Samsung's latest flagship device offers impressive hardware capabilities, but many users may not be taking full advantage of its potential due to default settings that don't maximize the user experience. By making a few strategic adjustments, Galaxy S25 Ultra owners can significantly enhance their device's performance, privacy, and usability.
Maximizing Display Quality
The Galaxy S25 Ultra boasts one of the most advanced displays on the market, featuring second-generation Gorilla Armor that reduces reflectivity and enhances color reproduction. However, Samsung doesn't ship the device with its maximum resolution enabled by default. To experience the full glory of the QHD+ screen, users should navigate to Settings > Display > Screen resolution and select the highest available option. While this adjustment will consume more battery power, the S25 Ultra's efficient design still delivers all-day battery life even at maximum resolution settings.
Recommended Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra Settings Changes
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Display Settings
- Screen Resolution: Set to highest QHD+ option
- Navigation: Switch to gesture navigation
- Always-On Display: Change from "Tap to show" to "Always"
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Notification Settings
- Disable pop-up notifications
- Change lock screen notifications to "Cards" view
- Hide sensitive content on lock screen
- Revert notification panel to unified design
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Customization
- Change icon grid to 5x5 layout
- Apply wallpaper color tones to app icons
- Adjust Calendar widget transparency
- Install Good Lock app for additional features
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Privacy & Functionality
- Change side key long-press to Power menu
- Remove unnecessary bloatware
- Create Samsung account for ecosystem benefits
- Set up One Hand Operation+ for easier navigation
Streamlining Navigation and Controls
One of the most impactful changes users can make involves switching from the default three-button navigation system to gesture controls. This modern approach makes the interface more intuitive, with all actions accessible through simple swipes rather than tapping specific on-screen buttons. The change can be made by going to Settings > Display > Navigation bar > Swipe gestures. Additionally, reclaiming the side key's functionality from Bixby to a traditional power menu enhances usability. This adjustment is available in Settings > Advanced features > Side button > Long Press > Power off menu.
Enhancing Privacy and Notification Management
The S25 Ultra's default notification settings can be distracting and potentially compromise privacy. Users who find pop-up notifications disruptive can disable them by navigating to Notifications > Notification pop-up style > Apps to show as brief > Toggle off All apps. For better privacy protection, adjusting lock screen notifications to hide sensitive content prevents others from viewing personal messages. This can be configured in Settings > Notifications > Lock screen notifications > Hide content. The notification panel layout can also be customized to match personal preferences rather than the iOS-inspired split design Samsung has implemented.
Personalizing the Home Screen Experience
Samsung offers robust customization options that allow users to make their device truly their own. The Calendar widget stands out for its adjustable transparency, which maintains functionality without disrupting the visual harmony of the home screen. Changing the icon grid to a 5x5 layout accommodates more apps within thumb's reach, while applying wallpaper color tones to app icons creates a cohesive aesthetic. This can be enabled through Wallpaper and style > Color palette. The Always-On Display feature, when set to Always rather than the default Tap to show, provides constant access to time and date information without requiring interaction.
Removing Bloatware and Adding Useful Tools
Unlike previous generations, the S25 Ultra allows users to uninstall or disable pre-installed applications they don't need. Common candidates for removal include Samsung TV, Microsoft CoPilot, Facebook, Samsung Tutor, and OneDrive. Conversely, adding the Good Lock app from the Galaxy Store unlocks additional Samsung-exclusive features, including the particularly useful One Hand Operation+ function, which enables custom edge gestures for easier navigation on the large device.
Camera Performance Considerations
While the S25 Ultra's cameras generally produce excellent photos with pleasing color reproduction and good computational photography, they still struggle with motion capture. Moving subjects often appear blurry compared to competitors like Google Pixel devices. The white balance also needs improvement when dealing with strong light sources. Despite these limitations, the overall point-and-shoot experience delivers Instagram-worthy photos with vibrant colors and natural detail preservation, particularly noticeable in challenging subjects like black cat fur.
Creating a Samsung Account
For users planning to stay within the Samsung ecosystem, creating a Samsung account provides significant benefits. It enables access to Samsung Wallet, the company's password manager, Galaxy Themes, and the Galaxy Store. Perhaps most importantly, it facilitates seamless transfers when upgrading to future Samsung devices, preserving settings and data for a consistent experience across generations of Galaxy phones.