Blog

The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra has arrived, and with it comes some exciting new refinements. In this article, we’ll take you through the unboxing experience and provide our first impressions of the latest Ultra model, which is already available for pre-order at a retail price of $1300. The device comes in seven color options: black, gray, silver, and a special blue shade, alongside three Samsung-exclusive colors: pink gold, jet black, and jade green. Additionally, you can choose between three storage configurations: 256GB, 512GB, and up to 1TB, all with 12GB of RAM.

Unboxing Experience

Inside the box, you’ll find the Galaxy S25 Ultra itself, a Type-C to Type-C charging cable, some paperwork, and a SIM ejection tool. That’s everything included in the box, making for a simple and straightforward unboxing.

Design & Build

The design of the Galaxy S25 Ultra introduces some noticeable changes compared to the previous S24 Ultra. The blue color appears gray in certain lighting, but once exposed to brighter light, the blue really comes through. The most significant design change is the shift from the boxy design of last year’s models to a more rounded form, improving ergonomics. Though it still retains some boxy elements, the corners are now more rounded, which makes the phone feel sleeker in hand.

One of the more impressive upgrades is the reduced weight of the S25 Ultra. Weighing in at 218g, it is noticeably lighter than the 233g S24 Ultra, making it more comfortable to hold despite its large size. Additionally, the sides have been flattened out, offering a more comfortable grip while maintaining the rounded feel on the back of the device.

Physical Overview

On the left side of the phone, you’ll find the 5G antenna, while the right side houses the volume rockers and power button. The top of the phone includes two microphones, and at the bottom, you have another microphone, the SIM tray, and a Type-C port that supports 45W super-fast charging. The S Pen functionality is present on the left side, and while the S Pen has a slightly different tip, it remains highly functional for on-screen interactions.

Display & Performance

The Galaxy S25 Ultra sports a 6.9-inch 1440p 120Hz AMOLED display. With reduced bezels compared to the S24 Ultra, the display looks even larger, offering a more immersive viewing experience. The display is flat, with no Edge screen features, which many users may find appealing for ease of use. The anti-reflectivity remains similar to the previous model, ensuring excellent visibility even in bright environments.

First Impressions After a Day of Use

After using the S25 Ultra for a full day, the performance is impressively smooth. The device features an ultrasonic fingerprint scanner that unlocks the phone instantly with a tap of the thumb. Face recognition is also available, allowing for quick access to the phone. The performance of the device is smooth, with seamless app launches and fluid animations thanks to One UI 7.

One area where the S25 Ultra truly excels is battery life. Despite having the same 5000mAh capacity as last year’s model, the S25 Ultra lasts longer, with 8 hours and 20 minutes of screen time compared to 7 hours on the S24 Ultra. The combination of efficient software and hardware allows for extended usage, even with heavy tasks like gaming, multitasking, and video streaming.

Camera Setup & Quality

The S25 Ultra comes equipped with a versatile camera system. While the camera setup remains largely unchanged from the S24 Ultra, the ultra-wide lens now offers a 50MP option, up from the 12MP lens in previous models. The S25 Ultra also supports zoom capabilities, including a 2x zoom, 3x optical zoom, 5x optical zoom, 10x digital zoom (with optical-like quality), and even 30x and 100x zoom.

The 200MP mode has shown impressive results in initial tests, capturing an abundance of detail in photos. For video, the 4K 60fps filming is smooth, with good stabilization, even in shaky scenarios. One notable new feature is the audio eraser, which allows you to reduce background noise in video clips, offering a cleaner sound recording.

AI Features

The S25 Ultra introduces new Galaxy AI features, including the innovative audio eraser, which proved particularly useful in removing background noise from video recordings. The device also includes Google Gemini, though its functionality is somewhat limited compared to Samsung’s native Bixby assistant, which has been more helpful for tasks like adjusting device settings.

Final Thoughts

Overall, the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra has left a positive first impression. The physical refinements, such as the slimmer profile, lighter weight, and improved ergonomics, make it a more comfortable and manageable device. Performance has been smooth, with improvements in battery life and overall efficiency. While the camera system remains powerful, the addition of the 50MP ultra-wide lens and enhanced zoom capabilities make it a versatile choice for photography enthusiasts.

Although the lack of Bluetooth functionality for the S Pen is a downside for some, it doesn’t feel like a dealbreaker. Overall, the Galaxy S25 Ultra offers a balanced combination of hardware, performance, and features that will appeal to users who value high-end smartphones.

Stay tuned for more updates and in-depth reviews of the Galaxy S25 Ultra, including official case lineup details and a long-term review.