Samsung has unveiled its highly anticipated Galaxy S25 series, comprising the Galaxy S25 Ultra, Galaxy S25+, and Galaxy S25, marking yet another evolutionary leap in the flagship smartphone market. While the hardware upgrades seem modest this time, Samsung has shifted focus to AI advancements and software refinements to differentiate this year’s lineup. Here’s a comprehensive hands-on review of all three models.
1. Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra: The Flagship King
Design and Build
The Galaxy S25 Ultra showcases a sleeker and more compact design compared to its predecessor, the Galaxy S24 Ultra. The 6.9-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display with thinner bezels (15% slimmer) ensures a more immersive viewing experience while maintaining a smaller and more comfortable footprint. The device is crafted with Gorilla Glass Armor 2 and a titanium frame, enhancing durability and reducing overall weight.
- Dimensions: 162.8 x 77.6 x 8.2mm
- Weight: 218g
- Colors: Titanium Silver Blue, Titanium Green, Titanium White Silver, Titanium Black (with exclusive online colors like Jet Black and Jade Green).
Display
- 6.9-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X with a 1440 x 3088px resolution.
- 2600 nits peak brightness, ensuring excellent visibility in harsh sunlight.
- 120Hz adaptive refresh rate for smooth scrolling and gaming.
Performance
The Ultra is powered by the new Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy (3nm) chipset, featuring:
- Octa-core CPU: 2×4.47 GHz Oryon V2 Phoenix L cores and 6×3.53 GHz Oryon V2 Phoenix M cores.
- GPU: Adreno 830 with enhanced clock speeds.
- Memory configurations: 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB with 12GB of RAM across all variants.
This is the most significant chipset upgrade in recent years, offering higher clock speeds, better energy efficiency, and next-level AI processing.
Cameras
The S25 Ultra introduces an upgraded 50MP ultrawide camera with an f/1.9 aperture, making it perfect for low-light photography. The camera system also includes:
- 200MP main camera with OIS and Laser AF.
- 50MP telephoto with 5x optical zoom.
- 10MP telephoto with 3x optical zoom.
- Front camera: 12MP with Dual Pixel PDAF.
The camera software enhancements, enabled by the Snapdragon 8 Elite’s ISP, deliver better low-light performance, noise reduction, and HDR10+ video recording. Features like Galaxy Log mode for advanced video editing and AI Audio Eraser for sound isolation add value for content creators.
Battery and Charging
The Ultra packs a 5000mAh battery, supporting:
- 45W wired charging (65% charge in 30 minutes).
- 15W wireless charging.
- 4.5W reverse wireless charging for accessories.
Other Features
- S Pen changes: The S Pen no longer supports Bluetooth, removing the ability to use Air Gestures and remote camera control.
- Samsung Knox Matrix ensures enhanced security.
2. Samsung Galaxy S25+: The Balanced Performer
Design and Display
The S25+ retains the clean and familiar design language of its predecessor but is slightly thinner (7.3mm) and lighter (190g). It features a 6.7-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display, offering vibrant visuals with 1440 x 3088px resolution and 2600 nits peak brightness.
Performance
- Powered by the same Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy chipset.
- Available in 256GB and 512GB storage options with 12GB RAM.
Cameras
The camera setup remains unchanged from the S24+, with a 50MP primary camera, a 10MP telephoto lens (3x zoom), and a 12MP ultrawide camera. The enhanced ISP ensures improved performance in low-light conditions and video stabilization.
Battery and Charging
- 4900mAh battery with 45W wired charging and 15W wireless charging.
3. Samsung Galaxy S25: The Compact Powerhouse
Design and Display
The Galaxy S25 is the smallest in the lineup, featuring a 6.2-inch LTPO AMOLED display with 1080 x 2340px resolution. Despite its compact size, it offers the same 120Hz adaptive refresh rate and 2600 nits peak brightness.
- Dimensions: 146.9 x 70.5 x 7.2mm.
- Weight: 162g.
Performance
For the first time, the base Galaxy S25 comes with 12GB of RAM across all configurations. However, it still starts with a 128GB storage option, which feels a bit outdated compared to its siblings.
Cameras
The camera hardware mirrors the S25+ but lacks the Ultra Wideband (UWB) feature.
Battery and Charging
- 4000mAh battery with 25W wired charging and 15W wireless charging.
AI and Software Innovations: One UI 7.0
Samsung’s One UI 7.0 brings extensive AI capabilities and a streamlined user experience:
- AI Select: Automatically detects on-screen content and offers contextual actions like creating GIFs or generating wallpapers.
- Cross-app Actions: Enables seamless interactions across apps, such as booking reservations and sharing locations in one command.
- Natural Language Input: Enhanced voice controls for Gallery search, system settings, and more.
- Now Brief and Now Bar: Personalized daily updates and contextual notifications on your lock screen.
Early Verdict
The Galaxy S25 lineup reflects Samsung’s pivot toward software and AI as the key differentiators. While the S25 Ultra gets some noticeable hardware improvements, the S25+ and S25 remain relatively incremental upgrades.
Pros:
- Powerful Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy across all models.
- Impressive AI-driven software features.
- Long-term software support (7 Android updates).
- Improved durability with Gorilla Glass Armor 2 (Ultra).
Cons:
- Minor camera and battery improvements for S25 and S25+.
- S Pen loses Bluetooth features in the Ultra model.
- Lack of innovative charging or battery tech compared to competitors.
Pricing:
- Galaxy S25 Ultra: Starting at €1,450/£1,250.
- Galaxy S25+: Starting at €1,150/£1,000.
- Galaxy S25: Starting at €900/£800.
The Galaxy S25 Ultra undoubtedly stands out, but the real test lies in whether Samsung’s AI and software refinements can justify the premium pricing for all three models. Stay tuned for in-depth testing and performance benchmarks.
