The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra: Five Major Enhancements and Qualcomm’s Predicament: Implications for 2025?

The most recent updates to the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra have caused quite a stir, and there is a potential chip supply issue. We will explore five significant enhancements intended for the S25 Ultra and summarize the Qualcomm-Arm dispute that may affect its release.

1. Display: Improved Brightness and Viewing Angles, yet M13 Panel Persists

Tech leaker Ice Universe claims that Samsung will equip the S25 Ultra with a brighter display that boasts improved color accuracy and viewing angles. Despite many anticipating an upgrade to the newer M14 panel, Samsung will continue to use the M13 display panel from the S24 Ultra in the S25 Ultra. A number of competitors, including the iPhone 16 Pro Max and Pixel 9 Pro XL, have already implemented M14, which is 20%–30% more energy-efficient. Samsung appears to be emphasizing cost-efficiency, which may be disappointing to some individuals in light of the high price.

2. Color Options: Sleek New Titanium Variants

Samsung’s Galaxy S25 series introduces a novel selection of colors. Samsung will offer the S25 base model in Moon Night Blue, Silver Shadow, Sparkling Blue, and Sparkling Green. The S25+ will include midnight black, while the S25 Ultra will include titanium black, titanium blue, titanium gray, and titanium silver. Although the online-exclusive colors are still under wraps, this diverse collection is sure to captivate individuals with varying aesthetic preferences.

3. Snapdragon 8 Elite Power Boost

The Galaxy S25 Ultra will introduce the Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset in all of its models, eliminating the Exynos and MediaTek variants on a global scale. In the initial tests, the Snapdragon 8 Elite achieved a browsing performance that was more than double that of the Galaxy S24 Ultra and even surpassed the iPhone 16 Pro Max. We expect the processor to enhance overall performance and enable faster, more seamless web browsing. Samsung’s decision to adhere to Snapdragon may persist in the S26, with the possibility of Exynos’ reintroduction in the S27, contingent upon advancements in the chip.

4. The Future of Exynos in Samsung’s Flagships

Samsung intends to reinstate its Exynos processors in the Galaxy S27 series, provided that it resolves the current production challenges associated with 3nm chips. The reintroduction of Exynos would promote competition in the chip market, which could potentially assist in maintaining prices. Despite the fact that a significant number of enthusiasts are skeptical about Exynos’s capacity to match Snapdragon’s performance, the competition could be advantageous for consumers.

5.Is the Qualcomm-Arm dispute a threat to the supply of the Snapdragon 8 Elite?

lcomm and Arm could jeopardize the supply of Snapdragon 8 Elite processors, potentially affecting not only Samsung but also other brands. The following is the current situation:
Qualcomm’s processors are dependent on Arm’s architecture. Following Qualcomm’s 2021 acquisition of Nuvia, Arm, a company with its own Arm license, asserted that Qualcomm’s existing license could not transfer the designs.
Qualcomm must renegotiate its contract with Arm or risk losing access to Arm’s technology.
Should Qualcomm lose this case, it may result in Samsung and other manufacturers being unable to use the Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset in their 2025 devices.

Final Thoughts: Will Qualcomm and Arm reach a settlement?

Given that Arm’s designs are crucial to Qualcomm’s chip production, negotiations are likely. Arm could potentially pursue partnerships with other companies, such as Apple and Nvidia; however, Qualcomm’s dependence on Arm renders an agreement more likely. Nevertheless, a failure to reach a resolution could have a significant impact on the entire technology sector, with concerns regarding potential price increases and device shortages.

Disclaimer:

The information provided in this article regarding the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra and the Qualcomm-Arm dispute is based on available leaks, industry insights, and pre-release details. Features and specifications are subject to change upon official release by Samsung and Qualcomm. PhonFlux cannot guarantee the accuracy of unofficial sources and does not assume responsibility for any changes in the product’s final specifications or market availability. For the latest and confirmed information, please refer to Samsung’s official announcements and trusted industry reports.