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With the calendar turning over to January 2025, it’s time to think about the Galaxy S25 Ultra. The newest iteration of Samsung’s premium phone is supposedly coming out this month, and the rumours give us a good idea of what this phone could be. It’s shaping up to be one of the greatest Samsung phones of the year.
With the Galaxy S25 series, including the Ultra, Samsung is likely to maintain its commitment to the Galaxy AI capabilities it debuted with the Galaxy S24 series last year. We have heard rumours that Samsung is busy trying to prove to Apple that it can build the greatest camera phone by enhancing its high-end phone’s camera.
Expected Features of Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra
Here’s the latest scoop on the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra, including the most recent rumors and key insights, along with our predictions for what Samsung may unveil next. We’ve also compiled a list of features we hope to see on the Galaxy S25 Ultra. If you’re curious about what Samsung has in store, take a look!
Design and Display
Aside from a more angular profile, the Galaxy S25 Ultra will be stylistically similar to the present S24 Ultra. One surprising strength of the display should be the debut of Corning’s second generation of Gorilla Glass Armour.
The Galaxy S24 Ultra’s first generation had far better security. The anti-reflective coating, which improved the S24 Ultra’s display quality in both intense indoor lighting and direct sunlight, was the standout feature that collected praise from critics. The visibility of the pixels is proportional to the level of protection.
Camera
The cameras are a central feature of the Galaxy S25 Ultra, following in the footsteps of the S24 Ultra, which boasts a 200MP main sensor and a 100MP Space Zoom. We anticipate that the camera system will see some upgrades next year. Early rumors suggest enhancements to the wide-angle and ultrawide lenses, with an exciting shift to a 50MP ultrawide sensor and potentially other upgrades.
Expected Camera Upgrades for the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra
| Camera Feature | Current S24 Ultra | Expected S25 Ultra |
| Main Camera | 200MP sensor | No change expected |
| Wide-Angle Lens | Unspecified | Potential upgrade (details unclear) |
| Ultrawide Lens | 12MP sensor | 50MP sensor with 4-in-1 pixel binning |
| Ultrawide Camera Specs | N/A | 23.2mm focal length, f/1.7 aperture, EIS stabilization, 12.5MP shots |
| Telephoto Lens | 3x optical zoom lens | Expected “variable capabilities” with smoother zooms (likely 4-5x and 6-7x zoom) |
| Secondary Telephoto Lens | Present | Possible removal, replaced by 3x crop zoom feature |
According to the leaks, the wide-angle lens may receive some form of upgrade, though specifics are still unclear. However, the biggest shift comes with the ultrawide lens, which is rumored to upgrade from the 12MP sensor on the S24 Ultra to a more powerful 50MP sensor, utilizing 4-in-1 pixel binning to create 12.5MP shots.
The telephoto lens will reportedly gain “variable capabilities.” While the exact meaning of this remains a mystery, it’s believed that it might refer to changing focal lengths between 4-5x zoom and 6-7x zoom, leading to smoother zooming, particularly for video recording.
There’s also speculation about the potential removal of the secondary telephoto lens, leaving the Galaxy S25 Ultra with three camera lenses instead of four. However, this has been disputed by some sources, with one leaker suggesting the inclusion of a 3x crop zoom feature from the main camera instead. Additional leaks suggest the possibility of a secondary 3x telephoto lens with a 12MP resolution.
Galaxy AI and the Galaxy S25 Ultra
In the first half of 2024, the Galaxy S24 family of smartphones was the best-selling “AI-powered” device, and its release was closely tied to Galaxy AI, Samsung’s initiative into generative artificial intelligence software. After Google set the stage for the industry with the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro’s Google AI facilities, Samsung was able to establish the commercial tone of generative AI for the year.
Google is actively promoting Gemini and the Pixel 9 family online, laying the groundwork for the next generation of artificial intelligence in smartphones. Samsung will keep its powder cool until the S25 family comes out. The S25 Ultra and Galaxy AI should be a powerful pair, due to better performance on-device and a year of work on AI development.
Security Features of the Galaxy S25 Ultra
The Galaxy S24 Ultra had the necessary hardware for auto accident detection, but it was never “turned on” in the software. Android Authority has uncovered additional references to auto crash detection software when reviewing the current beta of the OneUI software that will be released with the S25 Ultra. Will this be the year that it gets turned on? The software and hardware should both be there.
Connectivity to Ultra Satellite Galaxy S25
It was widely anticipated that Samsung would unveil satellite connectivity as a feature of the Galaxy S24 Ultra, but the company has really been working on it for quite some time. That didn’t happen. This is another feature that many are eagerly anticipating, especially since this channel has been receiving more attention in both Samsung’s beta code and Google’s code contributions to Android, which have further integrated the principle into the code.
Battery Life
The Galaxy S25 Ultra is expected to maintain the same 5,000 mAh battery as the S24 Ultra, which already performed well in battery tests with a 16-hour, 45-minute result. The 45W charging speed is also likely to stay the same. However, improvements in GPU efficiency, thanks to the Snapdragon 8 Elite, could lead to better overall battery performance. The chipset promises up to 44% better CPU power efficiency and 40% better GPU efficiency.
Additionally, rumors suggest that the Galaxy S25 series could introduce Qi2 magnetic wireless charging, based on Apple’s MagSafe. This would offer improved charging efficiency and 15W speeds, along with better accessory support for grips, stands, wallets, and charging battery packs.
Software and Features
The Galaxy S25 Ultra is expected to launch with Android 15 and One UI 7, offering seven years of software support like the Galaxy S24. Samsung plans to expand Galaxy AI features, possibly introducing new functionalities exclusive to the Ultra model. There’s also speculation about integrating generative AI into Bixby.
Additionally, the Galaxy S25 series may offer free Gemini Advanced subscriptions, with the Ultra receiving the longest trial. Satellite connectivity and Car Crash Detection, previously seen on Apple devices, could also be included. A new Android feature allowing background OS updates may enhance convenience, aligning Samsung’s phones with other Android devices.
Release Date of Galaxy S25 Ultra
It is widely anticipated that the next Galaxy Unpacked event will be held by Samsung on January 22, 2025. A few days after the official launch, pre-orders will be opened, and the S25 devices will ship on February 7, 2025.
