Samsung has officially revealed its highly anticipated flagship of the year, the Galaxy S25 Ultra, at the Unpacked 2025 event. It is the “big boy” in smartphones, as this device comes packed with A1 technology and solid AI-powered features. However, despite its impressive specs and innovative advancements, it might not be the crowd favorite this year. Here’s a an initial review or what you call an impressions of this unicorn—and where it falls short.
Design- Polished Yet Familiar
The Galaxy S25 Ultra looks and feels very premium with its titanium frame and subtle design tweaks. It is slightly rounded corners, thinner bezels, and has rings around camera which gives it a refined aesthetic compared to the last year’s S24 Ultra.
At 6.9 inches, its AMOLED display delivers incredible visuals, with HDR 10 support, 120 Hz refresh rate, and a solid 2600 nits brightness, keeping a superb clarity even under direct sunlight. Samsung phones are known for their displays, so no doubt in anything here. The phone is IP68-rated, making it resistant to dust and water.
Yet, the changes feel incremental. The design is sleek but not very different from its predecessor. It’s lighter, but the updates lack the vibrancy and excitement one might expect from the first Galaxy unpacked of the year.
Hardware- Power is Mighty
Under the hood, the S25 Ultra houses the new Snapdragon 8 Elite processor running on Android 15 and One UI 7. Samsung promises seven years of Android updates and security patches to keep devices relevant for years to come.
The 5000 mAh battery provides strong longevity, but competitors like Honor are pushing boundaries with 80W wireless charging.
Read our Honor Magic 7 Pro Review
Samsung’s 45W fast charging and 25W wireless charging feel a bit outdated in comparison. Even the 4.5W reverse wireless charging seems conservative. For a phone priced at $1,300, these figures might leave some users disappointed.
Camera- Megapixels Glory as Always
The S25 Ultra continues Samsung’s legacy of camera innovation with a 200 MP primary sensor, a 50 MP ultra-wide, and two 50 MP telephoto lenses. On the video front, it supports 8K recording at 30 FPS and 4K at 120 FPS giving an unmatched quality for creators. The 12 MP front camera with 4K at 60 FPS gives crisp selfies and video calls.
While the camera specs are undeniably impressive, the real-world difference between this year’s phone and last year’s S24 is not much.
AI Features Seems The Focus (this year too)
Samsung is doubling down on AI, positioning the S25 Ultra as a “supreme AI phone.” There are features like:
- Call Assist
- Writing Assist
- Photo Assist
- Audio Eraser
- AI Summarize
But a lot of these features are reserved exclusively for Samsung Internet unlike OnePlus 13’s AI Features that supports everywhere.
Read our OnePlus 13 Review
While these features are innovative, they come with a catch.
Users will need to pay for the AI subscription after six months, which could make buyers disappointed. The lack of Bluetooth-based S Pen support and features like MagSafe or an IR blaster also reduces the enthusiasm to buy this phone.
What else is Missing in Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra?
You are paying a hefty price for it still the Galaxy S25 Ultra does leave some boxes unchecked:
- Wireless Charging Lags Behind: The competition, like Honor, is pushing 80W wireless charging, while Samsung remains at 25W.
- Limited Hardware Innovations: Features like Bluetooth-based S Pen and MagSafe-style accessories are still absent, which could have made the device more versatile.
- Battery Capacity: While 5000 mAh is adequate, it’s no longer ground-breaking in a market pushing boundaries on battery life.
- Payment for AI: You have to pay for the AI.
Verdict- Is it the Unicorn We Expected?
The Galaxy S25 Ultra continues Samsung’s streak of dominating smartphone awards from most of the youtubers, and its AI-driven innovations are at forefront.
However, it’s not without compromises. The answer to S25 Ultra being a “unicorn” stays “NO” this time. Some Chinese brands are doing exceptionally well in the performance, Camera, Battery and most of the departments.
If you have a one or two year old flagship, like S24 or S23, then better save your money and not buy S25.
