Extra highly effective, however extra of the identical

Over a yr because it dipped into generative synthetic intelligence, Samsung’s Galaxy S-series telephones at the moment are the vanguard for its gen-AI options. This yr, we’re getting even deeper hooks into Google’s Gemini AI assistant and extra built-in software program methods than ever earlier than. On the identical time, nonetheless, the Galaxy S25 arrives with marginal {hardware} upgrades over final yr’s S24.

Whereas there’s a case of “if it ain’t broke, don’t repair it,” you’ll have to stare onerous on the spec sheets to identify the variations between this yr’s telephone and the 2024 mannequin. With the Galaxy S25, there’s a triple-camera system, a 6.2-inch Full HD+ display screen and help for the ever-improving Galaxy AI, which the corporate appears to be prioritizing this yr — even when it isn’t fairly sufficient to hold a wholly new gadget.

{Hardware} and design

Barring a robust new chip, the S25 is an enormous serving of deja vu from a {hardware} perspective. You could possibly revisit final yr’s S24 overview to get the gist.

Samsung determined thinner is the brand new course this time round. Galaxy S25 Edge apart, this yr’s vary has been slimmed down. I feel the S25 is tangibly thinner – however that’s as a result of I used to be in a position to evaluate it with a Galaxy S24 side-by-side. It’s much less of a promoting level when measuring a change of 0.4 millimeters.

After a number of years of carrying round and testing telephones with screens over 6.5 inches, having the S25 with me is refreshing. Even when the 6.2-inch display screen is slightly small for intensive Netflix or YouTube watching, just like the 6.3-inch Pixel 9 Professional, it stays loads large for just about every little thing else. The 2X AMOLED display screen tops out at 2,600 nits, which is loads brilliant sufficient, with variable refresh charges that prime out at 120Hz.

I obtained the Silver Shadow S25 with a frosted sheen, which I really like. It’s not probably the most eye-catching possibility, nonetheless. I feel the wealthy Navy blue is my decide. However who’re we kidding? Most of us throw our telephones into circumstances – and I’ll do the identical as soon as my case will get right here.

Oddly sufficient, one of many upgrades with the S25 includes including a case: help for quicker Qi2 charging (and magnetic latching) is barely potential via suitable circumstances. These circumstances, nonetheless, weren’t out there for this overview. My colleague Sam Rutherford explains all of it right here; however at the least there’s some compatibility, which was missing in final yr’s Galaxy telephones.

Cameras

Samsung makes among the greatest smartphones for pictures, which is fortunate as a result of the S25’s digicam sensors seem similar to final yr’s. Which themselves are the identical because the yr earlier than. Hmm.

As a refresher, that features a 50-megapixel main sensor, a 12MP ultra-wide shooter and a 10MP 3x telephoto digicam with a front-facing 12MP digicam. for those who’re in search of 5x zoom and high-res sensors, it’s best to take a look at the Galaxy S25 Extremely (or the Pixel 9 Professional) — however the setup on the bottom S25 nonetheless works properly, regardless of the getting old sensors.

I used to be pleasantly shocked with the S25’s sheer consistency. Most of my pictures have been crisp and objects have been in focus, though I most well-liked the iPhone 16’s leads to darker circumstances. I discovered that the Galaxy S25 tends to course of photos in a different way between the telephoto and first sensor, with some night-time pictures popping out a bit amber-hued.

Samsung’s claims that the brand new Snapdragon 8 Elite would assist low-light efficiency are additionally correct. The corporate says that with the chip’s energy, the S25 collection can higher analyze noise, even detecting shifting and static objects and processing them in a different way. Samsung’s computational pictures has additionally improved on the subject of tough capturing circumstances. Digital zoom, at 10x, appears crisper and provides extra usable pictures than its predecessors.

When you’re prepared to dip right into a separate digicam app, Samsung’s Skilled RAW options one other new possibility: digital aperture. I’ve struggled to discern a tangible distinction whereas capturing with the S25. It seems to be a extra superior model of Portrait mode, with out requiring the telephone to establish an individual or topic to use a gentle bokeh to the background. The impact is reasonably profitable, however calls for degree of sunshine. I discovered it struggled to use a digital aperture impact in darkish environments.

Sadly, the function is hidden away within the experimental part of Samsung’s Skilled RAW digicam app, which must be downloaded individually. This digicam app is for energy customers who demand handbook controls, and it’s nice that it’s out there. Nonetheless, plenty of (possibly most) potential S25 patrons received’t want it, and even comprehend it exists

One other under-the-hood enchancment is inside S25’s gallery, the place the search function has improved categorization and makes it typically simpler to seek out what you’re in search of. As I typed, it’d counsel WhatsApp photos, places and extra. Samsung says it’s added 2.7 instances extra key phrases, which is delightfully particular.

Whereas pictures remains to be comparable, spec-wise, on the S25, Samsung has considerably improved video for extra seasoned cinematographers. This yr’s telephones may even seize video in HDR by default, whereas a brand new Galaxy Log mode means you may seize log video for improved dynamic vary. It’ll additionally imply you may apply extra correct shade grading for those who wish to edit movies and get in deep. Video can also be recorded in 10-bit shade, providing extra latitude for editors. Nonetheless, like I mentioned, that is for people already neck-deep in utilizing LUTs, with a suitable modifying app on the prepared.

With Audio Eraser. Samsung has caught up with Apple and Google. That is its personal post-processing function for recording video in louder environments. It faucets into AI to nix particular environmental noises, like wind, water and site visitors. The impact isn’t fairly as spectacular in actual life as throughout Samsung’s S25 launch keynote, nonetheless.

When confronted with the erratic avenue site visitors noise, Audio Eraser’s computerized setting compressed the audio fairly severely, leaving my voice sounding slightly gurgly and crunchy. It’s just like audio with noise cancellation on Google Meet and WhatsApp voice notes. I used to be positively extra audible – nevertheless it wasn’t straightforward listening.

The upgrades are welcome, however given the iPhone 16’s Digital camera Management button and the Pixel 9’s newest software program methods like Add Me, Samsung’s cameras have had a weaker exhibiting than the competitors.

Software program

Software program additions don’t cease on the digicam app. There’s a scattering of latest options throughout the board with the S25. Essentially the most instantly noticeable replace is extra of a duo: Now Bar and Now Temporary. The Now Bar is a brand new lockscreen tile — half contextual data panel and half notification banner. With rolling Google Maps navigation directions and media enjoying capabilities, we’ve seen many of those concepts on the iPhone’s Dynamic Island. Samsung’s model is extra restricted, at the least for now.

Embarrassingly, solely eight apps (or options) can seem on the Now Bar, together with the clock, sports activities notifications from Google and a voice recorder. It’s underwhelming. If third-party app makers (or extra Google apps) could make their method into the Bar, it might be extra useful, however as it’s, it’s barely greater than a lock-screen widget.

The Now Temporary, equally, might use slightly extra meat. I hate to make one other Apple comparability, nevertheless it’s a extra accessible model of the iPhone’s summaries generated in Notifications. The Now Temporary populates with related notifications, climate summaries and even site visitors steerage, all of which is probably most useful within the mornings. It’ll additionally generate day by day summaries accessible from a widget on the S25’s dwelling display screen. I’ll be strapping on a Galaxy Watch to see how these work together with health objectives and wellness, so keep tuned for extra perception right here.

(Sidenote: Google Uncover, a swipe-left-from-home display screen additionally provides the same stream of reports, notifications and different smartphone data. It has been round for years.)

Modifications elsewhere appear extra like rebranded options. AI Choose (as soon as known as Good Choose) resides within the pull-out Edge Panel (and the screenshot toolbar) and can provide up steered actions as soon as you choose or circle one thing onscreen. It could possibly provide intelligent ideas when it contextually detects an occasion so as to add to your calendar or one thing that wants translating. I’m unsure AI Choose is noticeably higher than Good Choose, nevertheless it’s at the least on by default. You needed to allow the previous in Settings for it to look within the Edge Panel. Whereas it’s not utterly simple, AI Choose does work properly as a shortcut, suggesting translation with overseas languages or providing to tug dates into your calendar with a faucet.

This ties into Gemini AI upgrades, which seem first on the S25 collection however can be coming to different Android telephones that may run Gemini AI. With an extended press of a button, your voice instructions to Gemini can pull in data after which apply them to make a reminder, plan a route or ship particulars via textual content message to a good friend, or perhaps a WhatsApp message. I’m wanting ahead to Android including additional third-party apps and providers, however I have been ready for extra easy makes use of for AI assistants. It is a step in that course.

I’m additionally not solely writing off the Now Temporary. It might enhance over time, particularly with Samsung’s Private Information Engine, which can try to hitch the dots between your smartphone interactions. As I completed this overview, the Now Temporary started providing audio highlights from The Guardian, although I hadn’t but put in the information group’s app. Nonetheless, Galaxy AI figured it out, it was the proper alternative: I don’t learn the Each day Mail On-line. I want Google and Apple Information would work that out with out me having to actively block information sources.

Efficiency and battery life

Has Samsung solved our smartphone battery life woes? The Galaxy S25 clocked in at over 28 hours of video playback. That’s virtually 4 hours greater than final yr’s S24, and given the {hardware} parity with the S25, it’s a testomony to the processor effectivity upgrades this yr. With extra typical use, I used to be recharging the telephone each two days. That’s not how usually I normally should cost smartphones throughout opinions — I’m very impressed.

With the 3nm Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy, these positive factors aren’t simply in effectivity. The CPU multi-core efficiency hit 8,950 (up from 7,049 on the S24), whereas GPU scored 19,158, up from 15,082 final yr. Not that there was that a lot want for such a leap.

As soon as once more, the Galaxy S25 is quick and dealt with every little thing I threw at it effortlessly. Nonetheless, back-to-back generative AI requests and capturing and importing 4K video made the S25 warmth up – it lacks the expanded vapor chamber that Samsung added to the S25 Extremely.

Wrap up

With the Galaxy S25, by no means has a Galaxy S collection appeared extra iterative. Fortuitously, Samsung’s premium smartphones are in a commanding place, so even with a display screen (an cameras) that at the moment are two years outdated, the Galaxy S25 isn’t a foul smartphone. In reality, it’s an excellent one.

I described the S25’s cameras as constant and I feel that applies to your complete telephone. The display screen is brilliant, easy and wealthy, the battery life is, frankly, unbelievable, whereas each efficiency scores and my expertise with it show it is a highly effective flagship telephone.

I really like the streamlined Gemini AI capabilities, which might take a voice command and simply flip it right into a calendar entry, reminder and even plan my route. Even Galaxy AI diversions just like the Portrait Studio supplied extra refined (and constant) 3D cartoons and sketches of my portrait pictures. I’m unsure Samsung’s options would warrant an AI subscription — I doubt many would pay for them as they stand.

And that brings me to an even bigger level: Moreover a robust new chip and AI methods, why isn’t the S25 cheaper? The Galaxy S25 is priced at $799 at launch, the identical because the S24 and even the S23. The comparability you must make isn’t solely with the most recent iPhone, but in addition cheaper Android telephones, just like the $499 Pixel 8a. Or, sadly, the year-old Galaxy S24. Except you’re determined for a bump in processing energy and battery life, it could be smart to see how closely final yr’s fashions get discounted within the coming months.