Samsung has long been at the forefront of smartphone innovation, consistently delivering some of the best flagship devices on the market. Last year’s Galaxy S24 Ultra set a high bar with its powerful performance, cutting-edge camera system, and premium design.
Now, with the Galaxy S25 Ultra, Samsung aims to push the boundaries even further. Packed with upgraded hardware, AI-driven software enhancements, and refinements to its already impressive display and camera technology, the S25 Ultra is shaping up to be one of the most powerful smartphones of the year. But does it truly live up to the hype? Let’s dive into the full review.
Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra: Design & Display
Samsung has once again refined its Ultra design philosophy with the Galaxy S25 Ultra, making subtle yet impactful changes that enhance both aesthetics and usability. At first glance, the device closely resembles its predecessor, but upon closer inspection, the refinements become clear. The frame is slightly slimmer and lighter, making it much more comfortable to hold despite its large size.
I’m glad that the back panel retains the signature matte finish which not only resists fingerprints but also adds to the phone’s premium feel. This time round, Samsung has also introduced several new colour options, such as Titanium Silverblue, Titanium Whitesilver, Titanium Pinkgold, Titanium Jetblack, and Titanium Jadegreen, giving users a fresh take on personalization.
With a combination of stronger materials, improved scratch resistance, and enhanced drop protection thanks to the updated Corning Gorilla Armor 2, you can well expect the Galaxy S25 Ultra to withstand the rigors of daily life. While no device is completely indestructible, Samsung has made notable improvements to ensure that the S25 Ultra is one of the toughest smartphones on the market.
In addition to its reinforced body, the S25 Ultra maintains its IP68 water and dust resistance rating, meaning it can survive submersion in up to 1.5 meters of water for 30 minutes without issue. This makes it a reliable device for those who frequently use their phone outdoors or in unpredictable conditions.
On the front side, the 6.9” Dynamic LTPO AMOLED 2X display continues Samsung’s reign as the king of smartphone screens. Whether you’re watching HDR content, gaming, or just scrolling through social media, this display makes everything look stunning.
Its remarkable peak brightness of 2,600 nits makes it one of the brightest smartphone screens ever. This means outdoor visibility is practically flawless, even under direct sunlight. Colours remain vibrant, blacks are deep and inky, and the contrast ratio ensures every detail pops.
The 120Hz adaptive refresh rate is another standout feature. It intelligently adjusts depending on what you’re doing — ramping up for ultra-smooth scrolling and gaming while dialing down to conserve battery when viewing static content. This seamless refresh rate makes interactions feel incredibly fluid without unnecessary battery drain.
To sweeten up the deal, Samsung has also fine-tuned its Vision Booster technology, which automatically adjusts contrast and brightness in real-time based on lighting conditions, making content more immersive than ever.
Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra: Performance & Battery Life
Powering the Galaxy S25 Ultra is none other than Qualcomm’s latest flagship Snapdragon 8 Elite mobile platform. This chipset, combined with 12GB or 16GB of RAM, delivers blistering performance across the board. Apps launch instantly, multitasking is effortless, and gaming is ridiculously smooth — even with the most demanding titles such as PUBG Mobile and Call Of Duty Warzone.
Speaking of mobile gaming, Samsung has also introduced a larger vapor chamber cooling system, which is designed to dissipate heat more efficiently, especially under heavy loads. The result? Even during extended sessions of Call of Duty , and PUBG Mobile, the phone remained noticeably cooler than its predecessor. But like any other smartphones, there would inevitably be some warmth around the back of the phone after several hours of intense gaming.
Battery life is impressive too. The 5,500mAh battery lasts comfortably all day — even with heavy use. With moderate usage, I was able to stretch it into a second day. As far as charging is concerned, its 45W fast wired charging is capable of delivering a full charge from 0 to 100% in slightly over an hour time. Wireless charging is available as well, although charges at a slower 15W charging speed.
Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra: Software
The Galaxy S25 Ultra isn’t just about faster performance or better cameras—it’s also packed with intelligent AI features that make everyday tasks easier. One of my favourite features is Gemini Live, a more conversational and interactive AI assistant that can respond in real time, helping with everything from summarizing long emails and even videos to answering complex questions naturally.
Gone are the days of scrubbing through long videos just to find the important parts. With Gemini Live on the Galaxy S25 Ultra, you can now get video summaries in seconds, making it easier than ever to catch up on content without watching the entire thing. Whether it’s a lengthy YouTube tutorial, or a documentary, Gemini Live intelligently scans the video and pulls out key highlights and essential details so you can quickly understand the main points.
Apart from that, the ever-popular Circle To Search feature is also upgraded to go beyond just visual lookups as its now able to scan and identify background music of a video in a matter of seconds. This of course makes discovering new music effortless and seamless, without needing a separate app or manual searching.
Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra: Cameras
Samsung’s Galaxy S25 Ultra builds on its legacy of top-tier smartphone photography, delivering sharper details, smarter zoom, and improved low-light performance. It features a total of four cameras at the back, comprising of a 200MP (f/1.7 aperture) main camera, 50MP (f/1.9 aperture) ultra-wide camera, 50MP (f/3.4 aperture) periscope telephoto camera, as well as a 10MP (f/2.4 aperture) telephoto camera.
The 200MP main sensor made its return, but this time around, it feels much more refined. Samsung has fine-tuned the image processing to deliver sharper, more realistic images without the overly processed look of past models. Details are incredibly crisp, colours are vibrant yet true to life, and HDR balance is better than ever, making even high-contrast scenes look natural.
During my recent trip to Macau, the Nightography feature on the Galaxy S25 Ultra proved to be an absolute game-changer. Macau’s dazzling skyline, vibrant casinos, and historic streets truly come alive at night, and I was able to capture every detail without the usual grainy, washed-out results that most smartphone cameras struggle with in low light.
It allowed me to preserve the magic of the city exactly as I saw it, without having to adjust settings or worry about blurry, noisy shots. Hence, for anyone who loves night photography, especially in a place as visually stunning as Macau, the S25 Ultra is an absolute must-have.
Samsung has also taken ultra-wide photography to the next level with the Galaxy S25 Ultra, upgrading its ultra-wide sensor from 12MP on the S24 Ultra to a powerful 50MP. This jump in resolution isn’t just about bigger numbers — it results in significantly sharper, more detailed, and more dynamic wide-angle shots, making it one of the best ultra-wide cameras on a smartphone today.
As always, zooming has always been one of the most exciting prospects, and the Galaxy S25 Ultra takes this to an entirely new level. With the combination of a 50MP periscope telephoto camera and a 10MP telephoto lens, the S25 Ultra never fails to deliver unmatched detail and clarity that sets the bar higher for the industry.
The 50MP periscope telephoto lens is no doubt the star of the show here. 5x optical zoom allows for exceptional clarity at mid-range distances, and thanks to Samsung’s AI-powered Super Zoom, you can push the zoom even further — 10x, 20x, and even 30x — without compromising on detail (check out the video above for a first-hand experience of its zooming capability).
Verdict
The Galaxy S25 Ultra is more than just a yearly upgrade — it’s a refinement of everything that makes a premium smartphone great. From its stunning display and durable design to its AI-enhanced cameras and powerful zoom capabilities, Samsung has fine-tuned the experience to feel more seamless, polished, and effortlessly powerful.
After spending time with this phone, it’s clear that Samsung isn’t chasing gimmicks — it’s refining the essentials to near perfection. If you’re looking for a no-compromise flagship that delivers in every category, the Galaxy S25 Ultra is an easy choice to make.
For those who’re interested, the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra is now available for purchase in Singapore at a starting price of S$1,828 through local telecommunication operators including M1, Singtel and StarHub, Samsung Samsung Online Store, Samsung Experience Stores, Samsung Official Stores in Lazada, Shopee, KrisShop and iShop Changi, as well as major consumer electronics & IT stores.
From 14 February to 14 March 2025, customers who purchase the Galaxy S25 Series via the Samsung Shop App, Samsung Online Store, Samsung Experience Stores or Samsung Official Stores will enjoy the following launch promotions:
- $180 e-Voucher or in-store voucher, depending on platform from which the device had been purchased
- 50% off 2-year Samsung Care+ (worth $105)
- Save up to $1,070 when you trade in your current device
Meanwhile, consumers who purchase the Galaxy S25 Series via consumer electronics & IT stores will enjoy the following launch promotions:
- $180 Enhanced Trade-in value
- 50% off 2-year Samsung Care+ (worth $105)
