Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra Review: A Worthy Upgrade After 4 Months with iPhone 16 Pro Max

After spending four months with the iPhone 16 Pro Max, I decided to make the switch to Samsung’s latest flagship, the Galaxy S25 Ultra. Having been captivated by the photography experience on the iPhone, I felt it was time to explore Samsung’s offerings, especially with the remarkable improvements in their latest S25 series. Here’s my 2-week review after making the switch from Apple to Samsung, focusing on the design, camera, display, and overall user experience.

1. Design and Build: Lightweight and Comfortable

The first noticeable difference when I picked up the Galaxy S25 Ultra was the weight. Despite having a large screen, it felt remarkably lighter in my hand compared to the previous S24 Ultra model. This is largely thanks to the new titanium frame that Samsung introduced, which has significantly reduced the overall weight of the device. For comparison, even after using the iPhone 16 Pro Max, which is known for its premium build, the Galaxy S25 Ultra felt lighter and more comfortable to hold.

However, one thing to note is that the frame of the S25 Ultra has become a bit sharper in design, which might feel slightly less ergonomic than the iPhone’s more rounded edges. But overall, the weight reduction and grip are a huge improvement.

2. Display: Improved Anti-Reflective Coating

The display on the Galaxy S25 Ultra has been a major talking point. Samsung has implemented an improved anti-reflective coating that significantly reduces glare, especially when used outdoors. I immediately noticed the difference when comparing it to the iPhone. The S25 Ultra’s screen was far more readable under direct sunlight, something that was a bit of a challenge with the iPhone 16 Pro Max.

While the color accuracy on the S25 Ultra is great, it still doesn’t quite match the iPhone, which I find to have more natural and vibrant color tones due to its True Tone technology. Nevertheless, Samsung has made notable improvements here, especially with the screen’s HDR capabilities, which deliver a richer visual experience, especially when watching content.

3. Camera: A Step Up in Detail and Zoom Functionality

When it comes to photography, the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra shines in a few key areas. The most significant upgrade is in the telephoto and zoom capabilities. The S25 Ultra comes with a new 50MP ultra-wide camera, but the real magic lies in the 3x and 5x optical zoom capabilities, which produce sharper and more detailed images than the iPhone’s digital zoom.

Even when comparing low-light performance, the Galaxy S25 Ultra does a decent job, although the iPhone tends to retain more natural and detailed images in very dim conditions. For everyday shooting, though, I found the Galaxy’s performance to be more than adequate, with vivid colors and well-balanced exposure, especially in daylight conditions.

What stood out for me were the improvements in the zoom range. The 10x optical zoom of the Galaxy S25 Ultra was noticeably better, with less noise and more detail than the iPhone, especially for long-distance shots. While the iPhone still outperforms in video, the Galaxy has certainly closed the gap with more advanced features, like better color handling in videos.

4. Battery Life and Performance: A Fast and Smooth Experience

Another major improvement is the performance. The Galaxy S25 Ultra now runs on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset, offering smoother performance compared to the Exynos version in the previous S24 Ultra. Apps open faster, and tasks that used to stutter are now seamless.

Battery life is solid, though I did find that with heavy use (gaming, photography, and media consumption), the Galaxy lasted slightly less than the iPhone 16 Pro Max, but it still holds up well throughout the day.

5. Speaker Quality: Enhanced but Still Needs Improvement

The speakers on the Galaxy S25 Ultra have also seen some improvement. Samsung has emphasized better low-end response, making audio sound more robust. However, there’s a bit of an issue with the positioning of the speakers. When holding the phone in landscape mode, my palm tends to cover one of the speakers, reducing the overall sound experience. This is a minor issue, but it’s something to consider when consuming media.

6. Conclusion: A Competitive Flagship with Minor Flaws

After two weeks with the Galaxy S25 Ultra, I can confidently say it’s a great smartphone, with impressive upgrades across the board, especially in the display, camera, and performance. If you’re someone who enjoys photography, the improved zoom and telephoto features are a great reason to make the switch. The lighter design, improved screen coating, and better performance make it a worthy contender to the iPhone 16 Pro Max.

However, while the Galaxy has made strides in catching up with Apple, I still feel like iPhone holds the edge in terms of color accuracy, low-light video, and overall refinement in design. If you’re already entrenched in the iOS ecosystem, it might be a bit more challenging to switch. But for those looking for a fresh experience or wanting to delve deeper into high-quality mobile photography, the Galaxy S25 Ultra offers a solid option.

If you’re considering upgrading, this is one of the best Galaxy models yet!