Galaxy S25 Ultra Review

How fast is the S25 Ultra in real workloads?

Samsung’s Galaxy S25 Ultra uses the Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy — an overclocked, Samsung-specific variant of Qualcomm’s flagship — and publishes top-tier benchmark numbers. UL Benchmarks’ 3DMark results show a Wild Life score of 21,150 and 126 FPS on Graphics test 1, which aligns with Tom’s Guide’s assessment that the S25 Ultra ‘trounces the competition’ in gaming and outperforms the iPhone 16 Pro Max in several benchmarks.

Those headline numbers come with caveats: UL reports a Wild Life stability of 58%, indicating performance drops during sustained heavy loads for many publicly submitted runs. UL also cautions that community-submitted benchmarks can reflect suboptimal conditions (background apps, heat), so peak scores are achievable but sustained performance across long gaming sessions can be lower.

A leading display with practical concerns

The S25 Ultra’s panel measures 6.9 inches at 3120×1440 resolution. Multiple outlets call it among the best displays available on any handset; Tom’s Guide specifically highlights it as the best display on the market. PCMag notes the panel’s bigger, more immersive presentation and an ergonomically narrower body than prior Ultra models.

Android Central flags a real-world issue: the display can affect users who are sensitive to PWM. Reviewers also noted cosmetic and chassis changes that make the design feel more conservative compared with previous generations, a subjective but repeated editorial criticism.

200MP main sensor and improved versatility — but the S Pen is dialed back

Samsung equips the S25 Ultra with a 200MP primary camera and an overall camera system that Android Central describes as an appreciable upgrade in versatility. PCMag and Android Central both highlight the camera improvements as a key reason to choose the Ultra over smaller S25 variants.

Android Central reports one meaningful regression: the S Pen has lost its Bluetooth features compared with prior Ultra models. That reduction in functionality affects workflows that depended on remote S Pen controls and should be considered by S Pen users.

One UI 7 and local AI: promising, still evolving

Android Central says One UI 7 is infused with so much AI that it 'feels like living in the future,' and PCMag highlights that many of the S25 Ultra’s AI features run locally on the device. This local execution is a key differentiator for privacy-conscious users and offers low-latency interaction for supported features.

That said, Android Central also notes some rough edges — it calls out the 'Now Brief' experience as needing work — so while the AI feature set is extensive, certain features and workflows remain polish-work-in-progress rather than finished replacements for established tools.

Good peak power, variable battery and thermal limits under load

UL’s device page emphasizes that the battery-life figure published is the median of public benchmark runs and is very sensitive to screen brightness; the benchmark app recommends calibrating brightness to 200 cd/m2 for battery tests because reported battery life varies widely with brightness settings. The public dataset thus reflects a broad range of real-world conditions rather than a single controlled number.

Thermally, the Wild Life stability of 58% indicates the S25 Ultra can throttle in sustained GPU-heavy workloads. That aligns with the device achieving high peak graphics numbers but seeing drops in sustained performance and efficiency during long gaming sessions or extended benchmarking runs.

Pros & Cons

• ✅ Top-tier gaming and GPU peak performance: UL 3DMark Wild Life score 21,150 and 126 FPS on Graphics test 1
• ✅ Large, high-resolution 6.9" 3120×1440 display — called the best display on the market by Tom’s Guide
• ✅ 200MP primary camera with improved versatility per Android Central
• ✅ Configurations up to 16 GB RAM and up to 1 TB storage (256/512/1024 GB available)
• ✅ Extensive on-device AI features with many functions running locally (PCMag, Android Central)

• ❌ S Pen has lost Bluetooth features compared with prior Ultra models (Android Central)
• ❌ Display uses PWM that can affect sensitive users (Android Central)
• ❌ Sustained GPU stability is limited — UL Wild Life stability 58% indicates throttling under long loads
• ❌ Some software elements (e.g., Now Brief) need polish according to Android Central
• ❌ Design changes described as more conservative/boring by reviewers

How It Compares to the Competition

• Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max — Strong contender for raw sustained efficiency and iOS ecosystem; Tom’s Guide notes the S25 Ultra bests it in several gaming benchmarks.
• Samsung Galaxy S25+ — A closer-size S-series alternative with many shared software features; PCMag positions the Ultra as the more feature-rich, flagship step-up.
• Samsung Galaxy S25 — Smaller and less capable in camera and performance; the Ultra is the pick for maximum on-device AI, camera versatility and top GPU performance.

Who Should Buy This & Who Should Skip It

Buy it if: Buy if you want the fastest Android phone for gaming and on-device AI, need the most versatile S-series camera with a 200MP sensor, or require up to 16 GB RAM and 1 TB storage for heavy multitasking and media. The S25 Ultra suits users who prioritize peak single-device capability and a class-leading 6.9" display.

Skip it if: Skip this phone if you are sensitive to PWM-driven displays, if you rely on Bluetooth S Pen functionality (which is removed), or if you prefer steadier sustained GPU performance and thermals over peak benchmark results. Consider a non-Ultra S25 model or other flagship alternatives if those trade-offs matter more than peak specs.