Samsung’sflashy Unpacked effect , originally today , kicked off with chattering about AI , coming directly from its mobile concern chief . Throughout the case , AI was a go back theme , hijacking the public lecture away from exciting hardware innovation .
One of my colleagues even jest about not roll in the hay the phone ’s screen sizing despite the event entering its latter one-half . It was merely a sign of certain distasteful thing to come , along with copious amounts of Apple “ inspirations . ”
And now that I ’ve seen the starting price of the earpiece , which start at roughly $ 1,000 and go up to $ 1,920 in my home food market , I understood why the focus was less on computer hardware , and more on AI .
Good AI, not unique AI
There certainly is n’t enough heart and soul to center over each aspect of the three phones . There are simply not enough ascent to talk about , at all . And Samsung get laid it . But here is the worse part . Even the Galaxy AI foundation Samsung talked about , well , they are n’t truly “ Galaxy founding , ” if at all . The unspoiled specimen of this non - exclusivity arrive as Unpacked was in progress .
Google announced thatGemini Live is going multi - modal , which means it will make sense of painting , YouTube video , and file . This feature is not limited to the Galaxy S25 . TheGalaxy S24series will also get the same upgrade . And so willGoogle ’s Pixel 9series smartphones .
“ We ’ll expand to more Android devices in the coming weeks , ” says Google . The other upgrade — support for multiple app extensions in the same control — will even make it to the iPhone app and the Gemini desktop client . This type of coattail surfing is the name of the game for the Galaxy S25 .
Personal data engine , which take aim to keep the bulk of AI processing local to the twist , is a desirable trait . Apple does it , too , with the Apple Intelligence . And I am fair sure when it come to seclusion and safety , any smartphone shopper will pick a Galaxy over an iPhone .
Writing Assist on the Galaxy S25 series will let you pull off the same lot of trick as … hold off for it … write Tools on the iPhone . And iPad . And the Mac .
R-2 to Searchcan now identify songs . Well , Google Assistant has had that feature for a while now . And so has the iPhone , thanks to its Shazam integration .
The Galaxy AI ’s stack will be capable to read the on - cover substance and have conversations about it . Siri already does thatcourtesy of Apple Intelligence , and so does Gemini on other telephone set .
Features like AI Select look neat in action , but they do n’t stray too far off from what Apple ’s Visual Intelligence passel is attempt to accomplish .
draw Assist can turn your gravelly sketches into cool pictures , thanks to reproductive AI . That facility isalready available on the iPadsunder the Magic Wand recording label , powered by OpenAI ’s flock .
The Now Bar and Now Brief systems are swell , but they do n’t divagate too far off from the alive activity system of rules on iPhones . Plus , uttering the magic words “ Hey Google , fascinate me up on today ’s agenda ” will do that just delicately on your non - Galaxy telephone set , as well . you may see the problem here . There are AI characteristic in the Galaxy S25 , but they do n’t move the phonograph needle .
Upgrades. Um, what?
I have already written a few pick words aboutSamsung ’s lazy design work . alas , the stripe continues with the Galaxy S25 . That ’s not the most disappointing element , though .
The Galaxy S25 and its Plus version only switch to a Modern Qualcomm silicon , and the niceties that come with it , alongside a saltation in RAM digit to 12 GB , up from 8 GB . The store capacity is still 128 GB for the base model . The nearest Samsung store is selling that version to me for a staggering $ 930 . The folks in the U.S. have it sluttish at $ 800 , gratefully .
The television camera computer hardware remains very . A miserable 10 - megapixel telephoto television camera with a lowly 3x optical rapid growth on the $ 1,000 Galaxy S25 Plus ? Come on , Samsung ! Even Apple is offering well note value than that , which in itself is an amazingly bad common law when it comes to getting the most value out of your smartphone binge .
TheOnePlus 13 , at $ 900 , offers a fantastic triad of 50 - megapixel sensors with more innovative zoom optics . It does a secure job at the innovation and a whole bunch of other scene , too .
Let ’s talk about the battery , which is again moribund from the innovation perspective . Silicon carbide batteriesthat offer better density , higher electrical capacity , and increase longevity ? Not in Samsung ’s home . No , Sir ! The Galaxy S25 will pop the question you a 4,000mAh electric battery , with 25W pumped-up charging . There is no native Qi 2 wireless charge documentation . No magnets inside , like Apple ’s MagSafe . Also , you do n’t get the charger in the box if you wanted a little extra Amandine Aurore Lucie Dupin in your face .
The Galaxy S25 Plus is a saving grace , as it reaches 45W wired charging . For comparability , theOnePlus 13offers 100W wire and 50W wireless charge support , mark alongside a $ 100 Charles Frederick Worth of abstemious hit on your notecase , and a charger in the box .
The presentation stack stay on unchanged , as well . Yes , a 120Hz OLED screen is not a uncollectible deal , but that fringe benefit has now trickle down to phones that be half as much .
Those are the fundamental facet that define the spunk of a earphone . Not only is Samsung take us a poor no - upgrade spot with the Galaxy S25 serial , but also attend a wretched competitive pic .
lease ’s talk aboutthe Galaxy S25 Ultra , a bit . The style is here to say , but the Bluetooth - driven motion support is gone . The shelling situation remains identical to its forerunner , and equally laggard when it comes to charging capabilities .
In the camera department , this $ 1,300 phone jumps to a 50 - megapixel ultrawide camera , but the rest of the computer hardware remains the same . As far as capabilities go , Apple is once again the inspiration .
Say hello to Galaxy Log , which arrives nearly two generations lately ( by the iPhone calendar ) to challenge … Apple LOG . Just like Apple , Samsung also exhibit a filmmaker ’s workplace to showcase the deception of Log capture . The company conveniently neglect just how complex people of colour - grade can be , on pricey editing software system , no less .
Audio Magic Eraseris already there on Pixel earpiece , but Samsung ’s implementation does n’t stray too far from the nonsubjective ofAudio Mixing on the iPhone 16 Pro . There is a shade more specificity to Samsung ’s approach , but nothing too original .
Making others look good
Overall , I am finding it really , really hard to grease one’s palms into the Galaxy S25 series . Even going by the stumper price for the U.S. market place , there is little creation to see here .
Samsung is , in fact , on the lose ending against the ambitious Chinese brands on one end , and Apple ’s terrific repute ( and hype - driven execution ) on the other end . There is little breathing blank space for mediocrity in a year that is about to seesome antic developments in the smartphone segment . Samsung is not close-fitting to any of them .
Instead , it ’s conveniently hawking a trio of phones that will have any acuate purchaser asking how they stand out from the competition . For bargain hunting watch , there is hardly any hardheaded ground to look past the late year ’s line - up , which is cheesy , and about as competitive .
As for me , well , I am not splurging a minimum$1,000 on a earphone that offers nothing worth getting excited about on its own unique merit .
Hopefully , the upcomingGalaxy S25 Edgeis exciting enough , but I am more cautious than optimistic about that ever happening .
