Samsung’s Galaxy S25 Ultra: The Best Android Phone Right Now

Each year, Samsung releases an Ultra variant of its Galaxy S series that aims to be the largest, most powerful, and priciest device it can offer. This year, while the Galaxy S25 Ultra has all the expected premium features, it is the upgraded software and integration of artificial intelligence that really sets it apart.

The S25 Ultra maintains impressive hardware and adds a helpful blend of refined design and advanced Google AI capabilities. It easily outshines its predecessors with features like an intelligent assistant, the ability to record and transcribe calls, and natural language processing that allows for easy photo management and reminder setting without hassle.

While there may not be groundbreaking AI features exclusive to this phone, the combination of powerful hardware, polished software, and innovative AI support gives the S25 Ultra a strong claim to being the top Android on the market.

Updated Design with Familiar Performance

On the surface, the S25 Ultra includes many similarities to the S24 Ultra from last year. Although the display is slightly larger, it boasts the same camera setup with some upgrades to the ultra-wide lens, a refreshed Snapdragon 8 processor, and retains a robust 5000 mAh battery.

The 2024 Ultra continues to impress with its already stellar hardware. While it may not seem groundbreaking, it’s important to remember that the S24 Ultra was already an excellent device, and advancements within just one year are limited. With a magnificent display, impressive battery life improved by the efficient processor, and top-tier performance overall, it remains a standout choice.

The included S-Pen is also part of the package, although it lacks some features from previous models. Additionally, the phone's fresh rounded design gives it a more modern appearance, making it comfortable to hold.

While no one who recently purchased an Ultra model has strong reasons to upgrade, the incremental improvements found make the S25 Ultra the best Samsung phone available.

The camera system features a large primary sensor with two zoom lenses, plus an ultra-wide lens that can double as a macro lens. This setup provides an impressive range for mobile photography. A 10x zoom captures extremely sharp images, though you may notice some artificial intelligence upscaling artifacts at magnifications of 20x or 30x, and while the phone can technically zoom to 100x, the quality diminishes significantly.

Meanwhile, the vibrant 120Hz display, paired with the powerful internal chip, offers smooth navigation and web browsing, complemented by the streamlined OneUI 7 software. This collaboration between Samsung and Google shows progress towards a unified approach on how smartphones should function, especially in terms of AI integration.

AI Features Finally Shine

Last year’s introduction of Galaxy AI didn’t leave a lasting impression, as many features seemed either overly complicated or inaccurate. While some of this continues with the S25 Ultra—like generating text or AI illustrations—there are now more practical applications to make daily tasks easier.

With the advancements in Google’s Gemini AI, it has transformed into a competent digital assistant. Users can easily interact with it by holding the side button to ask questions or typing them out. Furthermore, the “live” mode allows a more interactive conversation. Whether setting an alarm or asking for event details, Gemini can effectively manage tasks.

The assistant's ability to connect with Google and Samsung apps, along with select third-party services, establishes a powerful tool. However, it’s worth noting that while it excels sometimes, its reliability can falter, making it necessary to double-check some responses.

If you show Gemini a menu photo, it can provide translations and suggestions. Moreover, you can ask questions about content appearing on your screen, giving it a more dynamic user experience. Samsung has introduced “AI Select,” allowing for smarter options when selecting content, such as transforming videos into GIFs or assisting with image edits more holistically.

Additionally, Samsung has launched its Now Brief feature, which offers a personalized AI briefing throughout your day. While such features are common in modern smartphones, it potentially encourages healthy usage habits by limiting notifications to just a few per day. This can help users focus more on important tasks without distraction.

The Now Brief can be set as a widget or displayed on the lock screen, providing essential updates like calendar tasks, news, weather, and fitness data without constant app switching. While it may initially struggle to understand individual preferences, it has the potential to improve over time.

In conclusion, Samsung’s Galaxy S25 Ultra, with its exceptional hardware, refined software, and thoughtful AI integration, is well-positioned as the best Android phone available right now.

Samsung, Galaxy, Android