The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra Is Sleek & Powerful, But Its AI Features Could Be Better

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It’s tougher, smarter, and more refined than its predecessors, with AI-infused software that aims to streamline your daily interactions.

The S25 Ultra comes in four colourways: Titanium Silverblue, Titanium Whitesilver, Titanium Gray, and Titanium Black. Its online-exclusive colours feature Titanium Pinkgold, Titanium Jetblack, and Titanium Jadegreen.

But while Samsung's latest flagship is a feat of engineering and design, it's not without its flaws. Some choices feel questionable, and a few missteps leave room for improvement.

I recently had the opportunity to test the device in the Titanium Black colourway. Here's what I loved — and what could improve in future iterations.

The 6.8-inch AMOLED panel is stunning — razor-sharp, gloriously bright, and now even more resistant to glare, making outdoor readability a breeze. It's also larger than the S24 Ultra. The nearly invisible bezels give the phone an elegant edge, making content consumption feel immersive and uninterrupted.

Performance is another highlight. Powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite, the S25 Ultra is a workhorse that effortlessly handles multitasking, gaming, and AI-driven features with remarkable fluidity.

The interface has been subtly refined to be more in line with what iPhone users are accustomed to, offering a smoother transition for those considering a switch. Animations are crisp, scrolling is snappy, and everyday interactions feel buttery smooth.

In short, if you're looking for an Android smartphone that'll help you stay productive — the S25 Ultra is a solid choice.

With the right settings and techniques, I was able to take some pretty decent photos during my recent trip to Pangkor.

The device comes with four cameras on the back: the 200MP main lens, an upgraded 50MP ultra-wide lens perfect for dramatic shots, a 50MP telephoto lens for detailed close-ups, and a 10MP telephoto lens that's useful for portraits.

Images are sharp, crisp and the colours are vivid and vibrant.

While the S Pen no longer has the function to take photos, it was never an issue for me as I was still able to take photos via voice command and hand gestures.

I was able to get nine hours of screen-on time in real-world tests.

Ending the day with 30-40% battery remaining is the norm rather than the exception.

That said, I'm looking forward to Samsung improving the battery lifespan while maintaining the thinness of future iterations of the S25 Ultra, since 6,000 mAh has become the benchmark for batteries.

Google's Gemini Live seamlessly integrates into Samsung's native apps. Using voice commands or pressing the side button, I easily found restaurants for my family's Lunar New Year reunion dinner and shared the location with friends and family — completely hands-free.

But, these AI features — a hybrid between Gemini and Samsung's Bixby — felt wonky at times. I experienced several instances when Gemini confused Asian-sounding names with objects. For example, it mistook my wife's name, Ista, with Easter and actually dialled a foreign number.

The Now Brief feature, despite being marketed to productivity enthusiasts, felt underwhelming and bare. For example, it displayed events or meetings that I had declined.

Also, do note that events are saved on both the Google and Samsung calendars. While I was able to get Gemini to delete an event via voice command, I still had to do it manually for the Samsung calendar.

That said, the Now Bar was useful because I was able to stay updated with my favourite football team's matches. The feature updated scores on the device's home screen. However, for non-sports fans, the feature may not be useful as much.

AI Select and the Circle to Search, in my opinion, were the most useful features. Travelling to Pangkor and picking up sea shells and learning about them was an enjoyable experience for my family and me.

Many of the features I mentioned above could be released to older S23 and S24 devices. Many of the features, though currently exclusive to the S25 Ultra, could make their way to other Android devices eventually (looking at you, Google).   

Also, Samsung's AI-powered tools are only guaranteed to remain free until the end of 2025. After that? We have no idea.

If Samsung moves to a paid AI model, it could make these features significantly less appealing. At the very least, Samsung should provide clarity on AI pricing to give users confidence in their long-term investment.

Its build quality is unmatched, its display is industry-leading, and its battery life outshines many competitors. The software experience is polished, and its AI-driven features — while somewhat uncertain in the long term — are genuinely useful today.

For those willing to pay the premium, the S25 Ultra is arguably the best Android phone money can buy right now. It’s a testament to Samsung’s ability to innovate and refine, even if a few missteps keep it from being an absolute no-brainer. If Samsung can provide more transparency on AI costs and push developers to better optimise apps, the S25 Ultra would be an almost flawless package.

As it stands? It’s a stunning, powerful, and capable device — but one that requires a leap of faith.



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