What we know so far
Even though the Galaxy S25 Ultra is still a ways off, we have already got a sneak peek at a few key features. For everything else, we can make some solid guesses based on what Samsung has done with previous models.
The Galaxy S25 Ultra is expected to rock a sturdy titanium build and Corning’s glare-free glass for extra durability. While the design will likely stick to the flat style of the previous model, it is rumored to get rounded edges for a sleeker feel. You can also expect the integrated S Pen to return, along with the reliable IP68 water and dust resistance.
It terms of performance, it is almost a given that we will find Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite chip under the hood. There is always a chance this chip might be only in US units, leaving room for an Exynos version elsewhere in the world, but to be honest, that is pretty unlikely.
When it comes to the battery, we are hoping for better battery life with the Galaxy S25 Ultra. However, we are not expecting a much larger battery because of space constraints. Faster wired charging would be great, but it’s likely we’ll see the return of 45W charging support.
Galaxy S25 Ultra release date
The Galaxy S25 Ultra is expected to be unveiled in January or February 2025. Samsung has a tradition of launching its flagship series at the start of the year, so this timeline fits right in.
Samsung typically releases its new smartphones about two weeks after the official announcement. Depending on the timing, the actual release date could easily spill over into February.
| Device lineup | Announcement | Market release |
|---|---|---|
| Galaxy S25 Ultra | January 2025* | January/February 2025* |
| Galaxy S24 Ultra | January 17, 2024 | January 31, 2024 |
| Galaxy S23 Ultra | February 1, 2023 | February 17, 2023 |
* – probable dates
Galaxy S25 Ultra price
With the Galaxy S25 Ultra, Samsung could go one or two ways: either make it pricier or leave the price tag unchanged. Seeing how the current Galaxy Ultra model scored a $100 price increase this year we find it a bit difficult to believe that Samsung will go for another price increase for a second year in a row.
| Model | 256 GB of storage | 512 GB of storage | 1 TB of storage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Galaxy S25 Ultra | $1,299* | $1,419* | $1,659* |
| Galaxy S24 Ultra | $1,299 | $1,419 | $1,659 |
| Galaxy S23 Ultra | $1,199 | $1299 | $1,619 |
* Anticipated prices
If past Galaxy launches are any indication, there will likely be several ways to save on the upcoming Galaxy S25 Ultra, such as trading in a device or pre-ordering the phone. US carriers usually offer deals and bonuses for new Samsung flagships as well. So, what kind of pricing and deals can we expect for the Galaxy S25 Ultra from Samsung and the major carriers?
- Samsung: When the Galaxy S24 Ultra launched, Samsung offered trade-in credits of up to $750. It’s likely that the Galaxy S25 Ultra will have a similar deal, so if you’ve got an eligible device to trade in, you could save a substantial amount on your upgrade.
- Verizon: If you go with a carrier plan, the deals get even sweeter for the current model and should be similar for the next one. For instance, Verizon’s Device Payment Program offers $800 off if you pick the Unlimited Ultimate plan before ordering your new device and trading in any Samsung smartphone.
- T-Mobile: At T-Mobile, you can snag up to $600 off through 24 monthly bill credits when you add a new voice line on a qualifying ONE, Magenta, or Go5G plan.
- AT&T: This carrier has some fantastic offers, too. For instance, with the current model, you can get up to $1,000 off with a suitable unlimited plan and an eligible trade-in device valued at just $95 or more.
So, as you can see, there are plenty of ways to grab a flagship Galaxy smartphone at a lower price, and similar deals will likely be available for the Galaxy S25 Ultra, too.
Galaxy S25 Ultra camera
Here’s what the S25 Ultra is rumored to have for its four rear-facing cameras:
- 200 MP primary Samsung Isocell HP2 sensor
- 10 MP secondary Sony IMX754 telephoto camera with 3x optical zoom
- 50 MP Sony IMX854 periscope telephoto sensor featuring 5x optical zoom and a 0.7 micrometer pixel size
- 50 MP Samsung Isocell JN3 ultra-wide-angle sensor with a 0.7 micrometer pixel size
If you are familiar with the S24 Ultra’s camera specs (you can see them in the table below if not), you might find Samsung’s upgrades for its flagship a bit underwhelming. After all, the first three sensors listed above seem to remain unchanged for the S25 Ultra.
So, the main hardware upgrade for the Galaxy S25 Ultra appears to be its ultra-wide camera. However, the new Isocell JN3 sensor, which hasn’t been released yet, is expected to deliver impressive wide-angle performance for the S25 Ultra.
| Phone | Camera specs |
|---|---|
| Galaxy S25 Ultra | Wide: 200 MP F1.7* Ultra-wide: 50 MP Telephoto #1: 10 MP F2.2 3X optical zoom* Telephoto #2: 50 MP F3.4 5X optical zoom* Front: 12 MP F2.2* |
| Galaxy S24 Ultra | Wide: 200MP F1.7 Ultra-wide: 12MP F2.2 Telephoto #1: 10MP F2.2 3X optical zoom Telephoto #2: 50MP F3.4 5X optical zoom Front: 12MP F2.2 |
*-probable specs
When it comes to the Galaxy S25 Ultra, it’s safe to assume that AI will have an even bigger part to play in mobile photography and videography. This year, Samsung went all in on artificial intelligence and machine learning to step up its photography game with its top-notch “cameraphone”.
And as if that weren’t enough, we can also expect the usual software tweaks and image-processing algorithm upgrades that come around every year. This means that we can expect better low-light performance, upgraded image stabilization and, hopefully, even better portrait capture capabilities. Oh, and maybe even 100x Space Zoom, even without the 10X periscope camera!
Galaxy S25 Ultra storage
According to an existing Samsung roadmap, the faster storage is expected to be available in 2025. In our opinion, that would definitely amp up the device’s performance and it could also be a big boost for Samsung’s on-device Galaxy AI.
Galaxy S25 Ultra expected storage capacity:
Galaxy S25 Ultra design
The Galaxy S24 Ultra (on the left) next to the upcoming Galaxy S25 Ultra (on the right) and Samsung’s next flagship with the S Pen (the second image) | Image credit – Ice Universe
New Galaxy S25 Ultra renders are setting the expectations for what’s to come.
A photo of Galaxy S25 series dummy units was recently shared. | Image credit – Ice Universe
One other thing we are pretty sure about is that Samsung isn’t ditching the titanium frame. It was a major highlight of the Galaxy S24 Ultra, so we expect it to stick around for several future generations, too.
Naturally, you can count on other staples like the built-in S Pen and IP68 water and dust resistance sticking around in the Galaxy S25 Ultra specs sheet.
- Titanium Black
- Titanium Blue
- Titanium Gray
- Titanium Silver
For a deeper dive into the color options for the upcoming Galaxy flagship series, don’t miss our dedicated piece on the Galaxy S25’s colors.
Galaxy S25 Ultra display
The Galaxy S25 Ultra is expected to come along with a 6.8-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display, which will be similar to its predecessors. The resolution of this OLED display will probably remain at 1440 by 3080 pixels, delivering a very decent sharpness of over 500ppi. This, in turn, means that you won’t be able to distinguish between individual pixels.
One of the best new features of the Galaxy S24 Ultra was the exclusive Gorilla Glass Armor, which mostly eliminated glares and as a result greatly boosted the outdoor legibility of the screen. This feature turned out to be a fan-favorite and we totally get why, as such: we sincerely hope it makes a comeback.
Display brightness is the new megapixel war with manufacturers constantly trying to outshine each other. With this trend showing no signs of slowing down, it’s reasonable to expect Samsung to equip the Galaxy S25 Ultra with an even brighter display than its predecessor.
Galaxy S25 Ultra battery
We hope Galaxy S25 Ultra features faster charging than the 45W wired one of its predecessors. While neither the Galaxy S24 Ultra nor the Galaxy S23 Ultra charged slowly (both are capable of topping up in roughly about an hour), there’s always room for improvement.
We don’t expect to see a charger in the Galaxy S25 Ultra box and historical data suggest that neither should you.
Galaxy S25 Ultra features and software
Galaxy AI will most certantly be present on the Galaxy S25 Ultra
S25 Ultra with One UI 7 mockup. | Image credit – Ice Universe
Galaxy AI is one of our favorite new features of this year’s Galaxy lineup. We hope that Galaxy AI not only sticks, but also blooms to future Galaxy phones, such as the S25 Ultra.
Thanks to Samsung’s new seven-year software support policy, we certainly know that the upcoming phone will be supported for at least seven years. This means the Galaxy S25 Ultra could be supported until 2032. This includes both major Android updates as well as security patches.
Galaxy S25 Ultra hardware and expected specs
While Samsung typically equips its flagships with either Snapdragon or Exynos chips depending on the region, such a split has never occurred with its Ultra models. So, we think an Exynos-powered Galaxy S25 Ultra is just a mirage.
Should you wait for the Galaxy S25 Ultra?
- You should wait for the Galaxy S25 Ultra if you are using an older phone and have held off from upgrading to the Galaxy S23 Ultra or the Galaxy S24 Ultra. While it is too early to say for sure, the S25 Ultra shows potential to become a significant improvement that is worth waiting for until early 2025.
- You should not wait for the Galaxy S25 Ultra if you use a Galaxy S23 Ultra or a Galaxy S24 Ultra. Even if you use an older device, be it a non-Galaxy Android or an iPhone, unless you need a top-of-the-line Android phone with potentially numerous AI features, the Galaxy S25 Ultra may not be the right pick for you.
