My experience with the Galaxy S25 Ultra has only reinforced my feelings about it.

My experience with the Galaxy S25 Ultra has only reinforced my feelings about it.

      As I got ready for a long weekend getaway, I wanted to bring along a capable Android phone with a good camera to document my experiences. I inserted my SIM card into a new Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra and set it up solely for entertainment since I wanted to avoid work emails and messages as much as possible. After spending four days with the phone, here’s what I found when revisiting the Galaxy S25 Ultra.

      The design remains an issue

      Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

      The Galaxy S25 Ultra has a very flat design. The sides are flat, the screen is flat, and the corners are much less rounded than in older models. It's quite a large, slab-like shape, which isn’t particularly appealing. While not everyone may prioritize a phone's aesthetics, comfort while holding it should be a concern for everyone, and unfortunately, my experience with the Galaxy S25 Ultra revealed it's not very comfortable to hold.

      After using it again, I compared it to several other models, including the OnePlus 13, Google Pixel 9a, and Xiaomi 15 Ultra, and all of them felt more comfortable to grip. The problem lies in the phone digging into your palm; the sharp edges are quite noticeable when holding it, and because it’s somewhat slippery, you have to maintain a good grip on it.

      I was using the phone for leisure, spending some time browsing Reddit and Threads or playing Magic: The Gathering Arena, but the S25 Ultra’s discomfort made me less inclined to pick it up. My Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max is significantly more ergonomic and much more pleasant to hold for extended periods. I found I had to force myself to use the S25 Ultra, which should not be the case.

      The display is top-notch

      Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

      It’s unfortunate that I didn’t enjoy holding the S25 Ultra for extended periods, as its display is the best I’ve experienced on a smartphone. Surprisingly, during my break, it was very bright and sunny in the U.K., and the anti-reflective screen of the S25 Ultra truly showed its strengths. It’s difficult to capture in photos just how effective it is, but it successfully eliminates harsh reflections that can obscure visibility, and importantly, it performs well from various angles.

      This is particularly important when taking photographs, as the best shots often don't come from holding the camera straight in front of your face. This is why having strong viewing angles is crucial on a smartphone. I could always see the camera’s viewfinder, irrespective of the angle or lighting conditions. It’s an outstanding display, surpassing all other smartphones currently on the market.

      The high brightness was beneficial in these conditions, but it wasn’t the sole factor for its performance. Instead, it’s the automatic brightness adjustment that impressed me. I only reached for manual brightness controls once, as the phone excelled at adjusting the screen’s brightness to suit the environment. The only time I remember needing manual control was after using the phone outside; it was a beat slow to adapt when I came back inside. But I would prefer it to be overly bright than too dim.

      How's the camera?

      Main camera (edited) Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

      Before settling on the Galaxy S25 Ultra, I was on the verge of choosing the Xiaomi 15 Ultra. I had fond memories of the Xiaomi 15 Ultra’s camera from my previous use, despite being slightly disappointed by its performance in local settings when I reviewed it. I haven't felt as enthusiastic about the Galaxy S25 Ultra’s camera and have been surprised that the main camera especially hasn't lived up to expectations. Taking it on this trip may change my perspective.

      In the scenic landscape, I utilized both the main and wide-angle cameras predominantly, and the consistency between the two was impressive, providing balanced colors and contrast even in tough lighting conditions. Images taken straight from the camera appeared a bit too natural for my liking, which is where One UI 7’s excellent photo editing features came into play.

      I applied some of Samsung’s new filters to most photos — typically, the Chill, Amber, and Sunbeam filters yielded the best results — and then adjusted the images further until they met my preferences. Fortunately, you can save the edits from a single photo as a new filter and apply it to others, which works exceptionally well for photos taken on the same day and in similar conditions. Samsung’s AI-based eraser tool remains highly effective as well, neatly removing unwanted elements like power lines and telegraph poles.

      Looking back at the photos, I’m pleased with the results, but I realize that nearly all of them required editing. This indicates that Samsung’s post-processing might not be perfectly optimized, suggesting that enthusiasts expecting to use the camera without making any adjustments before sharing may be let down. However, Samsung’s powerful and flexible editing suite makes altering photo appearances easy and enjoyable, so it’s not as significant a drawback as it might initially seem.

      Was I satisfied with choosing the

My experience with the Galaxy S25 Ultra has only reinforced my feelings about it. My experience with the Galaxy S25 Ultra has only reinforced my feelings about it. My experience with the Galaxy S25 Ultra has only reinforced my feelings about it. My experience with the Galaxy S25 Ultra has only reinforced my feelings about it. My experience with the Galaxy S25 Ultra has only reinforced my feelings about it. My experience with the Galaxy S25 Ultra has only reinforced my feelings about it. My experience with the Galaxy S25 Ultra has only reinforced my feelings about it. My experience with the Galaxy S25 Ultra has only reinforced my feelings about it. My experience with the Galaxy S25 Ultra has only reinforced my feelings about it. My experience with the Galaxy S25 Ultra has only reinforced my feelings about it. My experience with the Galaxy S25 Ultra has only reinforced my feelings about it. My experience with the Galaxy S25 Ultra has only reinforced my feelings about it. My experience with the Galaxy S25 Ultra has only reinforced my feelings about it.

Other articles

My experience with the Galaxy S25 Ultra has only reinforced my feelings about it.

I took the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra with me for a long weekend to document my experiences. Here's an overview of its performance.