Galaxy S25 Ultra Full Review: AI-Powered Features & Night Photography Tested

Samsung has again set a new benchmark with the Galaxy S25 Ultra, combining industry-leading hardware with state-of-the-art AI integration. Smartphones in 2025 are no longer simply intelligent—they’re intelligent beyond their own capabilities. And the S25 Ultra is the pinnacle of this state.

In this complete review, we dive into everything that the Galaxy S25 Ultra brings—from AI-infused productivity features and camera advancements to night photography on steroids. Let’s discover if Samsung’s new flagship is all it’s cracked up to be—and your bank account.

Quick Specs Overview

Feature	Specification
Display	6.9” Dynamic AMOLED 2X, QHD+, 144Hz
Processor	Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 / Exynos 2500 (Region)
RAM/Storage	12GB/16GB LPDDR5X, 256GB/512GB/1TB UFS 4.1
Camera (Rear)	Quad: 200MP (main) + 50MP (periscope) + 50MP (ultrawide) + 12MP (macro)
Front Camera	40MP with AI Beauty + Low-Light Mode
Battery	5,500mAh with 65W fast charging
OS	One UI 7.1 (based on Android 15)

AI-Powered Features: What Makes the S25 Ultra “Smart”?

Samsung has woven Galaxy AI into every aspect of the S25 Ultra. It’s not about a few intelligent tips—it’s a whole user experience boost.

1. AI Note Assist + Auto Formatting

Whether you’re taking class notes or composing a blog draft (such as this one!), Note Assist will summarize, translate, and even create visual compositions of your notes. Perfect for students, content creators, and business users.

2. AI Call Translation

Live voice call translations—yes, in real time and two-way. The AI identifies voice patterns, context, and tone to deliver realistic, near-human translations for global calls.

3. AI Generative Wallpaper

No more dull wallpapers. With a few taps, the phone creates one-of-a-kind, customized images from generative AI models learned by Samsung. Need a dragon soaring above a cyberpunk metropolis during sunset? 

4. Photo & Video Enhancer

The new ProVisual Engine boosts every photo with real-time AI processing.

• Eliminates reflections
• Bolsters low-light photos
• Adjusts brightness and shadows for flawless skin tones automatically

Night Photography Put to the Test

Samsung’s S-series is always at the forefront of camera innovation—but this year’s night photography is on an entirely different level.

1. Nightography 3.0

A 200MP main sensor driven by AI-powered image stacking makes night shots extremely clear without appearing over-processed. The S25 Ultra employs multi-frame fusion to combine several exposures, and this yields:

• Less noise
• Improved color accuracy
• Breathtaking shadow detail

Real Test: The S25 Ultra outperformed the Pixel 10 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max in recording the most detailed starry sky with the closest-to-real blacks and whitest highlights.

2. AI Astro Mode

Ideal for astronomy enthusiasts. Simply hold your phone up towards the sky, turn on AI Astro Mode, and let the phone follow constellations, minimize star trails, and adjust ISO in real-time.

3. Night Video Mode

Even with 0.1 lux light conditions, the video color grading and stabilization are managed in real-time using AI Video Boost. Look for smoother, clearer, and brighter video—without motion blur.

Camera Samples (Real-World Testing)

• Daylight Shots: Natural colors, extremely detailed (especially in 200MP mode), and rich contrast.
• Portraits: Edge detection is sharper than ever. Hair strands? Handled.
• Zoom: Up to 120x Space Zoom with AI clarity restoration. 10x optical is flawless.
• Selfies: Front camera benefits from skin tone adjustments and auto background blur.

Lighting Condition	Verdict
Low Light	9.5/10
Indoors	9/10
Outdoors (Day)	10/10
Astro	9/10
Video (Low Light)	8.5/10

Performance, Gaming & Thermals

S25 Ultra has Snapdragon 8 Gen 4, now on a 3nm process. The outcome?

• 30% enhanced CPU performance
• 25% improved power efficiency
• Zero thermal throttling in stress

Gaming Test:

Call of Duty: Mobile, Genshin Impact, and BGMI Ultra HDR played stutter-free at 120 FPS with no frame drops. AI-driven thermal regulation ensures GPU stability even for prolonged gaming hours.

Battery Life & Charging:

Thanks to software-based AI battery management and a 5,500mAh cell, the device comfortably lasts:

• 7+ hours of screen-on-time with heavy use
• Up to 2 days of moderate usage

65W Super Fast Charger charges it to 100% in less than 40 minutes, and reverse wireless charging is now up to 15W.

Display & Design: Futuristic yet Familiar

The 6.9-inch QHD+ AMOLED screen is now brighter (up to 3000 nits peak), more silky (144Hz), and AI-optimized for content. Watching HDR10+ Netflix or gaming during the day? No issue.

Design Highlights:

• Slightly curved edges but boxier S-Pen body
• Gorilla Glass Victus 3 + Armor Aluminum 2.0
• IP68 rated
• Coming in Titan Black, Arctic Silver, Mystic Blue, and Red Titanium (Exclusive)

S-Pen Gets Smarter Too

S-Pen now integrates with AI Handwriting Recognition. You can write in any handwriting style—including cursive—and the system recognizes it and turns it into typed text effortlessly. Drawing functions also get a boost from predictive sketch improvements.

One UI 7.1: Software Done Right

Riding on Android 15, the One UI 7.1 brings:

• Galaxy AI Panel for on-device automation
• Smart Suggestions across apps
• Deeper Google & Samsung integration
• AI-driven performance optimization during daily use

Samsung has pledged 7 years of OS and security updates, keeping the S25 Ultra future-proof.

Downside (Because No Phone Is Perfect)

• Price: Begins at ₹1,39,999 in India ($1,399 worldwide). Not for everyone.
• Size: May be too large for tiny hands.
• AI Dependency: Certain features need a Samsung or Google account and cloud processing.
• No SD Card Slot: Continues Samsung’s tradition of eliminating expandable storage.

Final Verdict: Is the Galaxy S25 Ultra Worth It?

If you desire the best Android phone of 2025—particularly for content creation, night mode photography, AI capabilities, and overall performance—the Galaxy S25 Ultra is a beast.

Whether you’re a tech geek, mobile gamer, professional creator, or just an average user who desires the best, the S25 Ultra performs in nearly every category.

Frequent Questions (FAQs)

Q1. Does the Galaxy S25 Ultra have satellite communication support?

Yes, it does come with emergency satellite messaging through Samsung SkyLink in some areas.

Q2. Are the AI features available offline?

Some, such as AI Photo Edit and Note Assist, are device-based, but call translations and generative wallpapers need a data connection.

Q3. What comes in the box?

Just a USB-C to C cable. No charger or case.

Samsung has really changed the smartphone game with the Galaxy S25 Ultra. Yes, it’s pricey, but you’re not only purchasing a phone—you’re purchasing the future of mobile AI.