Welcome to Gigatop. The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra has been my primary phone for a year now. It serves as my daily driver. This device is both my work tool and my personal companion. I have tested dozens of other smartphones this year. Yet, I always come back to this specific model.

However, the experience is not flawless. After a full year of usage, it is time for a verdict. I have accumulated several significant regrets. The competition progressed enormously in 2025. By comparison, certain aspects of the S25 Ultra feel dated. Samsung must strictly correct these points on the upcoming S26 Ultra.

In this article, I will be totally transparent. I will not mince my words. We are going to analyze the weaknesses of this smartphone together. Here is my honest, unfiltered feedback.

Disappointing battery life for an Ultra model

The first critical point concerns endurance. This is my most frustrating daily regret. Samsung kept a battery that is too small. Capacity stagnates while usage increases. That is a major strategic error.

Just look at the Chinese competitors. They now integrate 6000 mAh batteries. The difference is huge in real-world usage. With the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra, anxiety often sets in. I find myself checking the battery percentage all afternoon.

Personally, I often struggle to finish the day. My usage is intensive, I admit. I film videos for the channel. Heavy gaming sessions happen frequently. I also consume a lot of video streaming. Consequently, the phone gets tired quickly under this load.

By 7 PM, I am usually hunting for a charger. This creates a mental burden. One expects better from a device labeled “Ultra”. If your usage is lighter, it might pass. You will likely last a day and a half.

But for pro usage, it is insufficient. I had to find workarounds. Often, I activate the power-saving mode. This limits performance slightly. Fortunately, the interface remains fluid. However, I did not buy a power monster to limit it.

I think back to my experience with OnePlus. Those phones last two days without effort. It offers incredible comfort. You literally forget about the charger. With Samsung, that is not yet the case. It is truly a shame at this price point.

Charging speed is still stagnating

The second issue stems directly from the first one. Charging speed is disappointing. Samsung remains stuck on old technology. The Galaxy S25 Ultra peaks at 45 Watts. I repeat: only 45 Watts in 2025.

I tested 120-Watt charging elsewhere. That difference radically changes your life. With 120 Watts, you plug the phone in for 10 minutes. You recover enough energy for the day. It is magical and highly practical.

At Samsung, the charge seems endless. You must wait about an hour for a full cycle. This is long when you are in a rush. Imagine yourself in the morning before work. You forgot to charge overnight.

You are then stuck. Samsung must absolutely react. The S26 Ultra will have to offer better. The current high-end standard is 100 Watts. Staying at 45 Watts is a technical failure. Users deserve better for this tariff.

Battery health: An excellent surprise

Let’s talk about durability now. You might fear premature wear. I checked my battery status after one year. Note that I am not careful. I charge my phone haphazardly.

I often do small top-up charges. My log shows exactly 316 full charge cycles. That is a significant number. Yet, the software reports 99% health remaining. The battery has lost almost nothing.

This is excellent news for the buyer. Samsung’s component quality is real. The cell resists heat very well. You can keep this phone for several years. Autonomy will not collapse quickly.

This nuance balances my previous point. The battery is small, certainly. But it is robust. This is an interesting compromise for longevity. Samsung prioritizes lifespan over raw performance. That philosophy is defensible.

Photography: The “Shutter Lag” problem

The photo section is crucial for me. The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra is an excellent camera phone. It is versatile and handles all situations well. However, it drags a historical burden. I am referring to “shutter lag”.

This defect is very annoying. Comparison with the Huawei Pura 70 is painful. The Huawei shoots instantly. The Samsung hesitates for a split second. This small delay ruins many photos.

It is particularly visible with living subjects. Do you want to photograph playing children? You will often get motion blur. Your pet moves its head? The picture is missed.

This phenomenon worsens in low light. At night, the phone exposes for longer. If the subject moves, it is over. Capturing a moving car at night is impossible. The result will be a blurry streak.

I feel like I have a year of lag. Competitors have solved this issue. They use “Zero Shutter Lag” algorithms. Samsung must review its software. An “Ultra” device must freeze the moment immediately.

The 3x optical zoom shows its age

I produce a lot of video content. I use the 3x telephoto lens enormously. This focal length is perfect for product shots. It flattens perspectives slightly without distortion. It is my go-to lens.

Unfortunately, this sensor is aging poorly. I notice a visible difference in quality. Sharpness is no longer on par with other sensors. Details lack finesse. Textures sometimes look muddy.

Compare it with the main sensor. The gap is obvious. Even the 5x periscope zoom seems better. The 3x acts as the weak link. It hasn’t evolved for too long.

For portraits, this is also a problem. The 3x is the ideal focal length for faces. We want surgical sharpness. Here, the rendering is sometimes a bit soft. Samsung must update this sensor.

S-Pen: A key feature has disappeared

The S-Pen stylus is the soul of this phone. It makes the device unique. Yet, my usage has decreased. I pull it out perhaps once a week. It is useful for signing documents.

But a brilliant function has vanished. I am talking about the advanced Bluetooth remote. Previously, I controlled everything from a distance. I placed the phone on a tripod. I stepped back 10 meters.

I took the photo by clicking the stylus. I could even manage the zoom with gestures. This reliability is gone. Since the S24 Ultra, the connection is finicky. I can no longer manage zoom easily.

This is a huge loss for creators. People often mention smartwatches. Yes, I can trigger with my Galaxy Watch. But I do not wear my watch all the time. The stylus was a simpler solution.

The incomprehensible absence of MagSafe

I will address a hardware point. This might seem like a detail. But daily, the lack of magnets is a pain. The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra has no magnetic system. No Qi2, no native MagSafe compatibility.

I used the Pixel 10 recently. It integrates magnets on the back. This is an ergonomic revolution. I fix my phone on the car mount instantly. I use a magnetic card holder in the evening.

With the Samsung, I must buy a special case. But I dislike cases. The phone is beautiful, the titanium feels nice. I want to use it naked. Without a case, I lose the entire magnetic ecosystem.

Samsung is missing the standardization train. Qi2 is the future of wireless charging. Magnets allow perfect alignment. This optimizes charging and reduces heat. I really hope to see this next year.

Artificial Intelligence is useless offline

Samsung bets everything on AI. Marketing revolves around “Galaxy AI”. True, the features are impressive. They rival Google and surpass Apple. I use note summaries and photo editing.

But there is a major problem. Most features require the Internet. Processing happens in the cloud. As soon as you lose the network, AI turns off. This is very problematic while traveling.

I traveled abroad this year. Without immediate local data, my phone was “dumb”. I could no longer translate menus instantly. I could not rewrite my messages. Generative photo editing was inaccessible.

This is frustrating with such a powerful processor. The Snapdragon chip is capable of local calculations. Samsung should prioritize on-device processing. This would also guarantee better privacy. Dependency on the server is a weakness.

Conclusion: Should you buy or wait?

The time for the verdict has come. Despite this list of defects, I must be fair. The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra remains a monster. It is probably the most complete smartphone in the world. It does everything, and it does it well.

However, it is not perfect. It is a refined version of the S24 Ultra. One could call it an “S24 Ultra V2”. Changes are subtle. If you already have the previous model, keep it. The tech leap does not justify the expense.

Personally, I am reflecting. Will I continue with Samsung next year? Doubt is settling in. The competition proposes exciting things. The Xiaomi 15 Ultra promises a revolutionary photo section.

The Honor Magic 7 Pro looks very innovative. I am tempted to look elsewhere. I want to find the “wow” effect again. Samsung plays it safe with continuity. It is reassuring, but less exciting.

If you seek stability, go for the S25 Ultra. You will not be disappointed. If you seek cutting-edge innovation, compare carefully. Look at what is available across the street. The market moves very fast.

What do you think? Are these defects deal-breakers for you? I am curious to read your opinions. Share your experience in the comments below. It was a pleasure sharing this review on Gigatop.