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Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra: Is it Worth the Upgrade?
Posted:
February 11, 2025
Categories:
General
Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra: Is it Worth the Upgrade?
Samsung’s Galaxy S25 series has arrived, with the S25 Ultra sitting at the top as the largest, most powerful, and most feature-packed of the entire lineup. With upgraded performance, AI-powered features, and a refined design, it promises to be the ultimate Android smartphone. But are the changes significant enough to justify an upgrade? Let’s take a closer look at the S25 Ultra to help you decide.
Design and Display
The S25 Ultra is slightly thinner and lighter than the S24 Ultra, making it a bit more comfortable to hold. It features a 6.9-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display, a bit larger than the S24 Ultra’s 6.8-inch display. It also comes with Gorilla Armor 2, which is even better at reducing reflections than the Gorilla Armor in its predecessor, meaning it’s easier to see your display in bright sunlight.
The S25 Ultra still follows the familiar rectangular design but, unlike the previous models, has slightly rounded corners. This softens the boxy shape just enough to give it a more refined look. The bezels have also been somewhat reduced, offering a more immersive viewing experience.
Samsung has introduced new colors for the S25 Ultra, including Titanium Silverblue, Titanium Whitesilver, Titanium Jadegreen, Titanium Pinkgold, and Titanium Jetblack. Some exclusive colors may be available only through Samsung’s online store.
Performance and Battery Life
The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra is powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite processor – the first 3nm chipset custom-designed for Galaxy smartphones. It’s paired with 12GB of RAM and up to 1TB of storage. According to Samsung, the new chipset in the S25 Ultra offers 37% faster processing, 30% improved graphics performance, and 40% faster AI performance compared to its predecessor.
The 5,000mAh battery remains unchanged from the S24 Ultra, but the new chip and software optimizations have led to improved battery life. Charging speeds haven’t changed – still 45W wired and 25W wireless charging.
Camera Setup
The Galaxy S25 Ultra makes some small changes to its camera setup compared to the S24 Ultra. While both models feature a 200MP main sensor, the S25 Ultra brings an upgraded 50MP ultra-wide camera, replacing the 12MP ultra-wide lens on previous two models. This should mean sharper, more detailed wide-angle shots, especially in low-light conditions. The front camera on the S25 Ultra remains the same 12MP sensor as the S24 Ultra.
Galaxy AI
A significant focus of the S25 Ultra is its AI capabilities, powered by Google’s Gemini. While many AI features are upgraded from the S24 Ultra, the S25 Ultra also introduces several brand-new AI tools, such as Audio Eraser, which helps edit video sound to cut out background noise for crystal-clear audio, and Now Brief, which provides personalized daily updates with important events, reminders, and insights, tailored to your routine. All these AI features make the S25 Ultra more intuitive and efficient than the previous model.
S Pen Functionality
The S Pen continues to be a hallmark of the Ultra series. However, Samsung has removed the Bluetooth support, so the S Pen on the S25 Ultra is now purely for writing and drawing, losing its smart remote capabilities. The company says they decided to do this because the Bluetooth features weren’t widely used, so if you’re among those who appreciated them, this change is worth noting. Despite this downgrade, the S Pen remains a useful tool for note-taking, signing documents, sketching, and other creative tasks.
SIM Card and eSIM
The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra has a SIM card slot. It also supports eSIM functionality, which allows for a digital SIM that can be used without a physical SIM card. This dual capability provides flexibility for users who prefer traditional SIM cards or those who want to use eSIM for easier carrier switching. Keep in mind that the availability of eSIM depends on your carrier.
Price Point
The S25 Ultra starts at $1,299, the same as the S24 Ultra at launch. This makes it one of the most expensive non-foldable phones out there. However, Samsung offers attractive trade-in options that can help reduce costs if you upgrade from an older device.
Release Date
Samsung unveiled the Galaxy S25 Ultra on January 22, 2025, during their Galaxy Unpacked event. The device became available for pre-order immediately after the announcement and hit stores on February 7, 2025.
Should You Upgrade?
The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra is undeniably an amazing phone with several improvements over the S24 Ultra. However, if you already have the S24 Ultra, the upgrades may not be enough to make an immediate switch necessary. The faster performance, enhanced AI features, and slightly better cameras are nice but not game-changing.
So, if your S24 Ultra (and even your S23 Ultra) is still working fine, you might want to wait for a bigger upgrade in future models. For those coming from an older model or are new to the Galaxy lineup, the S25 Ultra is undoubtedly a compelling device worth considering.
If you’re upgrading to the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra, don’t forget to protect it with reliable phone insurance covering accidental damage and theft.
With its premium price tag and the high cost of phone repairs and replacement, the last thing you need is a cracked screen, liquid damage, or theft draining your wallet. Even if you're sticking with your current Samsung Galaxy phone, coverage is just as important to avoid costly mishaps.
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