Samsung has just unveiled its eagerly awaited Galaxy S25 series, showcasing sleeker design elements on the exterior and impressive performance enhancements under the hood. While this launch marks an ‘S’ year upgrade for the flagship Galaxy S25 Ultra, delivering modest enhancements at the hardware level, all eyes are on what lies beneath. A recent durability test of the Galaxy S25 Ultra has unearthed some concerns, particularly revolving around the detachable camera rings which, as it turns out, are primarily decorative.
Questions are being raised about Samsung’s construction choices for the Galaxy S25 Ultra, as these detachable camera rings coupled with a misaligned logo on the rear have led to criticism. In the latest durability examination by the noted YouTuber JerryRigEverything, several drawbacks compared to its forerunner have emerged. The Galaxy S25 Ultra notably lacks Bluetooth functionality in its S Pen, and features a display prone to scratches, igniting concerns over its lasting power. The comprehensive review suggests the S25 Ultra’s scratch resistance has indeed worsened, with the screen yielding to scratches at level 6 and exhibiting deeper marks at level 7. This has left observers questioning if Samsung dialed back the hardness on the Gorilla Armor 2 glass.
The build quality has further been called into question due to the misalignment of the Samsung branding on the device’s back. While this may not impact functionality, it does reflect possible oversight in design precision. Whether this issue is widespread across all Galaxy S25 Ultra units or isolated to specific batches remains uncertain.
Another significant change stirring debate is the removal of Bluetooth from the S Pen. This shift has stripped away features previously available, such as the ability to use the S Pen as a remote camera shutter. Although speculation abounds that Samsung may seek to shift this function to the Galaxy Ring, confirmation is pending.
Furthermore, the pronounced camera rings on the Galaxy S25 Ultra’s back present another point of contention. These rings, affixed with adhesive but protruding slightly above the glass surface, are easily detachable using basic tools. They also allow dust to accumulate underneath them, raising further concerns about design efficacy.
Despite these construction compromises, the Galaxy S25 Ultra brings exciting upgrades internally, positioning itself as a noteworthy successor to the Galaxy S24 Ultra. It boasts the cutting-edge Snapdragon 8 Elite processor and newly integrated Galaxy AI capabilities, promising substantial performance boosts. Would you consider these design compromises a dealbreaker, or do the performance improvements outweigh them in Samsung’s latest offering?
