Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra
Best Android Experience
Electronics Girl Score
Based on 12 criteria
The Galaxy S25 Ultra is Samsung's most ambitious smartphone yet — a device that blends a 200MP camera system, built-in S Pen, and Galaxy AI into a titanium chassis that somehow feels thinner than its predecessor.
DESIGN & BUILD
Samsung has refined the Ultra formula with a more rounded frame that feels less aggressive than the S24 Ultra. The titanium sides are smooth and premium, and the integrated S Pen silo remains a unique differentiator. At 218g it's slightly lighter than the iPhone 16 Pro Max, though the tall 6.9-inch form factor makes one-handed use challenging.
PERFORMANCE
The Snapdragon 8 Elite is a genuine powerhouse — in multi-core tasks it trades blows with the A18 Pro, and in GPU performance it's the best Android chip we've tested. Galaxy AI features like Live Translate, Note Assist, and Circle to Search are genuinely useful rather than gimmicky.
DISPLAY
The 6.9-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X panel with LTPO technology is stunning. The 3088×1440 resolution is the sharpest on any smartphone, peak brightness exceeds 2,600 nits, and the 1–120Hz adaptive refresh rate is seamless. It's the best Android display available.
BATTERY LIFE
The 5,000 mAh battery is larger than the iPhone's and it shows — in our testing the S25 Ultra consistently outlasted the 16 Pro Max by 45–60 minutes. The 45W wired charging is faster too, hitting 50% in around 30 minutes.
CAMERA
The quad-camera system is the most versatile on any smartphone. The 200MP main sensor captures extraordinary detail, the 50MP 5× telephoto is exceptional for portraits and distant subjects, and the 10MP 3× provides a useful intermediate zoom. Galaxy AI photo editing tools are the best on Android.
VERDICT
The Galaxy S25 Ultra is the definitive Android flagship. If you're in the Samsung ecosystem or want the most versatile camera system available, this is the phone to buy — even at $1,299.
PROS & CONS
Pros
- Best Android display available
- Most versatile quad-camera system
- S Pen remains a unique productivity tool
- Galaxy AI features are genuinely useful
- Larger battery than iPhone 16 Pro Max
- 45W fast charging
Cons
- Most expensive Galaxy ever at $1,299
- One UI can feel bloated
- S Pen less capable than Note era
- Large and heavy for one-handed use