The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra stands out with what I consider the best screen on any phone I've tested, largely due to its impressive anti-reflective display. However, despite this strong point, the S25 Ultra feels more like an incremental upgrade rather than a groundbreaking leap over its predecessor. Notably, Samsung has removed some key features from the S Pen, such as Bluetooth connectivity that previously allowed it to perform Air Actions or serve as a remote camera shutter. This change makes the S Pen more of a traditional stylus, which diminishes some of the convenience and versatility that many users, including myself, appreciated in earlier models.
While I enjoyed using the Galaxy S25 Ultra earlier this year, Apple’s recent launch of the iPhone 17 Pro has reset the bar, particularly with its dramatic redesign and significant feature improvements. Apple’s new aluminum unibody design not only gives the iPhone 17 Pro a premium feel but also comes with major advancements in video capture technology. These improvements are so substantial that the iPhone 17 Pro was even used to broadcast some Major League Baseball (MLB) games on Apple TV Plus, underscoring its professional-grade video capabilities. Furthermore, in CNET’s lab testing, the iPhone 17 Pro Max outperformed all competitors, including the Galaxy S25 Ultra, by boasting the longest battery life among all phones tested.
Given these developments, Samsung has some catching up to do with its next flagship device, which will likely be the Galaxy S26 Ultra. Having used the iPhone 17 Pro Max since its launch, I’ve identified several features and design elements from Apple’s latest model that I hope Samsung will consider adopting to elevate its next Galaxy flagship.
One of the standout innovations in the iPhone 17 series is a new square-shaped 18-megapixel Center Stage front camera sensor. This sensor introduces a clever functionality that allows users to hold the phone vertically while capturing a horizontal selfie, eliminating the need to rotate the phone for group shots. The camera also leverages AI to automatically adjust the framing when multiple people are present, ensuring everyone fits comfortably in the photo. While this might seem like a minor upgrade, it is a rare AI feature that works reliably and significantly enhances the selfie-taking experience.
The Center Stage sensor also improves video stabilization during selfies and FaceTime calls, which has been a game-changer for me personally. Due to a nervous disorder causing constant hand tremors, I often struggle with shaky selfie videos. The iPhone 17 Pro Max’s stabilization capabilities make these videos much smoother, a noticeable improvement compared to my experience with the Galaxy S25 Ultra. This combination of AI-powered framing and stabilization offers a seamless and intuitive user experience, with features like Auto Zoom and Auto Rotate kicking in effortlessly in about nine out of ten instances.
Samsung does offer a similar AI-powered auto-zoom feature for group selfies, but it is limited to the Galaxy Z Flip 7 and Z Flip 6 models, where the function uses the main cameras on the cover screen rather than the dedicated selfie camera. This means the feature doesn’t work during video calls on those devices. Ideally, Samsung should extend this functionality to the Galaxy S26 Ultra’s front-facing camera, potentially by incorporating a square sensor similar to Apple’s. This addition would not only improve convenience but also enhance accessibility for users who frequently take selfies or participate in video calls.
When it comes to telephoto cameras, both the iPhone 17 Pro and Galaxy S25 Ultra include them, but the battle for zoom supremacy is evolving. Samsung was once the undisputed king of zoom, especially with its periscope lens technology, but in recent years, its lead has diminished. Chinese manufacturers like Xiaomi, Vivo, and Oppo have pushed the envelope in this area, and even Google has introduced AI-based zoom enhancements for levels of 30x and beyond. Apple, meanwhile, has taken a slightly different approach, focusing on a 4x optical zoom lens that pairs with exceptional video stabilization, delivering smooth results even at 8x zoom.
The Galaxy S25 Ultra features two telephoto cameras—a 3x and a 5x optical zoom lens—but only one of these lenses truly competes with the latest offerings from competitors. Samsung removed its unique 10x optical zoom camera two generations ago, replacing it with a 5x periscope camera that, although improved in resolution (50 megapixels compared to the Galaxy S23 Ultra’s 10 megapixels), still doesn’t