More camera is not possible? How high does Samsung sets the Galaxy latte?

Every year Samsung presents his new smartphone lineup of the Galaxy S series at the beginning of the year. This year, too, the Koreans compete with the S25, the S25+ and the flagship S25 Ultra. We were able to put the new top model in detail for a week and kidneys.

Even when freeing the compact packaging, it can be seen that not too much has changed compared to the predecessor. The display corners are now rounded off similar to the large competitor of Apple, apart from that, the edges look almost a little sharper. However, this also ensures that the crisp-shaped 6.9-inch Dynamic-AMOLED display comes into its own even better and generally has a larger effect, since no element of the frame is more visible beyond the screen. On the back there are four chic cameras and a sensor for the ultra version, on the underside the well-known S-Pen hides, but with a small, not unimportant downgrade.

Nevertheless, the general appearance of a smartphone flagship is worthy, because with the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra there are actually no limits. From the processor to cameras to additional features, the South Koreans install the crème de la crème of the smartphone kit year after year, but big surprises have failed to materialize in recent years.

Faster and above all more efficient

So there is not too much new to report this year compared to the predecessor. For the user experience, the new slightly overclocked processor Snapdragon 8 Elite should probably make the biggest difference, since it works much faster than in the predecessor. Calculation-intensive applications work in record time, in benchmark programs the computing power penetrates new heights, but in normal application areas the effects are limited. In general, the software feels a little more fluid, but this impression cannot really be measured, since the S24 Ultra was quickly traveling.

However, since the new processor not only works faster, but also much more efficiently, the new Samsung flagship benefits from significantly increased battery terms and this, even though the capacity of the battery (5,000 mAh) has not increased. Depending on the scenario, the new Galaxy smartphone only flaps three hours after its predecessor. In any case, the S25 Ultra can do a whole day without any problems, depending on the usage behavior, there are also one and a half to two days in it.

In the camera setup, Samsung now feels like one of the four built-in cameras for every new product cycle. This year was the ultra-wing angle lens, which now dissolves with 50 instead of twelve megapixels. The improvement is visible, but already requires a trained eye. The remaining lenses, i.e. the 200 megapixel strong main lens, as well as the two telezoom lenses with the zoom factor three (12 megapixels) and five (50 megapixels) remain unchanged and still offer the gigantic range up to a digitally calculated 100x zoom. Of course, this no longer gains a beauty price, but depending on the situation, it is still practical to spontaneously look into the very long distance. The Achilles' heel in the setup is now only the 3x teleline with its less spectacular twelve megapixels. According to the previous logic, it is probably the turn of the Galaxy S26 Ultra.

Ki on everyone's lips

As with the predecessor, Samsung is again massive on artificial intelligence in the new generation. Google's AI assistant Gemini is now integrated directly into the system, which can be activated immediately with the main key of the S25. The interlinking with the system is impressive, so that the smartphone can find a film on request, for example, in the cinema schedule, for this purpose creates the right calendar entry and a WhatsApp message can formulate a contact whether this would have a desire for cinema. Questions about specific settings are also answered reliably, for example « Why does the brightness change my cell phone display? ». The new AI briefing is very chic, which creates a kind of overview for the day from important information such as weather, appointments and traffic. However, similar features have been around from other manufacturers for some time.

The practical S-Pen, which is integrated as standard on the underside of the housing, comes back without Bluetooth for the first time in several generations of ultra. This eliminates the practical remote release function in photos. Otherwise, the pen works as usual and is an extremely practical addition to everyone who often has to make the fast handwritten notes and are then automatically secured digitally.

As in previous years, the all-round carefree flagship cell phone from Samsung definitely has its price. The variant with 256 GB memory starts in Luxembourg at 1,449 euros, with 512 GB 1,569 euros. There is already a full -blown computer for this sum. However, very few buyers will purchase the smartphone at full price, but rather in the context of mobile phone contracts. One thing is certain: The S25 Ultra still forms the spearhead under the top smartphones together with the iPhone 16 Max, but it is questionable how long the annual mini update will be enough to defend the position.

The test device was made available to the editorial team by the manufacturer for a limited period of time.