Samsung’s Galaxy S25 is the child bear of the collection, with the bigger S25 Plus and S25 Extremely launching alongside to supply massive telephone followers one thing to wrap their arms round. With a drought of compact telephones outdoors the Apple camp, although, the S25 will doubtless be essentially the most compelling of the three for a lot of.
This yr, Samsung’s placing a Snapdragon 8 Elite processor – sometimes reserved for the Extremely – in all three S25 telephones within the EU and the US. So, it’s protected to count on a efficiency increase and usually a extra secure expertise throughout warmth administration and battery life.
The Galaxy S25 additionally boasts a great-looking show, slim bezels, all Samsung’s new AI smarts and 7 years of working system updates. All these issues lay the muse for greatness, however when a telephone is so slim and so gentle, cameras sometimes take a success.
With the identical digicam rear spec because the S24, S23 and S22 earlier than it, I’m going into this evaluation with tempered expectations. Positive, the brand new telephone will profit from some 2025 photograph processing and AI smarts, however you’ll be able to solely achieve this a lot with midrange digicam {hardware}.
Within the S25’s favor, it prices the identical because the competitors, particularly the Google Pixel 9 and iPhone 16, however that’s for the 128GB storage mannequin. Once you begin including storage, the 256GB model takes on the extra specced-out OnePlus 13, or you would decide up the much less highly effective however Leica co-engineered Xiaomi 14T Professional for significantly much less. Alternatively, for anybody who desires a smaller system, the Xiaomi 15 is predicted to launch imminently within the West at an analogous worth to the Galaxy S25.
With all this competitors, does Samsung’s premium, pocketable flagship deserve a spot in your palm, or would you be higher off choosing options that arguably supply extra for much less?
Samsung Galaxy S25 design
The Galaxy S25 appears a bit like a smartphone by numbers – the type of design that pops up if you kind “smartphone” right into a inventory picture library search bar, however that isn’t essentially a foul factor. The compact dimension makes it comfy to carry, the flat sides make it simple to grip, and the rounded corners nuzzle comfortably right into a palm.
Product of aluminum across the body and Gorilla Glass Victus 2 on the back and front with IP68 water and mud resistance, regardless of being so skinny and lightweight, there’s a level of sturdiness assurance right here too. That stated, it misses out on the titanium and anti-reflective show of the S25 Extremely.
At simply 7.2mm skinny, it’s one of many slimmest telephones in the marketplace, and weighing 162g, it feels nearly featherweight after utilizing chunky smartphones just like the Honor Magic 7 RSR and iPhone 16 Professional Max.
Whereas its design is protected, the Galaxy S25 nonetheless appears good, with commonplace colour choices together with Icy Blue, Mint, Navy, and Silver Shadow, and extra accessible on-line. Every sports activities a matte end that does a fantastic job of preserving fingerprints at bay, and the matte body is color-matched for a cohesive look.
In the end, whereas Samsung isn’t shaking issues up, the Galaxy S25’s compact design, premium really feel, and tasteful end guarantee it’s comfy to make use of, seems like a flagship, and appears the half too.
Samsung Galaxy S25 display
A part of the Galaxy S25’s attraction is its compact show, which is matched with an ultra-thin bezel (launched on the S24), making the entrance of the telephone look splendidly immersive.
At 6.2 inches, there’s loads of room to kind on the S25’s display comfortably with one hand or two, with out something feeling like a stretch. The flat sides additionally assist guarantee it’s comfy to make use of in each portrait or panorama when gaming for instance, so the ergonomics of the display are a win off the bat.
Samsung’s AMOLED screens are sometimes a number of the greatest on the market, and the S25 shows vibrant, wealthy colours, spectacular distinction, and ample brightness for comfy out of doors use. It’s additionally sharp with spectacular viewing angles, making it a little bit of a house run regardless of no large upgrades over the S24.
Entering into some numbers, the 2340 x 1080 decision means the S25 showcases round 416 pixels in each inch of display, whereas the 2600 nits peak brightness is class-leading on the dimension. With a easy 1-120Hz refresh charge, content material glides, and when watching content material again, Netflix HDR10 certification means it’s simple to take full benefit of the standard on supply.
Samsung Galaxy S25 digicam specs
The Galaxy S25 has three cameras across the again and one on the entrance, with the identical sensor and lens specs because the Galaxy S24, S23, and S22 across the again:
24mm broad digicam: 50MP, 1/1.56-inch sensor with an f/1.8 lens and OIS.
67mm telephoto digicam: 10MP, 1/3.94-inch sensor with an f/2.4 lens and OIS.
13mm ultra-wide digicam: 12MP, 1/2.55-inch sensor with an f.2,2 lens.
26mm entrance digicam: 12MP, 1/3.2-inch sensor with an f/2.2, fixed-focus lens.
Samsung’s capturing modes are complete, with enjoyable choices and extra superior options. This yr, Samsung introduces LOG video, which captures as much as 8K decision, 30fps from the primary digicam, and 4K decision, 60fps from the secondary cameras.
The Galaxy S25 additionally helps Professional RAW, which is like Professional mode, so it affords full handbook management however takes benefit of the telephone’s energy to composite RAW photographs with better dynamic vary for much more flexibility within the edit.
Samsung has additionally improved the nighttime video seize on the S25, with every body within the video being a composite of exposures made doable by the ability within the Snapdragon 8 Elite.
Samsung Galaxy S25 digicam evaluation
The primary level to get out of the way in which relating to S25 image high quality is that the first digicam is the clear champion, with each the ultra-wide and telephoto cameras being weaker.
As we enter an period of flagship telephones with secondary cameras not dropping the ball, every holding its personal when wanted, the Galaxy S25 exhibits the collection’ digicam {hardware} hasn’t advanced to rival telephones just like the Google Pixel 9, Oppo Discover X8, Vivo X200, and even Vivo’s higher midrange V Collection, with the V40 Professional doing a strong job throughout its rear digicam combine.
Regardless of secondary digicam limitations, between 0.6-5x zoom, in vivid environments, all three pull up a usable shot. Samsung’s photograph processing has improved, and whereas it isn’t our favourite, it’s reliably ok when the sunshine is correct, with wholesome of shadow and spotlight element.
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Samsung likes saturation and sharpening, however this will additionally detract from images captured in low gentle, with synthetic colour launched in a bid to zing up the shot. Particularly, the S25 tended to create purple tints in brightened shadows.
When zooming at 3x or past, the S25 will doubtless simply be cropping into the first digicam. Samsung is aware of the 10MP, 3x zoom digicam could be very weak in all however the perfect lighting, so an in-sensor fundamental digicam crop is healthier more often than not. Indoors, subsequently, we wouldn’t transcend 3-4x zoom if we wished shareable pictures. Open air, nonetheless, AI kicks in to wash issues up.
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It’s a disgrace the ultra-wide doesn’t function autofocus. Nevertheless, it does seize with a really broad discipline of view, and distortion isn’t extreme, which is useful.
At evening, the S25 advantages from a strong auto evening mode. Nevertheless, it may well create muddy-looking pictures when there’s blended lighting or synthetic gentle to deal with, although the primary digicam does the perfect job of countering this.
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We had been additionally underwhelmed with the portrait mode on the S25, which usually advantages from a top quality zoom which is missing on Samsung’s telephone. Whereas outcomes look respectable on first impression, with nice edge detection, in comparison with portraits we took on some Oppo, OnePlus, Vivo, and Xiaomi telephones, the S25 is weak if you pinch into pictures, with mediocre lowlight outcomes and weaker element.
One spotlight is video, particularly from the primary digicam. In vivid environments, footage appears nice, and at evening, publicity is considerably boosted, producing a good quantity of noise, however pulling out element the place different telephones wrestle. For fanatics, it’s simple to override this with the brand new LOG seize, giving video fanatics a fantastic device once they want extra management over their footage.
Samsung Galaxy S25 efficiency and battery
Whereas the digicam of the Pixel 9 edges forward of that of the S25, one space we are able to’t fault Samsung’s flagship is efficiency. Powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite, it delivers notable efficiency enhancements over final yr’s chip, which translate into significant day-to-day advantages together with much less warmth buildup, a lot better gaming efficiency and a longer-lasting battery. It’s head and shoulders above the Galaxy S24 on this respect, and the Pixel 9 and 9 Professional as nicely.
The S25 additionally will get 12GB RAM, similar to the S25 Extremely, with storage choices together with 128GB, 256GB, and 512GB. We want Samsung began at 256GB with out bumping up the beginning worth as 128GB isn’t sufficient for many customers at present – and that will make the telephone extra aggressive – nonetheless, Apple and Google are additionally beginning at 128GB, so let’s have a look at who makes the leap first.
Gaming efficiency on the S25 is noteworthy, simply due to how skinny and lightweight the telephone is. Sure, it will get heat, however you’ll be able to play top-tier titles at excessive graphics settings with out extreme frames being dropped. That is additionally doubtless all the way down to the vapour chamber cooling the S25 will get over the S24, and with its flat sides and display, it’s additionally very comfy to carry in panorama orientation and recreation on.
The S25 runs Android 15 with One UI 7 and guarantees seven years of OS and safety updates, matching Google’s Pixel 9 and 9 Professional. This can be a nice purpose to purchase the S25; nonetheless, the brand new Galaxy AI options most likely aren’t.
Now Temporary creates personalised AI-generated summaries of the climate, information, and notifications that get to know you extra over time. Within the two weeks we spent utilizing the telephone, the summaries didn’t transcend recommending songs or playlists on Spotify or movies on YouTube.
Stay translation and text-to-image drawing help additionally be a part of the occasion, together with all of Samsung’s current AI options launched on the Galaxy S24, together with recording transcription and abstract, picture enhancing instruments, plus Google’s Circle to Search and Gemini.
Fortunately, the core Samsung expertise is easy, customizable, and doesn’t depend on AI to promote the telephone, given it’s good to have greater than a necessity for the time being.
One factor that isn’t simply good to have is nice battery life, and the Galaxy S24’s modest 4000mAh cell stunned us with its glorious efficiency. Lasting a really comfy day with 15-20% remaining by the top of a protracted day, that is certainly one of a handful of compact powerhousees that gained’t allow you to down.
Whereas charging could possibly be faster at simply 25W wired and 15W wi-fi as a result of the battery isn’t large, the telephone powers up absolutely in round 75 minutes, which isn’t nice, but it surely isn’t a dealbreaker. Samsung additionally affords a Qi2-style magnetic charging case for wi-fi power-ups. Nevertheless, it’s a disgrace it doesn’t ship with one out of the field or, higher nonetheless, embrace magnetic charging and not using a case.
Samsung Galaxy S25 verdict
Whereas the digicam is usually good, seldom nice, and sometimes dangerous, the remainder of the Galaxy S25 expertise is phenomenal, helped in no small half by the brand new Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset
Day-to-day use, battery life, gaming efficiency, and warmth administration are improved, and the spectacular show, customizable interface, and long-term future-proofing solely assist the S25’s case.
So, whereas on-paper upgrades could seem immaterial, for anybody searching for a compact, skinny telephone, you’ll be hard-pressed to search out higher than the S25. Nevertheless, should you’re completely happy compromising on slimness, you may get a greater digicam and extra storage for a similar or lower than Samsung’s charging.
Samsung Galaxy S25 options
The Google Pixel 9 is the plain various to the S25. It’s the identical worth, has a greater digicam, and shares an analogous compact type, although is chunkier. Whereas its digicam wins out for us, although, efficiency falls manner behind for gaming, and with its weaker chipset, it’s additionally doubtless much less future-proofed from a {hardware} perspective, even when the software program promise matches that of Samsung.
If you happen to don’t thoughts an even bigger telephone, the OnePlus 13’s cameras are rather more aggressive, its charging is way sooner, and its additionally higher for gaming given the additional room for warmth dissipation. That stated, OnePlus gained’t match Samsung’s software program help.
Alternatively, the Xiaomi 14 and upcoming Xiaomi 15 could possibly be nice choices. Extra compact than the OnePlus 13, each telephones function Leica co-engineered cameras and a a lot better telephoto system. Identical to OnePlus, although, Xiaomi’s software program promise falls behind Samsung and Google’s.