The Galaxy S24 andGalaxy S24 Pluswere incremental improvements over previous generations , but those small betterment resulted in a bigger overall advance than it first seemed . Fast - forward a twelvemonth , and Samsung has followed the same mold again , but with fewer change than I can think in recent account .
The Galaxy S25 and Galaxy S25 Plus see and feel just like theGalaxy S24series did . Still , while the Galaxy S25 Ultra has a welcome rise in the tv camera section , its smaller sib feature most identical specs to the old multiplication .
Is a sprinkling of raw AI features and two hardware alteration enough ? At first coup d’oeil , it may not seem so , but reckon beneath the surface and you ’ll find something more svelte than ever before . In play , they are n’t deserving the raise from the Galaxy S24 serial but if you ’re come to the ending of a contract with a Galaxy S23 or older , these are probably the rising slope you ’re wait for .
Galaxy S25 / S25 Plus specs, price and availability
The Galaxy S25 serial is available to ordinate today in the U.S. and launch on Feb 7 . The Galaxy S25 starts at $ 800 , while the Galaxy S25 Plus bug out at $ 1,000 . The fundament Galaxy S25 comes with 12 GB of RAM like the rest of the range , but otherwise , the specification are very similar to last year .
Both are available in the same solidifying of colour ; Navy , Icy Blue , Mint , and Silver Shadow uncommitted through all epithelial duct and three colors exclusive to Samsung.com . The three Samsung online single colours are Blueblack , Pinkgold , and Coralred , and while the names suggest one thing , these are much more like the latter part of each name . Having spent meter with all the colors , my favorites are navy , coralred , and mint in that order .
Virtually identical hardware
Put the Galaxy S25 and Galaxy S25 Plus next to last year ’s phones and there ’s a unattackable chance you wo n’t be able to differentiate the dispute . For many people , this is a job but it epitomizes Samsung ’s current mobile strategy ; modest improvement that offer just enough for those upgrading their phones every two to three year . If you have a Galaxy S24 , there ’s no grounds to kick upstairs to the Galaxy S25 , but if you have a Galaxy S23 or older — like my mother and my sister — these phones will be very conversant , yet bid enough improvement to be deal worthwhile .
As the proverb goes , never judge a book by its screening , and nowhere is this more apparent than the design and hardware . There are two key computer hardware changes and they make a prominent difference of opinion than I expected . First , Samsung has made both phones more ergonomically friendly , by round down the corners but retaining a square - ish design . As a result , the phone no longer compass into the palm of your hand as they did in previous years , but alternatively find more bounty and friendly .
This is further raise by the light tactile property . The Galaxy S25 weighs six gramme less than the Galaxy S24 , while the Galaxy S25 Plus weigh seven gramme less . This may seem like a small figure , but it throw a dispute , particularly consider that many people will also use a showcase . It ’s worth noting that the difference is less marked than the Galaxy S25 Ultra — which is a whopping 18 grams lighter than its predecessor — but it makes a remainder in the hands yet . Both telephone set also measure 0.4 mm thin , which is arguably the more crucial advance and they feel markedly more premium as a result .
Beyond these change , you get the same extremely familiar intention that we ’ve come to expect from Samsung . The triple camera frame-up is identical to last class ; even though the Galaxy S25 Ultra received an advance ultrawide tv camera , there are no change to the Galaxy S25 and Galaxy S25 Plus photographic camera . The back features a matt glass finish which is very standardised to the iPhone 16 series , and the tv camera sport a chamfer excogitation that is intimately very to the one featured on the Galaxy Z Fold 6 last year .
On the front , the display are identical to last class as well , and while the Galaxy S25 Ultra has a narrower bezel , there are no visual differences between the Galaxy S25 and S25 Plus and the Galaxy S24 series .
Under the bonnet is where you ’ll find oneself the only other notable difference . Unlike previous years where different region used different processors , this year ’s model all boast a Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy chipset which Samsung take boast customizations design specifically for the Galaxy S25 series . This chipset is also couple with 12 GB of tup across all equipment in the Galaxy S25 chain of mountains , with the groundwork Galaxy S25 getting a bump from 8 GB of RAM in the base of operations Galaxy S24 last year .
The battery is identical to last year , which is n’t to a fault surprising given the slender and lighter body-build . The Galaxy S25 has a 4,000 mAh barrage fire , while the Galaxy S25 Plus has a 4,900 mAh electric battery . While the Galaxy S24 had confutable all - daylight battery life , the Galaxy S24 Plus certainly delivered , and I ’d require that the betterment in the Snapdragon 8 Elite will deliver well all - around shelling animation for all three model this year .
Unfortunately , there is also no improvement in the charge up pep pill with the Galaxy S25 featuring the same 25W charging as the Galaxy S24 series ( and many generations before it ) . It ’s paired with 15W wireless charging , but if you were hoping for rapid charging like the 80W wired and 50W wireless charging from the OnePlus 13 , you ’ll be disappointed .
As cite , the Galaxy S25 cameras have n’t changed from the former generation ( or several before that ) . This mean you get the same triple photographic camera apparatus featuring a 50MP wide camera , a 12MP ultra - wide camera , and a 10MP telephoto camera that offers 3x opthalmic rapid climb . The Galaxy S24 tv camera establish to be dead capable and I await the Galaxy S25 to continue in this venous blood vessel , with some improvements delivered from the new ISP in the upgraded 3 nm chipset .
A sprinkling of AI
Near identical hardware may have you wondering why you should buy the Galaxy S25 series , and the answer depends on whether you want a whole lot of AI , or not . The name of the game is Galaxy AI , and the Galaxy S25 series is load with a clump of fresh AI features as part of One UI 7 , although many of these will be available on other devices as well .
Like the Galaxy S24 series last twelvemonth , the Galaxy S25 comes equipped with circle - to - search , although this has been meliorate with extra multimodal lineament like being able-bodied to look for via audio . This think if you ca n’t get a tune out of your head or you are learn something on societal and want to screw what Song dynasty that is , Circle to Search can help you find it . Circle to Search also recognizes sound numbers , email and universal resource locator on your screen , make it even sluttish to call , substance , or email with just a single tap .
All three Galaxy S25 mannequin come with a new personalized on - equipment LLM , which is designed to con from your usage and improve the outcome you get from Galaxy AI . Crucially , while this is stored in the Knox Vault on your phone , you’re able to transfer this LLM to your next Galaxy twist using Smart Switch , but you ca n’t transfer this to non - Galaxy smartphones .
One of the best Modern Galaxy AI features let you to execute multiple actions with one statement . Dubbed Cross App Actions , this allows you to perform multiple project with one control , which save you considerable time over the current method . One instance that Samsung gave is finding multiple videos on YouTube and summarize them in Samsung Notes .
Much of Galaxy AI involves integrating with the repose of your Samsung devices , and one particularly interesting feature is the ability for Galaxy AI to apply your Galaxy Ring or Galaxy Watch to realize when you ’ve fallen at rest , and then work off your SmartThings - enabled TV . If you ’re like me and utilise a television receiver to avail you fall down asleep , this should aid control that it not only help you fall asleep but also get a good night ’s sopor .
The last celebrated Galaxy AI feature is Now Brief , which proactively offers suggestions via the Now Bar on the whorl screenland . This helps rise any information that Galaxy AI conceive apposite and will change throughout the mean solar day . Like the Pixel Watch 3 series , you may also get a Morning Brief , as well as a briefing summarizing your day at the last of the day .
A familiar feeling
There ’s no denying that the Galaxy S25 serial is nearly identical to the Galaxy S24 serial , but with a few fundamental tweaks . Crucially , the slight and lighter build pull in for a much near in - handwriting experience , which is a welcome improvement , peculiarly if you ’re upgrading from a Galaxy S23 or older . If you have the Galaxy S24 series , none of these changes would be worth promote from , especially as they ultimately offer the same experience and many of the AI features will be available as part of the future One UI 7 upgrade .
The Galaxy S25 serial is nice than I expected , thanks to the thin and lighter computer hardware . It ’s hard to appreciate how meliorate this reach the earpiece experience until you use them , but having spent 90 minutes with Samsung ’s young phones , I ’m far more emotional and concerned than I first was . Whether this is a hold out feeling is yet to be find out , but remain tuned for our full reviews of each of the Galaxy S25 serial to obtain out .
