Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra
By Muhammad Tahir · Updated June 2026 · how we review
How long will it last?
Official promiseSupported until February 2032 · Buy-by February 2030
Samsung promises 7 years of updates for this phone, so it's supported until February 2032 — buying it today still gets you about 5.5 years of safe use (verified June 2026).
Source: Samsung's official policy · last verified 2026-06-10 · how we compute this
TrueCost
Street price ÷ months of safe use remaining — the number that makes cheap short-lived phones expensive, and well-supported ones cheap.
46% cheaper than the $900+ median ($25.21/mo, dying phones excluded)
Is the Galaxy S25 Ultra worth buying in 2026?
Yes — it's safe to buy today: 66 months of software support remain, at $13.59 per month of safe use.
Our verdict
At about $902 — roughly $400 below its $1,299 launch price — the S25 Ultra is the value pick of the flagship class, with a 200MP quad camera and updates to 2032, if you can carry 218g and forgive its stagnant 45W charging.
Pros
- Seven years of OS and security updates run to February 2032, through Android 22
- 200MP main paired with two telephotos — a 10MP 3x and a 50MP 5x periscope — for real zoom flexibility
- Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy worldwide keeps pace with 2026 flagships in everyday use
- Upgraded 50MP ultra-wide and a big 6.9-inch QHD+ display at 2,600 nits behind Gorilla Armor 2
- 5,000mAh battery, Grade 5 titanium frame, IP68 and a built-in S Pen — now about $400 under MSRP
Cons
- At 218g and 6.9 inches it's a big, heavy phone that's awkward to use one-handed
- 45W wired charging (about 65% in 30 minutes) is unchanged and trails Chinese rivals doing 100W-plus
- The S Pen lost its Bluetooth features — no more remote shutter or air gestures — versus the S24 Ultra
Full specifications
Display
💡 Bigger numbers = smoother scrolling (Hz) and easier outdoor reading (nits).
| Screen | 6.9-inch Dynamic LTPO AMOLED 2X, QHD+, 1–120Hz, up to 2600 nits |
|---|
Performance
💡 The phone's brain — it decides speed today and how well it ages.
| Chipset | Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy |
|---|---|
| RAM | 12GB |
| Storage | 256GB / 512GB / 1TB |
Cameras
💡 Megapixels aren't everything — lens variety matters more day-to-day.
| main | 200MP |
|---|---|
| ultra-wide | 50MP |
| telephoto 3x | 10MP |
| periscope 5x | 50MP |
| front | 12MP |
Battery & charging
💡 Capacity in mAh — bigger usually means longer between charges.
| Battery | 5,000 mAh |
|---|---|
| Charging | 45W wired (65% in 30 min), 15W wireless (Qi2 Ready), 4.5W reverse wireless |
Build
💡 Size, weight, and the materials between your phone and the floor.
| Dimensions | 162.8 × 77.6 × 8.2 mm |
|---|---|
| Weight | 218 g |
| Materials | Grade 5 titanium frame, Corning Gorilla Armor 2 |
| Water resistance | IP68 |
Software & connectivity
💡 The software it ships with, and how far it can upgrade.
| Software | Android 15 with One UI 7 at launch — supported through Android 22 |
|---|---|
| Connectivity | 5G, Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4, UWB, NFC, USB-C, S Pen included |
| Update policy | 7 OS upgrades · 7 years of security updates (official promise) |
Better-value alternatives
Similar price, lower cost per month of safe ownership.
Frequently asked questions
How long will the Galaxy S25 Ultra be supported?
Until February 2032 — seven OS generations (through Android 22) and seven years of security patches from its February 2025 launch, per Samsung's official update policy. That still leaves about 5.5 years of safe use if you buy in mid-2026.
Is the S25 Ultra a big upgrade over the S24 Ultra?
It's an iterative one. You get the newer Snapdragon 8 Elite, a sharper 50MP ultra-wide, a marginally larger 6.9-inch screen and a year more updates. But the 200MP main, 5x periscope and 5,000mAh battery carry over, and the S25 Ultra drops the S Pen's Bluetooth tricks — so a cheaper used S24 Ultra remains a smart buy.
How versatile is the S25 Ultra's zoom?
Very. A 10MP 3x lens covers portraits and a 50MP 5x periscope handles distance, with the 200MP main filling in between — you can shoot 3x, 5x and cropped 10x with real detail before digital Space Zoom takes over.
Is the Galaxy S25 Ultra worth buying in 2026?
Arguably more than at launch. Around $902 — down from $1,299 — with five-plus years of support remaining, its cost per month of safe ownership beats many newer mid-rangers.
Does the S25 Ultra still come with an S Pen?
Yes — it's built into the body and included in the box. Note it's now a passive stylus: Samsung dropped the Bluetooth radio, so writing and navigation work fine but the remote camera shutter and air gestures are gone.
Compare it
Specs are collected from manufacturer documentation; prices reflect major US retailers and change often. Support end dates follow each brand's official policy (or, for Apple, its documented historical pattern). Last verified 2026-06-10.