On this episode of The Vergecast, The Verge ’s Allison Johnson tells us all about her experiences with the S25 Ultra, supposedly the most interesting and experimental device in Samsung’s lineup, and why she’s a bit underwhelmed despite the fact that the Ultra remains an excellent phone.

The rear camera array represents the only other notable hardware difference between S25 Ultra and S24 Ultra. Namely, the ultrawide lens has been upgraded from 12MP a year ago to 50MP this year. Aside from that, everything else is the same: a 200MP wide lens, 50MP telephoto lens, and 12MP selfie camera.

For many years, Samsung has typically been one of the first Android phone makers to deliver a hot new device with the latest Qualcomm chips at the start of the new year. The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra ends up in an unenviable position in 2025,