The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra, the latest flagship device from the tech giant, has sparked a debate about the future of smartphones. According to David Pierce, editor-at-large and co-host of The Vergecast, the S25 Ultra marks the end of an era for flagship phones, with the industry having finally reached the final form of the iPhone-inspired candy bar design.

This sentiment is echoed by Allison Johnson, who shared her experiences with the S25 Ultra on The Vergecast. Despite the phone being an excellent device, Johnson expressed underwhelm, suggesting that there may not be much left to innovate in terms of design and features. This raises questions about the future of flagship phones and whether we can expect to see significant changes in the coming years.

The S25 Ultra is part of Samsung's Galaxy S25 lineup, which has been met with a lukewarm response from critics and consumers alike. While the phone boasts impressive specs and features, it lacks a truly innovative design or game-changing functionality. This has led many to wonder if the industry has reached a plateau, with manufacturers struggling to push the boundaries of what is possible with smartphone design.

One potential area of innovation is the development of new phone shapes, such as flipping, folding, or tri-folding designs. However, despite rumors and concept designs, these types of devices have yet to gain mainstream traction. It remains to be seen whether 2025 will be the year that a new phone shape finally takes off.

In addition to the S25 Ultra, The Vergecast also discussed the implications of data privacy in China, with Cooper Quintin, a senior staff technologist at the Electronic Frontier Foundation, joining the show to share his insights. Quintin highlighted the importance of considering the privacy and security risks associated with apps connected to China, such as TikTok, RedNote, and DeepSeek.

Finally, the episode touched on the demise of the Meta Portal, a video calling gadget that is no longer available for purchase. The Verge's Jennifer Pattison Tuohy joined the discussion to explore alternative options for video calling, highlighting the Echo Show 8 as a top choice.

As the smartphone industry continues to evolve, it remains to be seen what the future holds for flagship devices. Will manufacturers find new ways to innovate and push the boundaries of design and functionality, or have we reached the end of an era? Only time will tell.