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Throughout history it’s been easy to view mobile gaming as low down in the video game pecking order. Since the debut of the iconic Snake in 1997, gaming on a mobile phone has earned the reputation as casual entertainment for the masses. While undeniably fun, next to powerful PCs and consoles, gamers sometimes see it as the humble cousin-once-removed of the gaming experience.
But, it’s 2025; times have changed. Not only is there a host of excellent mobile games available, but huge advancements in mobile technology mean phones now run games to an impressive standard.
Samsung’s latest flagship phone, the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra, is a prime example of such pocket-sized powerhouses. Shay Thomson is a gaming presenter (and dedicated “console girlie”) who doesn’t dabble in much mobile gaming. We set her the challenge of gaming with only the S25 Ultra for a week – here’s how she got on.
1. Game visuals are next-level
Gone are the days of phones struggling to keep up with 3D rendering. The S25 Ultra has a custom-built Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy chipset under the hood, meaning even the most graphic intensive games can run as smoothly as butter at high frame rates.
"Thanks to the processor, games had a clarity and smoothness that felt very premium."
Shay Thomson
And with AI-algorithm processing, Samsung’s ProScaler means you can even get HD visuals for games that weren’t designed with top-tier graphics. Coupled with the 1~120 Hz adaptive refresh rate on the 6.9” Dynamic AMOLED 2x Display, you might find you’re just as immersed when playing on the S25 Ultra as your go-to PC monitor.
2. A battery that can go the distance
A common bug bear with handheld gaming is the time limit a battery-powered device offers. Because our phones serve multiple purposes, it’s easy to assume that they won’t be able to handle gaming for long on top of everything else.
That’s not the case with the S25 Ultra – far from it. Not only does the phone have a significant 5000 mAh battery, but Galaxy AI1 learns how you use your phone to prevent power being used up on other things while you're trying to beat that final boss.
Shay found the AI-optimised battery life a dream. She says, “To my shame, there was a day where I spent 4 hours straight playing games – I know, I need to touch grass. But the battery only got as low as 20%, which was impressive.”
The S25 Ultra doesn’t get hot while you’re gaming, either. Thanks to the Vapor Chamber cooling system, the battery and processor keep their cool during graphic-heavy gaming – so you can, too.
3. Stay immersed, no interruptions
Our phones are our centres of communication – they’re personal assistants in our pockets, after all. Notifications can be the death of immersive gaming, whatever platform you’re gaming on. The last thing you want is your mum calling or texting you while you’re on the verge of crossing the line first in a racing game.
Game Booster is an intuitive feature that the S25 Ultra boasts. You can filter out certain notifications, or all of them, to make sure your session goes uninterrupted by ping sounds and on-screen notifications.
Shay adds, “With a varied games library, you ideally want different settings to optimise each experience. I found Game Booster helpful, because it lets you tailor every game’s settings to focus on performance, for the smoothest possible gameplay, or opting to preserve the battery life.”
There you have it: it’s the thumbs up for the S25 Ultra from a dedicated console gamer. If you have doubts about whether mobile gaming is for you, experiencing it on the S25 Ultra might just change your mind.
"The S25 Ultra will slot very nicely into my current ecosystem, especially for gaming on the go."
Shay Thomson
Visit the Samsung website to find out more about the power under the hood of the S25 Ultra.
1Samsung account login is required for certain AI features.
