The individual camera rings are bigger, minimizing the gaps between them, and the smaller modules seem to protrude a tad more. Samsung has also shifted to flat side rails with rounded corners. This is a significant improvement in my opinion, as the S23 Ultra, and even the S24 Ultra, felt a bit too sharp and uncomfortable to hold for extended periods.

Key Features and Initial Impressions: A Deeper Dive

S23 Ultra vs S25 Ultra

  • Display: A Glare-Free Gaze: One of the most talked-about display features from the S24 Ultra was the new anti-reflective coating and thankfully that returns this year. And let me tell you, it's not just marketing hype. Stepping outside, the difference is striking. Glare, the bane of modern smartphone screens, is drastically reduced. It's not completely gone, but the improvement is substantial, making the screen much more usable in bright conditions.

  • Camera: A First Look (with More to Come): The camera system is a fairly impressive on paper, boasting a 200MP primary sensor, a 10MP 3x telephoto, a 50MP 5x telephoto, and a 50MP ultrawide. The zoom functionality is remarkably smooth, even when transitioning between lenses. This is one area where Pixel phones lag far behind.

    My initial image quality tests are promising, but I'll be conducting a thorough camera comparison in a dedicated video soon. My gut feeling is that it's a typical Samsung camera experience – excellent in good lighting, but potentially still struggling with fast-moving, dimly lit subjects.

  • S Pen: A Familiar Tool, Refined: The S Pen is neatly tucked away within the phone's curved bottom edge. While Bluetooth connectivity is absent this time around, the core functionality remains intact. Comparing it to the S23 Ultra's S Pen, it appears slightly taller, and the tip area seems a bit thicker. I haven't noticed a significant difference in weight.

  • Software: One UI 7 – A Breath of Fresh Air: One UI 7 brings some welcome changes. The vertical app drawer? A huge win for me! The quick settings and notifications are now displayed in pill-shaped modules, accessible via separate downward swipes. The Smart Sidebar now features "AI Select," a clever tool that lets you circle text or images for various AI-powered actions, like writing assistance, translation, and even generating sketches. Another notable change: the power button now directly launches Google Assistant (or Gemini), eliminating the need for workarounds.

  • Performance: Early Impressions are Positive: While I haven't run any benchmarks yet, the phone feels incredibly responsive and snappy in normal use. App loading is quick, and multitasking feels smooth.

Early Verdict: A Solid Step Forward

The build quality is, as expected from Samsung, top-notch. The flat sides and rounded corners are a definite improvement in terms of comfort. The screen is gorgeous, and the anti-reflective coating is a game-changer for me. The camera bump is substantial, so a case is likely a must-have. The software changes will require some adjustment, but I'm generally optimistic.

Overall, the S25 Ultra feels like a significant upgrade from my S23 Ultra. If you're still using an S23, S22, or an older model, this phone feels worth considering. However, if you recently jumped on the S24 Ultra bandwagon, the upgrade is not going to be compelling.

What's Next? Stay Tuned!

My journey with the S25 Ultra has just begun. I'll be putting it through its paces with a comprehensive review, including a detailed camera shootout against other flagship devices. Subscribe to my channel so you don't miss those videos! And in the comments below, let me know what you'd like me to cover in my upcoming reviews and dedicated feature videos. I'm all ears!

Where to buy

Galaxy S25

Galaxy S25+

Galaxy S25 Ultra