Samsung’s highly anticipated Galaxy S25 Ultra is set to be the flagship device of 2024. With its expected release in January or early February, the Galaxy S25 Ultra is stirring excitement with design tweaks, camera improvements, and enhanced performance. Here’s an in-depth look at what to expect from Samsung’s latest premium phone.
Redesigned Look: Flat Sides Inspired by Competitors
The most noticeable change on the Galaxy S25 Ultra is its design. Samsung has opted for flat sides on all four edges of the phone, departing from the slightly rounded sides seen in its predecessor, the Galaxy S24 Ultra. This shift makes the S25 Ultra more reminiscent of the Pixel 9’s design, which itself was influenced by Apple’s iPhone.
Despite these flat edges, the S25 Ultra retains a sleek appearance, and the smaller bezels allow it to maintain the same 6.8-inch screen size. The device will measure 162.8 x 77.6 x 8.2mm, making it slightly smaller than the S24 Ultra while still offering a large display.
Lighter Weight, Same Powerful Battery
One of the significant improvements is the Galaxy S25 Ultra’s lighter weight. At just 219g, it’s lighter than both the Galaxy S24 Ultra (232g) and the iPhone 16 Pro Max (227g). This weight reduction is impressive given that the S25 Ultra still houses a 5,000mAh battery.
However, Samsung has chosen not to increase the battery capacity beyond 5,000mAh, which has been standard since the Galaxy S22 Ultra. The phone will continue to support 45W fast charging, similar to previous models. While some may have hoped for a larger battery, Samsung’s strategy seems to be improving battery life through other means, such as more efficient processors.
Camera Upgrades: Focusing on the Ultrawide Lens
Samsung has made incremental improvements to the camera setup on the Galaxy S25 Ultra. The phone will feature a 200-megapixel H2 primary camera, similar to the one found in the S24 Ultra, providing top-tier image quality.
However, the most significant upgrade comes in the ultrawide camera, which will sport a 50-megapixel ISOCELL JN3 sensor. This represents a notable enhancement from the Galaxy S24 Ultra and should provide better results in wide-angle shots, especially in challenging lighting conditions.
For the zoom features, Samsung has chosen to stick with its existing setup. The S25 Ultra will have a 10-megapixel IMX754 sensor for the 3x telephoto camera and a 50-megapixel IMX584 sensor for 5x zoom. While this is largely the same as last year’s model, these sensors are still expected to deliver excellent performance, especially for long-distance photography.
Under the hood, the Galaxy S25 Ultra is rumored to feature Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 chipset, which will officially be announced in mid-October. Unlike previous years, where Samsung used both Exynos and Snapdragon chipsets depending on the region, the company is reportedly adopting the Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 worldwide. This move could offer more consistent performance for all users, regardless of where they purchase the device.
The Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 is expected to deliver a noticeable boost in power and efficiency compared to the previous generation. Coupled with the 5,000mAh battery, this could lead to significant gains in battery life, despite the unchanged battery size.
Release Date and Expected Launch
Samsung typically unveils its flagship Galaxy S devices in January, and the Galaxy S25 Ultra is expected to follow suit. Based on previous launches, the S25 series will likely debut during the week of January 13, 2024, just after the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) ends on January 10.
This follows the pattern of the Galaxy S23 and S24 launches, both of which occurred in mid-January of their respective years. By sticking to this timeline, Samsung ensures that its latest flagship phone will hit the market early in 2024, giving it a competitive edge over other Android manufacturers.
The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra looks to be an exciting upgrade, albeit not a radical one. With its redesigned flat sides, lighter weight, and camera improvements, it will appeal to users looking for premium design and solid photography capabilities. While the battery remains the same size, the anticipated Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 processor could result in better performance and efficiency, offering better battery life overall.
Samsung’s decision to stick with 5,000mAh and 45W charging may disappoint some users hoping for more significant hardware upgrades. However, the S25 Ultra’s sleek design, combined with improved software and camera tweaks, should make it one of the top contenders in the smartphone market for 2024.
As we wait for the official announcement in January, the Galaxy S25 Ultra has already positioned itself as a flagship worth watching. Whether it will meet all the expectations set by leaks and rumors remains to be seen, but there’s no doubt that Samsung has another premium device on its hands.
