Samsung’s $1,300 (£1,259, AU$2,199) Galaxy S25 Ultra is the highest-end and priciest phone now available in the company’s Galaxy S25 lineup. Its highlights include new AI features and tweaks to its cameras.
It’s also by far the most expensive non-folding flagship phone currently available, coming in at $100 more than last year’s base $1,200 Galaxy S24 Ultra and the also-$1,200 iPhone 15 Pro Max from Apple.
Watch this: Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra vs. Galaxy S24 Ultra vs. iPhone 15 Pro Max (Flagship Phones Compared)
You get a lot for your money, including the beefiest phone specs and a camera that’s likely to specialize in detailed zoom photos. The S25 Ultra has the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor and a large 6.8-inch AMOLED display. Its 200-megapixel main camera is now accompanied by a 50-megapixel telephoto camera.
My colleague Lisa Eadicicco has reviewed the Galaxy S25 Ultra and found that, while it does prove to be a specs beast, it’s a very pricey way to try out Samsung’s new Galaxy AI features. Many of these AI features are also available on other Galaxy S25 and Galaxy S24 phones.
In the following chart, we outlined what’s inside the S25 Ultra and pitted it against Apple’s iPhone 15 Pro Max, Google’s Pixel 8 Pro and the OnePlus 12.
Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra vs. Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max vs. Google Pixel 8 Pro vs. OnePlus 12
| Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra | iPhone 15 Pro Max | Google Pixel 8 Pro | OnePlus 12 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Display size, resolution | 6.8-inch AMOLED; 3,120 x 1,440 pixels; 1-120Hz adaptive refresh rate | 6.7-inch OLED; 2,796 x 1,290 pixels; 120Hz adaptive | 6.7-inch OLED; 3,120 x 1,440 pixels; 1-120Hz adaptive refresh rate | 6.82-inch OLED; 3,168 x 1,440 pixels; 1-120Hz adaptive refresh rate |
| Pixel density | 501 ppi | 460 ppi | 489 ppi | 510 ppi |
| Dimensions (inches) | 6.40 x 3.11 x 0.34 in. | 3.02 x 6.29 x 0.32 in. | 6.4 x 3.0 x 0.3 in. | 6.5 x 3 x 0.36 in. |
| Dimensions (millimeters) | 163 x 79 x 8.6 mm | 76.7 x 159.9 x 8.25 mm | 162.6 x 76.5 x 8.8 mm | 164.3 x 76 x 9.2 mm |
| Weight (grams, ounces) | 243 g (8.22 oz.) | 221 g (7.81 oz.) | 213 g (7.5 oz.) | 220 g (7.8 oz.) |
| Mobile software | Android 14 | iOS 17 | Android 14 | Android 14 |
| Camera | 200-megapixel (wide), 12-megapixel (ultrawide), 10-megapixel (3x telephoto), 50-megapixel (5x telephoto) | 48-megapixel (wide), 12-megapixel (ultrawide), 12-megapixel telephoto (5x optical) | 50-megapixel (wide), 48-megapixel (ultrawide), 48-megapixel (telephoto) | 50-megapixel (wide), 48-megapixel (ultrawide), 64-megapixel (telephoto) |
| Front-facing camera | 12-megapixel | 12-megapixel | 10.5-megapixel | 32-megapixel |
| Video capture | 8K | 4K | 4K | 8K |
| Processor | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 | A17 Pro | Google Tensor G3 | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 |
| RAM/Storage | 12GB RAM + 256GB, 512GB, 1TB | 256GB, 512GB, 1TB | 12GB RAM + 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB | 12GB RAM + 256GB; 16GB RAM + 512GB |
| Expandable storage | None | None | None | None |
| Battery/Charger | 5,000 mAh | Undisclosed; Apple claims up to 29 hours of video playback (25 hours streamed) | 5,050 mAh | 5,400 mAh (dual-2,700 mAh) |
| Fingerprint sensor | Under display | None (Face ID) | Under display | Under display |
| Connector | USB-C | USB-C (USB 3.0) | USB-C | USB-C |
| Headphone jack | None | None | None | None |
| Special features | Titanium frame, 2,600-nit peak brightness; 7 years of OS and security updates; 5G (mmWave); IP68 water resistance; wireless PowerShare to charge other devices; integrated S Pen; UWB for finding other devices; 45-watt wired charging (charger not included); Galaxy AI; Wi-Fi 7; Gorilla Glass Armor cover glass | 5G (mmw/Sub6), Action Button, Always-On display, IP68 rating, MagSafe, Dynamic Island, 5x optical zoom (120mm equivalent), satellite connectivity, eSIM, Thread networking technology | 5G (Sub 6 and mmWave); VPN by Google One; 7 years of OS, security and Feature Drop updates; front-facing camera has autofocus; 13-watt Qi wireless charging; 30-watt wired charging; USB-3.2 speeds via USB-C; IP68 dust and water resistance; Gorilla Glass Victus 2 on front and back | 4,500-nit peak brightness; 80-watt wired charging (100-watt wired charging outside US); 50-watt wireless charging with fan dock; Wi-Fi 7; Gorilla Glass Victus 2 cover glass |
| Price off-contract (USD) | $1,300 (256GB) | $1,199 (256GB), $1,399 (512GB), $1,599 (1TB) | $999 (128GB) | $800 (256GB) |
| Price (GBP) | £1,259 (256GB) | £1,199 (256GB), £1,399 (512GB), £1,599 (1TB) | £999 (128GB) | TBD |
| Price (AUD) | AU$2,199 (256GB) | AU$2,199 (256GB), AU$2,549 (512GB), AU$2,899 (1TB) | AU$1,699 (128GB) | TBD |