72 hours later with Galaxy S25 Ultra – The AI ​​-Hype is really for me

ZDnet’s most important take -away restaurants

• The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra is a premium flagship intended for users who want the most out of their phone, with a starting price of $ 1,299.
• The most important improvements include new Galaxy AI functions, a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset and a 50Mp Ultrawide lens.
• No major shifts to cameraware, battery size and charging speeds.

More purchase choices

The big bad Galaxy phone from Samsung has arrived and it is almost everything I expected. The Galaxy S25 UltraIt starts for the same daring price as last year, $ 1,299, remains the do-all-hand set of the company, with a more sustainable display, an improved camera system with a number of handy processing tricks and the latest Qualcomm processor who manages things. Oh, and yes, ai is everything, everywhere, all at the same time.

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While last year’s Galaxy S24 series signed Samsung’s Galaxy AI era, this year it will feel more like the company that confirms itself as the leader in space, Apple and even Google (for the time being) about functions and possibilities. How decorative that honor of course depends on how you are invested in using AI.

I have spent the three days so far with testing the S25Tultra and was not too surprised to find myself both fascinated and bored. After all, this is now the fifth iteration of Samsung of the ultra model of S-series, and the changes that are year-old are modest, to be generous. But if you are currently using a three to four-year-old handset and consider an upgrade, take this testimony from the first hand-I do not yet call it a full assessment. (And if you are an enthusiastic, it is just as important to you.)

The ultra of the Galaxy has always been an affair with two hands, and that applies this year. When I first pulled out the S25 Ultra, it felt like the chicest calculator ever (and I mean in a fun way), with its round edges and long shape. Coming from the OnePlus 13 that I recently assessed – which is relatively comparable in size on paper – the S25 Ultra had a brave and more striking presence.

Fortunately, the device is not as top heavy as I remember that previous models are, although Samsung won the four rear cameras with thicker rings this time. In fact, the S25 Ultra is lighter than its predecessor with 16 grams and earns the title of the thinnest Galaxy S Ultra ever. You will probably hear more about the “thinification” of telephones later this year.

Also: I went hands -on with the Samsung Galaxy S25 -and the AI ​​functions were surprisingly polished

The other remarkable design upgrade with the S25 Ultra is the Corning Gorilla Armor 2 laminated over the front display. It does not like the anti-reflection surface treatment that the headlines made during last year’s S24-Uultra, but promises improved drop protection and scratch resistance. I believe so. My S24 Ultra had countless micro -scratches last year after just a few days of testing, while my S25 Ultra review unit has remained unspoilt so far.

If Samsung could now reduce the glory days of psychedelic aura glow finishes, because these S25 people are not inspiring. Perhaps it is the nature of titanium finishes or the harsh reality for which consumers choose more often safer Colors with black, white and silver shades then poppy and clear. Anyway, you want to hit a case if you even want to give your S25 Ultra a touch of personality.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jfdswl5pavu

Under the hood is a new Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Chip, the same processor that drives competing Android telephones such as the OnePlus 13 and Honor Magic 7 Pro. The most striking advantage of the chipset comes in the form of AI experiences -in particular an increase of 40% in the NPU performance compared to Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 of last year.

Also: Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra vs. iPhone 16 Pro Max: we have both tested, and the winner is not that clear

In the terms of Layman, AI functions on the device should take less bandwidth and strength to work and at the same time function quickly. I saw the results in person, placebo effect or not, because my S25 Ultra topics (together with their shadows) can quickly remove from the background of photos via generative editing and Gemini search results in a matter of collecting seconds.

You can also get the performance to the Enhanced Gemini app, which can now be fired with a long press on the on / off button. Earlier, Samsung phones were limited to Bixby – or Google Assistant, if you have made some sketchy, backend changes – so this change is a relief. It makes the transition from any other Android phone that uses Gemini as a standard assistant much more slander.

Speaking of this, the new Gemini-Bixby Hybrid AI agent, as Samsung says confusingly, can deal with your agenda. Although the agent-like possibilities mainly work in Google and Samsung apps, some third-party services such as Spotify are also supported.

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The most important thing is to know how you can express your orders. For example, when I asked the AI ​​agent create A Spotify playlist for road trips and sent it to my wife, it replied that it was unable to do this. When I asked it instead find Songs that were good for road trips, it compiled the list and prepared a changeable SMS message. Ladies and gentlemen, Ai.

In view of the fact that last year’s S24 series the Circle of Google has introduced to search, and this year’s S25 series does the same for the improved Gemini-Bixby experience, it would not be far-fetched to say that Samsung , not Google, the best AI telephone on the market now.

A few other new Galaxy AI tools such as AI Select and now briefly strengthen that explanation, where the first is an adaptive, context-conscious screen selection tool and the last gives you daily summaries of the weather, calendar events and news.

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I now wanted Nus New to see more than just political news; Even with my subject preferences within my Samsung News -app set for technology and sport, the app still wakes me up with a “uplifting morning prepared” Spotify playlist and the newest scoop about the US President who signs executive orders.

One of the main reasons to buy a Galaxy Ultra telephone remains the camera, although Samsung has not improved the specifications much this year – at least on paper. The only hardware change is the ultrawide lens of 50 megapixel (higher than 12MP), which from my first recordings yields more details and liveliness, especially when taking macro photos. The rest of the lenses, such as the 200MP wide, 50MP 5x Telefoto and 10MP 3x Telefoto, are identical to last year’s S24 Ultra.

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There is a greater focus on the software side of things, in which Samsung introduces useful photo and video functions such as 10-bit HDR video recording to capture a wider dynamic range, a new audio-gum function with which you can use the You can adjust volumes of various frequencies (classified as audio topics such as voices, wind and sounds) and the possibility to include in the Galaxy Log mode.

With the last function you can better spot overexposed areas and adjust the dynamic range while you record videos, while also applying LUTs in mail for better color and light control element. I will test the recording mode more in the coming days.

ZDnet’s buying advice (for now)

My first different day of testing the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra confirms different things for me. Although most aspects of the phone, such as the lively, gloss-free representation and versatility in the cameras and AI functions, are easy to appreciate, the upgrades feel iteratively and safe this year.

In a way, Samsung has even taken a few steps back, with the S -Penstylus no longer supporting Bluetooth operating elements and gestures, and the company opts for Qi2-ready cases Instead of bed in his phones.

It is understandable that early adopters and technical enthusiasts may feel impressed by the S25 Ultra. But when I consider that consumers who come from an S21 series, Pixel 6 or 7, or even an older iPhone, checks Samsung’s new flagship handset almost every course you can imagine. And you can even score a generous exchange deal through your local carrier or retailer.