Samsung’s Latest Flagship Leaves Power Users Unimpressed
Samsung’s Galaxy S25 Ultra is here, but if you expect groundbreaking changes, you might want to temper your excitement. There’s little reason to jump on this upgrade train for anyone using an S24 Ultra—or even an S23 Ultra. Unless deeply invested in AI features, this iteration feels like a rerun rather than a sequel.
Design Changes: Minor Tweaks, Major Letdown
While Samsung tried to refine the S25 Ultra’s aesthetics, the changes may not please everyone. The flatter frame and rounded corners might improve comfort for some, but it sacrifices the unique design language that connected it to the Galaxy Note lineage. It’s also huge—bordering on impractical for everyday use.
Specs: More of the Same
- Processor: Snapdragon 8 Elite is fast, but so was the Gen 3. The performance leap is negligible unless you’re chasing benchmark scores.
- RAM & Storage: Still capped at 12GB RAM, with up to 1TB storage—missing an easy opportunity to bump it to 16GB for future-proofing.
- Battery & Charging: 5000mAh battery with the same slow charging speeds (25W wired, 15W wireless). Competitors like OnePlus are pushing 6,000mAh batteries with 100W+ charging speeds.
- Camera: The only notable update is to the ultra-wide lens. Otherwise, it’s nearly identical to the S24 Ultra’s camera system.
S Pen: A Downgrade in Disguise
Samsung quietly stripped the S Pen of its Bluetooth LE functionality. That means no more Air Actions or using the pen as a remote shutter. For longtime Note fans, this feels like a step backward.
AI Features: The Star of the Show (But Not Really)
Samsung’s big pitch for the S25 Ultra revolves around Galaxy AI—but here’s the kicker: many of these AI features are coming to older devices. The S24 Ultra and possibly even the S23 Ultra will get most of the AI tricks with upcoming One UI updates.
Why You Should Not Upgrade:
- Performance Is Already Great: Older models’ Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 & 3 are still beasts. Everyday tasks and even heavy multitasking run smoothly.
- Software Updates Are Strong: The S23 Ultra is promised updates until Android 17 (with One UI 7 on the way). There is no rush to upgrade to the latest software.
- Camera Is Still Top-Notch: Minor tweaks to the ultra-wide lens don’t justify the cost. The primary and telephoto sensors remain essentially unchanged.
- Battery Life & Charging Speeds Haven’t Improved: Samsung is lagging in an era of fast charging and larger batteries.
- AI Isn’t a Game-Changer (Yet): The new AI features are cool but not essential—and they’re coming to older models anyway.
- Price Tag: At $1,300, it’s hard to justify when last year’s model will be heavily discounted soon.
Final Thoughts:
Unless you’re using a phone older than the S22 Ultra, the Galaxy S25 Ultra doesn’t bring enough. It’s a fine device, but in a market where competitors push meaningful innovations, Samsung seems content to ride the AI wave without offering substantial hardware upgrades. Hold onto your current device and wait for Samsung to bring more to the table with the S26 Ultra.
