With the release of the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra, we may be witnessing the end of an era—the flagship phone as we know it may have reached its final, most refined form? While the Samsung’s latest entry remains a technological powerhouse, it highlights a fundamental snag that many premium smartphones face – are they still innovating, or are they merely refining an already perfected concept?
A Refined Design with Familiar Flaws
Samsung’s Ultra devices have always been among the largest in their class, and the Galaxy S25 Ultra is no exception. At 218 grams, it’s slightly lighter than its predecessor but still a massive device. The shift to rounded corners and flatter sides makes it feel even larger in the hand, which may not be ideal for users who prefer comfort over aesthetics. The sharp edges also impact usability, making prolonged use uncomfortable without a case.
The 6.9-inch AMOLED display is undoubtedly one of the best on any smartphone, boasting QHD+ resolution, a 1Hz-120Hz adaptive refresh rate, and a peak brightness of 2,600 nits. The inclusion of Gorilla Armor 2 enhances durability and reduces reflections, making content consumption a visual treat. However, these are incremental refinements rather than groundbreaking advancements.
AI Takes Center Stage Over Hardware
Samsung has taken a bold yet cautious approach by focusing on AI-driven software enhancements rather than significant hardware upgrades. The Galaxy S25 Ultra introduces several new AI-powered features that aim to improve usability but are still in their early stages.
- AI Select: A smarter version of “Circle to Search,” allowing users to take on-device actions directly from selected text.
- Now Bar: Samsung’s take on Dynamic Island, stacking interactive app cards on the lock screen for seamless multitasking.
- Now Brief: An AI-driven widget compiling schedules, weather updates, and health insights—though its effectiveness remains inconsistent.
- Gemini Integration: Samsung replaces Bixby with Google’s Gemini AI, enabling contextual assistance across apps. While promising, it struggles with complex commands and integration.
Despite these efforts, Galaxy AI remains a work in progress, and many of these features will soon trickle down to older devices, making them less of an exclusive selling point for the S25 Ultra.
Hardware Stagnation and Overreliance on Chipset Optimization
For a phone priced at $1,300, one would expect cutting-edge hardware advancements. However, the Galaxy S25 Ultra retains the same battery capacity, storage options, and primary camera setup as its predecessor, with most improvements relying on Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite SoC.
The camera system, while still excellent, has seen minimal hardware changes:
- 200MP primary sensor (same as last year)
- 50MP ultrawide sensor (an upgrade, but not game-changing)
- 50MP periscope telephoto lens with 5x optical zoom (downgraded from 10x in previous models)
- 10MP telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom
Samsung’s Audio Eraser attempts to refine video audio capture by isolating unwanted background noise, but the results can feel unnatural. Additionally, the removal of Bluetooth features from the S Pen—a staple for Ultra users—signals a shift in priorities that may disappoint long-time fans.
For years, Samsung’s Ultra models set the benchmark for what a flagship smartphone should be. In 2025, the Ultra is no longer pushing boundaries—it’s staying comfortably within them.
If you’re upgrading from an older device, the Galaxy S25 Ultra is a solid choice. But for those expecting a revolution in smartphone innovation, this might be the year to consider something different—perhaps a foldable, a tri-fold, or a brand-new form factor entirely.
The flagship phone as we know it may have reached its peak. The real question now is: What comes next?
