I will reduce straight to the purpose. The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra is a improbable telephone. It was additionally one of many best telephones I’ve ever reviewed as a result of it isn’t a lot totally different from final yr’s Galaxy S24 Ultra.

Value and Availability

The Samsung Galaxy S25 Extremely is offered in 4 colours: Titanium Silverblue, Titanium Whitesilver, Titanium Grey, and Titanium Black. The telephone begins at $1,299.99 with 256GB of built-in storage, 12GB of RAM, and the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Galaxy processor and goes as much as $1,659.99 with 1TB of storage.

After all, Samsung and nearly each main service provide trade-ins and different offers, so there is a good probability you’ll be able to choose up the system for a lot much less.

This yr, Samsung introduced the S24’s and S24+’s flat design to the Extremely. Gone are the spherical and bulbous sides and sharp corners. Now, you are met with a flat show, rounded corners, and squared-off titanium-covered edges. It is onerous to explain the hand really feel, nevertheless it’s premium and stable. The telephone is a dense brick in one of the simplest ways potential.

Samsung additionally managed to shave off some weight and thickness. The Galaxy S25 Extremely is 8.2mm thick and weighs 218g. That is solely 0.4mm thinner and 15g lighter than the S24 Extremely, however mixed with the easier-to-hold design, the distinction is straight away noticeable.

Round entrance, the show is ever barely larger than the Galaxy S24 Extremely, shifting from 6.8 inches to six.9 inches. That is due to even thinner bezels. You will not discover the distinction, however it’s loopy how skinny the bezels have gotten.

The display screen can also be as vivid and delightful as ever. Final yr’s flagship with its Gorilla Armor glass with its anti-glare coating acquired numerous reward, and it was warranted. Holding the telephone up in opposition to a Pixel or an iPhone, the glare from the glass was evening and day. I am grateful to say that Samsung stored that glare-reducing coating round for one more yr with the Gorilla Armor 2, and it is simply pretty much as good.

Underneath the hood is 12GB of RAM and the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy. Once I inform you this chip is quick, nothing I threw on the processor slowed down the telephone. I might throw specs and benchmarks at you, however simply know that Samsung tuned this SoC to deal with every little thing from phrase processing on the CPU to gaming on the GPU to operating AI duties on the NPU.

“Qi2 Prepared” Is a Cop-Out

I used to be thrilled when Samsung and Google announced they would support Qi2 in 2025. This might imply that every firm’s telephones would natively magnetically hook up with MagSafe mounts, stands, and so on., without an added accessory. However then Samsung mentioned the Galaxy S25 series is “Qi2 Ready.”

Ugh.

So, whereas my Galaxy S25 Extremely assessment unit helps 15W wi-fi charging, I wanted a case or magnetic sticker to attach the telephone to any MagSafe or Qi2 equipment. You possibly can go together with Samsung’s Magnet Case, however I opted for the Ghost 2.0, courtesy of dbrand.

This is not a full assessment of the Ghost 2.0, nevertheless it has my full suggestion. I am not usually a transparent case particular person, nevertheless it makes the Galaxy S25 shine. Plus, with how clicky the buttons are, I might nearly reasonably use the telephone with the case than with out. My solely actual grievance is that mud and lint construct up across the rubber across the show, however that is a grievance I’ve with each case.

And what actually issues by way of being “Qi2 Prepared” is that the magnetics within the case are tremendous sturdy. I by no means apprehensive about my pockets coming free or my telephone falling off my Nomad Stand.

Additionally, subsequent time, I actually hope Samsung modifications the place it locations the wi-fi charging coils. There’s a complete ecosystem of MagSafe and Qi2 equipment that do not correctly match on any of the Galaxy S25 lineup. Very like my beloved Peak Design Cell Pockets, most of those cowl up the underside digicam (as seen above). You should not be caught shopping for Samsung’s $30 first-party magnetic wallet as a workaround.

The S Pen Misplaced Options (That I Did not Care About)

Apart from the sheer measurement distinction and the variety of cameras round again, the one factor that makes the Extremely distinct within the Galaxy S25 lineup is the included S Pen stylus. This yr, although, the S Pen is technically a downgrade as a result of it not features a Bluetooth radio and can’t carry out Air Actions.

In response to Samsung, only 1% of customers use the S Pen’s remote features. Supposedly, extra persons are utilizing the gesture controls on Galaxy Ring and Galaxy Look ahead to hands-free photographs.

Some S Pen fans are upset about the change, however I might truthfully care much less. Within the two weeks I’ve had my assessment unit, I solely used the stylus as soon as to scroll by an article. Technically, my spouse has used it the identical variety of occasions as a result of she wrote the textual content seen within the above photograph.

Those that depend on the S Pen to jot down notes should not be affected. The stylus nonetheless works simply the identical as quickly because the tip is inside a few millimeters of the show.

One UI 7 Is Polished

Warranted or not, One UI (and beforehand Touchwiz) was usually considered one of many worst Android skins. With the launch of One UI 7 on prime of Android 15, I haven’t got many complaints.

Samsung’s software program now appears and feels extra just like the Google Pixel’s tackle Android. All the pieces is quick and clean, there are many customization choices, and there’s a new vertically scrolling app drawer. Clear and easy interfaces go an extended solution to making the Galaxy S25 Extremely really feel extra trendy.

I solely have two complaints. The primary is how One UI 7 handles lock display screen notifications. As a substitute of displaying up in the course of the display screen, by default, they now get hidden in the notification bar. Second is how Samsung is separating the notification shade and quick settings. Swipe from one nook and also you get your notification. Swipe down from the opposite, and also you get the short settings. They’re not mixed.

Fortunately, each options will be adjusted within the telephone’s Settings menu. As soon as I figured that out, my expertise with the Galaxy S25 Extremely was significantly better.

The Now Bar Is Implausible…

Once I first went hands-on with the Samsung Galaxy S25 series, I used to be over the moon in regards to the Now Bar and Now Temporary. The Now Bar is much like Apple’s Reside Actions. These are widgets that replace in real-time and reside in your lock display screen and notification bar. These embrace sports activities scores, timers, and extra.

What I actually like about Samsung’s implementation is that the Now Bar widget is all the time seen, even when you find yourself utilizing your telephone. As you’ll be able to see from the second photograph under, the sports activities rating graphic takes up the top-left nook of the notification part. You do not have to swipe down or lock your system to see the widget.

The one factor I am undecided about is in the event you can retrieve the Reside Notification in the event you by chance swipe it away. With Reside Actions on an iPhone and iPad, you’ll be able to go into whichever app and faucet a button to relaunch the notification. With issues like reside sports activities scores that Google updates, as soon as the notification is gone, it is gone ceaselessly. Even unfollowing the crew and refollowing will not get the notification to launch once more. It’s a must to look ahead to the crew’s subsequent recreation.

I requested a Samsung consultant this query however haven’t acquired a solution. I will replace this assessment if I hear again.

…The Now Temporary Is Ineffective

On the alternative facet of the spectrum, the Now Temporary was an enormous disappointment. If you launch it from the house display screen widget, you are alleged to get a rundown of your day, useful data like leaving early for a reservation if there’s site visitors, and routine strategies. As a substitute, I used to be largely met with the climate widget, the calendar widget, and a information story.

Hilariously, the one routine it prompt was to routinely launch the Slack app after I wakened and first unlocked the telephone. That claims lots about my utilization patterns, nevertheless it additionally wasn’t very useful. One way or the other, I’ve been utilizing the Galaxy S25 Extremely as my main telephone for 2 weeks, and that is all it has discovered about me.

What actually sealed the cope with the Now Temporary had been the completely terrible information tales it really helpful. At any time when I tapped on the widget, I used to be met with a low-quality political, leisure, or click-baity information article. Sadly, I’ve one other dozen or so screenshots of the Now Temporary that I did not hassle together with.

When requested, an organization consultant advised me I might go into the Samsung Information app and set my subject desire. I did simply that and solely chosen “Tech.” Nothing modified. To at the present time, I proceed to get these chumbucket-level articles. These alone are why the Now Temporary widget won’t ever reside on my dwelling display screen.

Oh Yeah, There Are Different AI Options Too

The Galaxy S24 Extremely introduced with it Google’s Circle to Search and different generative AI options. These are all nonetheless on the Galaxy S25 Extremely—and supposedly improved—however I by no means discovered a purpose to make use of them final yr, and the identical stays true now.

This yr, although, Samsung is together with AI options that I discover extra useful. The primary is not unique to Galaxy {hardware}, however in the event you use Samsung apps, it’s going to have additional performance. What I am speaking about is Google’s improved Gemini expertise. By merely long-pressing the ability button, you’ll be able to ask the AI agent to do multi-step duties, corresponding to finding native restaurant concepts and texting them to a bunch chat.

In apply, efficiency is hit and miss. Typically, this course of labored flawlessly, however usually, it fell flat on its face. I count on issues to enhance over time, particularly as extra apps soar onboard (Samsung, Google, WhatsApp, and Spotify apps already work) and the characteristic is rolled out to extra telephones (past Galaxy and Pixel).

Subsequent up is natural-language search, particularly within the Settings app. I first skilled an identical characteristic on the OnePlus 13, and it is nice. When you do not know particular key phrases or how Samsung names its settings, casually asking your telephone for assistance will normally get you what you need. For instance, asking the right way to silence notifications when you sleep will get you the Do Not Disturb menu.

And at last, we now have AI Choose. You have lengthy been capable of spotlight textual content, photographs, and movies on Samsung units, however with the brand new characteristic, the Galaxy S25 Extremely shall be cognisant of what is in your display screen. So, in the event you’re watching a video if you launch the characteristic, it’s going to provide to create a GIF. Or in the event you’re a photograph, perhaps you need to make it your wallpaper.

Stable Cameras, Not A lot Enchancment

The Samsung Galaxy S25 Extremely’s digicam system is almost equivalent to final yr’s mannequin, with the exception being the brand new 50MP ultrawide sensor, up from 12MP. Saturation is stable throughout the board, with punchy colours and loads of element in the event you ever need to zoom in.

I do not see a lot distinction between the brand new 50MP ultrawide digicam and final yr’s 12MP sensor, however that is not unhealthy. The lens nonetheless has a slight warp impact, nevertheless it’s not horrible so long as you do not have somebody strolling into the body (as seen under). Zoom high quality can also be nice, however the 50MP 5x telephoto nearly all the time appears higher than the 10MP 3x digicam.

My largest grievance with the Galaxy S24 Extremely’s cameras from final yr is that they did not do nice capturing shifting objects. I skilled comparable outcomes with the S25 Extremely. It is a tad higher, however objects aren’t tack sharp until they had been fully stationary whereas I took the image.

One thing value mentioning is that the aesthetic caps on prime of the Galaxy S25 Extremely’s main cameras are prime lint magnets. There’s sufficient of a spot between the telephone’s physique and the metallic rings that fluffballs will begin to construct up the second you’re taking the telephone out of the field.

Ought to You Purchase the Samsung Galaxy S25 Extremely?

In a vacuum, the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra is nice. It gives top-of-the-line specs and top-notch efficiency, and the display screen is massive sufficient to look at films or get work carried out utilizing the S Pen. In case you purchase this telephone, I doubt you may be disillusioned.

However in the event you’re on the lookout for one thing really “Extremely,” this telephone not gives that “WOW” worth. It is the established order. In case you’ve used one among Samsung’s flagship telephones from the previous three or 4 years, you realize precisely what you are getting. That is not a foul factor, particularly in the event you worth consistency. Samsung has a playbook, and it is following intently in its personal footsteps.

In case you’re on the lookout for one thing distinctive and groundbreaking, you will want to look elsewhere. In case you’re on the lookout for a tried and true powerhouse, the Galaxy S25 Extremely ought to be your subsequent telephone.