After spending a solid four months with the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra as my daily driver, I’ve had enough time to dive deep into its performance, features, and quirks. This isn’t just about first impressions; it’s a real-world evaluation of how Samsung’s flagship holds up with consistent daily use. Whether for work, entertainment, photography, or casual browsing, I’ve relied on the S25 Ultra for everything. In this long-term review, I’ll cover its design, display, performance, battery life, camera quality, software experience, AI features, and overall reliability, blending personal experience with broader user sentiment and tech community feedback.
1Design and Build
The Galaxy S25 Ultra’s design is instantly recognizable as a Samsung flagship, with a refined aesthetic that blends familiarity with subtle upgrades. The titanium frame and rounded corners make it more comfortable to hold compared to the sharper-edged S24 Ultra, and at 14g lighter and 0.4mm thinner, it feels less bulky despite its massive 6.9-inch display. The flat sides and tiny bezels give it a sleek, almost slab-like appearance, which I found both elegant and practical for long-term use.
The phone’s build quality is exceptional, with Corning Gorilla Armor 2 promising better drop and scratch resistance, and there’s an IP68 rating for protection against dust and water damage. However, I was cautious after hearing reports that the screen might not be as durable as its predecessor, as noted in a torture test by YouTuber JerryRigEverything, where scratches appeared at a lower Mohs scale level than expected. Thankfully, after four months of use—often without a case, in pockets with keys or coins—I noticed only minor micro-scratches, and the anti-reflective coating kept the screen looking pristine under sunlight.
