What’s new for 2025

If you already own a Samsung Galaxy phone and are happy with what you’ve got, your main questions are probably about what’s new about the S25 Ultra, and how it stacks up against the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra that preceded it (and which Lifehacker was mostly impressed by).

This year’s model is a little larger, with a screen measuring 6.9 inches rather than 6.8 inches—though the 3,120 x 1,440 pixel resolution remains the same. The display is now tougher than ever, too, thanks to a Corning Gorilla Armor 2 upgrade, but the main improvements are the Snapdragon 8 Elite processor (replacing the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3) and the 50MP ultrawide camera in the quad-lens rear camera setup (replacing a 12MP ultrawide on the previous model).

The phone sports a 6.9-inch screen.
Credit: Lifehacker

You can probably already see that this isn’t really a compelling upgrade if you already invested in the Galaxy S24 Ultra, but that’s okay. The 2024 flagship had a noticeable redesign, swapping out curved display edges for a flatter aesthetic, so it’s to be expected that Samsung wouldn’t make any big changes in the design this time around. The rear cameras have been given more pronounced rings around the edges, and the corners of the phone are now more rounded (which I like), but that’s about it.

But if you’re coming from an older Galaxy phone—or from another phone series entirely—then the Galaxy S25 Ultra is a different proposition. It boasts performance levels, display technology, and features that are difficult to beat anywhere else, so it’s going to appeal to anyone who wants the best available model right now (and who has the funds to get it).

Design and display

There’s no doubt about it: The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra is a good-looking phone. It’s a beautifully crafted block of titanium and glass, and feels very much like a premium device when you pick it up and use it. Personally, I think the many rear camera protrusions look a bit awkward—I prefer the Pixel or iPhone approach of dedicated camera zones—but they certainly keep the camera lenses well protected.

Speaking of protection, thanks to that Corning Gorilla Armor 2 upgrade I mentioned earlier, the Galaxy S25 Ultra should be better protected against knocks, drops, and scrapes, and I didn’t notice any permanent marks appear during my day-to-day use of the phone. Like its predecessor, it carries a IP68 rating: it’s dust tight and water resistant to a depth of 1.5 meters (nearly 5 feet) for up to 30 minutes.

A titanium frame fits around the Galaxy S25 Ultra.
Credit: Lifehacker

As for the 6.9-inch AMOLED display, it’s a stunner—as you would expect from Samsung, given all the company’s previous Galaxy phones, televisions, and OLED tech investments. While the screen technology hasn’t changed from the Galaxy S24 Ultra, there is a new anti-reflective coating that makes the display even easier to see outdoors. This is a screen that’s bright, rich in color, and super-smooth to look at.

As usual, there’s an S Pen included, and an integrated slot to house it in. Somewhat controversially, Samsung has removed the Bluetooth functions from the S Pen this year, so you can’t use it as a remote camera button or to control a slideshow—according to Samsung, the number of people who actually made use of these features was very small, but it still seems an odd choice to remove them.

The Galaxy S25 Ultra has improved visibility in daylight.
Credit: Lifehacker

Otherwise, the S Pen works as always: You can use it to make sketches and write notes, or just to give your fingers and thumbs a rest. It feels as well built as the rest of the phone, and slots into place inside the casing with a satisfying click when you’re not using it. I must admit I’ve never really found a use for the S Pen on any Galaxy phone I’ve tested—but your mileage may vary.

In terms of colors, you can choose from Titanium Black, Titanium Whitesilver, Titanium Gray (the model I’m reviewing here), and Titanium Silverblue, all of which catch the eye nicely. It’s not the most adventurous selection of colors I’ve ever come across, but it’ll do.

Camera, performance, and battery life

There’s a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset running everything here—currently the fastest processor available for Android devices—so the Galaxy S25 Ultra’s performance is as slick and snappy as you would expect. Nothing is going to slow this handset down, and that’s going to be the case for several years, which is reflected in Geekbench scores of 3,159 (single-core) and 9,930 (multi-core).

That processor is paired with 12GB of RAM and either 256GB, 512GB, or 1TB of storage, and it all adds up to a phone that’s a pleasure to use. Apps open in a snap, switching between apps is almost instantaneous, and there’s no lag to be found anywhere. It’s a real reason to spend this much on a smartphone: You can get everything done at top speed.

Most photos are crisp and well balanced.
Credit: Lifehacker

The upgraded ultrawide lens helps with macro photography.
Credit: Lifehacker

As well as being more powerful than previous processors, the Snapdragon 8 Elite is also more efficient, which helps with battery life. The 5,000 mAh-capacity battery is good for a full day of use between charges, even if you’re pushing it with plenty of screen use and location tracking—I found I had around 20 percent of battery left at least after every day of use.

A couple of hours of video streaming at a low volume and maximum brightness knocks the battery down by 8 percent or so, suggesting you’ll get a good 24 hours or so between charges if you’re not doing anything but watching movies. This isn’t breaking any records in terms of battery life, but it’s not something you need to worry about.