Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra Review (2026)
Quick Answer
The Bottom Line: Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra
The Galaxy S25 Ultra is Samsung’s most complete Android flagship: it pairs a class-leading display, a highly versatile camera system, strong battery life, fast Snapdragon 8 Elite performance, and built-in S Pen support. Its main drawback is that the hardware changes are incremental, so buyers already using a recent Ultra may find the upgrade hard to justify.
Samsung’s Galaxy S25 Ultra is the company’s top-end Android flagship for buyers who want a huge display, a flexible camera system, an included S Pen, and long software support in one premium device. Across recent expert reviews, it stands out as one of the most complete Android phones on sale, but the central question is whether its refinements are enough to justify its very high-end positioning over cheaper Samsung models and strong rivals from Apple, Google, and OnePlus.
Overview
The Galaxy S25 Ultra sits at the top of Samsung’s 2025–2026 phone lineup and is best understood as a refinement of the S24 Ultra rather than a wholesale redesign. Reviewers consistently describe it as Samsung’s most fully featured Android phone, combining the largest and brightest-class Galaxy display, a built-in stylus, a deep camera stack, and Snapdragon 8 Elite power in a premium slab with slightly rounded edges and slimmer handling than before. Compared with the prior generation, the biggest hardware change most sources highlight is the upgraded ultrawide camera; much of the rest is about polish, AI features, and software support rather than a dramatic spec leap.
That positioning matters because the S25 Ultra is aimed at buyers who want the most complete Android flagship rather than the cheapest or most compact one. Review consensus says it is especially compelling for people who value Samsung’s productivity extras, display quality, and zoom versatility, while also noting that its price and size place it firmly in luxury territory.
Strengths
Display and usability
Reviewers are broadly united that the S25 Ultra’s display is one of its clearest strengths. The panel is a 6.9-inch Dynamic LTPO AMOLED 2X screen with 1–120Hz refresh, HDR support, and very high peak brightness, and multiple sources call it among the best or even the best screen on any phone. The anti-reflective finish also earns repeated praise because it improves outdoor readability and makes the already large panel easier to live with in bright conditions. Samsung’s move to slightly slimmer bezels and rounded corners also makes the device feel less unwieldy than its size suggests.
Camera flexibility and zoom
The S25 Ultra remains the Android phone reviewers most often recommend for camera versatility. Its 200MP main camera, 50MP ultrawide, and dual telephoto setup give it a broader shooting range than most flagships, and experts repeatedly single out the zoom system as class-leading. The new 50MP ultrawide is the main hardware upgrade over the previous Ultra, and reviewers say it improves detail while also enabling useful macro shooting. Video gains matter too: sources highlight LOG recording and improved night video as meaningful additions for enthusiasts and creators.
Performance and software support
Across reviews, the Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy is portrayed as delivering elite-level speed with plenty of overhead for gaming, multitasking, and Samsung’s more ambitious AI features. Reviewers also praise the fact that many AI functions run locally, which makes the software feel more responsive and self-contained than cloud-dependent rivals. Expert coverage also consistently notes Samsung’s long update commitment, with seven years of software support cited as a major value factor for a premium phone you may keep for a long time.
Battery and extras
Battery life is described as strong, even if not class-leading in every independent test. PCMag measured 14 hours and 15 minutes in its Wi‑Fi video test, while Expert Reviews recorded 34 hours and 34 minutes in a different run, both framing endurance as very good to excellent rather than merely adequate. The S Pen remains a distinctive differentiator for note-taking and productivity, and Samsung DeX, UWB, ultrasonic fingerprint unlocking, and Qi2 wireless charging support add to the phone’s “everything included” appeal.
Trade-offs
Limited hardware leap
The most common criticism is that the S25 Ultra feels more incremental than transformative. Several reviewers say Samsung changed surprisingly little in the core hardware beyond the new ultrawide camera, which makes the phone feel like a refinement of the S24 Ultra rather than a must-upgrade leap. That is not the same as saying the phone is weak; it means buyers already on last year’s Ultra may find the gains too modest to justify the expense.
S Pen downgrade
S Pen fans also have a real trade-off to consider. PhoneArena notes disappointment over the omission of Bluetooth remote-control functions, which reduces the stylus’s utility for certain use cases compared with earlier Ultra generations. For buyers who mainly want the S Pen for note-taking, this may not matter much; for those who relied on remote shutter or presentation controls, it is a tangible regression.
AI-first emphasis
Samsung’s AI feature set is widely described as ambitious, but opinion is more divided on whether those features are truly essential. Some reviewers praise the local, integrated experience, while others say Samsung is leaning heavily on AI at the expense of bigger hardware changes or more compelling day-to-day differentiators. If you care most about camera consistency, battery, or raw value, the AI pitch may feel less important than Samsung intends.
Size and value
This remains a very large, very expensive phone with a very premium spec sheet. CNET explicitly frames the S25 Ultra as a top-tier option whose S25 and S25 Plus siblings cost less while offering much of the same software story, which narrows the Ultra’s value case for many buyers. If you do not need the stylus, the longest zoom reach, or the biggest screen, the Ultra is often more phone than necessary.
Specifications
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| Display | 6.9-inch Dynamic LTPO AMOLED 2X |
| Refresh rate | 1–120Hz adaptive |
| Resolution | 1440 x 3120 |
| Peak brightness | 2,600 nits |
| Chipset | Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy |
| Rear cameras | 200MP main, 50MP ultrawide, 10MP 3x telephoto, 50MP 5x telephoto |
| Front camera | 12MP |
| Battery | 5,000mAh |
| Wired charging | 45W |
| Wireless charging | 25W Qi2 wireless, 4.5W reverse wireless |
| Software | Android 15 with One UI 7 |
| Update policy | 7 major Android upgrades |
| Stylus | Built-in S Pen |
| Biometric unlock | Ultrasonic in-display fingerprint sensor |
| Connectivity | 5G, Wi‑Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4, NFC, UWB |
Who Should Buy It
Buy the Galaxy S25 Ultra if you want Samsung’s most complete Android flagship and you care about the display, zoom camera flexibility, stylus support, and long-term software updates more than compactness or value. It makes the most sense for power users, frequent travelers, mobile photographers who want more zoom range, and buyers who genuinely use Samsung’s productivity features.
Do not buy it if you mainly want the best value or you do not need the S Pen. In that case, the Galaxy S25 Plus is the obvious Samsung alternative for many buyers, while the iPhone 16 Pro and Google Pixel 9 Pro are stronger fits if you want a different ecosystem, a smaller phone, or a more straightforward camera-first experience. The OnePlus flagship is also worth considering if charging speed and aggressive performance-per-dollar matter more than Samsung’s extra features.
Sources
- Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra review: So close to perfection
- Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra Review - PCMag
- Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra review: A Galaxy of AI, for better or worse
- Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra review: one small step for AI... eh, no leaps
- Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra review - GSMArena.com tests
- Galaxy S25 Ultra Review: Greatest Phone Screen Ever, but Let's Not ...
- Samsung S25 Ultra Revisited 1 Year Later: Worth Buying in 2026?
- Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra, One Year Later Review | Any Better?
- Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra Long Term Review: The Little Things ...
- Discussion of our review of Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra Smartphone
Alternatives Worth Considering
Apple iPhone 16 Pro
Choose the iPhone 16 Pro if you prefer iOS, want a smaller premium phone, or already live in Apple’s ecosystem. Reviews of the S25 Ultra consistently frame Apple’s Pro model as the cleaner choice for people who do not need Samsung’s zoom reach or built-in stylus.
It is the better fit if you want a compact flagship and prefer iOS over Samsung’s Android approach.
Google Pixel 9 Pro
Choose the Pixel 9 Pro if you want Google’s clean Android software, strong computational photography, and a smaller flagship profile. Compared with the S25 Ultra, it gives up Samsung’s extreme zoom flexibility and S Pen, but it is often the more straightforward pick for buyers who value simplicity.
Its camera processing and cleaner Android experience appeal to buyers who do not need Samsung’s extra hardware features.
OnePlus 13
Choose the OnePlus 13 if you want flagship-grade speed and a premium display but care more about charging speed and value than Samsung’s stylus or camera zoom extras. It is the most natural alternative for buyers who want an Android powerhouse without paying Ultra-tier pricing.
It delivers flagship performance with faster charging and a less expensive overall package.
Editorial Verdict
The Verdict
The S25 Ultra is best for buyers who want the biggest, most feature-rich Android phone and will actually use Samsung’s stylus, zoom, and productivity extras. Its standout strength is how few compromises it makes for a power-user flagship, but the trade-off is a high price and an update that feels more evolutionary than exciting.
Frequently Asked Questions
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For most owners of the S24 Ultra, the S25 Ultra looks like a refinement rather than a major leap. The new ultrawide camera, faster chip, and software improvements are real, but several reviewers say the overall change is too modest to make upgrading obvious unless you want the latest model or specific new features.
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It is one of the strongest zoom systems on any phone, and reviewers consistently praise it for versatility across portrait, mid-range, and long-range shots. The 5x telephoto is the most notable long-zoom lens, while the 3x telephoto helps cover closer framing more naturally.
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Yes, it includes a built-in S Pen, which remains one of the main reasons to buy the Ultra over most other flagship phones. The main caveat is that Bluetooth remote-control functions are no longer part of the stylus experience, which some longtime users miss.
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Yes. Independent reviews describe battery life as strong to excellent, though the exact result depends on the test method. It is generally good enough for a full day of heavy use and often better than many competing flagships, even if some newer rivals can edge it out.
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Choose the S25 Ultra if you want the best cameras, the biggest display, and the S Pen. Choose the S25 Plus if you want much of Samsung’s flagship experience at a lower, more rational tier and do not need the stylus or the extra zoom hardware.