The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra has arrived, and it's already being hailed as the new king of Android smartphones. With a refined design, a stunning display, powerful cameras, and the latest Snapdragon chipset, it sets a high bar for 2025 flagships. But does it truly deserve the crown? In this review, we'll put the Galaxy S25 Ultra through its paces, comparing it to rivals like the iPhone 16 Pro Max and examining whether it's the right choice for you. If you're considering a switch or an upgrade, our complete guide to choosing your next smartphone in Taiwan can help you weigh your options.

Design and Build: Titanium and Refinement

The Galaxy S25 Ultra adopts a titanium frame, similar to its predecessor, but with subtle refinements. The flat display with slightly rounded corners gives it a more modern look, while the matte back resists fingerprints. The phone measures 162.3 x 79.0 x 8.6mm and weighs 218g, making it slightly lighter than the iPhone 16 Pro Max (227g). The S Pen is still included and housed in the bottom of the device, though its Bluetooth functionality has been removed—a move that may disappoint some power users.

Available colors include Titanium Black, Titanium Gray, Titanium White, and Titanium Blue, with online exclusives like Titanium Green and Titanium Orange. The IP68 rating remains, offering dust and water resistance up to 1.5 meters for 30 minutes.

Display: Best in Class

The 6.9-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display boasts a resolution of 3120 x 1440 pixels (QHD+) and a variable refresh rate from 1Hz to 120Hz. Peak brightness reaches 2,600 nits, making it easily readable under direct sunlight. The display supports HDR10+ and offers vibrant colors with deep blacks. Corning Gorilla Glass Armor protects the screen, reducing reflections significantly.

For media consumption and gaming, this is arguably the best display on any smartphone today. Compared to the iPhone 16 Pro Max's 6.9-inch OLED, the S25 Ultra offers slightly higher brightness and a more immersive experience thanks to its nearly bezel-less design.

Cameras: Versatile and Powerful

The camera system on the Galaxy S25 Ultra has been upgraded with a new 200MP main sensor (f/1.7, 23mm equivalent) with improved pixel-binning for better low-light performance. The ultra-wide camera remains at 12MP (f/2.2, 13mm) with a 120-degree field of view. The telephoto setup includes a 10MP periscope lens (f/2.4, 67mm) offering 3x optical zoom, and a new 50MP periscope lens (f/3.4, 111mm) for 5x optical zoom. Samsung's Super Resolution Zoom now reaches up to 100x digital zoom, though results beyond 30x are best avoided.

Video recording capabilities include 8K at 30fps, 4K at 120fps, and improved stabilization. The front-facing camera is a 12MP sensor (f/2.2) with dual pixel autofocus, capable of 4K video at 60fps.

In testing, the S25 Ultra's photos are sharp with excellent dynamic range. Color science leans toward vibrant but remains natural. Low-light performance is top-tier, thanks to the larger pixel size. The telephoto lenses provide flexibility for portraits and distant subjects. However, the iPhone 16 Pro Max still leads in video quality and consistency, particularly in challenging lighting.

Camera Sample Comparisons

  • Daylight: S25 Ultra and iPhone 16 Pro Max are nearly identical; S25 Ultra offers slightly more detail in shadows.
  • Portrait Mode: Both phones produce excellent edge detection; S25 Ultra's bokeh is more pronounced.
  • Night Mode: S25 Ultra captures brighter images with less noise; iPhone retains more natural colors.
  • Zoom: S25 Ultra's 5x optical zoom is superior to iPhone's 5x zoom, with better detail retention.

Performance and Software: Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 and One UI 7

Powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 for Galaxy chipset (built on a 3nm process), the S25 Ultra delivers blazing-fast performance. It's paired with 12GB or 16GB of RAM and storage options from 256GB to 1TB. In benchmarks, it scores over 2,200 in single-core and 7,000 in multi-core on Geekbench 6, outperforming the iPhone 16 Pro Max's A18 Pro in multi-core tasks.

Software is One UI 7 based on Android 15. Samsung promises seven years of OS upgrades and security updates, matching Google's Pixel commitment. One UI 7 introduces new customization options, improved multitasking with a taskbar, and AI features like Galaxy AI, which includes real-time translation, photo editing enhancements, and smart summarization.

If you're coming from an iPhone, you might be interested in iOS 19 hidden features to see what you'd be missing. But for Android users, One UI 7 is feature-rich and smooth.

Battery Life and Charging

The S25 Ultra houses a 5,000mAh battery, same as its predecessor. In our testing, it comfortably lasts a full day with heavy use, including gaming, streaming, and camera work. With moderate use, it can stretch to a day and a half. Charging speeds are 45W wired (USB-C PD 3.0) and 15W wireless (Qi2 compatible). A full charge from 0% takes about 65 minutes with a compatible 45W charger. The iPhone 16 Pro Max charges at 27W wired and 15W MagSafe, so the S25 Ultra has a slight edge in wired charging speed.

Battery optimization features include adaptive battery and power-saving modes. The phone also supports reverse wireless charging at 4.5W for accessories like Galaxy Buds.

Pricing and Availability

The Galaxy S25 Ultra starts at NT$45,900 (approx. $1,420 USD) for the 256GB model in Taiwan, with the 512GB at NT$49,900 and 1TB at NT$55,900. Pre-order bonuses often include a storage upgrade or Galaxy Buds. Major retailers like PChome, Shopee, and Samsung's official store offer trade-in deals and installment plans.

Carrier deals from Chunghwa Telecom, Taiwan Mobile, and FarEasTone can reduce upfront costs with contracts. For more on carrier options, see our guide to choosing your next smartphone in Taiwan.

Should You Buy the Galaxy S25 Ultra?

The Galaxy S25 Ultra is undoubtedly the most feature-packed Android phone available. Its display, camera versatility, and performance are class-leading. However, the iPhone 16 Pro Max offers a more cohesive ecosystem, better video, and longer battery life in some scenarios. If you're deeply invested in Android, the S25 Ultra is the obvious choice. For those on the fence, consider your priorities: if you value zoom photography, multitasking, and customization, go with Samsung. If you prefer seamless integration with other Apple devices, the iPhone remains strong.

If you're looking for cases for your new device, check out our best iPhone cases 2025 article for inspiration, though many brands also make excellent cases for Samsung phones.

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