Google just revealed the Pixel 9 Pro XL – and our Pixel 9 Pro XL review is available for you to read now – and the iPhone 16 Pro Max is expected to be among the Apple devices unveiled next month . However, it looks like the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra could beat them both to the punch in two key ways.
In concrete terms, it could be thinner and lighter than the top-end smartphones from Google and Apple. That’s according to a well-known leaker Ice Universewho says the Galaxy S25 Ultra will be “the thinnest and lightest of all Ultra flagship phones.”
We assume that by “ultra-flagship phones” we mean the highest-specced, most premium, and most expensive phones that manufacturers release, including the Google phone that is already out and the Apple phone that is coming out soon.
However, the tipster didn’t say anything about how thin or light the Galaxy S25 Ultra might be. For reference, Samsung’s Galaxy S24 Ultra measures 8.6mm from front to back and weighs 233 grams. Google’s Pixel 9 Pro XL, by comparison, is 8.5mm thick and weighs 221 grams.
The leaks so far
Samsung will clearly have to employ some clever component packaging and handset design tricks to create an Ultra phone that’s thinner and lighter than ever. We’ve also heard that the S25 Ultra will be reduced in width to 77.6mm, up from 79mm on the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra.
Another previous leak revealed that the upcoming device – likely launching sometime in January 2025 – will feature an asymmetrical frame design for a more comfortable grip, which could explain some of the weight savings.
Of course, a thinner and lighter phone could also mean a smaller battery (and shorter battery life). However, rumor has it that a more efficient chipset will allow the 2025 Galaxy Ultra phone to offer better battery life than the 2024 version.
Another major upgrade could come in the cameras department: back in May, we heard that the Galaxy S25 Ultra could add an extra camera on the rear for a quad-camera module . You can read about everything we know so far about the Galaxy S25 here.