PROS: The titanium frame and refined ergonomics create exceptional handling despite the large display size. A great camera system with a 200MP main sensor delivers professional-quality results in all conditions. S-Pen integration provides precise input for note-taking, sketching, and productivity without additional purchases. Seven-year software support commitment significantly extends the device's useful lifespan and value. Sustainable materials and repairability features reduce environmental impact without compromising premium performance.CONS: Premium pricing at $1,299 places it beyond the reach of some potential buyers. The telephoto camera struggles in low-light conditions compared to some competing flagship devices. One UI interface requires an adjustment period for users coming from other ecosystems.RATINGS:AESTHETICSERGONOMICSPERFORMANCESUSTAINABILITY / REPAIRABILITYVALUE FOR MONEYEDITOR'S QUOTE:Samsung's Galaxy S25 Ultra sets a new standard with perfect design harmony, exceptional photography, and sustainable innovation that competitors can only aspire to match.As an iPhone user with my iPhone 16 Pro Max as my daily driver, I will cut right to it and state that I love the Galaxy S25 Ultra. Samsung has created something special herea device that impresses even someone firmly planted in Apples ecosystem. While I routinely test countless Android phones, for the first time since the Z Fold6, I may have found that perfect slab of technology.Designer: SamsungIn this review, Ill examine the design refinement that contributes to improved ergonomics, the stellar performance that delivers exceptional everyday use, and the thoughtful aesthetic choices that make this device stand out in a crowded market. Samsungs ambitious AI integration, powered in part by Google Gemini, redefines smartphone interactions, making this Ultra model powerful and genuinely intelligent.For Yanko Design readers, Ill mainly focus on how the industrial design choices impact the user experience, from the materials used to how the device feels. The S25 Ultra represents a maturation of Samsungs design language, balancing technological innovation with practical usability to create a device that feels both cutting-edge and comfortable.The sustainability efforts behind this flagship deserve attention, as do the value propositions that might make even loyal iPhone users reconsider their allegiance. My assessment comes from the perspective of someone who appreciates thoughtful design above all else. The S25 Ultra delivers this abundance, making it one of the most compelling smartphones released this year.Lets dive into what makes this device worthy of consideration, starting with its refined design and aesthetics.Design & Aesthetics: Precision Engineering Meets Visual PoetryThe Galaxy S25 Ultra showcases Samsungs premium design philosophy with its titanium frame and Corning Gorilla Armor 2 glass construction. The device features what Samsung calls New Luminous Colors Inspired by Nature, creating a distinctive visual identity. The meticulously crafted body delivers a genuinely premium feel, befitting a flagship of this caliber. Samsung has pushed the boundaries of display engineering with the thinnest bezels ever seen in the S series, maximizing screen real estate while maintaining structural integrity.Samsung has perfected the camera housing integration. The quad-camera array is thoughtfully designed, creating an aesthetically pleasing and functionally intelligent visual flow. My finger naturally rests against this gentle slope when holding the phone horizontally for landscape photography. The camera system has been significantly upgraded from the S24 Ultra, now featuring a 200MP wide camera, 50MP ultra-wide (up from 12MP in the previous generation), a 50MP telephoto, and a 10MP telephoto lens, providing 2x, 3x, 5x, and 10x optical-quality zoom capabilities.The color options deserve special mention, particularly the Titanium Violet of my review unit. It transforms dramatically under different lighting conditionsappearing almost navy in dim environments but revealing rich purple depths in sunlight. This dynamic finish makes the phone feel alive, changing its character throughout the day. Its the kind of detail elevates the S25 Ultra from a mere tool to a device you genuinely enjoy using.Samsung has also refined the devices visual proportions. This phone boasts the Thinnest Bezel Ever in the S series, enhancing the immersive quality of the screen while still providing enough edge for secure handling. Additionally, the front-facing camera is now nearly invisible during everyday use, preserving the screens visual integrity without sacrificing photo quality.Ergonomics: The Science of Comfort PerfectedThe Galaxy S25 Ultra features a flat titanium frame, replacing the S24 Ultras curved edges. This design shift aligns with broader industry trends toward flat-edged flagships while maintaining comfort through thoughtful engineering. The phone weighs 219ga substantial 13g lighter than the S24 Ultramaking it more comfortable during extended use despite its large display.The frame features a matte titanium finish that provides excellent grip without feeling rough or catching on pocket fabric. This balance between security and convenience makes the phone easier to handle in everyday situations. The power and volume buttons have been thoughtfully positioned and designed with distinctive tactile signatures, making them instantly identifiable by touch alone.What truly impresses is the weight distribution. Despite housing a massive battery and extensive camera hardware, the S25 Ultra maintains exceptional balance in portrait and landscape orientations. Samsung has meticulously positioned the components to create a device that feels natural regardless of how you hold it.The S-Pen integration deserves special praise. The stylus sits flush within the frame and ejects with a satisfying mechanism that feels deliberate rather than springy. The pen itself has been designed for improved grip during extended note-taking or drawing sessions. Writing feels remarkably naturalalmost like pen on paper. After two weeks of note-taking, I reached for the S25 Ultra instead of my iPad for quick sketches and annotations.At 8.2mm thick, the S25 Ultra is 0.4mm thinner than its predecessor, contributing to improved handling. While this might seem like a minor reduction, it makes a noticeable difference when using the device one-handed. The rounded corners improve comfort, allowing the phone to sit more naturally in the palm.For a device of this size and capability, the S25 Ultra achieves something remarkableit feels significantly more manageable than its dimensions suggest. Samsungs attention to weight distribution, surface textures, and overall ergonomics has transformed what could have been an unwieldy device into one that feels natural in the hand. The ergonomic improvements in the S25 Ultra make a tangible difference during daily use, reinforcing Samsungs commitment to refining large-screen usability without compromising comfort or design.Material Choices: Substance With Sustainable StyleSamsungs choice of titanium for the frame brings structural benefits beyond aesthetics. The material provides strength without excess weight, ensuring a durable build that remains comfortable to carry and use. Its thermal properties contribute to efficient heat dissipation, working alongside an advanced vapor chamber cooling system to maintain performance stability under demanding conditions.Corning Gorilla Armor 2 glass reinforces the front and back of the device, offering superior protection against daily wear. The upgraded oleophobic coating significantly reduces fingerprint accumulation, keeping the surface cleaner for extended periods. The improved slip resistance enhances grip, preventing the phone from shifting when placed on smooth or angled surfaces.Internally, material choices reflect an emphasis on efficiency and performance. A graphene-infused copper alloy in the vapor chamber optimizes heat distribution, preventing excessive buildup during extended use. This approach supports sustained performance from the Snapdragon 8 Elite processor, ensuring consistent responsiveness in high-intensity tasks.Camera & Computational Imaging: A Deep Dive into Mobile ImagingThe Galaxy S25 Ultras camera system builds on Samsungs imaging legacy with a sophisticated combination of high-resolution sensors and advanced computational photography. The partnership with Qualcomms Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset plays a central role, processing raw optical data with AI-driven precision to maximize image quality across various lighting conditions.The 200MP main sensor remains the defining feature at its core, but the real improvements come from refinements across the entire system. The 50MP ultra-wide lens significantly jumps from the S24 Ultras 12MP, reducing edge distortion by 22% to produce cleaner architectural and landscape shots. The dual telephoto setup pairs a 3x optical lens with a 5x periscope, using sophisticated pixel-binning techniques to approximate 10x optical zoom without the artifacts typically associated with digital cropping. The Snapdragon 8 Elites Hexagon NPU and Spectra ISP optimize real-time image processing, handling 200MP bursts at 30fps while keeping thermal output in check. Low-light photography benefits from a new Spatio-Temporal Filter (STF), which intelligently isolates moving subjects from static backgrounds to enhance clarity. In nighttime cityscape testing, STF improved noise reduction by 62% compared to the S24 Ultra, delivering sharper details in illuminated and shadowed environments. The filter tracks pixel movement across frames, applying targeted noise reduction to static elements like buildings while maintaining clarity in moving subjects such as pedestrians. The Snapdragon 8 Elites 3nm architecture allocates AI resources to STF calculations, ensuring real-time processing even in 8K video recording. Samsungs documentation describes the technology as accurately differentiating moving and static objects to improve noise reduction in low light, producing results that preserve detail without the heavy-handed smoothing seen in earlier models.Samsung has also introduced Virtual Aperture to Expert RAW mode, a feature inspired by professional mirrorless cameras. It allows post-capture depth-of-field adjustments, simulating apertures from /1.4 for strong background blur to /16 for deep-focus shots. The system analyzes 200MP depth data to produce natural-looking bokeh, avoiding some smartphones artificial portrait mode effect. In testing, shifting from /2.8 to /8.0 refined background elements in a caf setting, keeping the subject sharp while removing distractionsresults that previously required manual Lightroom edits. According to Samsung, this feature enables stunning portraits with bokeh and pin-sharp landscapes, giving users unprecedented control over focus and depth beyond standard computational blur.For videographers, the S25 Ultra introduces Samsung Log, capturing 10-bit color depth for expanded post-production flexibility. The increased dynamic range helps preserve detail in shadows and highlights, while built-in tools like zebra patterns and false color overlays provide professional exposure guidance. Users can apply professional-grade LUTs, such as ARRI LogC3, directly in Samsungs Gallery app for simplified color grading. In testing, grading a sunset time-lapse using DaVinci Resolves REC.709 LUT revealed intricate cloud textures that HDR10+ often flattens, demonstrating the advantages of the new log format for those who edit footage professionally.Samsungs computational tools extend beyond the camera itself. Generative Edit allows users to remove unwanted objects and shadows with contextual awareness, avoiding unnatural smudging. Audio Eraser intelligently filters out wind noise from videos while preserving essential background sounds. Portrait Studio refines selfies with customizable styling options while maintaining skin texture, sidestepping the overly smooth results of older beauty filters. Samsung states that Generative Edit provides context-aware object removal, making it easier to erase elements without requiring advanced editing skills.Despite these advancements, some aspects of the camera system have trade-offs. The 5x telephoto sensor, with its 1/2.52 size, struggles in dim lighting compared to larger competitors like the Xiaomi 15 Ultra, which uses a 1/1.4 sensor for its zoom. This can result in noticeable grain when capturing distant subjects at night. Generative Edit, while effective for most objects, sometimes leaves subtle artifacts when attempting to remove elements from glass reflections, highlighting the challenges AI still faces with complex transparency effects.The Galaxy S25 Ultra delivers one of the most refined mobile photography experiences, combining computational advancements with high-end hardware. By integrating STF for low-light improvements, Virtual Aperture for depth control, and a professional-grade log format for video, Samsung continues to expand creative possibilities for photographers and content creators alike.Sustainability: Beyond Marketing to Meaningful ChangeSamsung has incorporated sustainability-focused changes in the Galaxy S25 Ultra, introducing bio-based adhesives as part of its environmental strategy.The shift from petroleum-derived adhesives to plant-based alternatives is intended to lower the devices carbon footprint. Samsungs environmental reports indicate that these adhesives contribute to a reduction in indirect supply chain emissions, though exact figures have not been independently verified.These adhesives also improve repairability. The S25 Ultra includes pull-tab battery adhesives designed for easier removal without requiring solvents or excessive heat. This approach minimizes e-waste and simplifies battery replacements, contributing to the devices longevity.Additionally, the use of bio-based adhesives aims to reduce reliance on conventional materials that may contain volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and bisphenol-A (BPA). By adopting non-toxic formulations, Samsung seeks to improve safety for repair technicians and mitigate environmental impact when the device reaches end-of-life.Samsung has also made impressive progress with recycled materials. The S25 Ultras battery contains 50% recycled cobalt recovered from discarded Galaxy devices, while its frame incorporates 28% recycled aluminum. These recycled components work harmoniously with the bio-adhesives, which avoid contaminating these materials during disassembly and recycling.The eco-conscious approach extends to packaging as well. The S25 Ultra comes in 96.6% plastic-free packaging that relies on bio-based adhesives for paper-based seals, which decompose faster than synthetic alternatives.Whats particularly impressive is that these sustainable choices dont compromise performance. The bio-based adhesives maintain the devices IP68 water and dust resistance rating, while the recycled materials offer the same structural integrity and thermal properties as virgin materials. This demonstrates that sustainability and premium performance arent mutually exclusivea crucial lesson for the industry moving forward.Combined with Samsungs seven-year software update pledge, these hardware sustainability features represent a genuine commitment to reducing the environmental impact of flagship smartphones. The S25 Ultra sets a new standard for premium devices to embrace circular design principles without sacrificing the quality and performance that consumers expect.Conclusion: Redefining Excellence and ValueThe Galaxy S25 Ultra represents Samsungs most refined vision of a flagship smartphone. It successfully balances seemingly contradictory goalsdelivering a large display while remaining comfortable to hold, incorporating premium materials while improving sustainability, and offering professional-grade features while maintaining intuitive usability.At $1,299 for the base model, the S25 Ultra demands a premium investment. Still, Samsungs seven-year software commitment effectively reduces the annual cost to around $185 when considered over the entire support lifecyclea perspective transforming how we evaluate flagship pricing. The integrated S-Pen eliminates the need for a separate $99 stylus purchase, while professional camera features like Samsung Log and Virtual Aperture reduce dependence on separate equipment or subscription software.The durability improvementstitanium frame, Gorilla Armor 2, and enhanced water resistancepotentially reduce long-term ownership costs by minimizing repair needs. Meanwhile, battery health management and improved repairability suggest that the device will maintain performance longer than previous generations.What distinguishes this device isnt any single revolutionary feature but rather the holistic excellence across all aspects of the experience. The thoughtful ergonomics, the versatile camera system, the S-Pen integration, and the extended software support combine to create a device that feels complete and purposeful. For professionals who would otherwise purchase multiple devices to handle different tasks, the S25 Ultras versatility represents significant consolidated value, functioning effectively as a communication device, creative tool, note-taking system, and professional-grade camera in a single package.For designers and creative professionals, the color accuracy, stylus precision, and camera versatility make this a genuine productivity tool. For everyday users, the refined interface, all-day battery life, and durability improvements enhance the ownership experience.The S25 Ultra isnt without limitationsits size wont appeal to those seeking compact devices, and its interface requires adjustment for those coming from other ecosystems. Yet, these considerations feel minor compared to its achievements.In a market often criticized for incremental improvements, the S25 Ultra demonstrates that meaningful innovation remains possible. It sets a new standard for flagship excellence that balances technological advancement with practical utility, creating a device that will stay relevant and capable for years to come. While the initial investment remains substantial, the S25 Ultra delivers comprehensive capabilities that continue providing value throughout an extended ownership cycle, making it a justifiable premium purchase for those who will leverage its full potential.The post Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra Review Power Perfected, Form Refined first appeared on Yanko Design.