Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra - Price, Huge Battery Life Gains and More

Summary

The Galaxy S25 Ultra is shaping up to be an exciting release, with impressive updates across several key areas. Despite higher manufacturing costs, including a more expensive Snapdragon 8 Elite chip, Samsung plans to keep prices the same as the previous model. The device will feature significant battery life improvements, thanks to the efficient Snapdragon 8 Elite, with early tests showing up to 42% longer battery life. The S25 Ultra will also come with OneUI 7, introducing the innovative NowBar feature for enhanced usability. With minor design tweaks and performance boosts, this phone promises a major upgrade over its predecessor.

Takeaways

• 😀 Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra pricing is expected to stay the same as the S24 Ultra, despite a $110 increase in manufacturing costs due to the new Snapdragon 8 Elite chip.
• 😀 The base Galaxy S25 will likely start at $799, S25+ at $999, and S25 Ultra at $1299, with possible 12GB or 16GB RAM options for the Ultra model.
• 😀 Samsung is offering standard pre-order perks, including free storage upgrades, better trade-in credits, and a $50 credit for showing interest, with pre-orders starting January 5th.
• 😀 The Snapdragon 8 Elite chip, powering the S25 Ultra, provides significant efficiency gains, leading to better battery life despite the device retaining the same 5000mAh battery as the S24 Ultra.
• 😀 The Snapdragon 8 Elite chip has already been shown to deliver impressive battery improvements in devices like the Asus ROG Phone 9 Pro and OnePlus 13, showing up to 42% longer battery life.
• 😀 Samsung's OneUI 7 will introduce a new feature called 'NowBar,' which enhances app notifications and improves one-handed usability with a sleek design and intuitive functionality.
• 😀 The S25 Ultra design is expected to evolve significantly from leaked dummy models, with final products resembling high-quality concept renders.
• 😀 The 'NowBar' will be placed at the bottom of the screen for easier accessibility and integrates seamlessly with apps like Samsung Clock and Voice Recorder.
• 😀 Despite the S25 Ultra keeping a 5000mAh battery, the efficiency of the Snapdragon 8 Elite chip, combined with Samsung’s software optimizations, will lead to better performance and battery life.
• 😀 The Galaxy S25 series is set to launch on January 22nd, with pre-orders kicking off shortly after the Unpacked event.

Q & A

What is the expected starting price for the Galaxy S25 Ultra?

The Galaxy S25 Ultra is expected to start at $1299.

Why is the Bill of Materials (BoM) for the Galaxy S25 Ultra higher than the S24 Ultra?

The BoM for the S25 Ultra is $110 higher than the S24 Ultra, primarily due to the more expensive Snapdragon 8 Elite chip, which costs around $200—about 25-30% more than its predecessor.

Will the price of the Galaxy S25 Ultra increase despite the higher manufacturing costs?

No, Samsung plans to keep the prices of the S25 lineup unchanged, possibly due to Apple's decision to freeze iPhone 16 prices.

What are the expected RAM and storage configurations for the Galaxy S25 Ultra?

The base variant of the S25 Ultra is expected to feature 12GB of RAM, with a 16GB RAM option available in higher storage configurations. The base model will likely offer 128GB of storage.

What pre-order perks will Samsung offer for the Galaxy S25 series?

Samsung is expected to offer pre-order perks such as free storage upgrades, better trade-in credits, and a $50 credit just for showing interest in the device.

When will the Galaxy S25 series be officially launched?

The Galaxy S25 series is set to launch on January 22nd, with pre-orders beginning shortly after the Unpacked event.

What are the key performance improvements in the Galaxy S25 Ultra?

The main improvements for the S25 Ultra include a new Snapdragon 8 Elite chip, which boosts performance and efficiency, and an ultrawide camera upgrade.

What is the significance of the Snapdragon 8 Elite chip for the Galaxy S25 Ultra's battery life?

The Snapdragon 8 Elite chip offers significant improvements in power efficiency, leading to better battery life despite the S25 Ultra using the same 5000mAh battery as its predecessor.

How does the Snapdragon 8 Elite chip compare to previous chips in terms of battery performance?

Devices powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite chip, such as the Asus ROG Phone 9 Pro and OnePlus 13, have shown up to a 42% improvement in battery life, even with only minor increases in battery size.

What new software feature will be introduced with OneUI 7 on the Galaxy S25 Ultra?

OneUI 7 will introduce the 'NowBar' feature, which integrates with apps that send frequent notifications. It will be placed at the bottom of the lock screen for easier one-handed use and will feature smooth animations and subtle blur effects.