The $235-off Galaxy S25 Ultra deal is historical, not a verified current offer. Phandroid reported on October 6, 2025, that the 256GB phone was available for $1,065, about $235 below a roughly $1,300 reference price. The latest U.S. listings available for this update instead show a new, unlocked 256GB model for $1,169.99 at Best Buy, or $130 below its $1,299.99 list price. Prices and stock can change, so verify the exact listing at checkout.
Is the $235 Galaxy S25 Ultra deal still available?
There is no evidence that the $1,065 offer remains active. The original claim appeared in a Phandroid deal article dated October 6, 2025, which described a $235 reduction on the 256GB Galaxy S25 Ultra. The article did not clearly identify the retailer or explain whether the offer had purchase conditions. A dated headline saying “today” is not proof of today’s price.
For comparison, Samsung’s U.S. purchase page showed a $1,299.99 one-time price for the 256GB configuration, before trade-in. Best Buy showed a new, unlocked 256GB Titanium Black model for $1,169.99, marked down $130 from $1,299.99. Those are observed U.S. prices, not guaranteed checkout totals; confirm stock, color, seller, condition, taxes, and delivery or pickup availability before buying.
| Listing | Condition and configuration | Observed price | What the price means |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phandroid deal, October 6, 2025 | 256GB; retailer, color, and offer conditions not clearly established in the article | $1,065 | $235 below the roughly $1,300 reference price at the time; historical offer, not verified as current |
| Best Buy listing | New, unlocked, 256GB, Titanium Black | $1,169.99 | $130 below the $1,299.99 listed reference price; current availability and price can change |
| Samsung U.S. purchase page | Samsung direct; purchase-page price signal for 256GB configuration | $1,299.99 | One-time price observed before trade-in; verify the selected storage, carrier status, and checkout terms |
At $1,169.99, the Best Buy listing is about 10% below $1,299.99, not 18% below that price. The older $1,065 offer was about 18% below roughly $1,300, according to the historical deal report. Compare like with like: the same storage, condition, carrier status, and seller, using the actual cash price rather than a trade-in estimate or monthly-payment figure.
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- Stunning 6.9″ Dynamic AMOLED 2X QHD+ display with adaptive 1–120 Hz refresh rate, ultra‑bright up to ~2600 nits, HDR support, “Vision Booster,” and adaptive color tone — giving vivid colours, great outdoor visibility, and super‑smooth scrolling.
- Powerful internals: it runs on the new Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy (3 nm) chip, with 12 GB (or in some markets up to 16 GB) RAM and up to 1 TB UFS 4.0 storage — offering significantly improved CPU/GPU/NPU performance, especially for AI tasks, gaming, and heavy multitasking.
- Advanced quad‑camera system: 200 MP wide main sensor, plus a 50 MP ultrawide, a 50 MP periscope telephoto (5× optical zoom), and a 10 MP telephoto (3× optical zoom) — giving flexibility from ultra‑wide through detailed telephoto shots, and strong performance in varied lighting.
- 5,000 mAh battery with 45 W fast wired charging, wireless charging (Qi2) and reverse wireless charging — balancing long battery life with flexible charging options.
- Durable, premium build: Titanium‑frame body, protected by Corning Gorilla Armor 2 glass, with IP68 dust/water resistance, ultrasonic in‑display fingerprint sensor, modern connectivity (5G, Wi‑Fi 7, Bluetooth, UWB, USB‑C), and long‑term software support (Android 15 / One UI 7, promised 7 major OS/security updates).
Which S25 Ultra is the deal about?
The reported deal concerned the Galaxy S25 Ultra with 256GB of storage. The Best Buy listing currently used for comparison identifies a U.S. unlocked Titanium Black model, model number SM-S938UZKAXAA, with 12GB of RAM. That specific listing should not be treated as proof that the historical $1,065 offer was the same color or sold under the same conditions.
Prices can vary across the 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB configurations, as well as by color and carrier. Also distinguish a new phone from open-box or refurbished stock. Best Buy’s open-box listing showed an open-box “Good” price of $619.99, but that is not a new-phone equivalent: the condition may involve cosmetic wear or missing packaging and nonessential accessories, and warranty and return terms differ. Read the condition and policy details on the open-box listing before comparing it with a factory-new price.
What the S25 Ultra offers for the money
The S25 Ultra is a large-screen premium Android phone built around a 6.9-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display, Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy processor, 5,000mAh battery, and integrated S Pen. Samsung lists up to 31 hours of video playback; that is a manufacturer claim, not a promise of screen-on time or mixed-use battery life. Best Buy lists the phone as IP68-rated. Samsung’s U.S. materials cover the display, camera, processor, and battery; its S25 series specification sheet gives camera and configuration details.
Rank #2
- Stunning 6.9″ Dynamic AMOLED 2X QHD+ display with adaptive 1–120 Hz refresh rate, ultra‑bright up to ~2600 nits, HDR support, “Vision Booster,” and adaptive color tone — giving vivid colours, great outdoor visibility, and super‑smooth scrolling.
- Powerful internals: it runs on the new Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy (3 nm) chip, with 12 GB (or in some markets up to 16 GB) RAM and up to 1 TB UFS 4.0 storage — offering significantly improved CPU/GPU/NPU performance, especially for AI tasks, gaming, and heavy multitasking.
- Advanced quad‑camera system: 200 MP wide main sensor, plus a 50 MP ultrawide, a 50 MP periscope telephoto (5× optical zoom), and a 10 MP telephoto (3× optical zoom) — giving flexibility from ultra‑wide through detailed telephoto shots, and strong performance in varied lighting.
- 5,000 mAh battery with 45 W fast wired charging, wireless charging (Qi2) and reverse wireless charging — balancing long battery life with flexible charging options.
- Durable, premium build: Titanium‑frame body, protected by Corning Gorilla Armor 2 glass, with IP68 dust/water resistance, ultrasonic in‑display fingerprint sensor, modern connectivity (5G, Wi‑Fi 7, Bluetooth, UWB, USB‑C), and long‑term software support (Android 15 / One UI 7, promised 7 major OS/security updates).
Performance and software support
The Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy is a flagship-class processor suited to demanding apps, gaming, and on-device AI features. The historical deal coverage described strong performance but did not provide a named benchmark method, so a specific speed advantage should not be treated as established. Results vary with workload, thermals, software, and game optimization. In August 2026, the S25 Ultra is no longer Samsung’s newest Ultra generation, which makes the price especially important to its value.
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One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware matchThe deal coverage reports seven years of software updates. Treat that as Samsung’s stated support commitment, not a promise that every feature update arrives at the same time: OS upgrades, security updates, and feature availability can differ by region, carrier, and device variant. No exact end-of-support date is established here.
Camera system
The rear system includes a 200MP main camera and 50MP ultrawide, with telephoto cameras offering 3x and 5x optical zoom. The 50MP ultrawide is a notable upgrade highlighted in the S25 generation; the historical coverage says much of the other camera hardware carries over from the S24 Ultra. That combination gives flexibility for wide scenes, everyday shots, and distant subjects, but megapixel counts alone do not predict results.
Rank #3
- Stunning 6.9″ Dynamic AMOLED 2X QHD+ display with adaptive 1–120 Hz refresh rate, ultra‑bright up to ~2600 nits, HDR support, “Vision Booster,” and adaptive color tone — giving vivid colours, great outdoor visibility, and super‑smooth scrolling.
- Powerful internals: it runs on the new Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy (3 nm) chip, with 12 GB (or in some markets up to 16 GB) RAM and up to 1 TB UFS 4.0 storage — offering significantly improved CPU/GPU/NPU performance, especially for AI tasks, gaming, and heavy multitasking.
- Advanced quad‑camera system: 200 MP wide main sensor, plus a 50 MP ultrawide, a 50 MP periscope telephoto (5× optical zoom), and a 10 MP telephoto (3× optical zoom) — giving flexibility from ultra‑wide through detailed telephoto shots, and strong performance in varied lighting.
- 5,000 mAh battery with 45 W fast wired charging, wireless charging (Qi2) and reverse wireless charging — balancing long battery life with flexible charging options.
- Durable, premium build: Titanium‑frame body, protected by Corning Gorilla Armor 2 glass, with IP68 dust/water resistance, ultrasonic in‑display fingerprint sensor, modern connectivity (5G, Wi‑Fi 7, Bluetooth, UWB, USB‑C), and long‑term software support (Android 15 / One UI 7, promised 7 major OS/security updates).
For daylight detail and framing options, the main camera and zoom lenses are the central strengths. The ultrawide is useful for architecture and group scenes. Low-light performance, moving-subject sharpness, portrait rendering, and video results depend on the scene and processing. Samsung’s computational photography can smooth or otherwise alter images; users who prefer less processed-looking photos may not like every result. A 200MP mode does not automatically produce a better image in every situation.
Battery, storage, and what is in the box
The battery is rated at 5,000mAh. Samsung’s “up to 31 hours” video-playback figure is a controlled manufacturer claim rather than a typical-use guarantee. The 256GB model is likely enough for cloud-first users who stream media, take a moderate number of photos and videos, and move files off the phone. Consider 512GB or 1TB if you keep large games and offline libraries, record extensive high-resolution video, or want to avoid regularly managing storage. The available materials do not establish expandable storage, so do not assume a microSD card can add capacity.
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Samsung says the phone does not include a charging brick. A USB-C cable is included, but you may need a compatible charger if you do not already own one. Add that cost to the phone price when comparing the deal with another device or purchase bundle.
Rank #4
- Stunning 6.9″ Dynamic AMOLED 2X QHD+ display with adaptive 1–120 Hz refresh rate, ultra‑bright up to ~2600 nits, HDR support, “Vision Booster,” and adaptive color tone — giving vivid colours, great outdoor visibility, and super‑smooth scrolling.
- Powerful internals: it runs on the new Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy (3 nm) chip, with 12 GB (or in some markets up to 16 GB) RAM and up to 1 TB UFS 4.0 storage — offering significantly improved CPU/GPU/NPU performance, especially for AI tasks, gaming, and heavy multitasking.
- Advanced quad‑camera system: 200 MP wide main sensor, plus a 50 MP ultrawide, a 50 MP periscope telephoto (5× optical zoom), and a 10 MP telephoto (3× optical zoom) — giving flexibility from ultra‑wide through detailed telephoto shots, and strong performance in varied lighting.
- 5,000 mAh battery with 45 W fast wired charging, wireless charging (Qi2) and reverse wireless charging — balancing long battery life with flexible charging options.
- Durable, premium build: Titanium‑frame body, protected by Corning Gorilla Armor 2 glass, with IP68 dust/water resistance, ultrasonic in‑display fingerprint sensor, modern connectivity (5G, Wi‑Fi 7, Bluetooth, UWB, USB‑C), and long‑term software support (Android 15 / One UI 7, promised 7 major OS/security updates).
Is the built-in S Pen worth paying for?
Yes, the S25 Ultra has an S Pen stored inside the phone, and it is included with the device. It is useful for handwriting, drawing, precise selection and editing, navigation, and screenshots. If you regularly annotate documents, sketch, or prefer a stylus for fine control, having it built in is a practical differentiator.
There is an important change for owners of earlier Ultra models: the S25 Ultra’s S Pen lacks Bluetooth-based functions such as remote camera control and air gestures, according to the historical deal coverage. Do not buy it expecting those remote features. The integrated pen also comes in a large, substantial phone, so it is a poor fit if you want a compact or lighter handset and will rarely use the stylus.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How to compare the real cost
Start with the checkout cash price for the exact phone, then account for tax, any needed charger, and any trade-in or activation requirements. A trade-in credit is not the same as an immediate price reduction: its value depends on the device and offer terms. Samsung has displayed varying trade-in savings, including different maximums across pages and promotions, so confirm the value for your own device in the current checkout flow or on its trade-in page.
Best Value
- PRIVACY DISPLAY: Automatically hide your screen from those beside you. The built-in privacy display can be preset¹ to turn on when receiving notifications, typing passwords, or using specific apps
- TYPE IT IN. TRANSFORM IT FAST: Enhance any shot in seconds on your smartphone by using Photo Assist² with Galaxy AI.³ Add objects, restore details, or apply new styles by simply typing or tapping
- NIGHTS, CAPTURED CLEARLY: From gigs to city lights, record and capture moments after dark with clarity using Nightography so your photos and videos stay crisp and clear on your Samsung Galaxy
- MAKE IT. EDIT IT. SHARE IT: Turn everyday moments into something personal with creative tools built right into your mobile phone, whether it’s a special contact photo, custom wallpaper, an invitation or more⁴
- HELP THAT KEEPS UP: Stay in the moment while Now Nudge with Galaxy AI helps you respond faster and stay organized with smart suggestions⁵ that appear exactly when you need them on your phone
Monthly figures can make offers look more comparable than they are. Samsung’s purchase page showed an example of $54.17 per month for 24 months, while Best Buy’s listing showed a suggested $48.75 per month for 24 months. These examples are not universal totals; verify APR, eligibility, down payment, taxes, fees, and account requirements, and multiply the payment by the term to check the financed amount. Do not compare a financed offer with a cash discount until you know the full amount payable.
Should you buy now, choose open-box, or wait?
Buy new if the S Pen matters and the price fits
The S25 Ultra makes the most sense for someone who specifically wants a built-in stylus, a versatile camera array, a large display, and long stated software support. At the observed $1,169.99 new unlocked price, it is less expensive than Samsung’s observed direct one-time price, but it is not the old $1,065 deal. If you can find a verified new, unlocked 256GB unit near $1,065 with no unwanted activation or financing conditions, that would match the historical price point.
Compare generations if you already own an S24 Ultra
An S24 Ultra owner who is satisfied with the phone has less reason to pay a premium for a modest generation step, especially if the S Pen’s remote functions matter. Compare the current price and capabilities of the newer Ultra generation before deciding; no precise newer-model price is established here. If you do not use the S Pen, a Galaxy S25 or S25+ may be a better-value fit, while Pixel Pro phones may suit buyers who prioritize Google’s software and computational photography. Check current pricing and support terms rather than assuming any alternative is cheaper.
Choose open-box only if the condition and terms work for you
The observed $619.99 open-box “Good” listing is far below the new unlocked price, but condition, included accessories, warranty, and returns are different considerations. It may suit a value-focused buyer who can inspect the phone and confirm coverage. For a gift, factory-sealed packaging, or a risk-averse purchase, the new listing is easier to evaluate.
Quick Recap
When to wait
- Wait or compare if the price is only slightly below $1,299.99 and you do not need a phone immediately.
- Look at a newer Ultra model if having the latest Samsung hardware is more important than the S25 Ultra’s discount.
- Compare carrier promotions only after checking activation, installment, trade-in, and service requirements against an unlocked cash purchase.
- Choose a smaller Galaxy model if the Ultra’s size and weight matter more to you than its pen and camera flexibility.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
