Samsung S25 Ultra: Finally Sane Pricing

So here we are again with a slab of glass that costs more than my first car did back in the day. The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra arrives with all the usual fanfare, promising to revolutionize my life with AI features that I will probably use exactly once before forgetting they exist. But I have to admit, seeing the price drop to 849 EUR makes my inner bean-counter do a little happy dance. It is finally moving out of the realm of tech-snob vanity project and into the territory of actually buyable gear.

Design-wise, it is a Samsung Ultra. It is a rectangle. It is big. If you are hoping for a magical transformation that makes it ergonomic, keep dreaming. It weighs 218 grams, which is basically a pocket-dwelling paperweight. The titanium black finish looks sharp, at least until you inevitably cover it in fingerprints, but you are likely going to slap a case on it immediately anyway. It feels premium, yes, but it also feels like a device that wants to be dropped on a hard surface the moment you reach for your wallet.

Let us talk about that display. It is a 6.9-inch AMOLED panel that looks exactly as vibrant and sharp as you would expect for the money. The 120Hz refresh rate is smooth, making scrolling through my endless list of unread emails feel oddly satisfying. Some users are mourning a slight change in dimensions compared to older models, but honestly, if you can tell a few millimeters of difference without a ruler, you probably need a hobby. It is bright, it is clear, and it is a massive canvas for your inevitable mobile gaming sessions.

Under the hood, we are rocking the Snapdragon 8 Elite. It is fast. Like, really fast. Whether you are running complex editing software or just multitasking between a dozen apps you forgot to close, the phone barely breaks a sweat. It is the kind of raw power that the spec sheet promises, and for once, the reality actually matches up. I haven't seen any stuttering, which is a nice change of pace from some of the budget handsets I usually have to wrestle with.

Then there is the software experience. It is Android, which means you get all the customization options you could ever want to get lost in. Samsung’s flavor of the OS is packed with features, some of which are actually useful and others that feel like they were included just to make the marketing team smile. The biometric security is there, though you might have a bit of a struggle if you decide to go with a thick screen protector. It is a solid, albeit sometimes bloated, experience.

The 200MP camera is the centerpiece, and while I usually roll my eyes at megapixels as a marketing metric, this one actually delivers. It captures detail that you honestly don't need but will appreciate when you zoom in on a photo of your cat's whiskers. It handles different lighting conditions with that classic Samsung punchy color profile that looks ready for social media right out of the gate. For the aspiring photographer who hates carrying a dedicated camera, this is as close as you are going to get to a professional tool in a pocketable form factor.

Battery life is always the elephant in the room with these flagship devices. The phone claims an average life of 150 hours, which I can only assume means if you turn the screen off and never touch it. In reality, with actual usage, it gets you through a full day, provided you aren't trying to render a full-length feature film in 8K. The fast charging is a blessing, as you will definitely be tethering yourself to a wall outlet eventually. It supports wireless charging too, though that is standard practice these days.

Connectivity is rock solid, as expected from a device that costs this much. You have all the 5G bells and whistles, and the GPS performance is snappy enough to stop you from driving into a ditch. The dual SIM capability is a nice touch for those who live that international lifestyle or just want to keep their work and personal lives from bleeding into each other. It is not exactly reinventing the wheel, but it is definitely a well-oiled machine that doesn't leave you hanging when you need a connection.

If you are a tech enthusiast who has been waiting for the price to stop being insulting, this is your signal to pounce. It is perfect for people who demand a high-performance camera, a top-tier screen, and enough processing power to handle whatever you throw at it. However, if you are looking for something compact or if you prefer a phone that doesn't cost as much as a small monthly rent, you should probably keep walking and look at the more modest end of the spectrum.