Is the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra the Best Phone of this year

The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra is not the best phone for everyone, but it remains an excellent choice for people who want a large premium Android phone with flexible cameras, an integrated S Pen and strong productivity features.

If you already prefer Samsung and Android, regularly use zoom photography or genuinely benefit from a stylus, the S25 Ultra still makes a strong case.

However, an iPhone may suit someone deeply invested in Apple's ecosystem, while a Google Pixel may appeal more to buyers who prefer Google's approach to Android and computational photography.

So, instead of asking whether the S25 Ultra is universally the best phone, ask a more useful question:

Is it the best phone for what you actually need?

Galaxy S25 Ultra: The Answer at a Glance

The S25 Ultra does not need to beat every competing phone in every test to be the right choice.

Its real appeal comes from how many useful flagship features it combines in one device.

Why Does the Galaxy S25 Ultra Still Make Sense?

The S25 Ultra combines a large premium display, powerful Snapdragon hardware, dedicated telephoto cameras, Samsung's Android experience and an S Pen stored directly inside the phone.

But those features only matter when you actually use them.

If you frequently photograph distant subjects, the telephoto cameras become valuable. If you annotate documents or take handwritten notes, the S Pen has a clear purpose. If you regularly work across several apps, the large display becomes more useful.

If you do none of those things, paying for an Ultra may make less sense.

Our take: buy the S25 Ultra because its particular features solve your needs, not simply because “Ultra” appears in the name.

If you want the complete breakdown of its display, cameras, performance, battery and Galaxy AI before deciding, read ourSamsung Galaxy S25 Ultra review.

Is the Galaxy S25 Ultra the Best Choice for Samsung Users?

For an existing Samsung power user, it can be an excellent choice.

You stay within the familiar Galaxy environment while getting features that distinguish the Ultra range, particularly the large display, camera flexibility and S Pen.

However, that does not mean every Samsung user needs an Ultra.

Someone who rarely uses zoom photography, a stylus or demanding applications could be perfectly happy with a less expensive Galaxy phone.

Our take: choose the Ultra when you need Ultra features.

If you're considering Samsung but are unsure whether paying for an Ultra makes sense, our guide towhether a refurbished Samsung Galaxy S phone is worth buying in the UK provides a broader look at different Galaxy S options.

Galaxy S25 Ultra vs iPhone: Which Makes More Sense?

There is no universal winner between Samsung and Apple.

The S25 Ultra makes a stronger case if you value:

• Android flexibility;

• S Pen input;

• Samsung multitasking;

• multiple camera focal lengths;

• and the wider Galaxy ecosystem.

An iPhone may make more sense if your everyday technology is already built around Apple.

Your Mac, Apple Watch, AirPods, iCloud services and existing workflows can matter more to daily use than a small difference in specifications.

Our take: do not switch ecosystems purely because one phone wins a particular benchmark or camera test.

If battery endurance is one of the main reasons you're comparing Apple and Samsung, see ouriPhone vs Samsung battery drain test, which includes the Galaxy S25 Ultra alongside competing iPhones. The Zextons test recorded the S25 Ultra at 7h 58m screen-on time under the stated test conditions, so this gives the reader a much more specific answer than repeating generic battery claims here.

What About Google Pixel?

Samsung and Google offer different interpretations of a premium Android phone.

Google's Pixel range places considerable emphasis on Google's software, AI and computational photography.

Samsung's Ultra approach combines Android with additional power-user hardware, particularly the S Pen and flexible telephoto system.

The S25 Ultra therefore makes more sense if you particularly want:

• S Pen productivity;

• telephoto flexibility;

• a large premium display;

• Samsung multitasking;

• and Galaxy ecosystem integration.

A Pixel deserves consideration when Google's software experience is more important to you.

Our take: there is no automatic Android winner. Choose the features you will actually use.

Is the Galaxy S25 Ultra Best for Photography?

It is particularly compelling if zoom flexibility matters to you.

The S25 Ultra combines its main and ultrawide cameras with dedicated 3x and 5x optical telephoto options.

That gives you useful framing choices for:

• portraits;

• travel;

• architecture;

• events;

• and distant subjects.

That does not mean Samsung will produce your favourite image in every situation. Image processing preferences differ, while competing flagships can be stronger in particular scenarios.

Our take: the S25 Ultra's camera strength is versatility rather than a claim that it wins every photograph.

For the detailed camera discussion, use ourfull Galaxy S25 Ultra review rather than repeating the entire camera review here.

Is It the Best Phone for Productivity?

This is one of the S25 Ultra's strongest arguments.

The integrated S Pen gives you a precise way to take handwritten notes, annotate documents, draw, sign documents and make detailed selections.

The fact that the pen lives inside the phone matters too. You do not need to remember another accessory.

Combine that with the large display and Samsung's multitasking tools, and the S25 Ultra becomes particularly attractive to people who use their phone for more than browsing and social media.

However, if you never use a stylus, there is little reason to pay extra purely for this feature.

Our take: for genuine S Pen users, the S25 Ultra has a meaningful advantage. For everyone else, judge the phone on the features you will actually use.

What If Battery Life Is My Main Priority?

Do not choose a phone from battery capacity alone.

Real endurance depends on the processor, display, software, mobile signal and how you use the device.

Heavy gaming, navigation and camera recording produce a very different result from light browsing over Wi-Fi.

Instead of turning this article into another battery review, use the dedicatediPhone vs Samsung battery drain test if you want a direct flagship comparison.

And if you're specifically worried about battery condition when buying refurbished, ourrefurbished phones battery life guide explains what UK buyers should consider beyond the battery-capacity number.

Our take: battery life matters, but evaluate it using actual use-case evidence rather than choosing whichever phone has the biggest mAh figure.

Where Is the Galaxy S25 Ultra Not the Best Choice?

A useful buying guide should also tell you when not to buy it.

You Want a Compact Phone

The large display is excellent for media and productivity, but this is not a compact handset.

If comfortable one-handed use matters more than maximum screen space, consider something smaller.

You Only Need Everyday Basics

If your typical day consists mainly of messaging, social media, banking, browsing and occasional photographs, you may not need an Ultra-class flagship.

A less expensive phone could provide better value.

You Are Happy in Apple's Ecosystem

Switching from an iPhone affects more than the handset itself.

Consider your other devices, cloud services, accessories and existing workflows before changing platforms.

You Only Want the Newest Samsung

The S25 Ultra should now be judged on capability and current value, rather than simply on whether it is Samsung's newest model.

If having the newest generation matters to you, compare current Samsung options before deciding.

Could the Galaxy S25 Ultra Now Be Better Value?

Potentially — and this is where the S25 Ultra becomes particularly interesting.

A flagship does not suddenly lose its premium display, cameras and performance when a newer generation arrives.

What changes is its position in the market.

The useful question becomes:

Would you rather pay more for the newest flagship or choose a still-powerful previous-generation flagship if the saving is meaningful?

For some buyers, newer hardware will justify the extra money.

For others, the S25 Ultra may already provide everything they need.

This is especially relevant when shopping refurbished, where condition, warranty, storage and current selling price all affect value.

For a broader comparison before choosing a Samsung model, see ourguide to buying a refurbished Samsung Galaxy S phone in the UK.

Ready to Buy? Compare the Current S25 Ultra Options

If you've reached this point and the S25 Ultra matches your needs, this is where moving from research to product comparison makes sense.

Zextons currently has both new and refurbished S25 Ultra product routes, so choose according to condition, storage, warranty and current price rather than assuming one option is automatically better.

View the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra unlocked brand new

The brand-new listing currently shows 256GB and 512GB options alongside its current warranty, returns and delivery information, so those commercial details are better checked on the live product page than hard-coded into this article where they can become outdated.

Final Verdict: Is the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra the Best Phone?

For everyone? No.

For the right Samsung or Android power user? It remains a very strong choice.

The S25 Ultra makes the most sense if you will genuinely use what distinguishes it: zoom flexibility, S Pen productivity, a large display and powerful Android hardware.

An iPhone can be a better choice if your digital life already revolves around Apple. A Pixel may make more sense if Google's approach to Android appeals more. And a cheaper phone may be the smarter purchase if your needs are relatively simple.

But if the S25 Ultra's particular strengths match what you need, there is no reason to dismiss it simply because newer phones exist.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra still worth buying?

Yes, for the right buyer. It remains particularly attractive for Samsung power users, S Pen users and people who value telephoto flexibility. Compare its current price with newer alternatives before deciding.

Is the Galaxy S25 Ultra better than an iPhone?

Neither is universally better. Samsung makes more sense for some Android, S Pen and zoom-focused users, while an iPhone can be the better choice for someone already invested in Apple's ecosystem.

Who is the Galaxy S25 Ultra best for?

It is particularly well suited to people who want a large premium Android phone and will genuinely use features such as the S Pen, telephoto cameras and Samsung's multitasking capabilities.