Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra Review: Is This the Ultimate Smartphone of 2026?

In the world of Android smartphones, there is one name that consistently stands at the top of the food chain: the “Ultra.”

With the release of the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra, Samsung hasn’t just iterated; they have refined the formula of the ultimate power-user phone. It is big, it is expensive, and it is packed with more technology than most laptops. But in a market dominated by the iPhone 16 Pro Max and emerging foldables, does the traditional “slab” phone still reign supreme?

In this review, we break down the design, the camera capabilities, the AI features, and whether the massive price tag in Europe and the US is justified.

1. Design and Build: Titanium Perfection

The Galaxy S25 Ultra continues the design language established by its predecessors but with crucial refinements. It is a boxy, masculine device that feels like a tank in the hand.

The Build: Samsung has utilized Grade 5 Titanium for the frame, making the device lighter than the S23 Ultra but stronger than the S24 Ultra. It feels cool to the touch and incredibly premium.
The Screen: The curved edges are officially gone. The S25 Ultra features a completely flat display. This is a huge win for users who use screen protectors and the S-Pen, as it prevents accidental touches and makes writing at the edges much easier.
Colors: The global variants include Titanium Gray, Titanium Black, Titanium Violet, and Titanium Yellow.

2. Display: The Best Screen on the Market

Samsung Display supplies screens for almost everyone (including Apple), but they save their best panels for the Ultra.

Specs: You get a massive 6.8-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display.
Brightness: With a peak brightness hitting 2,600 nits, this phone is perfectly visible even under direct European summer sunlight.
Gorilla Glass Armor: The new anti-reflective coating is a game-changer. It reduces glare significantly compared to iPhones or Pixels, making the blacks look deeper and colors more vibrant in bright environments.
Variable Refresh Rate: It ranges from 1Hz to 120Hz, ensuring buttery smooth scrolling while saving battery when reading static text.

3. Cameras: The Zoom King

If you are buying the Ultra, you are buying it for the cameras. It remains the only mainstream phone in the US and Europe that offers a versatile quad-camera setup.

Main Sensor: A refined 200MP wide lens. The detail is staggering. You can crop into a photo significantly and still have a usable image.
The Zoom: This is Samsung’s superpower.
- 3x Optical Zoom: Perfect for portraits.
- 5x Optical Zoom (50MP): Great for mid-range shots.
- 100x Space Zoom: While 100x is still mostly a gimmick, the AI processing has made zoom shots at 10x to 30x incredibly sharp and usable.
Video: Samsung has finally caught up to Apple in video stability. The S25 Ultra shoots 8K video at 30fps and 4K at 120fps, making it a viable tool for content creators.

4. Performance and The S-Pen

Under the hood, the global version of the S25 Ultra is powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 (or 5) for Galaxy.

Speed: Whether you are editing 4K video, playing Genshin Impact at max settings, or multitasking with split-screen apps, this phone does not stutter.
RAM: It comes standard with 12GB of RAM, with options for 16GB.
The S-Pen: The stylus is still embedded inside the phone. For signing documents, sketching ideas, or acting as a remote shutter for taking group photos, the S-Pen remains a unique feature that no iPhone can offer.

5. Galaxy AI: The Future is Here

Samsung is betting big on Artificial Intelligence. The “Galaxy AI” suite is deeply integrated into the phone.

Circle to Search: See a pair of shoes in a YouTube video? Just circle them with the S-Pen, and Google finds them instantly.
Live Translate: You can have a phone call with someone speaking French or German, and the phone will translate their voice to English (and vice versa) in real-time.
Generative Edit: You can move objects in photos, delete strangers from the background, or expand a crooked image, and the AI fills in the gaps perfectly.

6. Battery Life and Charging

Longevity: The 5,000mAh battery combined with the efficient Snapdragon chip means this is easily a “two-day phone” for light users. Heavy users will comfortably get through a full day with 20% left in the tank.
The Downside: Charging speeds.
While Chinese competitors (like Xiaomi or OnePlus) offer 100W+ charging, Samsung is stuck at 45W. It takes about an hour to charge from 0 to 100%. In 2026, this feels slow for a “Pro” device.

7. Global Pricing and Value

This is not a cheap phone. In fact, price hikes in the supply chain have made flagship phones more expensive across Europe and the US.

Current Market Pricing (Base Model 256GB):

USA: Starts at $1,299 (Plus tax).
Europe (Eurozone): Starts around €1,469 (VAT included).
UK: Starts around £1,249 (VAT included).

Is it worth it?

Samsung offers 7 years of OS upgrades. This means you can buy this phone in 2026 and it will still receive the latest Android updates in 2033. This longevity helps justify the high initial cost.

8. Final Verdict: The Android King

The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra is the Swiss Army Knife of smartphones. It does everything, and it does everything exceptionally well.

Who Should Buy It?

Power Users: If you want the best multitasking and productivity tool.
Concert Goers & Travelers: The zoom camera is unmatched for capturing distant subjects.
Artists & Notetakers: The S-Pen has no rival.

Who Should Skip It?

Small Phone Lovers: This phone is massive and heavy. If you have small hands or tight pockets, look at the base Galaxy S25 or iPhone 16 Pro.
Budget Conscious: At nearly €1,500, there are great alternatives like the Google Pixel Pro series for significantly less money.

Conclusion:
If you want the absolute best display, the most versatile camera system, and a phone that will last you half a decade, the Galaxy S25 Ultra is the undisputed king of the Android world in 2026.