Galaxy S25 Ultra: Is it still worth buying? Price, features and our verdict
We may earn a commission if you make a purchase from the links on this page.
Galaxy S25 Ultra. | Image by PhoneArena
What's changed vs the Galaxy S24 Ultra:
- Ditches the sharp, boxy corners of the Galaxy S24 Ultra for subtly rounded edges
- Slimmer and narrower build
- The Dynamic AMOLED 2x display has grown to 6.9 inches
- An upgraded ultra-wide sensor (50 MP now)
- Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy
- Bluetooth features removed from the S Pen
- One UI 7 out of the box
Release timeframe:
- The Galaxy S25 Ultra debuted on January 22, 2025.
Price:
- Samsung is maintaining the same starting price of $1,299.99 for the base storage model.
Is the Galaxy S25 Ultra worth getting versus the Galaxy S26 Ultra?
- The Galaxy S26 Ultra comes with a faster Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chip, an upgrade in charging (60 W wired and 25 W wireless up from 45 W and 15 W, respectively). The main and 5x telephoto camera optics are improved with a larger aperture. Meanwhile, the device sports a new hardware-based Privaxy Display feature and a redesigned back panel. Its body is slightly slimmer and lighter, while the starting price is kept the same at $1,299.
- Upgrading from the Galaxy S25 Ultra to the Galaxy S25 Ultra is not a must, though. The charging improvements are a real win, and the camera is improved for low-light scenarios, but the overall experience remains very similar between the two.
- The Galaxy S25 Ultra is still absolutely capable in 2026. It's one of the strongest Android flagships on the market. Its Snapdragon 8 Elite processor is still capable of top-tier performance, the device comes with an excellent display, and the camera system is versatile and powerful.
Jump to section:
Also read:
Galaxy S25 Ultra release date
- The Galaxy S25 Ultra was announced on January 22, 2025.
| Device lineup | Announcement | Market release |
|---|---|---|
| Galaxy S25 Ultra | January 22, 2025 | February 7, 2025 |
| Galaxy S24 Ultra | January 17, 2024 | January 31, 2024 |
| Galaxy S23 Ultra | February 1, 2023 | February 17, 2023 |
Samsung introduced the Galaxy S25 Ultra at its Unpacked event on January 22, 2025, alongside the Galaxy S25 and Galaxy S25 Plus. The flagship is now officially in stores starting February 7, 2025.
Galaxy S25 Ultra price
- Prices for the Galaxy S25 Ultra start at $1,299.99. That's for the base storage model with 12GB RAM and 256GB storage.
| Model | 256 GB of storage | 512 GB of storage | 1 TB of storage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Galaxy S25 Ultra | $1,299 | $1,419 | $1,659 |
| Galaxy S24 Ultra | $1,299 | $1,419 | $1,659 |
| Galaxy S23 Ultra | $1,199 | $1299 | $1,619 |
Also see: best Galaxy S25 deals
Galaxy S25 Ultra camera
- 200 MP primary sensor with OIS
- 50 MP periscope telephoto sensor featuring 5x optical zoom
- 10 MP secondary telephoto camera with 3x optical zoom
- 50 MP ultra-wide-angle sensor
- 12 MP front camera
The Galaxy S25 Ultra sticks to the familiar camera setup but brings one standout upgrade: the ultra-wide camera is now a 50MP, a huge leap from the 12MP on the previous model.
Aside from the upgrade to the ultra-wide camera, there are no changes. You can check for yourself in the table below, where we’ve compared it to the previous model’s camera setup.
| Phone | Camera specs |
|---|---|
| Galaxy S25 Ultra | Wide: 200 MP F1.7 Ultra-wide: 50 MP Telephoto #1: 10 MP F2.4 3X optical zoom Telephoto #2: 50 MP F3.4 5X optical zoom Front: 12 MP F2.2 |
| Galaxy S24 Ultra | Wide: 200MP F1.7 Ultra-wide: 12MP F2.2 Telephoto #1: 10MP F2.2 3X optical zoom Telephoto #2: 50MP F3.4 5X optical zoom Front: 12MP F2.2 |
With the Galaxy S25 Ultra, AI takes mobile photography and videography up a notch. Samsung is diving deep into AI and machine learning this year, focusing on boosting the camera performance, especially for its flagship.
Beyond the hardware, there are software updates that bring improvements in image processing, offering better low-light performance, enhanced image stabilization, and even sharper portrait shots.
Beyond the hardware, there are software updates that bring improvements in image processing, offering better low-light performance, enhanced image stabilization, and even sharper portrait shots.
Galaxy S25 Ultra storage
Galaxy S25 Ultra storage capacity:
- 256 GB
- 512 GB
- 1TB
The Galaxy S25 Ultra's base model comes with 256 GB of storage, with 512 GB and 1 TB options available, too. In the US and Europe, it only comes with 12 GB of RAM, which should be plenty to power all the AI features packed into this flagship device.
Galaxy S25 Ultra design
- Refreshed look, rounded edges
- Slimmer and narrower, and a little taller than the S24 Ultra
- Titanium frame, S Pen support (no Air Gestures though)
- IP68 rating
The Galaxy S25 Ultra arrives with a refreshed design, now sporting rounded edges. In terms of size, it measures 162.82 x 77.65 x 8.25 mm. Compared to the Galaxy S24 Ultra’s 162.3 x 79.0 x 8.6 mm, the S25 Ultra is not only slimmer and narrower but also a bit taller.
Galaxy S25 Ultra has rounded edges. | Image by Image credit – Samsung
Samsung kept the titanium frame, a standout feature of the S24 Ultra, and it remains a key part of the S25 Ultra’s design.
In terms of durability, the S25 Ultra retains its IP68 water and dust resistance, making it a solid choice for those who need a tough phone.
When it comes to colors, the premium model comes in:
- Titanium White Silver
- Titanium Silver Blue
- Titanium Gray
- Titanium Black
- Titanium Pink Gold (online exclusive)
- Titanium Jet Black (online exclusive)
- Titanium Jade Green (online exclusive)
Galaxy S25 Ultra in all the available colors listed above. | Image credit – Samsung
Galaxy S25 Ultra display
- 6.9-inch display, ALOMED 2X panel
- 120 Hz dynamic refresh rare
The Galaxy S25 Ultra display sees a slight increase, reaching 6.9 inches. Actually, the Galaxy S25 Ultra’s screen measures 6.9 inches diagonally in the full rectangle, or 6.8 inches if you account for the rounded corners. Keep in mind, the actual viewable area is a bit smaller due to the rounded corners and the camera hole.
The Galaxy S25 Ultra still boasts a Dynamic AMOLED 2X display, just like its predecessors. It also keeps the dynamic refresh rate, which allows the screen to adjust between 1 Hz and 120 Hz depending on what’s happening on screen.
The Galaxy S25 Ultra also holds onto one of its predecessor's best features: Gorilla Glass Armor. This helps reduce glare and significantly improves screen visibility when you're outdoors.
Galaxy S25 Ultra battery
- 5,000 mAh battery as standard for Ultra models
The Galaxy S25 Ultra is packed with a 5,000 mAh battery. For charging, it supports 45W wired charging, or you can go for wireless charging up to 25W. With the 45W adapter (sold separately), you can charge the phone up to 65% in just around 30 minutes.
Additionally, the phone offers Wireless PowerShare, so you can charge your Galaxy Buds or Galaxy Watch directly from your phone. Just remember, this feature works with Samsung devices or other brands that support Qi wireless charging.
Additionally, the phone offers Wireless PowerShare, so you can charge your Galaxy Buds or Galaxy Watch directly from your phone. Just remember, this feature works with Samsung devices or other brands that support Qi wireless charging.
Galaxy S25 Ultra features and software
- One UI 7 and Android 15 out of the box
- Supports One UI 9 and Android 17
The Galaxy S25 Ultra comes with One UI 7, based on Android 15, straight out of the box. One UI 7 brings some of Samsung's most significant updates yet, including major changes to the interface and design. You get a revamped lock screen, a refreshed overview screen, a split Notification Panel and Quick Settings, new battery features, and the latest Galaxy AI enhancements.
With Samsung's seven-year software support policy, the Galaxy S25 Ultra is set for updates through 2032. This means users will get both major Android upgrades and security patches to keep the device fresh and secure for years to come.
But that's not all. The Galaxy S25 series ushers in an AI-integrated OS that changes how we interact with technology and impact our daily lives. With One UI 7, the Galaxy S25 Ultra becomes a true AI companion, understanding your needs and preferences while offering personalized experiences.
Galaxy AI
The Galaxy S25 Ultra is the ultimate device for experiencing Samsung's latest advancements in both on-device and cloud-based generative AI. Galaxy AI has quickly become one of our favorite features in last year's lineup, and this year’s model takes everything that’s already available and improves it even further.
The Galaxy S25 Ultra brings AI agents into the mix with multimodal abilities, allowing the phone to understand and interact with text, speech, images, and videos in a way that feels more natural. There's also an upgrade to Google’s Circle to Search, making it faster and more useful. Now, it quickly spots phone numbers, emails, and URLs on your screen, letting you call, email, or visit a website with just one tap.
With this phone, you can dive into actionable searches that give you smart suggestions for your next move. Plus, switching between apps is smoother than ever, so you can easily share a GIF or save event details in a flash.
The Galaxy S25 Ultra is also a big step forward in how the phone understands natural language, making things like finding a specific photo in Samsung Gallery or adjusting text size in Settings a lot more intuitive.
This isn’t just about convenience though, Galaxy AI is also amping up communication, productivity, and creativity. Calls are now more organized with transcripts and summaries, and there’s a new Writing Assist feature that can summarize content or auto-format notes right where you’re working. No need to jump between apps – just select your text and keep moving. As for creativity, Drawing Assist adds a whole new level of ease, letting you mix sketches, text, or images to express ideas in unique ways.
The Galaxy S25 Ultra is also a big step forward in how the phone understands natural language, making things like finding a specific photo in Samsung Gallery or adjusting text size in Settings a lot more intuitive.
This isn’t just about convenience though, Galaxy AI is also amping up communication, productivity, and creativity. Calls are now more organized with transcripts and summaries, and there’s a new Writing Assist feature that can summarize content or auto-format notes right where you’re working. No need to jump between apps – just select your text and keep moving. As for creativity, Drawing Assist adds a whole new level of ease, letting you mix sketches, text, or images to express ideas in unique ways.
Every Galaxy S25 device includes six months of Gemini Advanced and 2TB of cloud storage for free.
Galaxy S25 Ultra hardware and specs
|
| Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra |
| Dimensions |
|---|
| 6.41 x 3.06 x 0.32 inches (~0.36 inches with camera bump) 162.8 x 77.6 x 8.2 mm (~9.1 mm with camera bump) |
| Weight |
| 7.69 oz / 218.0 g |
| Materials |
| Back: Glass (Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2) Frame: Titanium |
| Resistance |
| Water, Dust; IP68 |
| Biometrics |
| Ultrasonic in-screen fingerprint |
| Features |
| Stylus |
| Keys |
| Right: Volume control, Lock/Unlock key |
| Colors |
| Titanium Silverblue, Titanium Black, Titanium Whitesilver, Titanium Gray |
| Size |
|---|
| 6.9-inch, 90.30% screen-to-body |
| Type |
| Dynamic AMOLED, 120Hz, HDR, 2600 nits |
| Resolution |
| 3120x1440px, 19.5:9 ratio, 498 PPI |
| Protection |
| Corning Gorilla Glass Armor 2 |
| System chip |
|---|
| Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy SM8750-AB (3 nm) |
| Processor |
| Octa-core 2x4.47GHz Oryon V2 PhoenixL 6x3.53GHz Oryon V2 PhoenixM |
| GPU |
| Adreno 830 |
| Memory |
| 12GB (LPDDR5X)/256GB (UFS 4.0) 12GB/512GB 12GB/1024GB |
| Storage expansion |
| not expandable |
| OS |
| Android (15), up to 7 OS updates |
| Type |
|---|
| 5000 mAh, Li - Ion |
| Charging |
| Fast charging Qi wireless charging, Reverse wireless charging |
| Charge speed |
| Wired: 45.0W Wireless: 15.0W |
| Rear |
|---|
| Quad camera |
| Main camera |
| 200 MP (OIS, Laser and PDAF) Sensor name: Samsung ISOCELL HP2 Aperture size: F1.7 Focal length: 24 mm Sensor size: 1/1.3" Pixel size: 0.6 μm |
| Second camera |
| 50 MP (Ultra-wide, PDAF) Sensor name: Samsung ISOCELL JN3 Aperture size: F1.9 Pixel size: 0.7 μm |
| Third camera |
| 10 MP (Telephoto, OIS, PDAF) Sensor name: Sony IMX754 Optical zoom: 3.0x Aperture size: F2.4 Focal Length: 67 mm Sensor size: 1/3.52" Pixel size: 1.12 μm |
| Fourth camera |
| 50 MP (Telephoto, Periscope, OIS, PDAF) Sensor name: Sony IMX854 Optical zoom: 5.0x Aperture size: F3.4 Focal Length: 111 mm Sensor size: 1/2.52" Pixel size: 0.7 μm |
| Flash |
| LED |
| Video recording |
| 8K UHD (30 fps), 4K UHD (120 fps), 1080p (240 fps) HDR, Continuous autofocus, Picture-taking during video recording |
| Front |
| 12 MP (PDAF, HDR) Video capture: 4K UHD (60 fps) |
| Bluetooth |
|---|
| 5.4 |
| WLAN |
| Wi-Fi 6,Wi-Fi 6E,Wi-Fi 7 Wi-Fi Direct, Hotspot 802.11 a, b, g, n, ac, ax |
| USB |
| Type-C, USB 3.2 |
| Sensors |
| Accelerometer, Gyroscope, Compass, Barometer, Ambient light sensor, Proximity sensor |
| Hearing aid compatible |
| M3/T4 |
| Location |
| GPS, A-GPS, Glonass, Galileo, BeiDou, Cell ID, Wi-Fi positioning |
| Other |
| NFC, Ultra Wideband (UWB) |
| Headphones |
|---|
| No 3.5mm jack |
| Speakers |
| Earpiece, Multiple speakers |
| Features |
| aptX, aptX-HD |
| 5G Bands |
|---|
| n1, n2, n5, n7, n25, n28, n41, n66, n71, n77, n78, n257, n258, n260, n261, SA, NSA, Sub-6, mmWave International version - n1, n2, n3, n5, n7, n8, n12, n20, n25, n28, n38, n40, n41, n66, n75, n77, n78, SA, NSA, Sub-6 |
| LTE Bands |
| 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 66, 71 International version - 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 32, 66 |
| TDD Bands |
| 38, 39, 40, 41, 48 International version - 38, 39, 40, 41 |
| 3G Bands |
| 1, 2, 4, 5, 8 |
| Data Speed |
| LTE-A Pro Cat 20 (2000/150 Mbit/s), HSDPA+ (4G) 42.2 Mbit/s |
| SIM type |
| Nano SIM, eSIM |
| FCC approval |
|---|
| Date approved: Nov 26, 2024 FCC ID value: A3LSMS938U |
| Measured SAR |
| Head: 1.26 W/kg Body: 0.64 W/kg Simultaneous Transmission: 1.19 W/kg |
| Officially announced |
|---|
| Jan 22, 2025 |
| Prices (MSRP) |
| 12GB/256GB - $1299 | €1449 12GB/512GB - $1420 12GB/1TB - $1660 |
See the full
Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra specs comparison
or compare them to other phones using our
Phone Comparison tool
The Galaxy S25 Ultra comes with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy. Built by TSMC, the chip was officially announced in October 2024. The two performance cores on the Snapdragon 8 Elite are clocked as high as 4GHz. That is a serious upgrade over the 3.3GHz of the Cortex-X4 of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3.
With the new chipset, the Galaxy S25 series gets a major performance boost, allowing it to handle more on-device AI tasks without any sacrifices, including tasks like Generative Edit that used to rely on the cloud.
Samsung and Qualcomm joined forces to customize the Snapdragon 8 Elite specifically for the Galaxy. Thanks to this collaboration, the Galaxy S25 series offers advanced AI-driven image processing, which improves display image scaling by 40%. It also integrates Samsung’s mobile Digital Natural Image engine (mDNIe) into the processor using Galaxy-specific technology, optimizing display power efficiency.
Moreover, the Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy comes packed with Vulkan Engine and enhanced Ray Tracing, making mobile gaming smoother and more lifelike than ever before.
Samsung and Qualcomm joined forces to customize the Snapdragon 8 Elite specifically for the Galaxy. Thanks to this collaboration, the Galaxy S25 series offers advanced AI-driven image processing, which improves display image scaling by 40%. It also integrates Samsung’s mobile Digital Natural Image engine (mDNIe) into the processor using Galaxy-specific technology, optimizing display power efficiency.
In addition to its powerful chipset, the Galaxy S25 Ultra also supports Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4, and of course, 5G connectivity.
Galaxy S25 Ultra comparisons to competitors
- Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra vs Google Pixel 9 Pro XL: we stack the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra against Google's Pixel 9 Pro XL to see how they match up in everyday processing power, camera features, and real-world battery life.
- Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra vs iPhone 16 Pro Max: we put the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra side-by-side with Apple's iPhone 16 Pro Max, analyzing their premium designs, productivity features, photo processing, and performance.
- Galaxy S25 Ultra vs OnePlus 13: we evaluate the core differences between the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra and the OnePlus 13, contrasting Samsung's premium productivity and S Pen integration against OnePlus' charging and performance value.
- Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra vs Galaxy S24 Ultra: we look at the design and hardware changes between the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra and its predecessor, the Galaxy S24 Ultra, to find out if the rounded edges and upgraded ultra-wide camera warrant an upgrade.
- Galaxy S25 Ultra vs Galaxy S23 Ultra: we break down a two-year evolutionary jump, comparing the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra with the Galaxy S23 Ultra across processing power, display improvements, and on-device AI features.
- Galaxy S25 Ultra vs Galaxy S22 Ultra: we examine whether it is finally time to upgrade your older device, comparing the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra against the Galaxy S22 Ultra to show the massive leaps in battery life, performance, and camera hardware.
- Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra vs Galaxy S25 Ultra: we analyze the generational shift between the newer Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra and the Galaxy S25 Ultra, helping you decide if the latest model is worth the extra cash over the discounted previous-gen flagship.
- OnePlus 15 vs Galaxy S25 Ultra: we pit the massive battery performance of the newer OnePlus 15 against the premium, multi-layered productivity experience of the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra.
- iPhone 17 Pro Max vs Galaxy S25 Ultra: we match Apple's flagship iPhone 17 Pro Max against the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra to see how they stack up in processing benchmarks, display quality, and daily user experience.
- Galaxy S25 FE vs Galaxy S25 Ultra: we contrast the value-tier Galaxy S25 Fan Edition (FE) with the ultra-premium Galaxy S25 Ultra to see exactly what you compromise on and what you gain for the lower price tag.
- Google Pixel 10 Pro XL vs Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra: we break down how Google's newer Pixel 10 Pro XL holds its ground against the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra, highlighting differences in computational camera tricks, raw hardware power, and AI integrations.
Galaxy S25 Ultra review
We've reviewed the Galaxy S25 Ultra and if you're curious about our thoughts on Samsung's latest high-end flagship, go ahead and check it out!
Latest Galaxy S25 Ultra news
Popular stories
Latest News
