It’s been 3 months with the Galaxy S25 Ultra, and i have to admit i was nervous when i bought it. After nearly three years using my trusty S22 Ultra i wondered if the upgrade would make any difference. Especially with all those early reviews stating that the phone is not good enough and that it doesnt feel like an upgrade. Now after three months of using it daily i can certainly say that i made the right choise when i pre-ordered the phone and here is why.
The Phone Feels Just Right in Hand.
The moment i picked up my Titanium Black S25 Ultra, i felt like i dont want to let it go. The flat screen design with the titanium frame and the rounded corners make the phone lighter and easier to hold with one hand. Also the matte glass back handles fingerprints way better than my old S22 Ultra. All those factors give this weird feeling of not wanting to let go of the phone. I was so impressed and happy with the new design that i was using the phone without a case for the first month and a half. That’s just how good it feels!
And since i was using it without a case for some time, i can tell you from experience that the S25 Ultra can take a beating. I had my fair share of drops with the device but, the titanium frame and the Gorilla Glass 2 kept it safe with only some minor dents in the corners. Considering the height of some of these falls, thats nothing.
One of my favorite upgrades is the anti-reflective screen. Combined with the slightly larger 6.9″ inch display and 2600nits peak brightness its a game changer. I spend a lot of time outdoors and the thing that i dont have to cup my hand over whenever im using my phone under direct sunlight feels unreal.
Performance That Keeps Up With My Busy Days.
Another major difference i noticed is how smooth everything runs. Thanks to the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 Elite, apps open instantly even when i have a lot running in the background. One UI 7 feels refined and polished. Switching between apps is instantaneous and smooth.
One of the things that showed my S22 ultras age was its battery. I had to charge it more than once to get me through a day but thats NO more. The battery life of the S25 ultra is exceptional. Even though i am a heavy user i sometimes finish my day with 30% battery left. I would love to see higher charging speeds, similar to competitors, but still the 45W charging is enough to top up quickly if needed.
Camera: A Big Upgrade.
If you are a S24 Ultra user, the difference might not feel the same but for me its big. I take a lot of pictures and i have to say i am very pleased with the camera improvements. I’ve taken pictures in many different environments and the S25 Ultra hasnt missed so far. The new 50MP ultrawide captures incredible detail in landscape and lowlight shots. Overall the image quality great.It is sharper and the skin tones look more natural. If you are a S24 Ultra user, the difference might not feel the same but for me its big.
I was sketical about the change in from 10x to 5x change in the zoom, but seems like i was wrongfully so, since the AI enhancement does an impressive job when i get closer to my subject.
The video quality is amazing and the stabilization out of this world. The only thing i want to try out more is the 8K video from multiple lenses, because i got a few samples and they look great. The only thing thats still a bit messy is the lowlight videos but still way better than my S22 Ultra.
AI Features That I Actually Use.
There are a lot of AI features introduced in the Galaxy S25 Ultra like Chat assist, Composer, Now Brief etc. but here are the one’s that i use the most.
– Live Translate: Due to my job i travel a lot and this feature enabled me to navigate through menus and signes in multiple occasions.
– Photo Editing: Exceptionally good and god knows how many objects i have removed from pictures and noone can tell. Just amazing
– Circle to Search: By far the best and my most used AI feature. No more trouble searching for things i saw in videos or pictures. I just circle and then it magically appears.
That being said, the rest of the features didn’t appeal to my use or they felt like an unfinished product. And the question whether some of them might require a subscription in the near future gives me a pause.
The Things i didn’t like.
If you are an old Note or a current Ultra user, then the SPen bluetooth compatibility removal hurt you as much as me. I was one of the 1% (as per Samsung) users that use the SPen, mostly as remote control for group pictures and i already miss it.
Another thing that i miss from my S22 Ultra is the sharp edges. I love the feel of the new design, and i know people used to hate them but for me it was one of those features that made the phone stand out from the rest.
Lastly i would love to see a larger battery comparing to last years S24 Ultra. At least the optimisation on the One UI 7 and the new Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 Elite drains the battery slower than its predecessor.
Final Thoughts.
After spending three months with the S25 Ulta, i can certainly say that it was worth the upgrade for me. The better battery life, the seamless performance and the camera improvements have made my daily phone experience much better. While there might be downsides (my dear S Pen), it is still one of the most polished and capable phones i have used so far.
If you are considering the upgrade, it all comes down to what matters the most to you. If you current phone meets your needs, the there is no need to rush. But if you are looking for better battery life, new features and better performance, then the S25 Ultra delivers in every single one of these aspects.
It’s a phone that just works, reliably, smoothly and with all the premium touches you would expect from a Samsung flagship phone. And after two months, that is exactly what i wanted from my upgrade.
