Galaxy S25 Ultra is set to be released soon, and expectations are high for this flagship device.
Samsung has hinted that the phone will be a major player in the AI sphere, and after my experience with the Galaxy S24 Ultra, it's clear that Samsung has a solid grip on AI capabilities. The anticipation is building, especially with rumors suggesting that groundbreaking new AI features will be unveiled on January 22nd.
However, it is disappointing to note that Samsung isn't making any advancements in the battery capacity of the Galaxy S25 Ultra.
Just yesterday, we engaged with our YouTube community to see what upgrades they were most eager for in the S25 series.
AI Innovations vs. Battery Life: What Users Really Want
In a recent poll, we asked our audience what upgrade they wanted most in the Galaxy S25 series.
The feedback was illuminating: 48% of participants indicated that enhanced battery life was their top priority, 28% would prefer camera enhancements, and only 11% felt that AI improvements were the most critical.
This indicates a striking disconnect; users are clearly prioritizing battery longevity, while Samsung appears to be focusing its efforts in the opposite direction!
Galaxy S25 Ultra’s Battery: A Comparison with Competitors
Competitors sport batteries nearly 20% larger.
They are employing new silicon-carbon battery technologies.
Samsung has been slow to adopt these advancements.
To clarify, all evidence suggests that the Galaxy S25 Ultra will maintain a 5,000 mAh battery capacity, unchanged since the introduction of the Galaxy S21 Ultra.
In fact, the S21 Ultra was the last model to see an increase in battery size, moving from 4,500 mAh in the Note 20 Ultra. That was back in 2021, and since then, no modification has occurred!
This stagnation is particularly troubling in 2025, as rival Android devices have all upgraded to a 6,000 mAh battery capacity.
Consider the following data:
Model
Battery Size
Galaxy S24 Ultra
5,000 mAh
Pixel 9 Pro XL
5,060 mAh
iPhone 16 Pro Max
4,685 mAh
Vivo X200 Pro
6,000 mAh
OnePlus 13
6,000 mAh
Oppo Find X8 Pro
5,910 mAh
ROG Phone 8 Pro
5,800 mAh
Xiaomi 15 Pro
6,100 mAh
Honor Magic 7 Pro
5,850 mAh
Poco X7 Pro
6,000 mAh
Nubia Z70 Ultra
6,150 mAh
The only flagship Android phone that shares a battery size similar to the Galaxy S25 Ultra is the Pixel 9 Pro XL!
All other competitors have progressed to approximately 6,000 mAh, about a 20% increase. In fact, the Nubia Z70 Ultra boasts a 6,150 mAh battery, representing a 23% increase in comparison to Samsung's offering.
Interestingly, this trend for larger batteries extends even to budget phones. The latest from Xiaomi, the Redmi Note 14 Pro Plus, is equipped with a massive 6,200 mAh battery.
If you want to understand how this is feasible, check out our silicon-carbon battery tech explainer, the technology that many of these newer devices are leveraging.
Furthermore, while battery size alone does not guarantee longer battery life, it is evident from the table that even with its smaller battery, the iPhone excels in battery longevity due to iOS optimizations.
Unfortunately, since Samsung operates on Android—which limits optimization flexibility—simply increasing the battery size should be a focus for them.
Exploring Solutions for an Enhanced Battery in the Galaxy S25 Ultra
Eliminating the S Pen could be one radical approach
Many users don’t utilize the S Pen regularly
Adopting modern battery technologies may also help, causing less disruption.
Eliminating the S Pen might be a contentious solution but could allow for a larger battery, as feedback suggests many users do not often use it. A more thoughtful compromise could involve embracing modern battery technologies that wouldn't significantly alter the phone's form factor.
Ultimately, as Samsung leans heavily into AI innovation, they risk neglecting a feature that a larger segment of users prioritize: extended battery life.
