The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra is an AI phone through and through, for better or worse. At a starting price of $1,300, does it still deserve a spot in your pocket?

The S25 Ultra still has an S Pen, but Samsung removed Bluetooth features that allowed you to use the stylus like a magic wand. Samsung says few people used those features, and on balance, it’s no great loss. But it’s the principle more than anything that stings.

Samsung introduces new flagships at the beginning of every year, with the Galaxy S25 series being the latest. The phones bring minor improvements over their predecessors, such as a processor upgrade,