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Samsung Galaxy s25 Ultra - Long term review - Is it still worth buying in late 2025?
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- Published on Mar 15, 2026
- Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra - Long Term Review - Is it Still Worth Buying in Late 2025?
It’s been 10 months since the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra launched, and with the S26 Ultra rumors heating up, the big question is: Should you still buy the S25 Ultra in late 2025?
In this long-term review, I break down how the S25 Ultra has held up after nearly a year of heavy daily use. We revisit the Snapdragon 8 Elite performance, the titanium durability, and whether that stunning 6.9-inch anti-reflective display is still the king of smartphones. I also dive deep into the long-term battery health, the current state of Galaxy AI (is it actually useful now?), and how the camera system compares to newer rivals like the iPhone 17 Pro Max and Pixel 10 Pro.
If you are looking for a flagship deal this holiday season or wondering if you should wait for the S26, this video is for you!
Links to everything featured in the video:
Samsung official faux leather Brown case
amzn.to/49Psrvb
Samsung Galaxy s25 Ultra
amzn.to/48FVoYq
Got mine when it launched still a beast
Yeah it's great - will be interesting to see what Samsing does with the s26U
@garytaylorreviewsI hope the Snapdragon 8 elite gen 5 don’t run hot like its been in testing 😅
Mediatek 9500 is Very close in performance and Runs Wayy cooler.. we will see
@jacobsebastien3910 It still runs much hotter on Games and GPU heavy stuff
Snapdragon is ages ahead in that regard
How are the fake camera rings. People are saying they fall out
I think you have to really try and hack them off - no falling off for me
I dont understand why Samsung is compared with Chinese phones. Samsung provides the best Android user experience, period.
I agree 👍
I compare Samsung to Chinese phones because I live in the US, where the government and networks prevent Chinese import phones from working (ATT network bans them, the current president has illegally raised tariffs instead of setting them properly through Congress- in addition to banning Huawei), so I cannot buy most Chinese phones and am salty as a result. I don't like Apple because iOS is really annoying to use, I don't like Google because their chips are very weak (for the price and given that reviews always focus on new models doing $200 phone things), and I don't like Motorola because they skimp on security updates. TCL also sells phones in the US, but they mostly do displays so their phones aren't great.
I think I would genuinely have a much better experience using a Xiaomi given my price point and most preferred features (RAM, chipset, storage, battery/charge speed, price, cost per software support), but the only performance phone brand I have access to is Samsung. For that reason, I can't help but compare them. (Plus, the US has a national religion of the idea of capitalism and harsh competition, so protectionist anti competition policy makes me hate the government approved phone brands more)
@kawaiidere1023 chinese phone user experience sucks.
@youtube_critc I wouldn't know, they aren't allowed on my country's network.
Edit: iOS and Windows always lag out, crash, and break on me. I've found Linux and OneUI Core a pleasure to use by comparison to Windows and iOS. My tastes for UX aren't the same as everyone else because everyone has different priorities. I'd love to try a recent Android skin from a major Chinese phone brand to see if I like it, but I can't so I feel like I'm missing out.
@kawaiidere1023I'm an American abroad. The only Chinese phone that tempts me is Oneplus13 and Oneplus15. Otherwise I adore my Samsungs since years. But I can tell you first hand that my good friend with a Oneplus 13 is SUPER happy. All the benefits they talk about are dead real: The astounding battery life COMBINED with supernatural charging makes battery worries basically a thing of the past. That alone is huge. Then the ultra snappy smooth performance. Then the significant price savings for the same performance. It is great.
But I just am so happy with my Samsung s23+ and my s21+ secondary phone and my buds 3 pro that it would take a lot for me to leave Samsung. On OTHER Chinese phones like Xiomi I do hear gripes about the OS.
Very nice review of a great phone
Just ordered it yesterday and ofcourse im getting this video recommendation 😅
Let me know what you think of the phone
Just ordered mine also, comes tomorrow!
Nice 😊
Don't worry you buying best phone period. No phone is better than Ultra 25
Yes absolutely wtf, it's no phone coming close like ultra 25. Next 3 years that phone is going to be beast
100%
Got mines a month ago through atat insurance only paid $250 for the s25 ultra 256gb 🎉
Wow that's an amazing deal 👏
We see you listening to MUSIC 😆❤
Love my music
Got my s25 ultra in april its great dont care about bluetooth s-pen really didnt use it on 10 note 20 ultra and s23 ultra but its a good phone
Its a great phone - glad you are enjoying it
Dont care too much about battery life The ultra has so much 3rd party battery support to nullify those concerns. If I need extra juice, i'll just get a battery case.
Good point but it is an additional expense
Thanks for the video I've had my S25 ultra going on four months now and I'm really enjoying it so far it's moved into the number one spot as my daily driver. Now my Pixel 9 Pro XL is my side piece.
Nice one - glad you are enjoying the s25 ultra
The same thing happened to me.
How much is your screen on time?
Hi, they I just got myself 1 & I love it
Brilliant 👏
Still hesitating, got the s21 ultra. Which is still good, but the battery is decaying and Samsung just stopped the security updates. But they did remove the 21 ultra’s 10x zoom lens which I loved, to replace it with only a 5x zoom. I also find them a bit too big.
S21 Ultra is still one of the best Samsung flagships
How did you get that info from battery screen like battery health, battery cycles and so on? I have only 3 first lines.
Its in battery inflation in settings
I would either wait for the S26 Ultra and get that one, or wait for the S26 Ultra, and then buy the S25 Ultra for even cheaper.
I think that's a wise move
Its only $850 on Samsung right now.
Thats a brilliant price - is that in the USA?
Very important question. 😆 What color case is that please? (brown, orange, camel) It looks good. I'm going to order one.
I'm waiting on delivery of a US Cyber Monday sale purchase. S25U 512gb model. $860. No trade.
If I end up with too much S26U envy, I guess I could trade up.
My current phone (S21U) is 2 years into its 2nd battery. It's beginning to need 2 or 3 daily charges again. It's time to move on.
Other than battery, the S21U has been a fantastic phone. I'd owned other Android phones before the S21U, but it was my first Android phone to have the stability of an iphone.
Thanks for the review.
Thats a really good deal - you will definitely notice the performance and battery difference coming from the s21U.
The case is officially brown but it's definitely not the saddle brown that you normally get - it definitely a brown/orange but it looks great and feels great. I have a link in the description to it - big discount on Amazon at the moment on it
Thanks for the feedback- really appreciate it
I just upgraded to S25U from an S10+. The original S10+ battery is only now slowing me down. Got the S25 Ultra for $859, unlocked, no trade, free storage upgrade. Anxiously waiting for Ultra to arrive.
Wow - huge upgrade 👏
I'm in a position that I don't really want a flagship but to get what I want from where I have to buy it well I'm getting my first flagship in fifteen years at least where it's current at the point. My last phone was a A72 and it was great! Big battery 256gig SD slot. But may it rest in peace it died. The good news extended warranty. So I am waiting on the credit to come through. Because there's not a major difference in price from the S25 plus and ultra I'm going Ultra. My thing is as late in the game as it is I'm thinking I'll wait for the S26 and decide rather to get 25 or 26. Save some money or newer version that maybe has some benefits to pre ordering.
You will love the Ultra - let me know what you think
I say it's a great phone. Yes!
Me too ✋️
I would happily upgrade to the S25 ultra, except, since the mind-boggling decision to remove the Bluetooth functionality from the S Pen I'm sticking with the S24. Not, that I can see much difference between the 24 or 25. I will stick with the 24 until such time as Samsung restore the Bluetooth.
I have had 2 instances where I have needed the Bluetooth S Pen to take group photos and have realised its not on the s2t Ultra 😂 its a big miss
Short answer no! It could not compete to Chinese phones like vivo and oppo in terms of battery, camera and display (still using 8 bit display not 10 bit real hdr display، with 480hz PWM compare to 2160hz PWM of other brands) still animations lacks compared to ios and Chinese ui's and the battery is soo bad, my friend could not end one day with only one charge, and now Chinese have 7500 mah and the is getting more and more and Samsung comfirm that they still use same main camera as s25 and s23 ultra! And not using silicon carbon batteries
You make valid points - the Chinese manufacturers are really pushing the boundaries
Not to mention, camera sensors! Samsung's telephoto and ultra wide sensors are way inferior compared to vivo/OPPO/Xiaomi (e.g. they have 200mp 1/1.4 tele sensors)
@andrewshiu5872Are you are that these telephoto sensors are actually, in some cases, made by Samsung (namely for Vivo).
I love my S25 Ultra as it simply does everything so damn well. I have to be honest though, and say that this is my second handset. The Ultrawide on my first developed a rattling buzzing whirring problem in use, and it's focus went bananas. I was given a second handset 24 hours after reporting the problem. My second device has sharper focus on the Ultrawide.
Camera hiccups aside, I find the camera performance brilliant when you put some manual input in. Especially in terms of exposure levels, where auto levels are not spot on. It's overall video quality is brilliant, it's battery gets me through a whole day easily, it's display is FANTASTIC, speakers are superb, and it's software and AI integration are truly excellent.
There are some great deals on now for the S25 Ultra, and I can't recommend this device highly enough.
Thanks for this - strange what happened with your first device
@garytaylorreviewsIt was frustrating as it seemed to appear from nowhere. My device was 7 months old at the time. If you Google this issue, it is happening to quite a few people. There are some good RUclips videos capturing the problem via screen recordings. 👍
Is trading s23 ultra 500 gb to s25 ultra 500 gb for 400$ reasonable?
I think it probably is - better battery and camera plus it feels so much lighter
Ultra wide and telephoto sensors still way too small
Agree on this
How's the battery backup is it giving whole day battery life ?
I would say it lasts a day but no more
All phones pass 8 gen 2 are extra😅
👍
I am plaining to buy one for my dad today or tmrw should i wait for the next series or should I buy him now
Thanks for your message - it's a tough one - does your Dad desperately need a new phone now? If he does then yes I wouldn't wait, however if he doesn't need a new phone it may be worth waiting for February (when s26 Ultra is likely to get announced) and then get the s26 U or the s25 U may be on a really gikd deal then
@garytaylorreviewsthnx for the reply
No problem- let me know what you decide to do
@garytaylorreviewsI am thinking to buy it now itself
em hapy with 25plus !!! al rounder n all aspects !!! vry hapy no pblm phn s25plus
S25 plus is a brilliant phone
@garytaylorreviewsthnk u bro ❤
I like the S25 plus too.
I'm still on s23+ with my s21+ as secondary. Love them both. Even my s21+ is still snappy as hell. I also have a new Samsung A16 i got for free and there is no comparison. Guys, never get a entry budget samsung phones the lag will drive you into a mental institution.
I have s23+ is it worth it to upgrade to s25+
جیز
👍
I'm a designer and I think will help me in work better then the iphone
Good point - will you be using the S Pen?
absolutely and I don't need to buy a design tablet@garytaylorreviews
Would you bite the bullet now or wait and see what happens with the S26? I could get a S25 Ultra for £660 ish ... coming from a A53
My initial reaction is to say wait.....but Thats a really good deal for the s25 Ultra and a big upgrade from the A53 - at that price I would probably go for the s25 Ultra
@garytaylorreviews Thanks for the response. Yeah I did think it was a good price to be fair and also, I go to the Caribbean in the new year and think the S25 would be a useful addition, for when I don't fancy lugging my bigger camera around, etc.
@BarbellAndMe where are you getting an s25 ultra for that price?
@ShennelCampbell Placed called TechInTheBasket, they are a grey importer though but I have ordered multiple items from them and never had an issue but it's a risk, I guess.
I think it's stunning in jetblack. All the other colours are tacky.
The s26 ultra in comparison looks bad having a raised camera bump.
I have the 1tb jetblack ultra I bought 2 months ago for 1,317, still sealed in box for a rainy day, also just got the black 512gb OnePlus 15 for 879, again sealed in box for a rainy day, but my SIM will stay in my black 512gb OnePlus 13 even when I unbox them, they will only be for gaming/emulation while watching TV/films on the other one while allowing me to not use battery on my primary that's only for calls, txts and email.
You're got a good collection of phones 📱 👌
@garytaylorreviewsindeed, cheers bud, also recently dropped 1,400 on the 5g tab s11 ultra 1TB., already spent over 3k on phones 😅
Wow - what do you think of the tab s12 Ultra?
@garytaylorreviewsyou mean the s11 ultra, it's fantastic, powerhouse but underutilized for my day to day use.
Yes i did [auto spell mistake] 👌
Should i buy this now what u guys suggest
We are around 4 weeks away from the s26 announcement so think I would be tempted to wait
@garytaylorreviews ok then I'll wait
What phone are you using now?
@garytaylorreviews s22 ultra
A good phone then - I would wait as even if you dont go for the s26 Ultra, the s25 Ultra will drop in price
What on earth can you expect a slab phone to look like? A design revamp is a ridiculous and petty notion. It's a feckin' slab phone, and unless you are mental, you ought to be spending your time looking at the class- leading, most sumptuously gorgeous looking panel of the year- still. And grown men whining that "it doesn't hurt your hands as much as the S24"! Come on, man up ffs!
Rant over, smashing review and I agree with many of your positive points regarding the sheer pleasure of using the stellar, elegant yet rugged, S25 Ultra.( no, I'm not bipolar! 😉 )
Merry Christmas, pal ✨️🙏
Thanks man, yes I take your point about design- for me its more about having a different look with thr camera module but most people use a case so nobody probably cares anyway 😂 Have a great Christmas 🎄
I wish all smart phones were under 6.5 inches 🤔🤔. My favorite size is 6.2 or 6.3 inches.
I've been saying the same - would be great if Samsung copied Apple 😂 and did an Ultra and Ultra max version so that you get a smaller version of the Ultra
im still hoping my girl's gonna say that
😂😂
I cannot state how much I hate my s22 ultra! It is without doubt the worst thing I've ever owned period! And that includes some pretty $%3& cars, I threw it against the wall about 1 year ago, and no way am I going to spend money repairing the %$£% &*^$$$% piece or %$^& ££$%%. Laughably, Samsung charges so much for screen repair because they think you're dumb enough to upgrade!
Oh no - what was wrong with it?