Samsung’s S25 Ultra is $400 off – the Android phone I recommend most for Black Friday

ZDNET Highlights

• The Galaxy S25 Ultra, a premium flagship meant for users who want to get the most out of their phone, is now on sale for $899.
• Key improvements include new Galaxy AI features, a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset, and a 50MP ultrawide lens.
• A lot remains incomplete with no major changes in camera hardware, battery size and charging speed.

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Samsung’s big bad Galaxy phone is here, and it might be the least amazing device I’ve tested so far. Galaxy S25 UltraStarting at the same bold price as last year, $1,299, it remains the company’s do-it-all handset. This premium Android phone is now Samsung’s best phone overall, with a more durable display, an advanced camera lens with some handy editing tricks, and the latest Qualcomm processor to keep things running. Oh, and yes, AI is everything, everywhere, all at once.

Also: 10 settings I changed on a Samsung phone to give it a significant performance boost

While last year’s Galaxy S24 series kicked off Samsung’s Galaxy AI era, this year it seems the company is cementing itself as a leader in the smartphone sector, surpassing Apple and even Google (for now) in terms of features and capabilities. How decorative that respect ultimately is depends on how invested you are in using AI.

I’ve spent a month testing the S25 Ultra and wasn’t too surprised to find myself both fascinated and bored. After all, this is now the fifth iteration of Samsung’s S-series Ultra models, and year-to-year changes have ranged from modest to generous. But if you’re currently using a three- to four-year-old handset and are considering an upgrade, take this first-hand testimonial seriously. (And if you’re an enthusiast, it will matter just as much to you.)

The Galaxy S Ultra has always been a big-phone, two-handed affair, and that continues this year. When I first unboxed the S25 Ultra, it felt like the coolest calculator ever (and I mean that in a good way), with its rounded edges and tall stature. Coming from the OnePlus 13 I reviewed in January — which, on paper, is relatively similar in size — the S25 Ultra had a bolder and more attractive appearance.

Luckily, the device isn’t as heavy as I remember previous models being, even though Samsung has covered all four rear cameras with thicker rings this time. In fact, the S25 Ultra is 16 grams lighter than its predecessor, earning it the title of the thinnest Galaxy S ever. extremely Sometimes. You should still opt for slimmer S25 and S25 Plus That’s the form factor you’re looking for, and you’ll likely hear more about the “thinness” of phones later this year. Also, if small phones are your thing, check out our roundup of the best small phones of 2025.

Also: This midrange Galaxy phone will make you forget about wanting a flagship – and it’s on sale

The other notable design upgrade with the S25 Ultra is the Corning Gorilla Armor 2 layer on the front display. It doesn’t stray far from the anti-reflection surface treatment that made headlines on last year’s S24 Ultra, yet it promises better drop protection and scratch resistance. I believe. My S24 Ultra last year suffered a number of micro scratches after just a few days of testing, while my S25 Ultra review unit has remained intact so far – even after removing the privacy screen protector I initially put on it.

Now, if only Samsung could bring back the glory days psychedelic aura glow ends because it S25 Ultra Color Are unmotivated. Perhaps it’s the nature or harsh reality of the titanium finish that consumers prefer more Safe Colors ranging from black, white and silver to poppy and bright colors. Regardless, you may want to slap on a case to give your S25 Ultra a touch of personality.

Under the hood is a new Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite chip for the Galaxy, an overclocked variant of the processor powering competing Android phones like the OnePlus 13 and Honor Magic 7 Pro in 2025. The chipset’s most notable benefit comes in the form of AI enhancements – specifically, a 40% increase in NPU performance compared to last year’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 3.

Also: Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra vs OnePlus 13: I compared the best Android phones, and it was very close

In layman’s terms, on-device AI features should take up less bandwidth and power while working faster. I personally observed results, whether placebo effect or not, as my S25 Ultra could rapidly remove subjects (along with their shadows) from the background of photos. generative editing And get Gemini search results in just a few seconds. I ran some response tests with the iPhone 16 Pro (running Siri and ChatGPT) and the Google Pixel 9 Pro (running Gemini), and the Galaxy S25 Ultra was clearly in the lead.

You can also attribute the performance to the upgraded Gemini app, which can now be launched by long pressing the power button. Previously, Samsung phones were limited to Bixby – or Google Assistant if you made some sketchy backend modifications – so this change is a breath of fresh air. This makes the transition from any other Android phone with Gemini as the default assistant much more burdensome.

Speaking of which, the new Gemini-Bixby hybrid AI agent, as Samsung misleadingly presents it, can handle natural-sounding, conversational series of actions, like looking up your favorite sports team’s upcoming schedule and adding dates to your calendar. While the Agent-like capability works primarily on Google and Samsung apps, some third-party services like Spotify are also supported.

Also: Samsung is giving these Galaxy phones a big One UI upgrade — here’s which models are eligible

The important thing is to know how to phrase your commands. For example, when I asked the AI ​​agent create Create a Spotify playlist for road trips and send it to my wife, she replied that she was unable to do so. When, instead, I asked him this search She compiled a list of songs that were good for road trips and drafted a revised text message. My AI advice: If a hint doesn’t work, try and try again.

Given that the Galaxy S24 series introduces Google’s Circle to Search feature, and the S25 series is doing the same for the advanced Gemini-Bixby experience, it wouldn’t be wrong to say that Samsung, not Google, makes the best AI phones in the market at the moment.

Some other new Galaxy AI tools, like AI Select and Now Brief, only reinforce that statement. The first is an adaptive, context-aware screen selection tool, and the second gives a daily summary of weather, calendar events and news.

Also: Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge Hands-on: This ultra-thin phone made my iPhone feel old

I just wish Now Brief showed me more than just political news; Even two weeks after setting my topic preferences to technology and sports in my Samsung News app, the app still prefaces my mornings with the usual “Uplifting Morning Prep” Spotify playlist and the latest scoop on the US President signing executive orders.

One of the main reasons to buy a Galaxy Ultra phone is the camera, although Samsung hasn’t improved the specifications much this year – at least on paper. The only hardware change is the 50-megapixel ultrawide lens (up from 12 MP), which, from my two weeks of shots, produces more detail and vibrancy, especially when capturing macro photos.

The rest of the lenses, like the 200MP wide, 50MP 5x telephoto, and 10MP 3x telephoto, are the same as last year’s S24 Ultra, but a number of internal contributors like the Qualcomm chip’s improved ISP have made the S25 Ultra’s output more true to real life, especially when it comes to face tones and detail in low light.

Also: Best Samsung phones to buy in 2025

There’s more of a focus on the software side of things, with Samsung introducing useful photo and video features like 10-bit HDR video recording by default to capture a wider dynamic range, a new Audio Eraser feature that lets you adjust the volume of different frequencies (classified as audio subjects like sound, wind, and noise), and the ability to record in Galaxy Log mode.

The latter feature allows you to better identify overexposed areas and adjust dynamic range while recording video. It also allows you to place LUTs in post for better color and lighting control.

ZDNET’s shopping advice

my month of testing Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra Confirms many things for me. While most aspects of the phone, such as the vibrant, glare-free display and versatility in cameras and AI features, are easy to appreciate, this year’s upgrades feel iterative and safe.

In a way, Samsung has taken a few steps back, the S Pen stylus no longer supports Bluetooth controls and gestures, and the company has opted to Qi2-ready cases Instead of incorporating actual technology into your phone. Samsung may be the reason for the extra weight and absence of weighted magnets, but it’s unforgivable when Apple continues to make iPhones thinner while offering similar functionality.

Also: I’ve tested every Samsung Galaxy S25 model — and my favorite isn’t the Ultra

It’s understandable that early adopters and tech enthusiasts might feel underwhelmed by the S25 Ultra; When you brand your phone as “Ultra”, theoretically, it should lead the market in many aspects. However, in today’s scenario, Samsung needs to give us more than just a new chip and some software features. Otherwise, I’m finding it hard to justify spending $1,300 on a phone.

But for consumers who are coming from the S21 series, Pixel 6 or 7, or even an older iPhone, Samsung’s new flagship handset checks almost every box. Be sure to survey your local carrier or retailer for a generous trade-in deal before making the investment.

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