Galaxy S25 Ultra Is Here! But, should you upgrade?
Galaxy S25 Ultra: First Look and Design Changes
I was lucky enough to visit Samsung KX ahead of the Unpacked launch of the Galaxy S25 Ultra! This phone is a beast, and I'm excited to break down all the upgrades, design changes, and new features.
But first, let's address the elephant in the room: there's lot’s of significant upgrades & one stealth change this year that I want to hear your thought on, might be a big deal to some. Stick around, we'll get to that.
The most noticeable change is the design. The sharp right angles are gone, replaced with smoother corners that won't dig into your palm. The display has actually increased from 6.8" to 6.9", thanks to a 15% reduction in bezels. Plus, the S25 Ultra is thinner, lighter, and boasts a sleek flat frame.
Display and Durability Upgrades
The display is even more power efficient, using 20-30% less power. Imagine scrolling through your favorite social media feeds for longer! And get this: it can now upscale lower-quality 720p content by 43%.
One of my favorite aspects of last year's Ultra was the anti-reflective and ultra-resilient Corning Gorilla Armour Glass. Well, the S25 Ultra takes it to the next level with Gorilla Armour Glass 2, which is a whopping 29% more durable and 60% more scratch resistant. I've been using the S24 Ultra without a screen protector since its release, and it's still pristine.
Camera Improvements
The camera design has been refined with larger rings, similar to the Z Fold 6. But the real magic is under the hood. All rear cameras now have Corning DX coatings, allowing for better light intake and reducing ghosting and chromatic aberrations.
The ultra-wide sensor has also received a major upgrade, going from 12MP to 50MP. That's a bigger sensor and bigger lenses, capable of capturing 4 times more detail. We'll have a camera comparison later, so stay tuned!
Performance Boost
The S25 Ultra is powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite "For Galaxy" - an overclocked version exclusive to Samsung, delivering a 37% faster CPU and 30% more powerful GPU. The best part? It achieves all this while consuming less power.
S Pen and Charging
The S Pen is still here, but it has undergone a transformation. The clicky button is now chunkier, and it no longer has Bluetooth functionality. This means we have four ways to take remote photos: palm shutter, voice shutter, Galaxy Ring pinch gesture, and using your Galaxy Watch as a viewfinder.
The S25 Ultra also features a new Qi 2 wireless charging coil beneath the back glass, enabling faster wireless charging speeds.
Colour Options
Now, for the moment you've all been waiting for: the colours!
Titanium White Silver: If you crave a bright and premium look, this is the one for you. The titanium silver frame provides a striking contrast to the matte white finish, like a silver lining on a pristine cloud.
Titanium Black: This isn't your typical dark black. It's a lighter, smoky shade that's incredibly unique. The titanium frame has been darkened to match, creating an understated yet premium look.
Titanium Grey: This one almost perfectly matches the frame, making it the most reflective and eye-catching lineup.
Titanium Silver Blue: This is my personal favourite! It's similar to the grey in some lighting, but when the light hits it just right, you get this mesmerizing blue glow, like a blend of moonlight and the ocean depths.
There are also three online exclusives: Titanium Jet Black, Titanium Jade Green, and Titanium Pink Gold.
Which colour will you choose? Think about it like this: which colour would you still be happy to use 7 years from now? Samsung is providing 7 years of software and security updates, so keeping the S25 Ultra for that long is a real possibility. Head to the comments and tell me which colour you're most excited to get your hands on!
Some Of The New Features
The S25 Ultra is packed with new features. Here are a few highlights:
Smoother transitions between camera lenses thanks to AI frame addition software.
Shoot video in LOG format, perfect for content creators.
Enhanced low-light video recording with the all-new Spatial-temporal filter.
A new virtual aperture adjustment feature in the Expert RAW app.
Upgraded AI smart select with more suggested actions.
Next-level generative editing using text prompts to create new images within existing photos.
On-device AI that can adjust system settings like font size without you having to access the settings yourself.
A personal concierge feature that understands you and your schedule better.
A new Audio eraser tool that can break down recorded audio into stems for individual adjustment.
Post-quantum security to prepare for the future of computing.
A more informative Now bar on the lock screen when using Google Maps.
I'll be exploring all of these new features in future videos, so make sure you subscribe with notifications on!
Camera Comparison and Wrap-up
Here's the camera comparison I promised. Remember that the S25 Ultra I'm using here runs pre-release software. Let me know if you notice a difference!
What do you think? Big difference or not so much? I'm currently in San Jose for the Unpacked event and will be checking out the base model S24 and S24 Plus colors, so make sure you're following me on Insta and X for updates from the States.
And if you want to learn how to truly master your Galaxy devices, make sure you're subscribed for all that good stuff!
