Is the S25 Ultra a Worthy Successor? A Detailed Review

While nearly 90% of tech reviewers and experts have called the S24 Ultra the phone of the year, the question remains: is the S25 Ultra a worthy successor? The answer is a definitive yes. Many have dismissed it as just an AI phone, but there are several small things that make this device stand apart. Though it may not look that good in videos, the in-hand experience is completely different.

Unboxing and First Impressions

Inside the box, you will find a sim card tool, a USB Type C to Type C charging cable, and the usual documentation. A look at the device reveals its design, with the black and golden titanium frame being particularly appealing.

Design and Build

When compared to its predecessor, the design has some notable changes. The S24 Ultra was slightly rounded & the S24 Ultra was boxy & flat. This new sharp look is appealing. However, the most significant improvement is the in-hand feel, primarily due to the weight. While some believe a lightweight phone feels cheap, this device absolutely feels premium and nice.

The S24 Ultra weighs 233.9g & the S24 Ultra weighs 218g, a difference of 14-15g that makes a lot of difference. The phone is available in four colors: white, silver, silver blue, grey, and black. The device features a protruding camera module similar to the Z Fold 6, a speaker grill, and an S Pen. The left side is clean, the top has a noise-canceling microphone, and the right side holds a power on/off button and a volume rocker, with the power button now being more oriented towards AI functions.

For durability, the phone is equipped with Gorilla Glass Armor 2 on the front and back. A drop test showed that the phone is absolutely fine, proving it to be a nice and sturdy device that can likely withstand a fall from your pocket.

Display

The display has increased to 6.9 inches, up from 6.8 inches on the S24 Ultra. It is a QHD+ panel with a 120Hz fast refresh rate and 2600 Nits of peak brightness. The bezels have become very thin, improving the screen-to-body ratio without making the phone feel bigger.

A standout feature of the display is its anti-reflective coating, which works really well and makes a significant difference in direct sunlight. The display also incorporates Pro Scalar technology, which enhances the visual quality of content on platforms like Instagram and YouTube.

Performance and Hardware

The phone’s frame is made from Grade 5 Titanium, which is a step up from last year. It is powered by the 8 Elite for Galaxy, the fastest processor with an overclocked Prime Core. This is reflected in its benchmark scores, with a Geekbench multi-core score of around 10K and an Antutu score of around 2.7-2.8M. In real-world gaming, it maintains 59.3-59.4 FPS continuously in Wuthering Waves and scores the highest in ray tracing benchmarks.

The CPU throttle test resulted in a score of 70%, while the GPU throttle test scored around 64%. To manage heat, the vapor cooling chamber is 40% larger. The phone does get warm, reaching 45-46 degrees at the back during 30-45 minutes of gaming in performance mode. The device comes with 12GB of LPDDR5X RAM and UFS 4.0 storage, with variants up to 1TB. The USB port is USB 3.2 Gen 1.

The 5000mAh battery features Silicon Carbon technology and supports 45W charging, which takes 1 hour and 20 minutes for a full charge. It also supports 15W wireless charging, reverse wireless charging, and is Qi 2 compatible, though this requires separate accessories. You can expect 7-8 hours of screen-on time, which should last the entire day.

Upgraded Camera System

The camera is a definite highlight, featuring an upgraded 200MP primary sensor, a 50MP ultrawide lens, a 50MP periscope sensor with 5X zoom, and a telephoto lens with 3X zoom. The front has a 12MP selfie sensor. The magic of the camera system comes from the combination of hardware and software, with AI playing a significant role.

Compared to the S24 Ultra, the S25 Ultra’s camera performs much better due to enhanced processing algorithms. Skin tones have improved, and portraits taken at 3X or 5X show better clarity and performance. The over-sharpening seen in the S24 has been neutralized. The S25 produces more punchier, eye-pleasing photos with colors that stand out, making it a more social media-friendly camera than the S24’s neutral profile. The 50MP ultrawide lens is also multifunctional, allowing for macro photos and videos.

Enhanced Videography

Video performance has definitely improved compared to the S24. The phone offers Log video for professional-level shooting and color grading, Nitrography for better low-light video performance, and the ability to shoot 10-bit HDR videos.

A new AI-based feature is the Audio Eraser, which allows you to erase background noise from your recordings. While other phones have this, it is not hardware-based here; instead, it relies on AI to isolate and remove unwanted sounds.

Galaxy AI and OS Experience

Galaxy A.I. is a standout feature and is far ahead of competitors. Features from the S24 Ultra like Chat Assist and Note Assist are present, but new additions include the Audio Eraser, Now Brief for a glance at your day, and Now Bar for lock screen controls. The integration with Gemini is done very well, allowing you to give natural language commands like “Send Pet Friendly Restaurants in Pune to Sajid,” and the phone handles the entire process.

Circle to Search has evolved with AI Select, letting you select a part of a video to create a GIF. You can also give the phone queries in natural language, like “my eyes are hurting,” and it will adjust settings accordingly. This feature supports Hindi as well. Many of these AI features are on-device, ensuring speed and privacy.

The phone runs Android 15 out of the box with a promise of 7 years of major updates. For security, it includes Knox security and Knox Vault. One notable change is the S Pen, which is very different and does not offer Bluetooth support; it is solely for writing and drawing. The S Pen from the S24 Ultra does not fit in this model.

Multimedia and Connectivity

The phone delivers an amazing multimedia experience with its incredible display and an audio quality that is a notch above the S24. It comes with an IP68 certification for water and dust resistance. All necessary sensors are present, including an ultrasonic fingerprint sensor and face unlock. For connectivity, it supports Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4, and NFC.

Final Thoughts

It’s clear that the S25 Ultra should not be called just an AI phone. While AI is a major part of the experience, its performance and other hardware improvements are equally important. Samsung has also paid attention to sustainability, using recyclable cobalt in the battery and recycled materials in the frame. This device is a truly worthy successor.