Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra

Source

Marques Brownlee (MKBHD)

Key Takeaways

• Entering year five of being stuck on sluggish 45W charging while Android rivals top up in 20 minutes; takes over 65 minutes with no bundled brick.
• Integrated S-Pen has seen zero meaningful hardware or software innovation in four generations, feeling like a stale legacy carryover.
• Slightly curved corner contours improve hand comfort, yet the boxy profile still stretches and wears through tailored pant pockets.
• Priced near $1,300, delivering microscopic camera sensor upgrades over the predecessor that fail to justify upgrading.

✅ Pros

• Subtly contoured rails finally cure the palm-cutting sharp corner agony
• World-class anti-reflective Gorilla Armor screen kills glare
• Snapdragon 8 Elite delivers blazing speeds with cool efficiency

❌ Cons

• Sluggish 45W charging lags years behind competitors
• S-Pen stylus has stagnated for four generations
• Boxy oversized footprint still strains pockets
• Minimal camera sensor improvements offer weak upgrade value

📝 Verdict

"S25 Ultra finally fixes sharp ergonomics, spoiled by stagnant 45W charging and an uninspired copy-paste S-Pen."

Source

• Video: Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra, One Year Later Review | Any Better?
• Channel: Tech Spurt | Type: One-year-later review (not continuous main-phone use) | Based on: YouTube transcript

Key points

• Re-reviewed about a year after launch, now updated to One UI 8/Android 16 with more flexible split screen; there's still a promise of 6 OS updates (per the reviewer).
• The body is big and heavy with no grippy camera bump, making one-handed use hard; after months of caseless use, it still looks good.
• The S Pen drops Bluetooth and is called "the dumbest S Pen," but signing and editing still work well.
• The 6.9-inch QHD+ screen and Gorilla Glass Armor 2's anti-reflection are its biggest strengths, excellent outdoors.
• The reviewer felt from the start that it didn't live up to the Ultra name, and a year later other flagships have surpassed it in battery life, charging and cameras.

✅ Pros

• One of the best screens (anti-reflective)
• Ongoing software updates
• Durable

❌ Cons

• Battery life and charging lag behind rivals
• Camera experience has been surpassed
• Bulky body
• Reduced S Pen features

📝 Verdict

The reviewer still thinks it doesn't live up to the Ultra name, and hopes the S26 Ultra will be a complete overhaul.

Source

• Video: Samsung S25 Ultra Review - 6 Months Later
• Channel: 6 Months Later | Type: Long-term review (6 months) | Based on: YouTube transcript

Key points

• After 6 months of use, One UI 7 is the biggest highlight: Now Bar, Now Brief, lock screen widgets, a scrollable app drawer, and weather alerts.
• The screen is anti-glare with up to 2,600 nits, but PWM is only 480Hz, lower than most Chinese brands.
• Battery life is among the best of this year's flagships: with light to moderate use (1–2 hours of screen time + background music), about 60% is still left at night.
• The camera avoids the S24 Ultra's oversharpening and is satisfying overall.
• Compared with Pixel, Nothing or Samsung's foldables, the S25 Ultra feels conservative.

✅ Pros

• Many One UI 7 improvements
• Anti-glare, bright screen
• Good battery life
• Improved camera sharpening

❌ Cons

• PWM is only 480Hz
• Conservative design and features
• Few apps support lock screen widgets

📝 Verdict

A solid, reliable flagship, especially for people switching from iPhone; if you want something fresh, look at other brands or foldables.

Source

• Video: Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra Review: The Tables Have Turned!
• Channel: Marques Brownlee | Type: Full review | Based on: YouTube transcript

Key points

• It looks almost the same as the S24 Ultra: rounder corners, thinner, the screen grows from 6.8 to 6.9 inches, and the glass is more durable.
• The only big upgrade is the Snapdragon 8 Elite; no silicon-carbon battery, no IP69, no Qi2 magnets, no 10x optical zoom, no high-frequency PWM.
• The S Pen loses its Bluetooth remote features, which the reviewer sees as a downgrade.
• The reviewer thinks Samsung lacks competitive pressure in the US, so it made only minor spec upgrades; if you want a brighter screen, longer battery life and faster charging for US$400 less, consider the OnePlus 13.
• Charging is slightly faster; the S25/S25+ have the same AI features and are better value for most people.

✅ Pros

• Strong Snapdragon 8 Elite performance
• Bigger screen, slimmer bezels
• Full set of AI software features

❌ Cons

• Extremely small upgrade
• S Pen loses Bluetooth
• Battery and charging haven't kept up with rivals
• US$1,299 price is on the high side

📝 Verdict

"The tables have turned": last year's best flagship made only minimal upgrades this year; enthusiasts have better options, and most people are better off with the S25/S25+.

Source

• Video: Samsung S25 Ultra Review - Things just got Messy.
• Channel: Mrwhosetheboss | Type: Full review | Based on: YouTube transcript

Key points

• The titanium body and glass are very durable: used without a case, a 1.5-meter drop onto concrete left only a small mark.
• Battery life is better than last year: about 9 hours of screen time at the default resolution, often with 30–40% left at the end of the day.
• The screen is almost bezel-less with good anti-reflection; One UI 7 is beautiful and settings search is smarter, and the Gallery is better than iOS, but many design choices clearly follow the iPhone.
• The camera still has room for improvement, and some AI features are unreliable.
• The biggest issue is value: last year's model already has most of the strengths or will get them through updates, and some AI features may become paid in the future.

✅ Pros

• Durable build
• Better battery life
• Anti-reflective screen
• Polished, easy-to-use One UI 7

❌ Cons

• Low upgrade value over the S24 Ultra
• Camera could still be improved
• Some AI features are unreliable and may become paid

📝 Verdict

Very good to use, but not recommended for most people to buy now: last year's model has the best parts too.