I tested Samsung's $1,300 Galaxy S25 Ultra - and I'm slowly becoming an AI phone believer

• The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra is a premium flagship meant for users who want the most out of their phone, with a starting price of $1,299.
• Key improvements include new Galaxy AI features, a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset, and a 50MP ultrawide lens.
• No major shifts to camera hardware, battery size, and charging speeds.

Samsung's Big Bad Galaxy phone has arrived, and it's almost everything I expected. The Galaxy S25 Ultra, which starts at the same bold price as last year, $1,299, remains the company's do-everything handset, with a more durable display, an upgraded camera system with some handy editing tricks, and the latest Qualcomm processor keeping things running. Oh, and yes, AI is everything, everywhere, all at once.

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