First Impressions

[tcdude]

I'm liking the phone a lot more than I thought i would actually liking the rounded corners, the flat sides too, but I don't I dare say that it feels kinda a bit more iphone...ish?

 

[evohicks]

I've always liked the iPhone flat sides and that's one of the reasons why I'm going for the S25 Ultra. The rounded corners are not too rounded which makes for a great looking phone.

 

[Trail Boss]

Just opened the box, first impressions are I like the blue, the flat sides, and can easily live with the slightly rounded corners; however, still like the square ones on my S24U (squared off corners never hurt my hands). Like the more pronounced and black camera rings.

Have not turned it on, plugged in to fully charge, and heading out to get the dog walked before the weather turns to crap.

One thing I did note, it reminded me of my old Pixel 4XL which I always liked, and still keep for a possible back-up if ever needed.

But glad to say it is longer and wider than the 4XL.

I see absolutely NO similarity to an iPhone of any year or any model. And that camera array will always denote it is a high end, Ultra Samsung phone; just like iPhone's squared camera array with three cameras inside will always denote a high end iPhone MAX (or Pro Max).




Best color photo I could get with my S24U...



From these first impressions, pretty darn sure it will be a keeper. Besides, just paid monthly CC and the phone was on the statement; therefore, it is totally all paid for.

 

[Misterio36]

As Flossy Carter would say, "Ladies, you know the procedure."

I swear, I watch his videos just much for the random comments he makes, and, of course, White Shoes (when she's back in tha building).

White Shoes Calm down..lol

 

[rizzo269]

I'm absolutely loving how light this phone is and how it feels in my hand. My auto brightness seems to be much dimmer than my 24 ultra was. I had to factory reset one of my prior phones when I didn't think it was working correctly and it fixed it but I really hope I don't have to do that with this after getting it all set up. I may wait for the first software update to see if that does anything.

Other than that, everything is working great. My battery seems to be improving now that I got everything loaded up.

 

[KupKrazy]

Like many others said, I didn't expect to feel how much lighter the phone is. Anyway, I did the usual when I first got it. Placed a whitestone dome protector on it before anything else and put it into a case. I am still setting it up, but one thing I did notice is the fingerprint sensor is far quicker and less failures, and this is with a glass screen protector. I did not have to turn screen sensitivity up at all and it's reading my prints so fast and easy. Maybe because it's new? The prints on my thumbs are light and I would eventually get errors on previous phones, but so far this has been pretty much perfect. Hope it stays that way!

Second - finally it seems like the camera shutter lag is gone! Well, again, maybe because it's new - but seeking it snap the picture as I touch the shutter button is great.

Lastly, what I do notice is wow how far TouchWiz has come a really long way. UI7 is beautiful and for the first time in forever, I am not going to use Nova launcher and have a go with UI7 all the way. The ability to vertical scroll in the app drawer did it for me, but overall it's a really great experience whereas I think Nova has lagged and ever since being sold - there just doesn't seem to be any meaningful development of it or to fix certain bugs. So I'm going to rock UI7.

After I'm done setting it up, I'll really be able to dig into it.

 

[IslandGuy]

The difference between this phone and the S23 Ultra I just put to bed, is night and day. Yes, I knew it was an upgrade but this is a different beast. Even the transfer was way easier than I expected. Samsung has got it right finally. I'm not even using my regular launcher because the vertical scroll app drawer is finally here. Also rocking it naked because I couldn't decide on a case and it does feel good in hand. Going to get the slimest case possibly so I can keep that feel. I'm in love!

 

[azdmelani]

Has anyone figured out how to get notifications on the drop down menu like previous versions of Android? It seems like I have to touch the phone on the left side of the camera in order to get a separate status bar for notifications

 

[Laura Knotek]

Has anyone figured out how to get notifications on the drop down menu like previous versions of Android? It seems like I have to touch the phone on the left side of the camera in order to get a separate status bar for notifications

Swipe down on the upper left top for notifications.

 

[y2jman]

i think may change panel back together

 

[mlblack16]

Has anyone figured out how to get notifications on the drop down menu like previous versions of Android? It seems like I have to touch the phone on the left side of the camera in order to get a separate status bar for notifications

They changed it so that when you pull down the shade from the top left side it shows notifications. When you pull down from the top right it shows all the toggle settings.

It took me the first day to get used to. Not sure how I feel about it. I'm also finding myself trying to scroll right when I access my app drawer.

 

[Laura Knotek]

They changed it so that when you pull down the shade from the top left side it shows notifications. When you pull down from the top right it shows all the toggle settings.

It took me the first day to get used to. Not sure how I feel about it. I'm also finding myself trying to scroll right when I access my app drawer.

That's a new feature in OneUI 7. I've gotten used to it since I've been running the OneUI 7 beta on my S24 Ultra since the first beta release.

 

[Trail Boss]

i think may change panel back together

Annoying to him, but not to me. I like it so I'll keep it. Each to their own!

Also need to note; as much as I like the squared off corners on the S24U, now packaged and ready to drop off at UP;, for placing and removing the THIS phone from the top coat pocket and my back jeans pocket the slightly rounded corners make it easier especially for placing into a pocket. The square corners did hang up a few times, these slightly rounded ones do not.

And it is more "fluid" (Smooth) when going into apps, scrolling and photos taken inside side-by-side last night between this and the S24U proves to me this phone's camera is a heck of a lot faster and the photos are better. Can't tell for outside; too wet.

It is the first Ultra I have received that I did not have for a few days prior to making my decision to keep and return the previous model.
And who knows, maybe the operation is due more to One UI 7 on the new phone vs. One UI 6 on the 24. Guess I'll never know.

 

[jamezr]

Just opened the box, first impressions are I like the blue, the flat sides, and can easily live with the slightly rounded corners; however, still like the square ones on my S24U (squared off corners never hurt my hands). Like the more pronounced and black camera rings.

Have not turned it on, plugged in to fully charge, and heading out to get the dog walked before the weather turns to crap.

One thing I did note, it reminded me of my old Pixel 4XL which I always liked, and still keep for a possible back-up if ever needed.

But glad to say it is longer and wider than the 4XL.

I see absolutely NO similarity to an iPhone of any year or any model. And that camera array will always denote it is a high end, Ultra Samsung phone; just like iPhone's squared camera array with three cameras inside will always denote a high end iPhone MAX (or Pro Max).
View attachment 368058

View attachment 368059

Best color photo I could get with my S24U...
View attachment 368060


From these first impressions, pretty darn sure it will be a keeper. Besides, just paid monthly CC and the phone was on the statement; therefore, it is totally all paid for.

Dude...that Pixel 4XL was one of my favorite all time phones. Soli radar face unlock is better than FaceID on iPhones.

 

[azdmelani]

They changed it so that when you pull down the shade from the top left side it shows notifications. When you pull down from the top right it shows all the toggle settings.

It took me the first day to get used to. Not sure how I feel about it. I'm also finding myself trying to scroll right when I access my app drawer.

Yeah. I thought because I was using nova there was a way around it but I guess not. Just have to get used to it I guess.

 

[Trail Boss]

Dude...that Pixel 4XL was one of my favorite all time phones. Soli radar face unlock is better than FaceID on iPhones.

For me it still is. One reason why I'm a die hard paper SIM guy and was glad the S25U had the SIM card drawer. if my S-series ever breaks, while being repaired or replaced, I can swap the SIM into the 4Xl and I immediately have an operating phone. And it still feels great in the hands.

 

[ffejjj]

Yeah. I thought because I was using nova there was a way around it but I guess not. Just have to get used to it I guess.

You don't have to. Pull down notifications, click the little pen icon near the top and then select panel settings. Then you can switch it back.

 

[aggie]

I'm liking the phone a lot more than I thought i would actually liking the rounded corners, the flat sides too, but I don't I dare say that it feels kinda a bit more iphone...ish?

I dunno having my 16PM in one hand and the S25U in the other I just don't feel that other than the flat sides and screen. Definitely still more boxy and feels wider. Now my Pixel 9 Pro XL on the other hand feels exactly like an iPhone. I still feel like the S25 Ultra is more Note-ish. Maybe like the Note 3 (damn I loved that device)

 

[Trees]

I dunno having my 16PM in one hand and the S25U in the other I just don't feel that other than the flat sides and screen. Definitely still more boxy and feels wider. Now my Pixel 9 Pro XL on the other hand feels exactly like an iPhone. I still feel like the S25 Ultra is more Note-ish. Maybe like the Note 3 (damn I loved that device) View attachment 368084

I also liked the Note 3, and amazingly its still listed on Samsung's website. Seeing the dedicated notification light that I used all the time makes me wish modern phones had this, although I understand that may never come back in fashion. https://www.samsung.com/us/mobile/p...sung-galaxy-note-3-at-t-black-sm-n900azkeatt/

 

[trucksmoveamerica#AC]

That's a new feature in OneUI 7. I've gotten used to it since I've been running the OneUI 7 beta on my S24 Ultra since the first beta release.

I use swipe gestures to bring the notification bar down. Can you swipe down on the side of which you want to bring down, such swipe down left side screen for notifications and right side for the quick panel. Thanks