The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra arrives with the usual fanfare, boasting impressive camera upgrades and a sleek design. However, a critical omission and a stagnant price point leave a lingering sense of disappointment, making one wonder if Samsung is losing sight of its own innovative spirit. While the S25 Ultra undoubtedly offers a premium Android experience, the removal of the Bluetooth S Pen and the unchanged price tag feel like a significant misstep, tarnishing what could have been a truly exceptional device. Historically, the S Pen has been a defining feature of the Ultra line, setting it apart from the competition. Its integration with the software, along with its Bluetooth capabilities for remote control and air gestures, provided a unique level of functionality. Removing this feature feels like a baffling decision, significantly impacting productivity and creative workflows. The basic stylus functionality that remains feels like a hollow imitation of what it once was, a stark reminder of what’s been lost. For users who relied on the S Pen, this change is a major downgrade, and it's hard to justify the Ultra moniker without its signature tool. Adding insult to injury, the price of the S25 Ultra remains stubbornly high, mirroring its predecessor. In previous iterations, the inclusion of the advanced S Pen justified the premium cost. Now, with a key feature stripped away, the price feels inflated. Consumers are essentially paying the same for less, which is a difficult pill to swallow. One expects innovation and added value with each new generation, not the removal of a beloved feature while maintaining the same premium price. Beyond the S Pen debacle, the S25 Ultra does offer some improvements. The camera system, as always, is a highlight, promising enhanced image quality and improved zoom capabilities. Performance is snappy, thanks to the latest processor, and the display remains vibrant and beautiful. However, these improvements feel incremental rather than revolutionary. They are expected advancements, not groundbreaking innovations that would justify the high price and the loss of the S Pen’s Bluetooth functionality. It feels as though Samsung is resting on its laurels with the S25 Ultra. While the core hardware is solid, the removal of the Bluetooth S Pen and the unchanged price point betray a lack of understanding of what made the Ultra line so compelling. This decision feels like a step backward, leaving loyal Samsung users questioning the brand's direction. In a market saturated with premium smartphones, Samsung needs to do more than simply iterate; they need to innovate and provide genuine value. With the S25 Ultra, they’ve sadly missed the mark. Verdict: The Galaxy S25 Ultra is a powerful phone with a great camera and display. However, the removal of the Bluetooth S Pen and the unchanged price make it a disappointing offering. Users who valued the S Pen's advanced features should look elsewhere, and even those considering their first Ultra phone might find better value elsewhere. Samsung needs to rediscover its innovative edge if it wants to maintain its position at the top of the Android market.
No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
Features
5
Performance
5
Design
5
Value
1
Response from Samsung USBy R&R Team, February 21, 2025
Hello there, thank you for sharing your thoughts about your Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra with us. We are happy tohear you are pleased with the improvements that have been made to this device including the camera and display quality. We have provided a link to an article to help you with the redesigned S Pen capabilities, and integrating them in to your usage. We have also provided links to the full device manual and the Samsung Support Team to help discover the hand gestures and voice commands that can be used with your device, and answer any questions you may have about any of your Samsung products. We appreciate you being a Samsung customer. -Elizabeth Use the Galaxy S25 Ultra’s S Pen https://www.samsung.com/us/support/answer/ANS10004602/ Product Manuals https://www.samsung.com/us/support/downloads/ Samsung Support smsng.us/Samsung-Support Samsung Community smsng.us/Samsung-Community Facebook smsng.us/Facebook-Messenger X https://smsng.us/X-Messages
Written by a customer while visiting Samsung US
Customer Rating
2
S-pen no longer camera remote
on March 10, 2025
Posted by: Janh
from North carolina
Expertise:Expert
VERY disappointed that the S-pen is not a camera remote. I WOULD NOT have upgraded if I had known. Bad on me for not doing my research
No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
Response from Samsung USBy R&R Team, March 10, 2025
Hey there Janh, thank you for your feedback on your Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra. We understand how important specific features of your device are to you every day, and we would love to help you find alternative ways to use your camera from a distance. We have provided a link to the full device manual that highlights both hand gestures and voice commands you can use with your device to remotely control your camera. We have also shared a link to the Samsung Support Team to answer any questions you may have about your Samsung products. Thank you for being a Samsung customer. -Elizabeth Product Manuals https://www.samsung.com/us/support/downloads/ Samsung Support smsng.us/Samsung-Support Samsung Community smsng.us/Samsung-Community Facebook smsng.us/Facebook-Messenger X https://smsng.us/X-Messages
Written by a customer while visiting Samsung US
Customer Rating
5
The display is exceptional.
on February 9, 2025
Posted by: Amit
from NC
Expertise:Expert
This phone is seriously blowing my mind, the camera is insane. The battery life is a total game-changer, lasting all day and then some. The screen is so bright and crisp, it's like looking through a window. Plus, it's super fast and responsive, no lag at all, it's a total winner.
I would recommend this to a friend!
Features
5
Performance
5
Design
5
Value
5
Written by a customer while visiting Samsung US
Customer Rating
1
Samsung took away features: Bluetooth pen is gone
on February 11, 2025
Posted by: Anonymous
[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] Why take away the Bluetooth pen? Using it for remotely snapping a photo was very useful. This is a dumb move samsung. The ultra phone should have all the features and more. You added LOG! Who even knows what LOG is? But then remove the Bluetooth pen? Makes absolutely no sense.
Value
1
Response from Samsung USBy R&R Team, February 13, 2025
Hi there EddieSuarez, we appreciate your feedback on your Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra. We understand that changes to the features of your device can take some time to adjust and integrate in to your daily usage. We have provided a link to an article to help you with the features of the redesigned S Pen. We have also shared a link to the full device manual that highlights both voice and hand gestures you can use with the camera of your phone. Lastly, we have provided a link to the Samsung Support Team if you have any additional questions about your Samsung products. We appreciate you being a Samsung customer. -Elizabeth Use the Galaxy S25 Ultra’s S Pen https://www.samsung.com/us/support/answer/ANS10004602/ Product Manuals https://www.samsung.com/us/support/downloads/ Samsung Support smsng.us/Samsung-Support Samsung Community smsng.us/Samsung-Community Facebook smsng.us/Facebook-Messenger X https://smsng.us/X-Messages
Written by a customer while visiting Samsung US
Customer Rating
3
Good phone, but not an Ultra
on February 11, 2025
Posted by: Gowthaman
[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] Excellent screen. Blazing fast. Cameras needs to be improved. Photos are too bright sometimes.
S Pen is a downgrade
Value
3
Response from Samsung USBy R&R Team, February 12, 2025
Hey Gowthaman, thank you for your feedback on your Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra. We are so happy to hear that you are thrilled with the display and speed of your device. We have provided a link to an article to help you with both the camera features and S Pen usage. We have lastly, provided a link to the Samsung Support Team if you have any additional questions about this or any of your Samsung products. Thank you for being a Samsung customer. -Elizabeth Use camera features on your Galaxy S25, S25+, or S25 Ultra https://www.samsung.com/us/support/answer/ANS10004601/ Use the Galaxy S25 Ultra’s S Pen https://www.samsung.com/us/support/answer/ANS10004602/ Samsung Support smsng.us/Samsung-Support Samsung Community smsng.us/Samsung-Community Facebook smsng.us/Facebook-Messenger X https://smsng.us/X-Messages
Written by a customer while visiting Samsung US
Customer Rating
1
Downgraded phone
on February 18, 2025
Posted by: 675746854
[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] Downgraded the Bluetooth Spen. Spen for kids. Ai features only. Price is higher.
Value
1
Response from Samsung USBy R&R Team, February 18, 2025
Hello 675746854, we appreciate your feedback on your Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra. We understand how important specific features of your device are to you every day. We have provided a link to an article below to help you with the redesigned features of your S Pen. We have also shared a link to the full device manual to help you integrate voice controls and hand gestures that can be used for previous features of the S Pen. We have also shared a link to the Samsung Support Team if you have additional questions about any of your Samsung products. We appreciate you being a Samsung customer. -Elizabeth Use the Galaxy S25 Ultra’s S Pen https://www.samsung.com/us/support/answer/ANS10004602/ Product Manuals https://www.samsung.com/us/support/downloads/ Samsung Support smsng.us/Samsung-Support Samsung Community smsng.us/Samsung-Community Facebook smsng.us/Facebook-Messenger X https://smsng.us/X-Messages
Written by a customer while visiting Samsung US
Customer Rating
2
Lost features
on March 12, 2025
Posted by: DisappointedCustomer
[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] Sadly this phone is a downgraded version of the older S ultra phones. How can you not upgrade the battery or downgrade the s Pen? Features keep getting taken away and phones aren't the upgrade that people want anymore. Felt like a downgrade.
Value
2
Response from Samsung USBy R&R Team, March 12, 2025
Hello there, thank you for taking time out of your day to share your thoughts about your Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra with us. We would love nothing more than to help you maximize the battery life, and discover the redesigned features of the S Pen for the best possible experience with your new phone. We have provided links to troubleshooting guides for the battery life of your device, and an article to help you discover ways to use the new S Pen of your phone. We have also shared a link to the full device manual to help you with hand gestures and voice commands you can now use with your phone to control specific functionality. Lastly, we have provided a link to the Samsung Support Team if you ever have questions about your Samsung products. We appreciate you being a Samsung customer. -Elizabeth Get the most out of your Galaxy phone or tablet battery https://www.samsung.com/us/support/answer/ANS00078987/ Apps are draining battery on Galaxy phone or tablet https://www.samsung.com/us/support/troubleshooting/TSG01001388/ Galaxy Battery - Optimization https://www.samsung.com/us/support/galaxy-battery/optimization/ Use the Galaxy S25 Ultra’s S Pen https://www.samsung.com/us/support/answer/ANS10004602/ Product Manuals https://www.samsung.com/us/support/downloads/ Samsung Support smsng.us/Samsung-Support Samsung Community smsng.us/Samsung-Community Facebook smsng.us/Facebook-Messenger X https://smsng.us/X-Messages
Written by a customer while visiting Samsung US
Customer Rating
4
Crazy fast
on February 11, 2025
Posted by: Coachdana530
[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] I upgraded from an S22 ultra and everything about the phone feels blazingly fast the seamless action across apps and devices with my other Samsung devices including my watch, buds, sound bar and TV is amazing. Can't say I'm overly impressed with their new Now Brief, it's nice, but not ground shaking, in fact don't really use it. However the AI, such as auto transcribe is amazing....so saying it has crashed twice in a week doing nothing more than reading +on two different apps)... It started right back up, but no way to give 5 stars when that happened.