Samsung has officially unveiled its much-anticipated Galaxy S25 series, comprising the Galaxy S25 Ultra, S25+, and the S25. While the lineup doesn’t feature radical hardware changes compared to its predecessors, Samsung is heavily relying on software innovation and AI-driven capabilities to stand out in the highly competitive flagship market. Here’s our comprehensive hands-on review of all three models.
Galaxy S25 Ultra: The Flagship Leader
Design & Build
The Galaxy S25 Ultra sports a refined design, thinner bezels, and a 6.9-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display, slightly larger than last year’s Ultra. Despite the bigger screen, Samsung has managed to keep the device more compact by slimming down the bezels by 15%. The Ultra is also thinner (8.2mm) and lighter, weighing 218g, thanks to its titanium frame and Gorilla Glass Armor 2.
The device is available in several stunning colors: Titanium Black, Titanium Green, Titanium Silver Blue, and Titanium White Silver, with exclusive online shades like Jet Black and Jade Green.
Display
The 6.9-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X panel offers a resolution of 1440 x 3088 pixels, supports 120Hz adaptive refresh rate, and reaches a peak brightness of 2600 nits. Samsung has also introduced a new DX anti-reflection coating, making the display more legible under direct sunlight.
Camera System
The Ultra receives notable upgrades in the camera department, including:
- A new 50MP ultrawide sensor with an f/1.9 aperture for improved low-light and 8K video recording.
- A 200MP primary camera, ensuring stunning detail and advanced computational photography.
- Dual telephoto lenses: 50MP (5x optical zoom) and 10MP (3x optical zoom).
The camera app redesign now places the mode carousel below the shutter button, improving accessibility. Software advancements like AI Audio Eraser and Galaxy Log mode add exciting functionality.
Performance
The Ultra is powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy, featuring higher clock speeds and improved GPU/NPU performance compared to its predecessor. Benchmarks show impressive results, with the Ultra achieving over 10,000 points in multi-core tests on Geekbench 6.
Battery Life & Charging
- 5000mAh battery.
- 45W wired charging (65% in 30 minutes).
- 15W wireless charging and 4.5W reverse wireless charging.
S Pen Changes
One controversial move is the removal of Bluetooth connectivity from the S Pen. Features like remote camera shutter and Air gestures are now gone. While this might disappoint some users, Samsung claims these features were underutilized.
Galaxy S25+ and S25: The Slimmed-Down Mid-Tier Options
Design & Build
Both the Galaxy S25+ and S25 have received slight design refinements. Both devices are now 0.4mm thinner, making them easier to handle. The S25+ weighs 190g, while the S25 is the lightest at 162g. The materials remain the same as last year: Armor Aluminum frames and Gorilla Glass Victus 2 for front and back panels.
The color options are diverse, with the S25+ and S25 offering shades like Navy, Mint, and Silver Shadow, alongside exclusive options like Coral Red and Pink Gold.
Display
- Galaxy S25+: 6.7-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X panel with 1440 x 3088 resolution and a 2600-nit peak brightness.
- Galaxy S25: 6.2-inch Dynamic LTPO AMOLED 2X panel with 1080 x 2340 resolution.
Both displays retain 120Hz refresh rates, ensuring buttery-smooth visuals.
Camera System
The camera hardware for the S25+ and S25 remains unchanged from their predecessors:
- 50MP primary sensor with f/1.8 aperture.
- 10MP telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom.
- 12MP ultrawide sensor, which still lacks autofocus.
However, the new Snapdragon 8 Elite ISP and Samsung’s ProVisual Engine ensure better low-light video and computational photography.
Performance
The Galaxy S25 and S25+ also benefit from the Snapdragon 8 Elite chip. The S25 now ships with 12GB RAM across all configurations, which is a welcome improvement.
Battery Life & Charging
- S25+: 4900mAh with 45W wired charging.
- S25: 4000mAh with 25W wired charging.
Both models support 15W wireless charging and reverse wireless charging.
Software: One UI 7.0 and AI Innovations
Samsung’s One UI 7.0 introduces significant updates, particularly in AI-driven features:
- AI Select: Enhances Smart Select, allowing users to create GIFs, extract content, and perform detailed searches based on on-screen content.
- Circle to Search: Analyzes screen content and audio to identify music tracks and contextual information.
- Cross-App Actions: Lets users complete multi-step tasks across apps using natural language commands.
- Now Brief and Now Bar: Offers personalized updates on your schedule, favorite content, and live updates.
With 7 years of Android and security updates, Samsung is setting a benchmark for software longevity.
Early Verdict
Pros
- Powerful Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy chipset.
- Refined designs and slimmer profiles.
- Significant software and AI advancements with One UI 7.0.
- Excellent camera quality, especially on the S25 Ultra.
- 7 years of software support.
Cons
- Minimal hardware upgrades for the S25 and S25+.
- Loss of Bluetooth functionality in the S Pen.
- No standout hardware innovations like faster charging or new materials.
Pricing
- S25 Ultra: €1,450/£1,250.
- S25+: €1,150/£1,000.
- S25: €900/£800.
Final Thoughts
The Galaxy S25 series showcases Samsung’s continued focus on software innovation and AI integration while maintaining a solid foundation of high-quality hardware. The Galaxy S25 Ultra remains the flagship to beat, offering cutting-edge performance, superior camera quality, and a premium design. However, the S25 and S25+ feel like incremental updates, which may leave users wanting more.
Ultimately, whether the Galaxy S25 lineup can stand out in an increasingly competitive market will depend on how well users embrace its software-driven innovations.
