Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra Review: Refined Powerhouse with Smart Upgrades

Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra Review: Refined Powerhouse with Smart Upgrades

The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra lands as a polished evolution of last year’s acclaimed S24 Ultra. While it doesn’t pack major new hardware, the phone feels noticeably smoother, thanks to software optimizations and a powerful Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy chipset. For Nepali buyers, it also offers compelling value, priced competitively against global rivals.

Design and Feel

Samsung has shaved off about 15 grams from the S24 Ultra, making the S25 Ultra noticeably lighter and more comfortable in hand. The phone now sports rounded edges for better grip, though its large size remains a challenge for smaller hands. Protection has been upgraded with Corning Gorilla Glass Armor 2 on both front and back, plus titanium grade 5 frames, though the IP68 rating stays unchanged.

Display and Screen

The 6.9-inch Dynamic LTPO AMOLED 2X panel carries over with its 120Hz refresh rate, 240Hz sampling, and 2600 nits peak brightness. While brightness lags behind the iPhone 16 Pro and Pixel 9 Pro, the screen remains vibrant and excellent for media consumption. Thin bezels allow a slight screen size increase without growing the phone’s overall dimensions.

Performance

Equipped with the Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy, the S25 Ultra feels faster than its predecessor. Apps launch more smoothly, animations are sharper, and gaming performance shows noticeable gains in both frame rates and thermal management. The phone offers 12GB or 16GB LPDDR5X RAM with 256GB, 512GB, or 1TB storage options.

Software and UI

One UI 7 brings a significant redesign, heavily inspired by iOS 18, with a new multitasking tray, redesigned control center, and a “Now bar” for quick settings from the lock screen. The interface feels fresh and intuitive, though the update is currently limited to S25 series devices, with older models expected to receive it later.

Camera System

The camera setup remains largely unchanged apart from a new 48MP ultra-wide lens. The main 200MP wide, 50MP 5x telephoto, and 10MP 3x telephoto lenses are carried over from the S24 Ultra. Improvements include better contrast, reduced noise in low-light conditions, and enhanced portrait handling with more consistent blur and accurate skin tones. Video recording also sees smoother stabilization and better glare management. However, Samsung missed an opportunity by not upgrading the 3x telephoto sensor, which lags behind competitors using larger sensors.

Battery and Charging

The phone retains the 5000mAh battery with 45W wired and 15W wireless charging. While battery life remains solid, lasting around 8 hours of screen-on time, it falls short of rivals like the OnePlus 13, which achieve 9 to 10 hours. Rumors suggest a larger battery may arrive with the S26 Ultra.

S Pen Changes

In a controversial move, Samsung has removed the battery and gyrosensor from the S Pen, disabling features like photo capture and air gestures. The company cites weight reduction and low usage statistics, though the actual difference is minimal.

Value in Nepal

In Nepal, the S25 Ultra is priced aggressively, coming NPR 23,000 cheaper than in India and offering one-time breakage insurance. It also undercuts the iPhone 16 Pro Max by around NPR 44,000, making it a more accessible flagship. Samsung Nepal also provides 0% EMI options with a modest down payment, a benefit not yet available for iPhones locally.

Verdict

The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra is a refined, iterative upgrade over the S24 Ultra, offering smoother performance, a fresh UI, and a better ultra-wide camera. While it lacks major hardware leaps, the phone remains a strong contender, especially given its attractive pricing and accessibility in Nepal.