Honestly, if youre looking for the best bang for your buck on the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra 512GB, I would suggest looking at these two spots instead:

• Samsung dot com: This is usually where you get the most insane trade-in credits. Be careful though, their site usually crashes during the first hour of pre-orders. Make sure to check for the education or workplace discounts too if you can.
• Best Buy: Might want to consider this if you want to pick it up in person on launch day. They often throw in a gift card, but just a warning, their trade-in values are usually lower than Samsung direct. Carrier deals like Verizon or AT&T look tempting but Id stay away unless youre fine being locked into a 36-month contract... those credits are basically a trap if you like upgrading often. Also, dont forget to budget for a Samsung 45W Power Adapter since they still wont put one in the box. Kind of a joke at this price point but it is what it is. Usually they announce mid-Jan and it hits shelves two weeks later. Just keep an eye on the shop app.

Coming back to this, and honestly, reading about all the pre-order sites is giving me a headache. I have been doing this for years and every single launch is a complete disaster. Youre gonna see shipping delays that last for weeks, and dont even get me started on the trade-in claims they reject for literally no reason. Be careful with the carriers too. They promise all these bill credits but then lock your account down for thirty-six months. It feels like a trap every time. Just make sure you document everything you send them, take photos of your old device, and honestly, keep your expectations low. The stress of release day is never worth the tiny discount they offer.

ProvencalSoleil is spot on about the carrier locking headache. Honestly, those 36-month bill credits are basically just a leash. If you want to avoid that, buy it unlocked. I prefer using Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra 512GB unlocked because it keeps your resale value higher and you arent tethered to a single network. If you go this route, grab an unlocked unit and check out Anker 737 Charger GaNPrime 120W for the fastest charging speeds since you dont get a brick in the box anymore. TL;DR: Avoid carrier deals, buy unlocked to keep your freedom, and grab a high-wattage charger so you actually hit those advertised charging speeds.

You will be able to pre-order at Amazon, B&H Photo Video.

Release date is expected in late January to early February.