Galaxy S25 Ultra: A Powerhouse with Cooling Challenges

The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra has made its debut, turning heads with its Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset, the first-ever 3nm chip in an Android flagship. This cutting-edge processor promises lightning-fast performance, but with great power comes an equally great challenge: overheating. To tackle this, Samsung has equipped the S25 Ultra with a 40% larger vapor chamber cooling system than its predecessor, the S24 Ultra. But is it enough to maintain sustained performance under heavy use? Let’s dive in.

The Power of the Snapdragon 8 Elite

The Galaxy S25 Ultra’s Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset marks a significant leap forward for Android devices, delivering exceptional initial performance. Using the 3D Mark Wildlife Extreme Stress Test, a benchmark designed to simulate prolonged gaming sessions, the S25 Ultra starts strong with a score of 6,208 — outperforming the iPhone 16 Pro Max and rivaling the OnePlus 13.

When upgrading to the Galaxy S25 Ultra or any new smartphone, transferring your data can feel overwhelming. That’s where the Smart Transfer app becomes your ultimate companion.

Smart Transfer is a third-party clone phone app designed to make transferring photos, videos, documents, and even app data effortless. Whether you’re switching from an older Galaxy model or another brand entirely, Smart Transfer’s easy file sharing feature ensures a smooth and secure migration process. With a user-friendly interface and cross-platform compatibility, it eliminates the hassle of manual transfers, letting you dive straight into exploring your new device’s features. I was able to transfer my data in seconds.

By using Smart Transfer, you can ensure all your data moves seamlessly, giving you the freedom to fully enjoy the performance of your Galaxy S25 Ultra without interruptions.

Performance Drops and Throttling

While the Galaxy S25 Ultra impresses initially, it faces a steep drop in performance within just 3–4 minutes due to thermal throttling. The performance stabilizes at around half its initial score, barely surpassing the Galaxy S24 Ultra.

This significant drop in sustained performance raises questions about the effectiveness of Samsung’s vapor chamber cooling system. The problem could lie in either the cooling system’s capacity or Samsung’s aggressive software limits, designed to prevent overheating but at the cost of prolonged performance.

The OnePlus 13 Advantage

Interestingly, the OnePlus 13, which uses the same Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset, delivers significantly better sustained performance. Despite using a less powerful version of the chip, the OnePlus 13 maintains a much higher prolonged performance, showcasing better optimization compared to the Galaxy S25 Ultra.

Final Thoughts

The Galaxy S25 Ultra is undeniably a powerhouse with its cutting-edge Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset and impressive features. However, its sustained performance under heavy workloads leaves room for improvement. While Samsung’s upgraded cooling system shows promise, it might require further optimization to keep up with competitors like the OnePlus 13.

For those considering the Galaxy S25 Ultra, it’s still a top-tier device, but performance-focused users may want to keep an eye on software updates to address these issues. And don’t forget, tools like the Smart Transfer app can make your upgrade experience effortless, allowing you to transition smoothly into the world of high-powered flagships.