9 hours ago
5
The Galaxy S25 Ultra was one of the most iterative generational updates from Samsung when it launched in January. I wasn't very impressed with the flat sides, a less functional S Pen, and those cameras at a $1,300 price tag. However, having used it over time, the Samsung flagship has grown on me. I've loved every bit of the screen and have made it easier to use with Samsung's own app and certain One UI 7 features. And with the new sale price, I can finally recommend it to more people.
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Amazon is offering $200 off on both the 256GB and 512GB SSD models of the Galaxy S25 Ultra. The former is $1,100, and the latter is $1,220. Both smartphones are available in the same four different colors: Titanium Black, Titanium Gray, Titanium Silverblue, and Titanium Whitesilver.
It's unknown how long this deal will last, so if you're in the market for a flagship Android phone, this might be the best time to buy one.
The new design isn't handy, but that display is worth it
The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra is lighter than its predecessor, but that doesn't translate to a better in-hand feel. In my experience, the flatter sides have been more inconvenient to hold. Its rounded corners are better than the pointy corners of the Galaxy S24 Ultra, but the sharp sides make it slightly unergonomic. At the end of the day, that doesn't really matter if you slap a case on it, but that's what you get without a case.
That said, Samsung's display is now better than ever. I'm not exaggerating when I say the Galaxy S25 Ultra sports the best display on a smartphone right now. Thanks to Gorilla Armor 2, it is less reflective and more pleasing to look at, especially in harsh lighting conditions.
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Galaxy S25 Ultra's screen is one of the reasons why I kept returning to this phone, despite being left unimpressed at launch. Whether you're navigating under a bright sun, reading indoors with overhead lights, or simply watching content, it just works better in most scenarios. In comparison, my iPhone 16 Pro's display is a smudgy and reflective mess under harsh lighting.
To keep using this display in the new design, I had to install Samsung's Good Lock app, and it has significantly improved my experience. If you have a big Samsung phone, I strongly recommend installing the One Hand Operation+ function from Good Lock app.
I no longer need to perform finger gymnastics on my Galaxy S25 Ultra to reach Quick Settings or the notifications. I've set the right-hand diagonal down swipe gesture to open the quick panel, while a diagonal up swipe takes me to Calculator (I need to access it regularly because I'm a freelancer).
The Galaxy S25 Ultra is a very reliable smartphone
The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra didn't introduce major improvements, but the ones it did were quality-of-life upgrades. The improved Gorilla Armor 2, some useful Galaxy AI features (like AI Select), and an efficient processor are a few examples. I still don't like the fact that my S Pen can't be used to click photos or Samsung is still sticking to an aging telephoto camera, but if you're looking for a no-nonsense phone, this might be it.
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The Galaxy S25 Ultra might not please smartphone enthusiasts, but after using it for a few months, I can say it's definitely a reliable phone. I was skeptical about its battery life, but it easily lasts an entire day on moderate use. The combination of Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy chipset and One UI 7 keeps it snappy as ever, while you still get the versatility of zoom and ultrawide cameras.
In my day-to-day usage, the Galaxy S25 Ultra has been a reliable phone, and it's an easier recommendation at the current $1,100 sale price. There's not much to fault at that price for people who want a new Android phone.
Based upon the 15% off savings being offered, ZDNET's rating system gives this a 2/5 Editor's deal rating. This is not the lowest offer we've seen for Samsung's latest flagship, but it still a solid discount for a powerful smartphone. Hopefully, we'll see the return of the $1,000 Galaxy S25 Ultra. Still, $200 off is pretty solid.
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