Introduction: AI at the Core of Galaxy S25 Series
Samsung has once again made artificial intelligence (AI) a central part of its Galaxy series with the recently released Galaxy S25 Ultra. This model features a larger screen and a more sophisticated design, closely matching the standard Galaxy S25 and S25 Plus models. Samsung hopes to improve the user experience by incorporating AI into the operating system through natural language searches, smarter suggestions, and advanced voice command capabilities.
Refined Design: Bigger Screen, Smoother Corners
The samsung galaxy s25 ultra features a spacious 6.9-inch display with slimmer bezels and rounded corners, departing from the boxy design typical of the Galaxy Note series. This redesign lends a more refined and cohesive look, aligning it beautifully with the standard and Plus models of the Galaxy S25 series.
AI-Powered Enhancements Across the Board
AI remains the defining element of the samsung galaxy s25 ultra series. Samsung has taken its AI features beyond individual tools, embedding them into the phone’s core functionalities:
- AI Select: Suggests actions based on on-screen content.
- Conversational Photo Search: Allows users to search their photo gallery with natural language commands like, “Find bottles of wine from France.”
- Personalized Settings Adjustments: Users can ask their phone to solve specific problems, such as “My eyes are hurting,” and it will automatically adjust blue light filters or screen brightness.
Voice Commands: Smarter and More Versatile
Samsung has upgraded its voice command functionality to compete with Apple’s Siri and OpenAI’s ChatGPT. Users can now issue complex commands by holding the power button, such as:
- “Get me the schedule for this season’s Arsenal matches and add them to my calendar.”
- “Find me a pet-friendly vegan restaurant nearby and send it in a text message.”
These commands integrate seamlessly with Samsung and Google apps, as well as select third-party platforms like WhatsApp and Spotify.
Galaxy AI: Leveraging Personal Routines
Samsung is employing large language models to personalize recommendations by analyzing user routines through apps like Samsung Health, Samsung Wallet, and SmartThings. For example, the phone might suggest lowering your bedroom temperature at night if it detects poor sleep patterns through the Galaxy Ring. Importantly, all personal data remains securely stored in Samsung Knox.
Smarter Lock and Home Screens
Samsung introduces Now Brief and Now Bar to make the lock and home screens more informative and interactive:
- Now Brief: Displays a personalized summary, including sleep data, weather updates, schedule reminders, and routine suggestions.
- Now Bar: Functions similarly to Apple’s Dynamic Island, providing real-time updates like sports scores or navigation directions on the lock screen.
Performance and Hardware Upgrades
The samsung galaxy s25 ultra series is equipped with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy chip, specially optimized for enhanced performance. The Ultra model includes a vapor chamber that is 40% larger, ensuring improved heat dissipation, making it an excellent choice for gamers. Despite these enhancements, Samsung has not claimed any battery life improvements. Charging speeds remain the same as last year, with the Ultra and Plus supporting 45W fast charging, while the base model supports 25W.
Camera Upgrades: Sharper Ultrawide Sensor
The Galaxy S25 Ultra boasts a significant upgrade with its new 50-megapixel ultrawide camera, a marked improvement from the 12-megapixel sensor used in the S24 Ultra. Additionally, it retains its outstanding 200-megapixel main camera, along with a 50-megapixel 5X telephoto lens and a 10-megapixel 3X zoom lens, providing users with a rich and versatile photography experience.
Seven Years of Updates: Ensuring Longevity
Samsung underscores its commitment to longevity by offering seven years of operating system and security updates for the Galaxy S25 series. This extended support ensures that these devices will remain functional and secure for years to come.
Pricing and Availability
The Galaxy S25 Ultra starts at $1,300, matching the price of its predecessor, the S24 Ultra. The Galaxy S25 Plus is priced at $1,000, while the base Galaxy S25 costs $800. All three phones were announced during Samsung’s Unpacked event and will be available at launch with the newly integrated AI features.
Final Thoughts: Incremental Yet Promising
The Galaxy S25 Ultra offers only minor hardware upgrades compared to its predecessor, but the improved integration of AI represents a major step forward in daily usability. Innovations like AI-driven personalization, enhanced voice commands, and smarter lock screens demonstrate Samsung’s commitment to delivering a more intuitive smartphone experience. Nevertheless, the inclusion of unique AI features designed for the Ultra model or the S Pen could have further set it apart from its less expensive alternatives.
