Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra review

The new Samsung Galaxy S25 Series has finally landed in Australia, and with it, the new premium Galaxy S25 Ultra. It’s no doubt that many are curious about the new tech upgrades in the Galaxy S25 Ultra, and even software changes, namely in Galaxy AI¹.

Keen to learn more about what’s new in the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra? From pricing, to cameras, to processors, there’s a lot to discover about the new best Samsung phone. Check everything out in our detailed review below.

Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra: Stand-out features

• New Galaxy AI feature¹
• Powerful Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 processor
• Upgraded 50MP Ultrawide lens
• Immersive 6.9” display
• Four colourways

There are many things to look forward to in the latest Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra, from newly-added Galaxy AI features to a powerful processor, to an upgraded 50MP Ultrawide lens². The new premium phone also has a large 6.9” Dynamic AMOLED 2X display and is available in four colourways including Titanium Silverblue, Titanium Whitesilver, Titanium Black, and Titanium Grey.

The main differences between the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra and Galaxy S24 Ultra are the size, colours, processor, camera lens, and Galaxy AI features available on launch¹. In terms of size, the Galaxy S25 Ultra has a bigger 6.9-inch display while also being lighter and slimmer. A more pocket-friendly mobile experience² with convenient Galaxy AI at your fingertips, the new Galaxy S25 Ultra is also more powerful than the Galaxy S24 Ultra with a next-generation processor in the Snapdragon 8 Gen 4.

One of the biggest upgrades on the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra is the Ultrawide camera lens. Ultrawide camera lenses allow you to zoom out for wider field of views and the new 50MP lens (upgraded from last year’s 12MP) means you can capture the perfect wide-angle shot in impeccable quality. Best for surrounding natural landscapes or big group photos, you can get incredible wide shots on the Galaxy S25 Ultra, not to mention with Galaxy AI editing features post-production to ensure you get your ideal result.

Interested in learning more about the differences between the latest Galaxy S25 Series and last year’s Galaxy S24 Series? Check out our Galaxy S25 Series vs. Galaxy S24 Series comparison article here.

You can buy the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra 512GB or 1TB on an eligible SIM plan with Optus. The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra price will vary depending on the storage and plan options you choose.

Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra review: Galaxy AI

• New feature – Now Brief

Galaxy AI was first introduced in last year’s Galaxy S24 Series and alongside the much-loved features such as Circle to Search, Live Translate, and Photo Assist, this year’s Galaxy S25 Ultra includes a new addition – Now Brief¹.

Designed to keep you organised and ready for your daily activities, Now Brief collects information about your everyday routine and summarises it for you in an easy-to-read format. From getting personalised briefings throughout the day, to delivering updates about the weather and news, to updating your Energy Score every morning, Now Brief is the ultimate personal assistant.

In collaboration with Google Gemini, the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra also lets you seamlessly complete tasks without having to switch between various apps. Simply long press the phone’s side button to tell Google Gemini what you need using natural language and it’ll take care of things in one go.

Galaxy AI also comes with upgraded protection and security on the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra. Your on-device personalised AI data will now be secured with Knox Vault encryption and you can manage your own security settings to protect your data from being accessed on each installed app.

Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra review: Cameras

• Upgraded 50MP Ultrawide lens

The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra has four rear camera lenses and a selfie camera. It features a 200MP Main Camera lens, 10MP and 50MP Telephoto lenses, and a 50MP Ultrawide lens. Not only do the cameras showcase incredible image quality, but the Galaxy S25 Ultra also has an increased light aperture, advanced pro-visual engine, and upgraded Nightography to ensure pro-level shots no matter what camera lens you use.

Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra review: Performance

• Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 processor

The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra is powered by the latest Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 processor, which is Qualcomm’s most impressive chipset to date. The processor has a new Adreno 830 GPU which features higher clock speed than the Gen 3 processor, meaning quicker and better-quality graphics processing, whether you’re streaming or mobile gaming on the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra. The new Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 processor is also designed to handle current and future AI-based functions, so you can rest assured that the Galaxy S25 Ultra can keep up with ongoing software updates.

As one of the only smartphones currently in the market housing the latest Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 processor, you can expect the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra to be great for mobile gaming. With a state-of-the-art GPU and supercharged Oryon CPU that’s used to power even laptops, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 has all the power and specs you need to deliver incredible gaming performance.

Not only that, but the large 6.9-inch display makes for an immersive visual experience, and the long-lasting battery life also ensures you can game for hours at a time, perfect for those long commutes.

Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra review: Battery

• 5,000mAh (Typical) battery capacity³

The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra has a long-lasting battery capacity of 5,000mAh (Typical), a premium standard for top flagship phones in the market. The battery is also self-optimising so you can maximise your phone usage depending on your mobile activities, whether that’s simple web browsing, high performance mobile gaming, or show streaming.

Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra review: Display

• 6.9” Quad HD+, Dynamic AMOLED 2X display

The new Galaxy S25 Ultra sports the Ultra’s biggest display yet, from last year’s 6.8” to now an expansive 6.9”. Designed to offer a premium visual experience, whether you’re gaming or streaming videos, lose yourself in your favourite entertainment activity on the Galaxy S25 Ultra. The new phone also delivers unbelievable graphic detail, depth, and clarity to your screen with the new advanced ray tracking and an AI-powered scaler.

Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra review: Design

• Titanium frame⁴
• Curved corners

Sporting a new, sleek curved edge design with a lightweight titanium frame⁴, the Galaxy S25 Ultra puts a twist on the classic Galaxy look. The Galaxy S25 Ultra is also built with Corning Gorilla Armour⁵ and has an IP68 water and dust rating⁶ so you can rest assured while using it out and about.

This year’s phones are available in Titanium Black, Titanium Grey, Titanium Blue, and Titanium Silver.

With impressive new tech specs and Galaxy AI improvements, the Galaxy S25 Ultra is not just your everyday mobile phone – it’s one designed to be your ultimate helping hand in your day-to-day. From a new Now Brief Galaxy AI feature, to upgraded 50MP Ultrawide lens, to larger display, there’s lots to look forward to in the new Galaxy S25 Ultra.

Device disclaimers

1. Certain AI features require Samsung and Google Account. Internet connection may be required to use some features. AI features will be provided free of charge until the end of 2025 on supported Samsung Galaxy devices.
2. Compared to the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra.
3. Typical value tested under third-party laboratory conditions. Typical value is the estimated average value considering the deviation in battery capacity among the battery samples tested under IEC 61960 standard.
4. Titanium is used in the frame of the device (but does not include volume and side keys or SIM tray).
5. Corning ® Gorilla ® Glass Victus ® 2 does not cover the camera lenses
6. Galaxy S25 Ultra has an IP68 rating based on lab test conditions and is dust resistant and water resistant for submersion in up to 1.5 meters of freshwater for up to 30 minutes. Not advised for beach or pool use. Ensure the charging port is dry before charging. Please refer to your device's user manual for further care instructions and limitations.