Samsung Galaxy S25 will only promise 7 years of updates
Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra Becomes Official With Mostly Only Software Upgrades.Samsung has officially launched the Galaxy S25 Ultra offering refined design powerful hardware and advanced AI capabilities. However while the phone introduces several refinements many of its upgrades feel incremental rather than groundbreaking just like its more affordable brethren the Galaxy S25 and S25+.
Design and Display
The Galaxy S25 Ultra debuts with a sleeker and more ergonomic design. Samsung has rounded off the sharp corners making the phone more comfortable to hold despite its large size. It is thinner (8.2mm) and lighter (218g) than its predecessor the S24 Ultra which measured 8.6mm and weighted 233g.
The titanium frame adds durability while the new Corning Gorilla Armor 2 offers enhanced protection against impacts and glare along with anti-reflective properties. The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra comes in 7 colors options Titanium Silver Blue, Titanium Black, Titanium White Silver, Titanium Gray, Titanium Jade Green, Titanium Jet Black and Titanium Pink Gold.
It features a 6.9-Inch+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X Panel with a 1-120Hz adaptive refresh rate, Vision Booster and Adaptive Color Tone. While these are premium features they are identical to those found on the S24 ultra leaving little to differentiate this year model in terms of visual experience.
Internals and Hardware
The Galaxy S25 Ultra is powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy chipset coupled with 12GB of RAM delivering 37% faster CPU performance 30% improved GPU capabilities and a 40% faster NPU compared to the previous generation. These enhancements ensure smooth multitasking, gamming and AI processing. Samsung has also introduced a 40% larger vapor chamber providing improved cooling during intensive tasks such as gamming.
AI Upgrades
The 40% faster NPU enables new AI feature allowing users to summon Gemini by pressing the side button. Circle to search can identify phone numbers, emails and URLs for quick actions. The device users multimodal AI agents for natural interactions across text, speech, images and video. For example asking Gemini to find a specific photo in the Gallery yield quick results. Search also offers context-aware suggestions like sharing a GIF or saving an event.
The AI suite also includes call transcription and summaries along with a writing assist tool to summarize and format note. Additionally on-device generative editing lets users modify content without relying on external servers keeping everything private and fast. Samsung introduced the Personal Data Engine which securely processes user data on the device and safeguards it wiring Knox Vault. For future-proofing, post-quantum cryptography protects against threats that may emerge with the development of quantum computing.
One UI 7
The now brief feature delivers a curated summary of your day providing proactive updates on stocks, weather, events and travel details—all accessible directly from the lock screen. The One UI 7 based on Android 15 debuts with the S25 Ultra and introduces these advanced AI features.
Samsung also commits to seven years of OS upgrades and seven years of security updates ensuring the S25 Ultra remains relevant and secure for years to come.
Camera
The camera system introduces a 50MP f/1.9 ultrawide sensor joining the 200MP f/1.7 main camera 50MP f/3.4 5x telephoto and 10MP f/2.4 3x telephoto. While the ultrawide addition enhances versatility the other camera specs remain identical to the S24 Ultra and the 12MO selfie camera is unchanged.
Samsung AI ProVisual Engine improves shooting viewing and editing. The device now shoots 10-but HDR videos by default delivering richer visuals and includes a new Galaxy Log mode for professional-grade color grading.
The Expert Raw app adds a Virtual Aperture mode allowing users to control the depth of field while Portrait Studio lets users create personal AI-generated avatars. These features cater to content creators but they are software-based relying on AI rather than hardware upgrades which may disappoint users seeking substantial camera improvements.
Battery and Pricing
The Galaxy S25 Ultra retains the 5,000 mAh battery from its predecessor offering 45W wired charging (65% in 30 minutes) and 15W wireless charging. However the lack of Qi2 support is a missed opportunity and the charging speeds remain unchanged from last year model. Pricing starts at $1299.99 for the base 256GB/12GB RAM model with the 512 GB and 1 TB configurations costing more. Samsung pre-order bonuses including a free storage upgrade to 512GB and six months of Gemini Advanced add value but is unclear if they will be available in Pakistan as well.