Prices stayed high, and while most of the newer phones worked better than the S20 Ultra, the spirit remained. The devices were slowly stripped of character and features, and the innovation stopped.

The S25 Ultra starts at $1,249, while the S20 Ultra initially launched at a higher price of $1,399, but now can be found for as low as $199–$250 due to its age. If budget isn’t an issue, the ...