At long last, Samsung has officially taken the wraps off of its much-rumored new flagship phone, the Galaxy S25 Ultra, at the Galaxy Unpacked 2025 event. After months of speculation, leaks, and rumors, the device has now seen the light of day, thus meeting expectations caused by that hype. The S25 Ultra features significant design upgrades, state-of-the-art features, and AI-driven improvements to further its case as one of the most advanced smartphones on the market.
Sleek Titanium Build and Improved Design
Design-wise, though, the Galaxy S25 Ultra did take a rather bold leap in the direction that where S24 Ultra had sharper edges with a flat frame, the Ultra version of the S25 rounds those off for a titanium build that would give more modernity as well as badly-needed ergonomics, users beg them to give this update to a design language now a couple years stale.
At just 218 grams and a thickness of only 8.2 mm, the S25 Ultra is even more lightweight than before. The phone is fitted with a titanium frame that provides extra solidity to it without losing that premium feel-a marriage of form and function.
Improved Display Technology
While the S24 Ultra had a 6.8-inch display, the S25 Ultra features a 6.9-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display. The WQHD+ resolution goes up to 3120 x 1440, with a refresh rate of 120Hz, bringing brilliant colors and butter-smooth action.
More importantly, a highlight feature is the second-generation Corning Gorilla Glass Armor, which will make its debut on this device. This addition brings screen durability and introduces the first anti-reflective display in the industry for better visibility in all lighting conditions.
With all these improvements, bezels have been significantly reduced, allowing for a near edge-to-edge display that makes the experience much better. The S-Pen bundled with the S25 Ultra does not feature Bluetooth connectivity, which restricts features such as gesture controls and remote functionality.
Camera Improvements with AI Integration
The camera setup on the Galaxy S25 Ultra retains a lot of the S24 Ultra’s layout but introduces some key AI-powered improvements. The phone sports:
1. A 200MP primary sensor
2. A 10MP 3x telephoto lens
3. A 50MP 5x periscope zoom lens
4. A newly upgraded 50MP ultra-wide-angle lens, quite a jump from the previous 12MP sensor
The ultra-wide lens now carries 4-in-1 pixel binning to shoot brighter and more detailed 12.5MP photos. It also boasts a wider-angle 23.2mm equivalent focal length with an f/1.7 aperture, aided by EIS for better results in most scenarios.
The telephoto lens also brings variable zoom into the equation, which means smoother transitions and overall better video. While the changes in hardware seem minor, the inclusion of AI in image processing and video stabilization elevates camera performance to the next level.
Performance Powered by Snapdragon 8 Elite
Under the hood, the Galaxy S25 Ultra is powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset, which brings a serious boost in performance compared to its predecessor. It boasts up to 16GB of RAM for better multitasking and more complex on-device AI capabilities.
Storage goes up to 1TB for users who need that much storage. This hardware combination will easily see phones through the most resource-intensive applications and future-proof them for AI-driven tasks.
Battery and Charging: A Familiar Story
The S25 Ultra still houses a 5,000mAh battery with 45W fast charging, which may come as a disappointment to those who expected something much better. The phone, however, features next-generation Qi12 wireless charging technology for improved speeds and efficiency.
Another drawback is that the accessories do not have inbuilt magnets but instead use magnetized external accessories to attach. These minor drawbacks notwithstanding, the wireless charging features are an advancement in terms of convenience.
Software: One UI 7 and Advanced Galaxy AI
The Galaxy S25 Ultra comes running One UI 7, based on Android 15, and will also get seven years of software updates. The new UI is all about bringing personalization and intuitiveness at every turn, with the inclusion of Samsung’s Galaxy AI.
Notable AI enhancements include a generative AI-powered Bixby personal assistant, which features enhanced contextual awareness and support for multiple simultaneous commands to enrich both productivity and convenience.
Buyers also get a one-year Gemini Advanced subscription, which unlocks premium features for even better AI-driven capabilities on the device.
Color Options and Pricing
The Galaxy S25 Ultra will come in four titanium-inspired colors, including Titanium Black, Titanium Gray, Titanium Silver Blue, and Titanium White Silver. Exclusive colors will include Titanium Jade Green, Titanium Jet Black, and Titanium Pink Gold, only available on Samsung’s website.
It starts at $1,299 for the base 256GB model. Pre-orders open now, while the phone launches officially on February 7th, 2025.
Final Thoughts: A Worthy Upgrade?
The Galaxy S25 Ultra brings meaningful upgrades in design, display, and AI capabilities while retaining a familiar battery and camera setup. Inside, this comes with a titanium build, improved ergonomics, and state-of-the-art software-oh, this is something no flagship enthusiast would be willing to say no to.
It might disappoint some in regards to expectation in certain hardware changes like charging and cameras, but the overall package should keep the Galaxy S25 Ultra at the top tier of flagship smartphones.
Source: Samsung