Samsung’s latest Galaxy S25 series showcases incremental upgrades with a heavy focus on software and AI capabilities, accompanied by subtle hardware refinements. Let’s dive into a comprehensive hands-on review of the Galaxy S25 Ultra, Galaxy S25+, and Galaxy S25, exploring their design, performance, cameras, and new AI-driven features.
Design and Build
Galaxy S25 Ultra
The Galaxy S25 Ultra receives the most notable design changes in the lineup. Despite retaining the familiar minimalist camera design, the Ultra model is now:
- Slimmer and narrower: Thinner bezels (reduced by 15%) allow a slightly larger 6.9-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display in a more compact footprint.
- Tougher materials: Samsung introduces Corning Gorilla Glass Armor 2 for the front and back, paired with a titanium frame, boasting a 29% improvement in durability over last year’s Gorilla Glass Victus 2.
- Refined ergonomics: The flat side frame and softened corners make the Ultra easier to grip.
The Ultra comes in Titanium Silver Blue, Titanium Green, Titanium White Silver, and Titanium Black, with online-exclusive colors like Jet Black, Jade Green, and Pink Gold.
Galaxy S25+ and Galaxy S25
The Galaxy S25+ and Galaxy S25 stick closer to last year’s design but are 0.4mm thinner while maintaining their Armor Aluminum frames and Gorilla Glass Victus 2. Despite the thinner chassis, the battery capacities remain unchanged.
Both devices come in Navy, Mint, Icy Blue, and Silver Shadow, with online-exclusive options like Coral Red and Blue Black.
Display
Galaxy S25 Ultra
- 6.9-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X panel with 1440×3088 resolution.
- 2600 nits peak brightness, making it among the brightest displays on the market.
- DX anti-reflection coating for better legibility in sunlight.
- 120Hz adaptive refresh rate, ensuring smooth visuals.
Galaxy S25+
- 6.7-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X with the same 2600 nits brightness and 120Hz refresh rate.
- Retains its 1440×3088 resolution.
Galaxy S25
- 6.2-inch Dynamic LTPO AMOLED 2X with 1080×2340 resolution.
- Like its siblings, it features 120Hz refresh rate and HDR10+ certification.
Performance
All three models run on the Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy (3nm) chipset. This is an overclocked version of Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite, boasting:
- Two high-performance Oryon V2 Phoenix L cores clocked at 4.47GHz.
- A 1GHz Adreno 830 GPU, delivering significant generational improvements.
- Enhanced NPU (Neural Processing Unit) for advanced AI features.
Benchmarks:
- Geekbench 6 Multi-core: The Ultra scored 9,846, outpacing most flagship competitors.
- 3DMark Wild Life Extreme: The Ultra achieved 5,573, demonstrating strong GPU performance for gaming and multimedia tasks.
Memory and Storage
- Galaxy S25 Ultra: 12GB RAM across 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB storage options.
- Galaxy S25+: 12GB RAM with 256GB or 512GB storage.
- Galaxy S25: For the first time, the base model features 12GB RAM across all configurations (starting at 128GB).
Camera Upgrades
Galaxy S25 Ultra
The Ultra’s camera system features subtle yet meaningful upgrades:
- 200MP main camera: Retained from the S24 Ultra, with improved low-light performance via software.
- 50MP ultrawide camera: A new addition with a wider f/1.9 aperture, improving image quality and enabling 8K video recording.
- Dual telephoto cameras:
- 50MP with 5x optical zoom.
- 10MP with 3x optical zoom.
- Front camera: 12MP with Dual Pixel PDAF.
Galaxy S25+ and Galaxy S25
The 50MP main camera, 10MP telephoto (3x zoom), and 12MP ultrawide camera remain unchanged from their predecessors, albeit with software-driven enhancements via the ProVisual Engine in the Snapdragon 8 Elite.
New Software Features
- AI Audio Eraser: Removes background noise (e.g., wind, crowd sounds) from videos.
- Galaxy Log Mode: Advanced color grading for video enthusiasts.
- Improved low-light video: Dual-pass processing reduces noise in moving and still subjects.
Battery and Charging
- Galaxy S25 Ultra: 5000mAh, 45W wired (65% charge in 30 minutes), 15W wireless, and 4.5W reverse wireless charging.
- Galaxy S25+: 4900mAh with the same charging capabilities as the Ultra.
- Galaxy S25: 4000mAh, supporting 25W wired charging (50% charge in 30 minutes).
AI-Driven Features with One UI 7.0
Samsung’s One UI 7.0 (based on Android 15) introduces system-wide AI integration:
- AI Select: Contextually analyzes the screen and offers actions (e.g., creating GIFs or searching for objects).
- Circle to Search: Identifies audio tracks and visual content.
- Cross-App Actions: Allows AI to execute multi-step tasks across apps, such as finding restaurants, booking tables, and sharing locations.
- Now Brief: A personalized summary of daily activities, sleep stats, and schedules.
- Now Bar: Provides real-time contextual information on the lockscreen (e.g., music playback, directions).
Samsung ensures data privacy through Samsung Knox Matrix, encrypting data locally with advanced quantum computing standards.
What’s Missing?
- The S Pen on the Ultra no longer supports Bluetooth or air gestures, reducing its versatility.
- The base Galaxy S25 still lacks UWB support and starts at 128GB storage.
- The lack of substantial upgrades for the S25 and S25+ feels underwhelming compared to aggressive competitors offering faster charging and advanced battery tech.
Price and Availability
- Galaxy S25 Ultra: Starting at €1,450/£1,250.
- Galaxy S25+: Starting at €1,150/£1,000.
- Galaxy S25: Starting at €900/£800.
Early Verdict
The Galaxy S25 Ultra is the highlight of the series, with meaningful design refinements, an upgraded ultrawide camera, and a more powerful chipset. However, the removal of key S Pen features is disappointing. Meanwhile, the S25+ and S25 offer only modest upgrades, relying heavily on software enhancements to remain competitive.
For those seeking cutting-edge AI capabilities and Samsung’s best hardware, the Ultra remains a solid choice. However, buyers of the standard S25 and S25+ might feel underwhelmed unless they prioritize software improvements over hardware innovation.
