Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra review: specs, battery & used prices

Summary

The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra is the definition of a no-compromise flagship: a 6.9-inch 120 Hz QHD+ display, the Snapdragon 8 Elite chip, a 200 MP main camera with a dedicated 50 MP ultrawide and 50 MP periscope telephoto, and S-Pen support. Launched in 2025 at $1,299, used 256 GB units now trade at a median of about $646 — half its launch price back in about a year, which tells you both how good the used value is and how steep flagship depreciation runs.

Display and design

The 6.9-inch LTPO OLED runs 1–120 Hz adaptively and gets bright enough for any outdoor scenario. At 218 g it is a big, boxy slab with IP68 sealing — this is a two-hand phone, and our compactness score of 70/100 reflects that honestly. The flat sides and integrated S-Pen silo remain unique in the Android world.

Performance

The Snapdragon 8 Elite delivers the highest gaming score in our catalog at this writing — 79/100 — and it is not a paper number: sustained Genshin-level loads hold frame rates where previous generations throttled. With 12 GB of RAM and storage options up to 1 TB, this phone will still feel current in 2029, helped by 7 years of OS updates.

Camera

The 200 MP main sensor produces detailed 12 MP pixel-binned shots with excellent low-light noise control, while the 50 MP periscope gives real 5x optical reach — our camera score of 90/100 is the highest of the mainstream models we track. 8K30 video recording, 4K120 on the front... the video toolset is complete. If the camera is your reason to buy a flagship, this is the camera to buy.

Battery and charging

A 5,000 mAh battery with 45 W wired charging lands a battery-life score of 37/100 — a full heavy day is realistic, two days are not. Wireless charging is 15 W with Qi2 magnetic support.

Verdict

At $646 median used, the S25 Ultra is arguably the best value-per-dollar flagship on the used market: top-tier chip, the best camera system outside specialized brands, and a very long support runway. The only reasons to pass are size and the fact that lighter users will never touch its ceiling — for them, the iPhone 16 Pro Max or the smaller S25 are calmer choices.