Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra: The $1,300 Android That Almost Made Me Ditch My iPhone
Wait. Did Samsung just make me jealous of an Android phone?
I've tested dozens of phones this year. Most blur together. But the Galaxy S25 Ultra? It's been glued to my hand for three weeks, and I'm kinda annoyed about how good it is.
The iPhone Copy That's Better Than the Original
Let's address the elephant in the room. Yes, it looks like an iPhone now. The squared edges, the flat design Samsung basically said "if you can't beat 'em, copy 'em."
But. After using both, I think Samsung's version is better.
The S25 Ultra is lighter. 218g vs the iPhone 16 Pro Max's 227g. Doesn't sound like much until you're holding it for an hour straight. Your pinky will thank you.
The Battery
28 hours and 48 minutes on video playback.
Let me repeat that. Twenty. Eight. Hours.
I charged this thing Monday morning. Used it all day Tuesday. Woke up Wednesday with 23% left. That's better than any phone I've tested this year—including the iPhone 16 Pro Max which died 8 hours earlier in the same test.
Real-world use? I'm getting a full day plus another half day. Easy.
The Camera Situation (It's Complicated)
The cameras are... mostly the same as last year. 200MP main, 50MP telephoto, another 10MP telephoto. Samsung didn't touch the hardware.
Instead they threw AI at it. It works. Night photos are clearer. Zoom shots at 5x are sharp. The new 50MP ultrawide (up from 12MP) is noticeably better in low light.
But here's the problem. DXOMARK tested it and found the S25 Ultra doesn't crack the top 10. Colors can shift pink in mixed lighting. Low contrast in some shots. HDR occasionally fails.
Is it bad? No. It's very good. But for $1,300, I expected "blow your mind" good. Instead I got "really solid."
The 200MP sensor still impresses though. Zoom into photos and there's detail for days. Pet portraits? Chef's kiss.
The S Pen Lost Its Superpower
Samsung killed Bluetooth in the S Pen. No more remote shutter button. No more air gestures.
Why? To save 15 grams of weight apparently.
I'm salty about this. The remote shutter was clutch for group photos. Now it's just a fancy stylus. Still useful for notes and doodling, but it lost its party trick.
AI!
Circle to Search is faster. Just circle anything on your screen and Google finds it. No copying text, no switching apps.
The new "Multi-Control" AI is wild. You can say "send this photo to Mom and order pizza" and it'll do both. Across different apps. Without you touching anything.
Does it work every time? Nope. But when it does, it does wonders. I used it to book a restaurant while texting my wife the address. Saved me 90 seconds. That adds up.
The Little Things That Matter
Snapdragon 8 Elite chip isfast. Apps open instantly. Games run smooth. Zero lag.
The titanium frame feels premium. Gorilla Armor 2 on the front means it's tough. I dropped it once (don't judge me). Not a scratch.
12GB RAM is plenty. 256GB storage is the minimum though I'd spring for 512GB.
No Qi2 wireless charging unless you buy a special case. That's annoying. Samsung added the hardware but you need their case to use it. Cash grab? Probably.
The Real Talk
At ($1,300), this isn't cheap. But compared to the iPhone 16 Pro Max. The S25 Ultra gives you more screen, better battery, a built-in stylus, and way better customization.
The AI features are hit or miss. But the ones that work? They're actually useful. Not just parlor tricks.
Camera's good but not great. Battery's exceptional. Performance is top-tier. Design is... iPhone-ish but lighter.
Who Should Buy This
If you're on a Galaxy S22 or older, this is a massive upgrade. The battery alone makes it worth it.
If you've got an S23 or S24 Ultra, maybe wait. Unless you're desperate for better battery life.
iPhone users curious about Android? This is your entry point. It's the least "Android-y" Android phone out there.
Who Should Skip
If you don't care about the S Pen, save money and get the S25+. Seriously. It's $200 less and 90% as good.
If camera quality is your #1 priority, look at the iPhone 16 Pro or wait for the Pixel 10 Pro.
If you're on a budget, this ain't it. Check out the Nothing Phone 2 or Pixel 8a instead.
The Verdict: Buy or Skip?
BUY. But only if you actually use the S Pen or need that insane battery life.
I'm impressed. Annoyed, but impressed. Samsung took the safest possible route copy Apple's design, throw in better specs and it worked. This is the best Android phone you can buy right now.
Just wish they kept Bluetooth in the damn S Pen.
Bottom Line: The S25 Ultra is everything you need in a flagship phone. Nothing revolutionary, but everything's been refined to near perfection. That battery life alone might be worth the upgrade.
